GOAL B cGOAL CGOAL AAdvance uni�ed regionaleconomic development

Facilitate employers andeducation institutions

Support the developmentof the Canton urban core

Conducted three successful oil and gas business seminars and remained active in regional and statewide energy organizations

Established “Small Business Growth Network” by CRCC and SCORE to create a new small business platform

Added over 200 new employees with capital investment in excess of $30 million

Supported development of the Hall of Fame Village through funding of the Master Plan and impact study and partnered with Hall of Fame for bid for NFL draft

Made 25 calls on local businesses to determine their needs

2015

2016Continue to prepare regional businesses for energy-related opportunities while evaluating new initiatives

Market our Small Business Growth Network to increase business usage of this product

Actively market our area for new and existing business growth

Develop a regional program with MAGNET to assist manufacturing

Continue to call on companies to determine needs

Educate ourselves on the workforce development and readiness needs of the region by working with employers and universities Convene the providers and leaders of workforce services to become the regional hub of research and information of workforce needs Promote and support workforce awareness efforts to public and private middle and high school students Contribute to the workforce diversity of the region by working with those organizations with a focus on inclusion

Add a 2nd Spotlight Stark County to foster training and development needs of young professionals

Assist with the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan

Design Market Square space

Market downtown to developers to assist with the creation of living and commercial space

Inventory existing downtown incentives and create new ones to meet the needs of the downtown community

Continue to connect downtown to the HOF Village

Coordinated NASA Roadshow and [M]Power events in collaboration with MAGNET and Crain’s to address regional workforce issues in manufacturing

Partnered with Employment First to coordinate a strategy with Stark DD in securing employment for individuals with disabilities

Aided United Way of Greater Stark County in obtaining the Community Connectors grant to provide business mentoring to Canton City Schools

Convened City of Canton, Akron-Canton Airport, Chamber, United Way and PFHOF to study data needs and a collaborative strategic plan, with the support of Stark Community Foundation, The Repository and Fund For Our Economic Future

Provided Strengths Finder training opportunities for local non-profits and young professionals through Leadership Stark County

2015

2016

Assisted City of Canton with development of the Comprehensive Plan

Created connection to Hall of Fame Village through Market Square development, Fulton Road improvements and the “Eleven” art pieces

Finalized city and private funding for Market Square development project in downtown

Explored the use of Redevelopment/ Innovation/ Entertainment Districts and Refreshment Areas to energize our center city

Added 10 new businesses in downtown

2015

2016

GOAL D GOAL E GOAL FAdvocate for regional travel

industry infrastructureCreate a public policy advocacy

voice for the region Reinforce a chamber culture of collaboration,

integration, and service excellence

Created our first public policy agenda to describe the public issues that were most important to our business members

Worked with Metro Chambers of Ohio colleagues to protect business interests in the state budget process by: Sharing the expense of a $50,000 study conducted by EY Consulting’s state tax experts. EY studied business tax increases proposed in the state budget and projected the negative impact on Ohio business growth. - AND - Offering the study to Gov. John Kasich and leaders of the Ohio Legislature, and testifying before the Legislature on the findings. The business taxes were not enacted

Worked with local business leaders to form an employer-based opposition to State Issue 3, which would have permitted recreational and medicinal marijuana in Ohio, then campaigned against Issue 3.Issue 3 was defeated

2015

2016Define member vs non-member services further

Build a member-to-member referral & support base

Continue to explore a tiered dues membership structure

Create new services and communications to best serve members, especially small businesses

Launch new streamlined website, including greater integration of multiple current sites into one

Continue conversations with Jackson Belden Chamber so as to best serve our regional member network

Relocate staff and departments internally to create a greater and more efficient office environment

2015Implemented realigned departments, titles and staff to reinforce our strategic plan

Embraced new mission and vision statements in the staff and company culture

Consulted with Jen Hill, of scitrain, to lead our Executive Management Team through a SWOT process

Refreshed Stir networking events to include ystark! young professionals and new venues

Completed membership survey and hired a profes-sional consultant to lead a Membership Task Force

Redesigned our weekly email communications to be more vibrant and multi-device friendly

Expanded staff development and trainings

2016

Partnered with Visit Canton (CVB) to help fund the feasibility study and economic impact study for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village project

Facilitated numerous meetings relative to HOF Village integration with downtown Canton

Collaborated with Canton Development Partnership and the City of Canton to determine a destination usage for Market Square, while continuing to support growth of the arts district, with emphasis on The Eleven project

Rebranded the CVB to Visit Canton to capitalize on the changing travel and tourism landscape of the region, including an all new website VisitCanton.com

Worked with the CVB to establish them as an independent organization beginning January 1, 2016. The new CVB will continue to reside at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and share select services with the Chamber

Continue to work with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in supporting the development and completion of the Hall of Fame Village

Broaden collaboration with the CVB to more deeply pursue regional and national marketing opportunities for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, downtown Canton, and the arts district

Work with the CVB to identify hospitality industry opportunities for development, as well as work-force training

Collaborate with the CVB to assess needs of regional hospitality infrastructure

2015

2016Revise and update our public policy agenda

Support Stark County projects proposed for 2016 state capital budget funding

Broaden relationships with Ohio legislative leaders to give the Canton region a more effective voice in Columbus

Deepen our ties with the congressmen and their staffs representing the Canton region and with the staffs of Ohio’s U.S. senators

Public policy frequently involves preparation to meet unexpected challenges

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