Third Quarter 2012
story by GRED WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT/CEO LAWRENCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Lawrence Chamber of Commerce: The Reality of Economic Development
The term “economic development” means different things to different people. Without a common understanding of what economic development is, it is difficult to build a framework for discussion
on what it means to our community.
In its most simplistic definition, economic development is the process of creating community wealth by connecting business and people in way that allows them to make a profit. Economic development is the lifeblood of a community. It is fundamental to our success and helps community leaders ensure an improving quality of life for its citizens – both current and future.
We know that successful economic development is not a “one size fits all” model and that no single model will meet the needs of all communities. Every community has unique assets, needs and opportunities. Successful economic growth requires an understanding of those assets, needs and opportunities, coupled with a business climate that embraces the innovation and entrepreneurship
necessary to move from the generation of an idea to job creation.
The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce plays a significant role in the development and implementation of an economic development platform at the local level. The Chamber’s goal, in concert with the
city and county, is to position Lawrence and Douglas County for success, developing sound public policy and pro-business, common sense programs beneficial to companies who hire our residents.
The City and County are doing tremendous things, developing policy with vision and forethought, with the goal of creating new jobs that benefit our citizens and community.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine (a national trade publication focused on economic development) released its list of top performing U.S. economic development groups. They are: The Baton Rouge Area Chamber; the Dallas Regional Chamber; the Greater Houston Partnership; the Nashville Area Chamber; the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance; and the Select Greater Philadelphia organization. Rankings were based on jobs and capital investment generated by corporate facility projects on a per capita basis, as well as creativity in strategy, depth and breadth of project activity, and the ability to generate “breakthrough deals”. This is a signal, loud and clear, that chambers of commerce that take their work very seriously lead the best economic development programs in America.
Chambers of Commerce is the logical, natural place for community economic development programs to be born and implemented, and in Lawrence, led by a strong partnership between the Chamber
of Commerce, Douglas County and the City of Lawrence.
Economic development is one of the most high profile, and highly competitive, efforts any strong Chamber chooses to undertake. This is a challenge the Lawrence of Chamber of Commerce is ready
to meet, working with the City and County to create jobs that benefit our residents and community
43 Comments
Enjoyed every bit of your post. Awesome.
Really enjoyed this article. Fantastic.
Very informative blog post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Great article post. Really Cool.
Im obliged for the blog. Really Cool.
Thank you ever so for you blog.Thanks Again.
I really enjoy the blog post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
Awesome blog post.Much thanks again. Great.
Thanks for the blog article.Really thank you!
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Really informative blog article.Really thank you!
Awesome blog article.Much thanks again. Really Great.
I cannot thank you enough for the blog.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Im grateful for the article.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Thanks again for the post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
A round of applause for your blog.Much thanks again. Great.
Really enjoyed this blog post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
This is one awesome blog post.
This is one awesome blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
Wow, great blog post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Very good blog.Really thank you! Much obliged.
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog article. Want more.
Major thankies for the blog.Thanks Again. Great.
Im grateful for the blog.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
I really like and appreciate your post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Thanks a lot for the post.Really thank you! Cool.
Thanks for the blog.Really thank you! Really Cool.
I truly appreciate this article post. Really Cool.
I value the post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Wow, great blog.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
I really enjoy the post.Really thank you!
Say, you got a nice blog.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Im thankful for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Really informative article.Really thank you! Great.
Very neat article post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
wow, awesome article.
Appreciate you sharing, great blog article.
964576 446363I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I detected this on google . 240468
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog post.Thanks Again. Will read on…
I loved your post.Thanks Again. Cool.
Major thanks for the article post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
Great, thanks for sharing this post.Much thanks again.
Im grateful for the post.Really thank you! Awesome.