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| Advancing Business. Developing Community. |
The mission of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is to serve our Members through partnership, programs, services and events to advance the economic growth of Canton and the Stark County region.
Information on the Chamber & its departments
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Chamber’s economic development department actively provides assistance to area companies, primarily in the industrial and commercial sectors, as they seek to grow and expand their businesses. The Chamber networks business owners and managers with various resources and incentive programs available in the community and strives to match individual company’s needs to available and appropriate resources.
Economic development is a relationship business and as such, the Chamber continually seeks new opportunities to increase business leaders’ awareness of our ability to help them grow their operations. In 2009, the Chamber, in partnership with DeHoff Development, will aggressively pursue development of the Mills Business Park. The business park will further position Canton/Stark County to attract new industrial and commercial development. The park is already being actively marketed to prospects.
The Chamber will continue to utilize the SYNCHRONIST economic development software tool to capture input from area businesses, including expansion projects and investments, issues affecting the workforce and business environment. Plans are to extend the program beyond the manufacturing sector and to leverage the data we have collected since the program was implemented seven years ago to better understand underlying trends and issues affecting area employers. The combination of ongoing contact with our business base and improved application of these tools will serve to better focus our efforts where they will generate the most results.
The overarching goals for the economic development department are to facilitate new capital investment and the resulting economic growth for Canton and the surrounding region. We will expand our ability to provide existing and prospective businesses with pertinent information regarding the region’s assets, resources and benefits by including a focus on sustainability and environmentally-friendly aspects of our businesses, products and operations.
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
In 2009, the department of business development and strategic projects at the chamber will be focused upon the connection between education and economic development, and the connection between good government and economic development. The Chamber sees an opportunity to provide creative and effective business leadership in these two areas that enhance and sustain an environment for business growth.
The department will work to advance business development through education and make an impact on the statewide debate over public school funding and education reform. In addition, the department will strive to advance the cause of local government reform and collaboration.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
The Chamber’s government affairs committee maintains strong, positive relationships with the area’s elected officials. In addition, the committee actively monitors legislative developments, conducts programs to provide opportunities for members to express their views, and collaborates on issues of mutual concern with other chambers and organizations. The Government Affairs committee works to ensure that public policy and legislation create a positive climate for business growth and capital investment in Canton/Stark County and to effectively convey the pro-growth business perspective to our elected and public officials on pending legislation and pertinent regulatory issues.
CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP & SALES
The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce membership and sales department is the point of entry for unmatched business education, networking and volunteer opportunities for more than 1,600 businesses. As Chamber members, businesses can participate in members-only programs and realize savings on workers’ compensation and healthcare insurance. The membership and sales department also makes possible a variety of advertising opportunities for Chamber members – including online banner ads and ads in newsletters and directories. The membership department aims to develop new ways to engage and communicate with existing members through programs, events and membership benefits.
CHAMBER EVENTS
With the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and committee members, the Chamber events department produces more than 70 events annually. These events range from large-scale, downtown Canton community street festivals to pro-business, networking events and member-engaging programs. The Chamber events department is a hub of year-round activity, and acts as one of the chief catalysts for succeeding in our mission, “Advancing Business. Developing Community.” The goal of our events is to provide professional, unparalleled community and business events for Canton/Stark County.
Our business and networking events include:
Monthly AultCare Fast Break Breakfast, Business After Hours, Fall and Spring NETWORK and Canton Forum
Our award and annual recognition events include:
Business Excellence Awards of Greater Canton, Community Salute Awards and the Chamber’s Annual Dinner
Our downtown community festivals include:
Zing in the City!, Canton Blues Festival, Vintage Canton and Light Up Downtown
Our safety council and manufacturing events include:
Safety Council CEO Breakfast, Safety Council Safety Awards Banquet, Monthly Safety Council Luncheons and MAGNET Events
For a full line-up of all Chamber events, visit the Chamber Event Calendar.
CHAMBER MARKETING
The marketing department directs and implements all marketing strategies, public and media relations activities and advertising campaigns for the Chamber and its departments. The department provides in-house creative concepting and graphic design work, copywriting, media relations, strategic brand management and offline and online marketing tactics. The marketing department is in the unique position to interact, collaborate and impact each of the Chamber’s departments and events, and the team works to align all advertising, marketing and PR essentials to support the Chamber’s mission and goals.
CANTON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
Canton Development Partnership (CDP) is a coalition of area development organizations and city government that shares an interest in downtown Canton’s continuous improvement, revitalization, image and quality of life for its citizens. The CDP’s mission is to support and coordinate the activities and programs of its partnering organizations in order to encourage and sustain community and economic development in downtown Canton. The partnering organizations include Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Canton Special Improvement District Inc. (SID), Downtown Canton Land Bank Corp. (DCLB), Canton Tomorrow Inc. (CTI), and City of Canton.
Learn more about the CDP at www.cantondevelopmentpartnership.com.
CANTON/STARK COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS’ BUREAU
The mission of the Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau (CVB) is to attract, orient and serve visitors, to educate local residents and to initiate projects and programs that promote and grow tourism in Canton/Stark County. It is the policy of the CVB to ensure professional, countywide representation of tourism entities to convention organizations, sporting events and motor coach tour companies, and to the individual leisure traveler.
Visit www.visitcantonstark.com for more information about the Convention & Visitors’ Bureau.
LEADERSHIP STARK COUNTY
Through training in leadership skills and education about the community, Leadership Stark County (LSC) develops a core of motivated leaders, with lifelong commitment to community trusteeship. LSC programs include:
• Leadership Signature Program – 10-month program for a diverse group of participants that aims to enhance leadership skills and identifies local and regional issues, assets and resources
• Government Leadership Academy – 6-week course that offers elected officials and aspiring candidates leadership development and education about local and regional government
• Spotlight Stark County – an after-work personal and professional development program and community engagement for young professionals
• Encounter Bus Tour – one-day program designed for professionals or residents who are new to the area, it highlights historic, economic and cultural assets of Stark County
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival is a “One of a Kind Celebration” consisting of 15 diverse events over a ten-day period, enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people. The annual celebration surrounding the enshrinement of football heroes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the culmination of a year-long planning process by the professional staffs of the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with a team of more than 4,200 extraordinary volunteers who receive outstanding support from sponsors, community leaders, government entities, other Chamber departments, local citizens and visiting guests.
We are strongly committed to assuring safe and successful Enshrinement Festival events that produce a positive social and economic impact and bring national recognition to our community, and to encouraging year-round enjoyment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – “America’s Premier Sports Museum and Showplace!” – and our other numerous community assets.
Visit www.profootballhofef.com and www.profootballhof.com for full event and ticket information.
YSTARK! YOUNG PROFESSIONAL INITIATIVE
ystark! young professionals (YPs) collaborate with government leaders, the business community and education organizations to attract and retain vibrant, energetic and diverse young professionals in Stark County. The organization is dedicated to engaging and empowering YPs through networking, social and cultural events, community involvement and professional development. These efforts will help to root YPs into the community and therefore retain them as productive citizens. ystark! continuously promotes Stark County as a desirable location for young professionals to live, work and play.
Visit www.ystark.org for more information and a full list of exciting upcoming events!
STARK COUNTY SAFETY COUNCIL
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (OBWC) Division of Safety & Hygiene, administers Stark County Safety Council (SCSC). The educational programming, monitoring of safety issues and operation of the Council is coordinated by a volunteer steering committee. SCSC conducts monthly meetings, workshops and seminars that examine and resolve potential and existing safety problems and inform participants about new techniques, products and services. In addition, SCSC executes a safety campaign to promote greater interest in the prevention of occupational accidents and disease and recognizes companies with the best safety records during the annual Safety Awards Banquet. Although there is no membership fee, members are required to attend a minimum number of programs annually and complete semi-annual safety reports. The Stark County Safety Council was named number one in 2007 by OBWC for its membership growth and excellent programming.
Visit www.starkcountysafetycouncil.org for more information.
