2012 AnnuAl RepoRt And 2013 Action plAn

2012 AccomplishmentsWe are committed to developing our partners and enhancing the benefits we provide to them, as well as recognizing their dedication to furthering the business community in South Central Kentucky.

Recruitment & RetentionTo grow and maintain the strong network of more than 1,100 partners of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, we:• Recruited 115 new partners and retained 87% of our entire partnership,

well above the national average of 82.5%, as reported by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (most recent data 2011).

• Recognized 64 Chamber partners as members of the President’s Club. These partners give above and beyond their base Chamber dues in support of economic development in South Central Kentucky.

• Celebrated the 2012 Annual Dinner with nearly 700 partners attending. Chairman D. Gaines Penn presented his 2012 theme: Building Talent. Leading Innovation. The dinner included regional representation from partner counties.

partnership SupportAligning ourselves with the aforementioned recruitment and retention goals, the Chamber is dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost opportunities for our partners. During 2012, we:• Celebrated continued growth and expansion in our community,

coordinating 68 ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings.• Held monthly Business After Hours at partner businesses, providing

Vision StatementThe Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerceis the driving force for South Central Kentucky’sbusiness community.1

2012 AnnuAl RepoRt

networking and sponsorship opportunities in an informal setting. An average of 75 partner representatives attended each Business After Hours.

• Chamber partners hosted seven Coffee Hours throughout the year to promote their businesses and provide high-quality speakers to an average of 250 partner representatives. Each Coffee Hour allowed the Chamber to communicate its programs, activities, and successes to the partnership.

• Supported our Chamber partners through the Chamber Ambassador program. The Chamber Ambassadors contributed nearly 4,000 volunteer hours to support our Chamber partners.

• Partnered with President’s Club Diamond Star Partner Western Kentucky University to host Welcome Back WKU, offering an opportunity for Chamber businesses to market their products and services to more than 3,000 Western students their first week on campus.

• Produced a monthly television show with Insight Communications, highlighting local guests on Chamber and community topics.

• Produced and distributed publications including:

* Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky Magazine – Distributed 10,000+ at publication date and provided 500+ in relocation packets with additional marketing materials

* Bowling Green-Warren County Industry Guide – Printed on demand for 25+ requests

* Chamber Connection newsletter – Distributed to 2,800+ Chamber partner representatives monthly

* Bowling Green-Warren County Map – 200+ sold by the Chamber and distributed with marketing materials annually

* Small Business Brochure – Distributed to 300+ Chamber partner small businesses and prospective partners annually

talentTo foster workforce development and build talent in South Central Kentucky, we:• Assisted Warren County in obtaining the Work Ready Community

certification from the Kentucky Workforce Development Board. Warren County was one of the first counties to obtain this honor.

• Awarded 92 Work Ethic Seal certificates to graduating seniors from Bowling Green Independent Schools and Warren County Public Schools in spring 2012.

• Connected businesses with local schools for the Business-Education Partnership Program for the 2011-2012 school year and presented four awards in spring 2012:

* The Rookie Business Partnership of the Year: Warren Central High School & Bowling Green Technical College

* The Elementary Business Partnership of the Year: Cumberland Trace Elementary School & Independence Bank

* The Middle School and Business Partnership of the Year: Bowling Green Junior High School & the Warren County Attorney’s Office

* The High School & Business Partnership of the Year: Bowling Green High School & Holiday Inn University Plaza

• Coordinated the South Central Kentucky Job Fair with the Kentucky Office of Employment & Training in October. Twenty-five companies and organizations hosted booths at the Job Fair, which was held at the WKU Center for Research & Development.

• Supported the Training Consortium of South Central Kentucky efforts for workforce training. Forty existing businesses are members of the Training Consortium.

2012 AnnuAl RepoRt

* Honored 11 graduates of the Supervisor Certificate Program in May 2012. This program provides skills-based training for to employees at minimal cost to their employers. The Training Consortium coordinates the program in partnership with local targeted businesses, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Western Kentucky University’s Center for Training & Development.

• Spearheaded the Business at its Best Seminars program, offering business development seminars on a variety of topics, including:

* Websites and social media * Small business funding

* Starting a small business * Apps and mobile websites• Hosted seminars to support business development and growth, with

more than 20 business leaders attending each topic-specific event:

* New healthcare law * Change management

* Potential area code changes * Website credibility

* Financing your small business * Grow from within

* Your mobile business * Hiring practices

* Building your website with Google * Building talent in Kentucky• Continued building The Leader in Me™ Program by Stephen Covey in Bowling Green-Warren County.

* Launched the $1.6 million capital campaign to be the first community in the nation to implement The Leader in MeTM in all schools and all grades, K-12.

Mission StatementWe provide valuable services to our partners,advocate a positive business environment andstimulate economic development for South Central Kentucky. 2

In addition to the 271 new jobs and $45.7million of investment achieved in 2012, the Chamber andSCKY retained an additional 266 existing jobs deemed at risk.

2012 AnnuAl RepoRt

– Raised more than $800,000 in 2012, with President’s Club Silver Star Partner Graves-Gilbert Clinic as the lead investor with its $250,000 investment.

* Collaborated with Bowling Green Independent Schools and Warren County Public Schools to promote the success and potential impact of the program to investors and to the public.– Thirteen of our Bowling Green and Warren County elementary

schools have implemented The Leader in MeTM thus far, and our middle and high schools are incorporating it at various degrees.

• Coordinated the 2012 Leadership Bowling Green Program.

* Thirty professionals graduated from the 2012 program, with three additional graduating from the 2011 class.

* Kelly Arnold of Gemini Homes, Inc. received the 2012 Bart Hagerman Leadership Award.

• Worked with the Leadership Bowling Green Alumni Association (LBGAA) to hold monthly meetings on community topics of interest. LBGAA conducts the STEP program, a high school leadership program conducted annually, and awards STEP scholarships.

Business expansion, Attraction & Retention Targeted businesses are those that do more than 50% of their business outside of the state, bringing new dollars into our region and to our businesses and families. In 2012, the Chamber participated in nine announcements, totaling potential capital investments of nearly $45.7 million and 271 planned new jobs. These announcements are:

The City of Bowling Green provides generous financial support to economic development projects through an occupational tax abatement (the Job Development Incentive Program). In 2012, the City approved two projects with a total of $497,600 in incentives and 156 projected new jobs. This financial support—as well as incentives provided by the Commonwealth through the Incentives for New Kentucky program—assists in the creation of new jobs and new investment by fostering a positive business climate in South Central Kentucky.

Economic development projects occur over a three-year cycle, which will result in millions of dollars gained in the South Central Kentucky region during the next few years, along with the economic impact of those businesses in the future as they grow and thrive in our region.

company county investment Jobs

Taggart Solar Edmonson Attraction $440,000 30

Davert USA, Inc. Warren Attraction $2,320,620 20

Holley Performance Products Warren Expansion $7,000,000 136

Yahagi America Molding, Inc. Edmonson Expansion $1,000,000 15

Sumitomo Electric Wiring Metcalfe Expansion $10,466,000

Kiriu USA Corp Warren Expansion $10,000,000 16

RC Components Warren Expansion $836,207 16

Delta Faucet Butler Expansion $400,000 20

Kobe Aluminum Automotive Warren Expansion $12,300,000 13

new = $2,760,620 / 50

expanding = $42,929,207 / 221

total = $45,689,827 / 271

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2012 AnnuAl RepoRt

targeted Business SupportIn support of our existing businesses, we:• Celebrated Business & Industry Appreciation Month in September,

which culminated in the Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet.

* Secretary Elaine L. Chao, the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001-2009) was the keynote speaker for the banquet.

• Presented the John B. Holland Business of the Year Award to Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC.

* President’s Club Bronze Star Partner Scott, Murphy & Daniel, LLC sponsored the award.

• Presented awards to targeted businesses in five additional categories.

* Business Expansion Awards, sponsored by President’s Club Bronze Star Partner Tennessee Valley Authority• AEP Industries • BlueCotton• Corvac Composites • Hill’s Pet Nutrition• KIRIU • Pure Power Technologies, LLC• RC Components • Topura America Fastener, Inc.• Yahagi America Molding, Inc.

* Newcomer Awards, sponsored by President’s Club Bronze Star Partner Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC• Key Inventions, LLC • MHM Metals

* Export Excellence Award• President’s Club Bronze Star Partner SCA Personal Care

* Green-to-Gold Award, sponsored by President’s Club Bronze Star Partner Robinson Construction Company• Halton Company, LLC

* Business Innovation Awards• Hitcents.com • Delta Faucet Company• EWA Government Systems • Pan-Oston Company• Control Systems Design & Automation, Inc.

• Assisted the Kentucky Transpark in being named one of the first CSX Select Sites, as designated by CSX and The Austin Company. The Transpark’s Lot 6 is one of only five sites on the railroad’s 23-state network to have this designation and is one of only two Select Sites in the southeastern United States.

• Received one of only eight Industry Partnership grants in Kentucky for the South Central Kentucky Regional Development Authority to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership of Warren County. The RDA received the largest grant available: $65,000 from the Kentucky Workforce Development Board.

• Coordinated the annual Industry Golf Classic, sponsored by President’s Club Bronze Star Partner Scott, Murphy and Daniel, LLC, in September at The Club at Olde Stone.

• Hosted A Night with the Bowling Green Hot Rods at the Bowling Green Ballpark to recognize our existing targeted businesses.

• Organized the Women in Industry Breakfast, honoring women’s contributions to the economy. President’s Club Diamond Star Partner The Medical Center and President’s Club Silver Star Partner Graves Gilbert Clinic sponsored the breakfast.

• Hosted a seminar outlining the results of the 2012 Wage & Benefits Survey as reported by the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and IQS Research.

The Chamber’s South Central Kentucky Regional MarketingPartnership supports Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan,Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren Counties. 4

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2012 AnnuAl RepoRt

Small Business & entrepreneurshipIn support of small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout South Central Kentucky, we:• Honored Mike Simpson, owner and president of Chandler Property

Management, as the 2012 Small Business Person of the Year. • Organized an employee appreciation event for the employees at

Chandler Real Estate.• Held the Women in Business Breakfast to honor women’s contributions

to the economy. President’s Club Diamond Star Partner The Medical Center and Harned, Bachert and McGehee, LLP sponsored the breakfast.

• Led the Partnership-wide Chamber Golf Challenge with more than 150 players and volunteers participating.

• Partnered with the WKU Small Business Development Center and the Central Region Innovation & Commercialization Center to host a Small Business Seminar, offering insightful workshops and key resources for current and potential small business owners. More than 40 local residents attended the half-day seminar.

Governmental RelationsTo identify and advocate legislation and public policies affecting economic and business issues, we:• Researched and defined legislative priorities for the Chamber, a project

of the Legislative Action Committee.• Attended the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Chamber Day in

Lexington in January, kicking off the 2012 General Assembly.• Hosted the South Central Kentucky Night in partnership with

President’s Club Diamond Star Partner Western Kentucky University,

inviting Chamber partners to meet with legislators at a reception in Frankfort. Approximately 100 people attended the event.

• Hosted a Legislative Wrap-Up to provide our partners with an overview of the 2012 legislative session.

• Hosted a reception for the 2012 election candidates with more than 50 partners in attendance.

• Coordinated a “Get Out and Vote” marketing campaign to encourage participation in the 2012 general election.

partner RecognitionTo honor our Chamber partners who have made significant contributions to the business community, we have:• Held a “Buck Roast” in October to raise money for the Charles M. Moore

Jr. Leadership Fund. More than 250 people attended the event, a roast of Warren County Judge Executive Michael Buchanon by community leaders.

• Presented Jamie Spinks of the Warren County Attorney’s office with the Chamber’s ATHENA Young Professional Award, sponsored by Martin Management Group.

• Named Dr. Sue Parrigin of President’s Club Diamond Star Partner Western Kentucky University as the 2012 ATHENA recipient and honored her at the 2012 ATHENA Luncheon. Martin Management Group is the sponsor of the ATHENA Award.

• Presented our 2012 Year-End Awards to Skip Wirth (Ambassador of the Year), Joy Rogers (Board Volunteer of the Year), and Cathy Palmer (Volunteer of the Year).

Small businesses comprise 90% of ourChamber partnership. According to a recent study,buyers prefer to do business with firms who are members of their local Chamber.

2012 AnnuAl RepoRt

chamber excellenceThe Chamber has been internationally and nationally recognized for its excellent programs, activities and communications, having been named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, the Chamber continued this track record of success:• Received five Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives Awards (the

most of any Kentucky chamber for the year):

* Best Communications: Chamber Connection Newsletter

* Best E-Communications: Chamber Weekly E-News

* Best Online Communications: www.bgchamber.com

* Best Partnership Retention Rate in 2011: 85.4%

* Best Special Event: 2011 Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet• Received an Award of Merit for the Bowling Green-Warren County

Community Profile from the Southern Economic Development Council.

chamber Staff developmentTo better serve our partnership, we encouraged Chamber staff to develop themselves and to continue to improve upon their roles as they serve the partnership. As we moved forward with these efforts, we sent Chamber staff members to conferences and workshops to learn of new benefits and programs to offer Chamber partners. Staff attended events hosted by the following organizations:• American Chamber of Commerce Executives• International Economic Development Council• Kentucky Association for Economic Development• Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives• National Development Council’s Economic Development Finance

Professional (EDFP) Certification Program• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management

Ron Bunch, CEcD, Chamber president and CEO, was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Western Kentucky UniversityResearch Foundation.

Chamber partners experience:

* a 49% increase in consumer favorability rating

* a 73% increase in consumer awareness

* a 68% increase in its local reputation

* an 80% increase in consumer patronization 6

2013 chairman’s themeTransforming South Central Kentuckythrough Talent and Innovation7

2013 Action plAn

2013 leadership in the Global innovation economyThe Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s vision of success equals more high-paying jobs, more capital investment, and more wealth for South Central Kentucky residents. This vision is supported by the following goals:• Grow and transform traditional sectors of South Central

Kentucky’s economy.• Expand South Central Kentucky’s targeted business sectors.• Increase South Central Kentucky’s economic base.

Strategic initiative #1: existing Business Retention & expansionRetain and expand existing targeted businesses using a proactive business retention and expansion model.• Launch an Innovation Asset Map portal.• Achieve the anticipated outcomes of the Advanced

Manufacturing Industry Partnership by June 30, 2013.• Complete Lean Process Map for workforce incentive program

by end of second quarter 2013. • Encourage workforce partners to increase the number of

National Career Readiness Certificate holders in Warren County to 1,442 by year-end to meet the goals of the Work Ready Community certification.

• Grow the Business & Education Partnerships support of The Leader in MeTM efforts. Better connect businesses with the Work Ethic Seal program or an acceptable soft-skill credential.

• Assess the effectiveness of the Key Hire pilot program, making adjustments to meet employer needs.

• Pilot the first South Central Kentucky Leadership Program in 2013.• Coordinate efforts to expand Manufacturing Wage &

Fringe study to additional sectors while partnering with stakeholders (SHRM, WIB, WKU, KAM, etc.) to create a unified, comprehensive survey to be released in September 2013.

• Continue to support efforts that increase opportunities for growth in exports including the creation of an export directory, seminars, trade missions, and referrals to resources.

• Grow participation in the targeted roundtables: Innovation, Manufacturing, International Business Development.

Targeted businesses are those that do more than 50%of their business outside of the state, bringing new dollars intoour region and to our businesses and families.

2013 Action plAn

Strategic initiative #2: new Business AttractionRecruit targeted businesses to South Central Kentucky that will diversify the economy and create high-wage jobs thereby increasing the economic vitality of the region.• Aggressively target businesses in the automotive, advanced

manufacturing, distribution & logistics, food processing, and motorsports industries as we execute the SCKY Marketing Plan.• Aggressively target foreign direct investment projects.• Explore medical device business opportunities, cyber defense,

cellulosic bio-fuel, and mesonet-related businesses.• Coordinate valuable regional marketing partnership activities

that grow SCK regional partner participation and satisfaction.• Collaborate with regional partners on key initiatives with

regional impact, such as the South Central Kentucky Legislative Agenda, talent/workforce development, and key stakeholder partnerships.

• Seek new technology tools and resources that make SCKY more competitive in attraction efforts, which lead to better process efficiency and provide value to the organization’s efforts to collect and gather data and information.

• Ensure sites, buildings, and infrastructure inventory meets our targeted business goals while enhancing incentives and business climate to improve competitiveness.

• Increase property development success in the Kentucky Transpark and the South Central Industrial Park.

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The Chamber, in cooperation with our City andCounty schools, is on track to be the first in the nationto implement The Leader in MeTM in all of our schools. Visit www.theleaderinmesck.com.9

2013 Action plAn

Strategic initiative #3: entrepreneurship & Small BusinessExpand entrepreneurship and small business prosperity, including those within targeted sectors throughout the region.• Promote the umbrella branding of small business resources

which includes Small Business Development Center, the Central Region Innovation & Commercialization Center, SCORE and others to equip entrepreneurs and small business owners.

• Support the establishment of (or access to) capital assets to include an Angel Investment Fund.

• Implement the SizeUp portal and promote www.onestop.ky.gov to provide our partners with easy access to comprehensive resources that will support their growth.

• Coordinate partnerships and resources to enhance innovation and technology based businesses by establishing a downtown entrepreneur/innovative culture, including completion of a feasibility study for a SCKY conference similar to idea festival.

• Provide a robust schedule of small business professional development sessions through partnerships with TVA, WKU Gordon Ford College of Business, the Small Business Development Center, and other organizations.

• Recognize leadership, small business, entrepreneurs, and targeted businesses for their success through awards and programing with an eye toward regional, state and national awards.

Strategic initiative #4: Business climateContinuously improve the positive business climate within South Central Kentucky, helping to grow the region’s economic base.• Collaborate with key stakeholders to implement an engaged

strategic plan, community needs assessment, and regional indicators to monitor progress.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders within the umbrella branding initiative to implement mutually beneficial marketing activities to grow the economy.

• Explore the concept of 55,000 degrees, which is an effort to increase a college-going culture to produce sufficient graduates supporting a technology-based economic development plan.

• Contribute to the revitalization of downtown through the recruitment of targeted businesses that build economic base.

• Advocate with local, state and national entities in advancing issues and promoting solutions that parallel the Chamber’s legislative priorities.

• Engage the region to produce a South Central Kentucky Priority Needs List, a Legislative Scorecard, and determine the feasibility of a Super-Region (WKU service territory) Advocacy Agenda.

• Host events and conduct outreach activities that promote legislative involvement, cultivate future elected officials, and engage legislators.

• Complete the fundraising campaign for The Leader in MeTM

and leverage the success of the initiative that demonstrates the value of the investment.

The President’s Club partners are those who generouslycontribute above their standard investment in the Chamberto support the economic development efforts of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

2013 Action plAn

Strategic initiative #5: chamber partnershipProvide solution-based partnership strategies and initiatives that focus on value and result in growth and prosperity for our Chamber partners.• Retain 86% or more of the Chamber Partnership, well above

the national average by meeting with all 1,100+ Chamber partners to determine their primary needs and expectations of the Chamber, capturing the information in our customer relationship management software, and responding with targeted resources/programing, increased referrals, segmented communications and cross promotions.

• Implement an enhanced year-long new partner orientation focused on tailored communication and partner convenience resulting in an increased retention of first-year partners by 10%.

• Implement revised President’s Club benefits with the goal of retaining 100% of our President’s Club partners and increasing the club by five new partners.

• Recruit 135 new partners through solution-based, customizable value propositions.

• Implement a Circle of Champions reward system for recruitment and retention volunteers.

• Re-launch bgchamber.com to support new solutions-based approach to partnership. The new website will be mobile-friendly and include improved navigation, advanced business growth and advocacy resources, convenient volunteer portal,

return on investment calculator, online evaluation/feedback to supplement quarterly and annual surveys.

• Utilize partnership analytics to segment partner communication. • Enhance network building by incorporating lead generating

activities into traditional events such as Coffee Hours, Business After Hours, ribbon cuttings, and Welcome Back WKU, and implement small-group network building events for networking lunches and roundtables.

• Provide no-cost and exclusive advertising, sponsorship and promotional opportunities for business exposure and conduct programing that drives dollars to our partners through “buy Chamber” activities directly impacting their bottom line.

• Outline a list of businesses with Worksite Wellness programs and direct those interested to worksite wellness resources.

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Bowling Green Area chamber of commerce710 College Street • Post Office Box 51Bowling Green, Kentucky 42102-0051

270-781-3200 Phone866-330-2422 US Toll Free270-843-0458 Fax

info@bgchamber.com

www.bgchamber.comwww.southcentralky.com

®

Current as of January 28, 2013