2008 Initiatives & Goals
ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Encourage and promote local business development and expansion, identify positive and constructive ways the business community can grow and develop, and work with the city, county and neighboring jurisdictions to foster cooperation on economic development issues and other initiatives that will enhance business development for the Northfield area.
- Provide a leadership initiative to annex and zone 300-500 acres for commercial and industrial development in the northwest section of Northfield that include the Sorem, Fink and Lysne land and properties in close proximity, and encourage other land options for annexation and future business development east of Interstate Highway 35 and in close proximity to Highway 19.
- Lead in transportation initiatives regarding Minnesota Trunk Highway 19 and Rice County Highway 1 which includes an interregional corridor study, environmental impact studies, budgeting for upgrades, requesting support of the Northfield City Council and EDA, and lending assistance of Chamber members to be active participants in local transportation planning.
- Conduct business retention and expansion visits and interviews with local company leaders in an effort to understand the needs and concerns of local businesses, and communicate these needs and concerns to those responsible for ensuring economic prosperity for the Northfield area.
- Provide economic and business development information and assistance to local and prospective businesses; and coordinate events, and educational and marketing initiatives that will promote and strengthen the local business community.
PUBLIC POLICY
As the voice of business, the Chamber will advocate for business growth and prosperity, support and defend the business community, and review and take positions on issues locally and statewide that affect our members and the Northfield area business community.
- Urge members to contact legislators, elected officials, Chamber Board and Executive Director regarding legislation and issues that affect their business; and urge members to support the Chamber's initiatives, attend informational meetings and forums, participate in the political process, and vote.
- Define and develop relationships with government bodies and other business leaders that are also involved with the creation, promotion and enhancement of a healthy business environment, and inform them about the Chamber's initiatives and key business issues.
MEMBERSHIP
The Chamber will guarantee every member receives value from their Chamber membership investment by providing meaningful benefits for business and individual development.
- Contact members regarding their business needs and concerns, obtain suggestions regarding the Chamber organization, and thank members for their support and investment in the Chamber organization and community.
- Promote Chamber members and the organization's membership services, benefits, programs, forums and events.
- Communicate how members receive a return on their investment; and identify new ways to add value to membership.
- Contact targeted prospective members regarding the Chamber's goals and benefits, and invite them to join the Chamber organization.
TOURISM
As the tourism headquarters of the community, the Chamber will enhance the economic vitality of the community by promoting the area and what it has to offer, and invite and bring visitors to the Northfield area.
- Respond to all tourism and visitors' requests, providing visitor packets, tourism information and marketing material to individuals, groups, businesses, organizations and agencies.
- Update brochures, web site and other tourism material produced by the CVB , and advertise in targeted areas to targeted audiences.
- Maintain communications with the Explore Minnesota office and other tourism groups and organizations in an effort to stay informed about the tourism industry and updated on new marketing possibilities. Also, inform local businesses of local tourism initiatives, events and opportunities.
- Develop ways to generate additional local lodging tax dollars and other types of revenue for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and local tourism initiatives.
2008 Priorities, Plan of Action
ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- Executive Committee will determine a strategy for the Chamber Board to meet regularly with the City Council and EDA for the purpose of discussing the annexation and zoning of 320 acres for commercial and industrial development, the Chamber's other initiatives and other important business issues.
- The Board will meet with the different government representatives to discuss the necessary strategies for upgrading Minnesota Trunk Highway 19 and Rice County Highway 1, and with the Executive Director will coordinate meetings with local business leaders whenever necessary.
- The Business Development Committee and Executive Director will conduct business retention and expansion visits and interviews with local company leaders and will communicate the results of the visits and interviews to the Minnesota Chamber's Grow Minnesota staff, the Northfield EDA, legislators and government officials/staff, the Chamber's leadership, and other key individuals for the purpose of ensuring economic prosperity for the Northfield area.
- The Executive Director will provide economic and business information and assistance to individuals that inquire about starting or expanding a business in the Northfield area, and with staff will produce and distribute a business resource directory, community profile, and available business sites inventory.
- The Executive Director and staff will coordinate and promote business seminars and employer and employee educational and training opportunities based on members input and needs.
- The Retail Committee, Executive Director and staff will coordinate and sponsor retail forums, events and initiatives that will promote and strengthen the retail sector.
- The Leadership Task Force and staff will develop, coordinate and promote the Chamber's Northfield Area Leadership Program that provides emerging and existing leaders with opportunities to enhance their business and community knowledge, civic network and leadership skills.
- Chamber President and Executive Director will schedule business forums for the purpose of sharing business concerns, receiving information, and resolving business challenges together.
PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
- The Board will determine the relationships with government bodies and individuals that will be necessary to accomplish the Chamber's economic development initiatives, and will inform representatives of local, county and state government of the key business issues.
- The Government Affairs Committee and Executive Director will keep members informed on key business issues, and will urge members to contact legislators, elected officials, and the Chamber leadership regarding legislation and issues that affect their business.
- The Government Affairs Committee and Executive Director will encourage Chamber members to support the Chamber's initiatives, attend informational meetings and forums, participate in the governmental process and vote.
MEMBERSHIP
- The Executive Director and staff will contact Chamber members regarding their business needs and concerns, obtain suggestions for the Chamber organization, and thank members for their support and investment in the Chamber.
- The Executive Director and staff will target specific non-member businesses regarding the value and benefits of Chamber membership, and invite them to join the Chamber.
- The Membership Committee and Executive Director will promote membership benefits, services and programs that will result in membership participation, financial support and a return on membership investment; and will determine new ways for adding value to membership .
- The Chamber President and Executive Director will schedule Membership Forums for the purpose of keeping members informed on business issues and receiving input from members on these and other issues.
- The Creative Professionals Committee, Executive Director and staff will coordinate business-to-business networking events.
- The Chamber Ambassadors and Executive Director will make visits to Chamber members and thank and congratulate them on starting a new business, becoming a new owner of an existing business, having a major expansion of their business/facility, or celebrating a significant business anniversary. When invited, the Ambassadors will also attend local business ground breakings, grand openings and open house ceremonies.
- The Executive Director and marketing professionals will develop marketing materials and strategies for the Chamber organization.
- The Executive Director and staff will coordinate special membership events such as the Chamber's Annual Meeting & Business of the Year/Business Person of the Year Recognition Dinner, Holiday Membership Social, and Chamber Business Showcase.
TOURISM
The Executive Director and staff will:
- Respond to all tourism and visitors' requests, providing visitor packets, tourism information and marketing material to individuals, groups, businesses, organizations and agencies.
- Coordinate bus tours for groups and provide a tour guide for bus groups.
- Provide Northfield area information to travel shows and attend travel shows when consistent with CVB goals.
- Update brochures, web site and other tourism material produced by the CVB.
- Inform local businesses of local tourism initiatives, events and opportunities.
- The Executive Director will maintain communications with the Explore Minnesota office and other tourism groups and organizations in an effort to stay informed about the tourism industry and updated on new marketing possibilities.
- The CVB Advisory Board and Executive Director will determine tourism advertising to be placed in targeted areas to targeted audiences; and will develop specific tourism packages to promote to targeted audiences and new marketing materials if needed.
- The CVB Advisory Board will support, in concept, tourism-related events, activities and facilities that will bring visitors to the Northfield area.
- The CVB Advisory Board will continue to develop ways to generate additional lodging tax dollars and other types of revenue for the CVB and local tourism efforts.
