We’ve reached the halfway point! It is really hard to believe that 2022 is half over…but then again when you look at all this Chamber has accomplished the past six months it is easy to see
why the days have passed so quickly!
Shown below are some of the major priorities and victories for the Chamber through the past six months of operations.
Expand Economic Development Efforts and Workforce Development Efforts
- Provided outreach and assistance to 39 individual companies as part of the Business Retention/Expansion Efforts.
- Worked with four existing companies on various incentive packages that could result in the addition of over 200 manufacturing jobs in the next three years.
- Hosted a meeting with officials of the Union Pacific Railroad to discuss freight issues and what is possible to meet the needs of local firms.
- Graduated nine middle and high school students from the Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy.
- Recruited eight businesses to serve as host sites for Career Wise apprenticeships.
- Partnered with CMU to provide stronger connections between current students/graduates and local businesses.
Engage more local business leaders earlier in advocacy efforts and be proactive in drafting proposed public policy
- Took positions on 42 state bills with a 47.5% success rate.
- Issued six “calls to action” to members of the Governmental Affairs Committee around regulatory rule making with an average of 6-9 members providing individual comment.
- Partnered with 15 other local entities in trying to bring common sense decision-making to the proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) rule setting on 12 tributaries in Mesa County. Such a rule will impact future economic activity in the Grand Valley.
- Hosted two community leaders meetings with Governor Polis. The first was to witness his signing of an Executive Order about broadband and the second was to brainstorm what a mobility hub might look like in downtown Grand Junction.
- Hosted over 60 local leaders for in person meetings with lawmakers and administration representatives in Denver—the largest local delegation ever.
Diversify industries and business leaders represented and active in the organization.
- Collaborated with the Latino Chamber, the Palisade Chamber and the Young Professionals Network of Mesa County to host joint networking events.
- Hosted the Chamber Annual Banquet in March and recognized several outstanding businesses and leaders.
- Hosted the first ever Energy Summit in late March to look at cutting edge developments that will increase our overallenergy supply.
- Actively recruited 40 businesses to join the Chamber since the beginning of the year.
- Hosted five business after hours and over 15 ribbon cuttings for new and expanding businesses in the first six months.
Demonstrate that a strong community is dependent on strong businesses and increased business involvement in planning the future of the community.
- Participated in the Housing Coalition and formed a Workforce Housing Task Force to begin looking for solutions to our housing crisis in collaboration with multiple community partners.
- Supported and participated in the Mesa County Health Leadership Consortium as an advocate for business and private
payers. - Graduated 22 individuals from the Mesa County Leadership Program, many of whom are or will assume leadership roles
in non-profits and local government commissions.
This is by no means a complete list but should give you an idea of how we have been serving you so far in 2022. I expect us to be even more productive in the second half of the year, being the business voice and promoting economic development!