UNION COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2005

• Established a partnership with New Ventures Business Development, Inc. (NVBDI) to offer discounted services to local entrepreneurs and small business owners to aid in the development of Union County’s small business economy.  NVBDI serves Union and Anson counties with the Union County Chamber of Commerce serving as its local business center.

• Conducted fifth annual and largest Business and Technology EXPO, presented by The Charlotte Observer.  The EXPO was hosted by Dale Jarrett Ford in Indian Trail to accommodate the growing number of participating businesses and visitors that have joined one of the Chamber’s greatest annual events. 

• Hosted most successful golf tournament to date attracting 120 players and over twenty (20) sponsors, including Carolinas Medical Center – Union as our presenting sponsor!  Due to the success of the tournament in 2005, a two-tiered tournament is scheduled in 2006 to accommodate players that were not able to participate in 2005.

• Relocated Union West satellite office to Stallings Civic Building to better accommodate rapid business growth in that area.  The Chamber hosted its first Power Networking Luncheon in the Stallings area at its new location and enjoyed an extremely successful event with many western Union County businesses participating.

• Opened a full-service office at Dover Mortgage Co. in Waxhaw to provide more convenient services to our members in the southwestern portion of Union County.  Establishing the Waxhaw satellite office has greatly enhanced the Chamber’s presence and effectiveness in one of the county’s fastest growing areas.

• Established Business Growth Council to help local manufacturers develop new supply chains and other business-to-business relationships within Union County.  At a recent manufacturing summit held at the Chamber, Congressman Robin Hayes praised this system and encouraged its proliferation and growth.

• Grew Ambassador Program to ten (10) actively participating volunteers that conduct monthly visits with existing Chamber members to monitor member satisfaction and encourage volunteer participation in the Chamber.

• Promoted openings of new stores at Poplin Place, Union County’s new 400,000 plus square foot shopping center, on Highway 74 in Monroe. Enlisted merchant promotion of the Chamber’s Shop Union initiative through distribution of information packets to enhance public awareness of the advantages of keeping sales tax dollars in Union County.

• Continued to develop the Member-to-Member (M2M) discount program with Chamber members to offer additional incentives to Chamber members and their employees.  In 2005, M2M grew to over 125 discounts with over 27,000 key tags (sponsored by South Piedmont Community College) in circulation.

• Expanded and enhanced the Chamber’s Leadership Union program, in collaboration with SPCC, by creating a Leadership Union Planning Committee comprised of Leadership Union Alumni dedicated to improving and promoting Leadership Union.

• Secured resolutions of support from two (2) counties, five (5) municipalities, two (2) institutions of higher learning, and other organizations to construct the Coastal Carolina Connector (Monroe Bypass) as a toll road in an effort to facilitate its construction thus relieving congestion and safety issues on Highway 74 and creating opportunities for economic development.

• Successfully lobbied the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to select the Coastal Carolina Connector (Monroe Bypass) as one of its top three priority construction projects, hopefully expediting completion of the road to within five to six years.

• Actively supported the efforts by the City of Monroe for successful passage by the NC General Assembly of legislation for potential funding for a badly needed civic center.  The center will attract events and visitors to Monroe to pump money onto the local economy for motel rooms, meals, and shopping.

• Participated in a regional Chamber visit to Raleigh to discuss Union County issues with North Carolina legislators.  Chambers of Commerce from Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Anson, and Stanly counties participated in the program as well.

• Conducted Union County Day at the North Carolina General Assembly (May 31) to showcase Union County’s funding needs for transportation improvements, schools, water sewer infrastructure and other services to accommodate the population of the state’s fastest growing county.

• Created Area Council Connections, quarterly networking events, to further develop positive relationships with business owners in Council districts including: Indian Trail / Stallings, Waxhaw, and Weddington / Marvin / Wesley Chapel.

• Increased promotion of Union Vision for Progress, the Chamber’s 501(c) (3) program, to Chamber membership and potential donors as a fundraising venue for workforce development and education.  Began preliminary groundwork for major fundraising initiatives in 2006.

• Supported business leaders within the area to form a Business Network International (BNI) group in Monroe.  BNI affords business people contacts and referrals to grow their businesses and sell their products and services.

• Achieved re-accreditation from the US Chamber of Commerce.  This is a prestigious distinction held by less than half of the nation’s chambers

• Hosted Tools for Growing Minority Businesses in conjunction with the Chamber’s Diversity Council to educate minority business owners and entrepreneurs of programs and business practices to facilitate the growth of their businesses.