Strategic Plan & Program of Work

MISSION

VISION

To be a catalytic leader in business growth for northeastern Pennsylvania by building strategic partnerships, results-driven economic initiatives, and facilitating valuable and inclusive connections for our stakeholders

CORE VALUES

Leadership, Collaboration, Equity, Inclusion, and Resourcefulness

Facilitate access to quality networking, business-to-business opportunities, and educational resources

Serve as a voice for business with government and community partners throughout the region

Establish a clear and consistent brand for the Chamber and its affiliates

Promote large and small business attraction and growth, employer engagement, entrepreneurship, and access to capital

Serve as a catalyst for workforce development, career readiness, talent attraction, and professional leadership development

Address resource development, sustainability, staff alignment, and volunteer engagement

Challenges and Opportunities

• Investment structure offers limited options
• Perceived low membership value (by some sectors)
• Membership retention rates declining
• Volunteer and member engagement can be improved

How The Chamber will support
Membership Services

• Component #1 — Grow membership by offering services and benefits that demonstrate stakeholder value
• Component #2 — Facilitate a welcoming and inclusive culture among members and volunteers
• Component #3 — Increase volunteer engagement
• Component #4 — Communicate consistently the value of a Chamber membership to members and future members

Challenges and Opportunities

• Legislative advocacy is not always visible to members
• Underrepresentation of emerging cultural constituencies

How The Chamber will support Government Affairs & Advocacy

• Component #1 — Increase member awareness of legislative advocacy to promote pro-business policies, programs, and services
• Component #2 — Establish regional public affairs partnerships
• Component #3 — Engage emerging cultural constituencies to ensure inclusive

Challenges and Opportunities

• Need more clear and cohesive communication as number of affiliates make messaging complicated
• Need for more impactful media and social media engagements
• Increase communications on member stories

How The Chamber will support Marketing & Communications

• Component #1 — Establish a singular, cohesive Chamber brand
• Component #2 — Strengthen media and social media opportunities
• Component #3 — Increase member value through enhanced communications tool
• Component #4 — Proactively promote stories on diverse members

Challenges and Opportunities

• Need to support businesses of all sizes and sectors
• Grow a regional entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Leverage value of staff expertise
• Provide access to business capital
• Facilitate community investments and partnerships

How The Chamber will support Business Development

• Component #1 — Develop, monitor, and market real estate investments
• Component #2 — Promote entrepreneurship by offering a diverse set of resources and programs
• Component #3 — Support development in businesses of all sizes and constituencies
• Component #4 — Seek ways to market staff services (direct or in-kind)
• Component #5 — Develop a portfolio of resources that offer access to capital to the business community

Challenges and Opportunities

• Available talent pool is not meeting employer demand
• Exploit opportunities for member talent recruitment and retention
• Need for community access to career readiness resources
• Professionals (of all ages) need access to career and leadership development

How The Chamber will support Workforce & Leadership

• Component #1 — Grow talent pipeline that meets employer demand
• Component #2 — Provide platform for business community to recruit and retain employees
• Component #3 — Expand community access to leadership and professional development
• Component #4 — Create tactics to retain high school, secondary, and post secondary graduates in our region

Challenges and Opportunities

• Need for long-range community planning
• Need to strengthen organizational financial sustainability
• Leverage the expertise of board and volunteers
• Evaluate staff to align with strategic plan
• Strengthen organizational culture for staff and members

How The Chamber will support Organizational Excellence

• Component #1 — Provide catalytic leadership for long-range community visioning
• Component #2 — Formulate financial sustainability plan
• Component #3 — Align staff and resources with strategic plan
• Component #4 — Improve board and volunteer engagement