G r e a t e r C h a r l o t t e t o w n A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

2014-2017STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

2017 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

PROMOTE A GROWING AND VIBRANT BUSINESS

COMMUNITY

O U R M I S S I O NTo be the voice of business

in the greater Charlottetown area

on economic issues and to provide

services and opportunities for members

to enhance their ability to do business.

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

2017 Top Issues of Concern What We Heard from Our Members

TOP ADVOCACY ISSUES

1. Encourage & Support Entrepreneurship

2. Youth Retention

3. Competitive Tax System

4. Quality K-12 Education System

5. Immigrant Retention

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

PROMOTE a Growing and Vibrant Business Community

1. MEMBER VALUE: ensure the Chamber is relevant to our members.

2. ADVOCACY: engage in meaningful and relevant issues and act as the business voice on behalf of our members and the business community.

3. CELEBRATION: share good news about business and partner members to ensure the continued vibrancy of our business community.

4. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: encourage entrepreneurship and support existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.

5. IMMIGRATION: support integration and retention of entrepreneurial and skilled immigrants.

2017 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

PROMOTE a Growing and Vibrant Business Community

Through all of our efforts, the Chamber will

promote and facilitate support for local

business, in all sectors, to ensure our business

community is vibrant today and into the future.

THE CHAMBER’S ULTIMATE GOAL IN 2017

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

MEMBER VALUE: Ensure the Chamber is relevant to our members.

OBJECTIVES: • Clearly understand business needs.

• Increase the level of member engagement through networking, roundtables, and committees.

• Deliver programming that benefits our members.

• Ensure members see value in the Chamber.

STRATEGIES: • Our members are our top priority. We will engage in discussions with,

and seek feedback from, our members to continually better understand their business needs.

• Encourage members to build connections through networking. The Chamber will continue to promote events and monthly socials to grow our network and our members’ connections.

• Enhance and promote member benefits including the Canadian Chamber group health plan. We will educate members of the value of these programs to support their businesses.

• Provide targeted and focused communications about Chamber activities and outcomes. We will use strategic communications through social and traditional media, and provide progress updates on our strategic actions.

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

ADVOCACY: Engage in meaningful and relevant advocacy issues and act as the business voice on behalf of members and the business community.

OBJECTIVES: • Be recognized as the Greater Charlottetown area’s leading voice

for business interests.

• Engage in meaningful and relevant advocacy issues.

• Impact and influence policy and direction to support a vibrant business community.

STRATEGIES: • Influence positive change in the areas of K-12 education, competitive

tax system, and population growth (including youth and immigrant retention). We will continue to define and proactively pursue tangible outcomes in these areas of advocacy.

• Stay abreast of issues of concern to members and be proactive where possible. We seek members input in sharing their views and work to help address concerns.

• Take a stand on positions locally, provincially, and nationally. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with other chambers in PEI, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on regional issues. We will support provincial and regional positions during the 2017 Canadian Chamber Annual Meeting.

• Meet with elected officials on a regular basis. Our priority is to champion business needs pre and post federal, provincial and municipal budgets.

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

CELEBRATION: Share good news about business and partner to ensure the continued vibrancy of our business community.

OBJECTIVE(S): • Increase recognition of the importance of business and the many good

news stories.

STRATEGIES: • Take every opportunity to highlight the vibrancy of the business

community. We will celebrate the vibrancy of our business community and entrepreneurship through initiatives including the GCACC President’s Excellence Awards Gala and Entrepreneur Award, and Good News Campaign.

• Continue to work with partners to support the vibrancy of the Greater Charlottetown area as a great place to do business.

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Encourage entrepreneur-ship and support existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.

OBJECTIVE(S): • Support existing and aspiring entrepreneurs in their endeavours.

STRATEGIES: • Facilitate the establishment of a fully funded mentoring program

that delivers hands-on mentoring to current, start-up, and aspiring entrepreneurs. A mentoring program established based on a proven model and appropriate funding will greatly support entrepreneurship, a vibrant business community, and economic development within PEI.

• Successfully implement a fully-funded Island Advance initiative. Greater economic activity within Prince Edward Island will support all of our business and the economy. The Chamber will communicate the importance of this Island-wide initiative to our members and the community at large.

• Address the strategic need for ease of navigation of all programs and services. Members and entrepreneurs have consistently identified the need to be able to easily navigate supports available through government and non-profit organizations and have looked to the Chamber for assistance.

• Secure funding to develop and deliver an easy to use, updated HR Toolkit and continue to encourage use by entrepreneurs, industry groups and government.

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

IMMIGRATION: Support the integration and retention of entrepreneurial and skilled immigrants.

OBJECTIVE(S): • Support greater retention and integration of entrepreneurial immigrants.

STRATEGIES: • Support the integration of newcomers within the business community

through a fully funded PEI Connectors program and Chamber networking events and initiatives.

• Educate members on the importance of PEI Connectors program in economic development for the Greater Charlottetown area and the province as a whole.

• Promote and encourage diversity in the workplace. The Chamber will continue to educate our members and the business community of the value of diversity in the workplace. We will also find new ways to embrace diversity within our own activities.

P R O M O T E A G R O W I N G A N D V I B R A N T B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y G R E AT E R C H A R L O T T E T O W N A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E 2 0 1 6 S T R AT E G I C A C T I O N P L A N

GREATER CHARLOTTETOWN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL PLANNING AND REPORTING CYCLE

Member FeedbackPast Year & Year AheadSurvey & Committees

Dec.

STEP 1

ADVANCEBoard Planning for Year Ahead

TOP 10 PRIORITIES February

STEP 3

Committee Reports Yearly Progress to Board

Dec.

STEP 10

Committee Planning for Year Ahead

March

STEP 4

Staff Planningfor Year Ahead

January

STEP 2

Communications of Plans and Reporting Ongoing /Dec. Highlights

STEP 9

Committees Report Plans to Board & Plan

Finalized for Year Ahead March

STEP 5

Progress Committee Reports to Board

June

STEP 8

AGM Presentation Year in Review & Year Ahead

May

STEP 6

Regular Review of Plan by Committees

Ongoing

STEP 7

ONGOING FEEDBACK

FROM MEMBERS

Input from Board members

representing members’ interests

PRIOR TO & DURING ADVANCE

Input from members through

committees

ONGOING FEEDBACK

FROM MEMBERS

VALUE TO MEMBERS

• Networking • Communication • Advocacy • Business Development • Education