704.289.4567 // info@UnionCountyCoC.com

Members2021 4th Quarter Update

2021 4th Quarter Update

The 4th quarter may mean the end of the year, but YOUR Chamber is not slowing down in our efforts to champion business growth and business prosperity throughout Union County. 

We ramped up efforts to help create a thriving community with resources to develop member businesses, efforts to increase visibility for businesses, and create a welcoming atmosphere for all.

Read below to see YOUR membership at work. 

RESOURCES TO DEVELOP YOUR BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES

PROMOTING UNION COUNTY JOBS

Union County jobs billboards

YOUR Union County Chamber has teamed up with manufacturers to promote the excellent job and career opportunities right here in the county through a billboard campaign on US 74. A static billboard near Rocky River Road encourages job seekers to find LOCAL jobs by searching the Chamber’s jobs site. There is also a digital billboard as you exit the Monroe Expressway in Stallings. It rotates through messages from eight Union County manufacturers. 

– ATI Specialty Materials

– Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co – Plastics Division

– ConMet

– Darnel, Inc.

– Decore-ative Specialties

– Goulston Technologies

– McGee Corporation

 – Wood Designs

Both ads will remain up through the end of January. 

Chamber members can benefit and grow their businesses by adding any open positions to the jobs website. It is a free benefit of Chamber membership. You can post as many job openings as you like. The site integrates with Google, to increase its reach. To add positions, you first must register as an employer, which you can do through the link below.  

JobsInUnionCounty.com

NONPROFIT WORKSHOP

One way we work to provide resources to grow your organization is through educational workshops. In November, we hosted a free workshop for Chamber member nonprofits. 

Jeni Bukolt, owner of HAVEN Creative shared communication strategies to help members grow their nonprofits. At the interactive workshop, Jeni provided workbooks to attendees to help them clarify their message and ensure they stand out in a crowded marketplace. 

Attendees, including Jesse Granger with Council on Aging in Union County were grateful for the knowledge shared, “I loved that the suggestions were rooted in science, and that the speaker explained her practices.” 

Cindy Cole with Community Health Services agreed. “The speaker was so uplifting and knowledgeable! She offered so many great communication strategies.” 

The annual Nonprofit workshop is made possible through our partnership with the Chairman’s and President’s Circle members, and thanks to Platinum Sponsor neteffect technologies, and Gold Sponsors First Citizens Bank and Union Power Cooperative. 

WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

YOUR Chamber works with many strategic partners to help attract and retain a skilled workforce in Union County. In December, we partnered with Union County Public Schools to support their Portrait of a Graduate initiative which outlines characteristics each student should have when they graduate high school. 
 
Union County Chamber President and CEO Pat Kahle, IOM contributed to the video series discussing the importance of these characteristics for students as they enter the workforce.
 
You can learn more about the initiative in the video from UCPS.

PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM - ELECTED OFFICIALS RECEPTION

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to push our annual Elected Officials Reception to October this year.  We were able to host it in the new Dowd Center Theatre. 

The Reception is an opportunity for the community to interact with elected officials in a relaxed atmosphere. Due to the fact that it was an election year, and the Reception was so close to the election, we invited candidates as well.  

In 2022, we will move the Reception back to February, its regular month.  We will also return to the Dowd Center Theatre for the event on Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the Chamber calendar and weekly newsletters for more details. 

VISIBILITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARDS

Collage from 2021 Union County Chamber Annual Awards Gala

2021 also saw the return of the in-person Annual Awards Gala. More than 300 Chamber and community members gathered at the Union County Agricultural Center on December 2 for the program.  

The evening consisted of networking, dinner, recognition of volunteers, and the Annual Excellence in Business Awards. It was a special privilege to honor the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Winner Dr. Christine Mann Darden.  The Monroe native was able to attend the Gala, and share more of her inspirational life story.  You can watch her video, along with the videos from all the other winners on the Excellence in Business Awards page.

See all the Excellence in Business Award Winners

2022 ANNUAL NEWCOMERS GUIDE RELEASED

Cover of 2022 Union County Magazine

December also saw the release of the 2022 version of the Newcomers Guide. This annual publication highlights details about Union County and our thriving community. It is available in print form, or as a digital copy on the Chamber website.

Thousands of printed copies are distributed across the County, region, and state. You can find a copy at the Chamber office, or at one of the Information Centers located inside First Citizens Banks in Indian Trail and Marshville.

If you’d like to distribute copies to your customers, reach out to Chamber staff at 704-289-4567.

Check Out the Newcomers Guide Here

THE WORK CONTINUES

It is YOUR partnership and YOUR investment that makes all of this work to champion business growth and business prosperity throughout Union County possible. 

Read the 2021 Q3 update here.

Read the 2021 Q2 update here.

Read the 2021 Q1 update here.

You can read the 4th quarter of 2020 update here.

We mean it when we call it YOUR Union County Chamber.