YEAR IN REVIEW
Feature
Grow Your Organization 2.2x Faster with
attending our events. In 2023, we hit record attendance for some of our annual events such as the Economic Summit, Local Government Connect, and Annual Celebration. This activity demonstrates how invested the business community is in their Chamber membership and networking with other members to grow their business. The membership of the Chamber continued to grow in 2023 with over 200 new members joining the organization. Our focus on advocacy, networking and engagement, workforce, and employer resources has created value for members in various industries and the Chamber will continue to evolve to provide value to members and the Rochester business community in the year ahead. The Chamber office has undergone a few facelifts this past year. Particularly, the conference room features a new monitor wall, mounted camera, and speakers prepped to help with any meeting needs. As the Chamber has expanded, we have taken the opportunity to refresh our office space for both the team and members. These improvements to our space have created additional opportunities for member businesses to take advantage of the conference room as a location to meet and connect.
KEY INITIATIVES
The Chamber recognizes the importance of providing young professionals with the networking opportunities they need to establish themselves within the region’s professional community. To address this need, the Chamber launched the Rochester Area Young Talent Network (RYT Network) in 2023 as a means to provide opportunities for the young talent of the region to create connections, build relationships across diverse industries, and develop a sense of community within their professional lives. From its inception, RYT Network members have had the opportunity to attend social events such as bowling and speed networking. Members have also connected with community leaders at CEO Connections, learned more about the Rochester recreation and fitness industry through industry tours, and attended professional development workshops. As we move into the new year, the RYT Network will continue to provide opportunities for its members to connect, learn, grow, and engage with the community and industry. In the summer of 2023, the Chamber convened a vote yes group to advocate for the renewal of Rochester’s half- percent local sales tax . The sales tax serves as a critical funding tool for projects that can improve the quality of life for residents, support infrastructure development that serves the business community, and can help drive economic growth in the region. The Vote Yes – Renew Rochester group was organized and led by the Chamber and included partner organizations such as the Rochester Area Builders, RAEDI, Rochester Area Foundation, Rochester Sports Foundation, Southeast MN Realtors and more. The Chamber’s focus for Vote Yes - Renew Rochester was to educate the community on the benefits that this would bring to the community. Throughout the campaign, the Chamber sought to provide information and resources to the community through multiple avenues including social media, local news outlets, and Chamber communication channels. Four information sessions were held by the Chamber for businesses and members of the community to learn more about the projects and ask questions. In addition, the Chamber held community discussion sessions and created resources such as the September issue of the
Vistage has been empowering small- and mid- sized organizations worldwide for over 65 years. Through Vistage groups, peer-to-peer support has consistently inspired authentic leadership, built business resilience, and strengthened organizational cultures.
Advantage Magazine, Project One-Sheets, and a website dedicated to the local sales tax renewal.
For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations
THANK YOU
Ultimately the local sales tax renewal passed with 54% of the community in support.
The Chamber team welcomes the opportunity to serve our region’s business community, talented workforce, and community partners to further establish the Rochester area as a standout regional center. Thank you to our members for your ongoing support and engagement! Through your support of the Chamber we will continue to develop and lead initiatives that will advance the business community of the Rochester region.
Gather with like-minded, non-competing business leaders in your community once a month who understand the nuances of your community and bring the collective wisdom of over 65 years of global expertise to the table.
This extended the existing sales and use tax of 0.50% for 24 years or until $205 million is collected, to finance a $50 million economic vitality fund, $50 million in street reconstruction; $40 million in flood control and water quality; and a $65 million sports and recreation complex. It is estimated 43% of the revenue generated will come from non-Rochester residents. “The projects included in the renewal of the local sales tax will encourage economic growth in Rochester, improve community infrastructure, and enhance the area's quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors of Rochester. We applaud the Rochester community for approving the renewal of Rochester’s local sales tax and investing in the community for decades to come” said Ryan Parsons, President of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber member engagement in programs continued to increase in 2023. From the monthly AM Espresso and Business After Hours to the Winter Business Showcase, including a quick sell-out in our annual Chamber Kickball Tournament and Golf Outing, our members are active in
• Succession planning • Executive coaching • Speaker’s bureau
• Peer advisory • Problem-solving • Exclusive events
Vistage groups are forming now! Join one today or connect with Tom to learn more. Tom Ferraro, MAOL Vistage Chair Thomas.Ferraro@VistageChair.com 507.269.6244
10 | ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE — FEBRUARY 2024
FEBRUARY 2024 — ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE | 11
TomF_AD_4.indd 1
9/29/2023 8:25:05 AM
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online