Retention & Growth of Existing Businesses is a Critical Component of Economic Development

Most of us think of economic development as the attraction of new businesses to the area and the encouragement of entrepreneurship. Both of these are important, but there is one more critical component to a sustainable economic development strategy –  the retention and growth of existing businesses.

This is why the Chamber of Commerce  invests in business retention and expansion (BR&E) activities like redirecting local internet traffic to our business members and business -to-consumer events. 

Chamber Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Activities 

Professional Networking & Business Information 

A large body of evidence shows the critical role of formal business networking in promoting local economies. The Chamber provides a  platform for businesses to make meaningful connections which contributes to a stonger business community and economic growth. The Chamber partners  with Ottawa Univesty as it primary partner for providin high quality education programs

Consumer Education with Shop Local and Shop Surprise
The Chamber educates consumers on the importance of spending money within our community.  Messages are commuincated by social media and digital marketing programs. This  Chamber B.R.E program alos recruits local residents to participate in an electronic/digital promotional marketing notifications that announces special events and activities to area residents. Our Home & Health Shows help connect commuinties with local businesses.
 
Redirecting Internet Searches to Local Businesses
​The Chamber's proprietary, highly optimized Traffic Catcher System redirects internet searches to local businesses. (Members only) 

Connecting Businesses with the B-2-C Events   
We connect residents and businesses in a fun way that is good for the local economy through events like our ​​Home & Health Shows.  Our business-to-consumer (B-2-C) event helps businesses generate leads, sales, and build brand awareness for their product or service. 

Workforce Developement

The Chamber advocates for policies that support education and training initiatives, ensuring that workforce development remains a priority for local and state  government and stakeholders.The Chamber supports workforce development, which is a people-first approach to upskilling workers for long-term success. It aims to foster prosperity for individuals, communities, and businesses by offering educational resoureces, development opportunities, and continuing education programs.