Economic Community Development through the Columbus Chamber of Commerce

The Columbus Chamber's mission is to lead and support economic growth and economic community development for the Greater Columbus community. We will achieve that mission through activities that benefit our members and attract new investment to Columbus.

Unprecedented times
For many, this is the first time we’ve faced such economic uncertainty. As we work to rebound from the recession, we must take on this challenge as we do all others—with determination, directed energy, strategic focus, confidence, and support for one another. The Columbus Chamber will continue to lead and support growth and development, leveraging our assets and delivering programs and services with a focus on critical business objectives:

• Attract new companies and jobs - Influence business decision-makers and site selection consultants through marketing and outreach. Outcomes: regional growth, economic prosperity.
• Retain and expand existing business - Provide Chamber members with information that helps their business; collect information that helps us understand business needs so we can address them through legislative and governmental advocacy, programs, and training, as well as connections for economic community development opportunities. Outcomes: regional business retention, growth, and expansion.
• Build capacity for growth - Ensure that the region is defining, creating and upgrading the critical components of workforce, infrastructure, business-friendly policies necessary to support and encourage economic community development in targeted industries and general  business. Outcomes: regional business retention, expansion, and attraction of companies and workforce.

What we do:

Support for the business community

Through interviews with local executives and business owners, and surveys of business, we gather information that helps us help you, individually and collectively. This information drives our programs, public policy initiatives, and more. As we continue to understand changing business needs, we’re matching our programming to assist.

Of course, our fundamental programs remain intact:

• Helping businesses market their companies through event sponsorships, a membership
  directory, and advertising.
• Providing money-saving opportunities.
• Connecting business and people for community economic development
  opportunity through Contacts to Contracts,
  Diversity Bridge, and networking.
• Supporting workforce needs by attracting
  and retaining talent.

Business attraction to the Columbus Region

We remain aggressive in the attraction of business and workforce too. Collaboration among 20 regional partners, regional marketing, and proactive lead generation is paying off for community economic development. We’re filling the pipeline with opportunities and working together to close the deal.
Our primary strategies include:

• Use of information and economic data
  to target industries and businesses.
• Marketing the region through technology,
  public relations, targeted contacts, trade
  shows, corporate calling, and missions.
• Regionalism, with 20 public-sector partners
  investing in the Columbus Chamber for community economic
  development support and use of technology
  that encourages collaboration to respond
  to economic opportunities.
• Focus on long-term growth industries
  identified by CompeteColumbus.