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

2014-2017 Organizational Priorities

2016 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

FOSTERING A VIBRANT BUSINESS COMMUNITY

F O S T E R I N G A 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

O V E R V I E W• Our Mission

• 2014-2017 Organizational Priorities

• 2016 Strategic Action Plan

F O S T E R I N G A 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

O U R M I S S I O NBe the Voice of Business

in the Greater Charlottetown Area

on economic issues and provide

services and opportunities

for members to enhance their

ability to do business.

F O S T E R I N G A 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

FOSTERING a 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 businesses and partners 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.

F O S T E R I N G A 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

T h e C h a m b e r ’s U l t i m a t e G o a l i n 2 0 1 6

FOSTER A 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.

2016 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

FOSTERING A VIBRANT BUSINESS COMMUNITY

F O S T E R I N G A 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 subcommittees.

• Deliver programming that benefits our members.

• Ensure members see value in the Chamber.

STRATEGIES: 1. Our members are number one. We will engage in discussions with

our members to continually better understand their business needs. The Chamber will implement a strong stewardship program and host roundtables with members on topics of interest to them.

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

3. 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.

4. Provide targeted and focused communications about Chamber activities and outcomes. We will provide strategic communications through digital media, traditional media, as well as our e-news, e-issues, social media and print publications. We will also produce updates on the progress of achieving our own priorities outlined in this document.

F O S T E R I N G A 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: 1. Champion efforts to influence positive change in the areas of K-12

education, taxation, and government alternative service delivery to the private sector to support new and existing businesses and retain youth and newcomers. We will continue to build on our efforts to advocate for change in K-12 education initiated in 2014.

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

3. 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 look forward to supporting provincial and regional positions during the 2016 Canadian Chamber Annual Meeting.

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

F O S T E R I N G A 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:

1. 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, Good News Campaign, and Biz Under 40 BigWig Lunches.

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

F O S T E R I N G A 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 entrepreneurship and support existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.

OBJECTIVE(S):

• Support existing and aspiring entrepreneurs in their endeavours.

STRATEGIES:

1. 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.

2. Successfully implement the Island Advance initiative. Greater eco-nomic 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.

F O S T E R I N G A 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): • Greater retention and integration of entrepreneurial immigrants.

STRATEGIES: 1. Support the integration of newcomers within the business

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

2. Educate members on the importance of PEI Connectors Program in economic development for the greater Charlottetown area and the province as a whole.

F O S T E R I N G A 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