Just Released: Monroe County Chamber of Commerce & Monroe County Business Development Corp to Link Operations
MONROE, Michigan
The Directors of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) and Monroe County Business Development Corporation (BDC) announce the creation of the Monroe County Business Alliance. The Business Alliance will join the Boards of Directors and staff of the Chamber and BDC into a single entity focused on business development and business support. In addition, the Business Alliance will include representation from the Monroe County Convention and Tourism Bureau (the Bureau) to solidify a business and economic development approach for the future. The concept of forming the Business Alliance is an outcome of strategic discussions among a group of stakeholders’ vision to enhance the value of constituents by joining together their administrative operations around a more coordinated approach. This working group of stakeholders stated the primary functions, and the constituents the organizations serve will remain the same as will many of their programs and events. The primary objective will be a more cohesive strategy for business including tourism activity throughout Monroe County. The Bureau functions under State of Michigan legislation (Public Act 59) and partnerships with the Business Alliance will be under a contract.
The Working Group began meeting in late 2021 to discuss the possibility of merging their backroom functions of the Chamber and BDC. Their mission was to develop a vision and plan of implementation to bring greater efficiency with resulting cost savings to the administrative and operational functions of these organizations. The savings in both dollars and time can be redirected to advancing the missions of each organization. The Working Group has set out to accomplish three goals:
• Combine the governing boards of the Organizations into a new Organization – Monroe County Business Alliance
• Define a new combined administrative & organizational model to operate under the Monroe County Business Alliance
• Develop a funding and cost allocation model for the Monroe County Business Alliance
The all-volunteer Working Group separated into sub committees to develop strategies for the three goals. That work took place over the last quarter of 2021 and year to date in 2022. The Working Group have agreed upon a comprehensive plan that will support these three organizations for many years to come and will be releasing more details once the plan is finalized and approved by the respective Organization’s Board of Directors and the initial organizational meeting of the Monroe County Business Alliance Board on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
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About Monroe County Business Development Corporation – Monroe County BDC is Monroe County’s leading economic development organization and the Michigan Economic Development ration’s local partner. The Monroe County BDC is dedicated to attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding existing businesses and serving as a catalyst for capital investment and quality job growth in Monroe County. The Monroe County Business Development Corporation is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Formed in 1982, Monroe County BDC operations are overseen by a 19-member Board of Directors consisting of the area’s top leaders, including representatives from manufacturing, banking, utilities, labor, education, and local government.
About Monroe County Chamber of Commerce – The Monroe County Chamber of Commerce is a business organization that exists to foster innovation and collaboration. The Chamber’s mission is to promote the growth and success of business in Monroe County, MI. They are governed by a board of directors and execute their plan of action via a small team of committed paid staff and prominent volunteers from area businesses.
Contact: Tim Lake
Monroe County Business Development Corporation
Phone: (734) 241-8081
9 Washington Street
Monroe, MI 48161
