2018 Mission, Guiding Principles and Business Plan

The mission of the Grand Junction Area Chamber is to promote economic growth and represent business.

To achieve this, we operate under the following guiding principles:

A Healthy Business Climate Creates a Sustainable Community: We believe that no community can be sustainable and provide services required by its citizens without a healthy business climate that encourages private enterprise and job creation.
Representing and Advocating for Business is a Member Expectation: We will represent and advocate for the business community by utilizing a decision-making process that encourages member involvement and participation. Board decisions are based on what is in the best interest of the majority of members.
Professional Connections & Networking Opportunities Build Business: We will facilitate professional connections by providing networking opportunities that support long-term business relationships, promotes diversity and promotes inclusiveness.
Quality of Life is Integral to our Economic Vitality: We will be good stewards of the Grand Junction area quality of life. We promote the economic and cultural growth of the community and its citizenry while protecting the environment for future generations.
The Success of Colorado Mesa University is Key to Economic Development: The continued growth and development of Colorado Mesa University outlined in the “CMU 20,000 Campaign” (15,000 enrolled students + 5,000 business and community supporters) will define us as a vibrant, economically sound and sustainable community in this century, and is therefore a key initiative for this Chamber. To that end, the Chamber will take the leadership position in helping the University in fostering local governmental and community support.

To be successful we will use as a roadmap the 2018 Business Plan with these goals;

Convene Stakeholders and Champion Workforce Development Programs

(Responsible: Career Link Committee, Staff)

Build on existing programs including YEA!, Career Wise Apprenticeships, ACT Workforce Ready Community and Hire Me First to help students experience the world of work and put into practice concepts learned in the classroom.
Assist employers in accessing tools like Work Keys and programs like Kick Start to hire smarter and retain good employees.
Facilitate Manufacturing Sector partnerships with Western Colorado Community College and the Workforce Center through a program known as Job Connects.
Support CMU and School District 51 efforts to encourage more high school graduates to pursue some sort of post-secondary education and/or training.
Make job shadow and internship opportunities available to the mutual benefits of our members and the future workforce now in high school or post-secondary venues.
Provide staff support for the programs of the Mesa County Business Education.

Support Existing Business Growth and Job Creation Through a Robust Business Retention and Expansion Visitation Program

(Responsible: Staff, ED Partners, Board, GJRASA)

Initiating one on one conversations with area manufacturers and other primary employers through site visits to determine how to facilitate growth of existing business jobs
Conducting industry and special interest (i.e. logistics) roundtables to determine broad issues related to specific sectors and develop a work plan to address those issues.
Facilitating the implementation of a Foreign Trade Zone to assist local businesses manage costs and administrative overhead associated with a global economy and importing of goods.
Supporting other business development partners, Grand Junction Economic Partnership and Business Incubator Center, in attracting new primary employers and assisting prospective business owners start businesses.
Championing and staffing the Grand Junction Regional Air Service Alliance to work toward building capacity and extending more nonstop commercial flights from the Airport.
Promoting success stories by all business development partners to the community in helping companies start, grow and locate leading to real job growth.

Advocate for a More Favorable Business Climate at the Local, State and Federal Level Through the Legislative and Regulatory Processes

(Responsible: Governmental Affairs, Board of Directors, Endorsement Committee, Staff)

Offering the local business perspective on proposed legislation at all levels of government
Apprising businesses and voters about candidates and ballot issues in 2018 through candidate forums, voters’ guides and other communication vehicles.
Facilitating more dialogue between the business community and the public sector through hosting a State of the Grand Valley event.
Partnering with other business organizations across the state to advocate for or against statewide issues

Utilizing the Strengths of the Chamber Help Build a Stronger Community

(CMU 20000 Steering Committee, Leadership Steering Committee)

Initiating actions and activities that will help grow the student population and community engagement needed to reach the goals of CMU 20000 (15,000 students supported by 5,000 community supporters)
Convening active and potentially active community leaders in an annual leadership summit to inspire and motivate commitment to improving the community
Assisting business leaders and emerging business leaders in understanding the community and the complex issues faced in the Grand Valley through offering the Mesa County Leadership Program

Offer Direct Benefits to Members That Will Strengthen Their Individual Businesses

(Diplomats, TRC Volunteers, Board, Staff)

Hosting a Sunrise Seminar Series for small business owners on key management topics like employment, insurance and marketing.
Utilizing Mesa County Library’s Business Connect and other venues to show members the benefits of various marketing strategies to promote their businesses.
Convening a regional health care summit to help small businesses navigate through the various options for providing health insurance and a healthier working environment.
Offering networking sessions including (but not limited to) Networking at Noon, Business After Hours, Quarterly Membership Meetings and Leads Groups
Providing a venue to pool the collective purchasing power of almost 1000 small businesses to access discounts on products and services they need based on member input and requests.
Celebrating and recognizing the contributions of small businesses to the local economy through participation in programs such as Small Business Saturday and Google City.
Reducing reliance on membership revenue to offer needed services that can grow jobs and strengthen the economy by conducting a Total Resource Campaign to tailor investments to interests.