2022 3rd Quater Update
YOUR Union County Chamber has not slowed down in our efforts to champion
business growth and business prosperity throughout Union County. The third quarter of 2022 saw important advances in several work areas, including our Legislative Agenda, Workforce Development, Diversity and Inclusion, and more.
Read on to see your membership at work.
PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM UPDATE
Resolution Supporting Infrastructure
Infrastructure investment is one of the three focus areas in YOUR Chamber’s 2022 Legislative Agenda. We understand that quality infrastructure is necessary for the success of existing businesses and the growth of new business and industry.
Recently, the Union County Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt a resolution in conjunction with the Monroe-Union County Economic Development Commission Board of Advisors to recognize the past infrastructure investments made by Union County and local municipalities which have resulted in record levels of business growth throughout our community.
At the September 19, 2022 meeting, Chamber President/CEO Pat Kahle and EDC Executive Director Chris Platé presented the joint resolutions to the Union County Board of County Commissioners. After the presentation, the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a supporting resolution.
You can read all the details here.
Public Policy Luncheon - NC General Assembly
We also hosted our annual NC General Assembly Public Policy Panel at the end of September. This year, Advocacy Consultant Brian Francis moderated the panel. Representative Dean Arp, Representative Mark Brody, Representative David Wills, and Senator Todd Johnson shared updates from Raleigh, discussing the budget, workforce development efforts, Medicaid expansion, and Broadband expansion.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM
Diversity and Inclusion Committee Adds Fourth Work Area
The Diversity & Inclusion Committee has been hard at work bringing awareness of diversity and inclusion by empowering chamber members and our community. Workforce development is a challenge for businesses across the country right now. YOUR Chamber is committed to helping attract, develop, and retain our community’s most important asset – our people. We work every day to meet the talent needs of all businesses and industries in our community.
Recently the committee decided to add workforce development as a fourth work area to further support their vision of advancing equal opportunity in Union County.
Diversity & Inclusion Work Areas:
- » Increase awareness of diversity among current members
- » Increase the number of under-resourced businesses in the chamber’s membership
- » Increase the number of under-resourced business startups
- » Increase workforce development opportunities for under-resourced populations.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Speaker's Bureau Back in Schools Ahead of Make It In Union County
Ahead of Make It In Union County Week 2022, students in Union County schools had the opportunity to learn about promising careers in manufacturing.
The Speakers Bureau took over classes at local schools to educate students on career opportunities. Representatives from companies including Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Decore-Ative Specialties, Greiner Bio-One and more gave interactive presentations to the students. These efforts over the past few years have reached thousands of students and educators.
Make It In Union County week is October 3 – 7 this year.
CHAMBER NEWS
Chamber Starts Blog To Keep Members Informed
YOUR Chamber accomplishes our mission to champion business growth and business prosperity across Union County in a variety of ways. One way is through informing business leaders about news that is vital to them, along with ways they can improve their business. To that end, we started a blog in the summer of 2022.
Twice a week we post articles with information on development in the county, updates on work being done by YOUR Union County Chamber, and helpful articles with business and professional advice. Blogs are shared in the weekly newsletter and published on the Chamber’s social media pages.
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.
