U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Chamber Highlights

Leaving school before graduation limits opportunities for those who drop out and places a burden on the community with significant social and economic costs. In Fort Worth, Texas, business leaders and educators recognize that dropping out of school has many contributing causes and that a coordinated, comprehensive strategy involving a variety of proven approaches will motivate students to stay in school.

Therefore, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce along with the Fort Worth Independent School District, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber, collaborated in 2002 to develop the Stay-in-School Initiative. The goal of the Stay-In-School Initiative is to encourage all students to successfully complete the requirements for graduation from high school. It is a program designed to encourage all students to graduate from high school as well as bring together educators, parents, academicians, businesses, community leaders and volunteers in support of at risk students.

“A qualified workforce is at the root of successful business recruitment and retention,” says Cynthia Fisher Miller, director, Workforce, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. “This supply and demand equation requires thoughtful planning and deep collaboration to connect the Pre-K through 12, higher education, and workforce systems, all of which play a role in building a strong workforce pipeline to fuel the high-growth, high-wage jobs that drive economic vitality. At the root of it all is keeping students in school, ensuring they finish high school, and providing them with multiple pathways to pursue college and careers.”

Despite the recent volatility of the national housing market, the supply of attainable housing for the working professionals, or "workforce housing," continues to be an issue that affects local economies and workforces. Therefore, chambers of commerce and their employer members, continue to be engaged on the issue. Last year, the Charleston (SC) Metro Chamber of Commerce's Center for Business Research and the Lowcountry Housing Trust teamed up conducted an assessment of the their market by analyzing past, current and future trends in order to better understand the relationship between economic growth and projected potential housing needs/demand. Earlier this year, the groups issued their findings in a report, Housing in the Charleston, S.C. Region: A 2007 Affordability Assessment.

The study evaluated housing affordability trends by zip code in order to better understand the linkage between affordability, wages and jobs, and increasing congestion and sprawl. Additionally, the study was aided by a technical working group which looked at the regulation of the housing industry locally and its impact upon housing costs. By working with national experts in the field of affordability and workforce housing, the group studied other communities and what they have implemented to address affordability issues.

In addition to awareness and education, the report introduces the following recommendations:

According to Mary Graham, vice president, economic research for the chamber, the two groups "are now in the process of advocating for these changes. This includes briefing various groups in the greater Charleston region on the reports findings and recommendations, including government officials. The Town of Mt. Pleasant recently gave first reading and approval to their housing affordability ordinance; it's the first that has been developed and now moving towards adoption since the study was produced. Our regional Council of Governments kicked off an 18-month regional planning project in late July and we made sure that we had a voice at the event, advocating that a regional housing plan be part of their study and will continue to push that recommendation."

Entering into an innovative collaborative centered on workforce development, the Greater Des Moines (IA) Partnership and the roots rock band The Nadas have teamed up to promote the Iowa state capitol as a destination for young professionals looking to live and work in a vibrant city. As part of their "Do More in Des Moines" campaign, the Partnership commissioned the hometown band to write an anthem about the city, and the result, "Feels Like Home," is the official song of the community and lead single from the band's new album. It is also the score to the Partnership's workforce recruitment DVD, complete with testimonials from Des Moines residents about the city's opportunities and quality of life.

In addition, the Nadas are taking the message on the road. The Partnership is sponsoring the band's 100 city tour in support of their new album. At shows, the volunteers hand out marketing DVDs, t-shirts, coasters and post-it notes emblazoned with the "Do More" brand. The band themselves do a promo from the stage about Des Moines and the "Do More" campaign, and talk with the crowd before and after many of the shows. The Partnership also has a promotion to win a free weekend in Des Moines, by way of the DVD. One trip was given away in June and another is slated for this month.

In venues across the country, the campaign reaches out to former residents as well as those who might be unfamiliar with Iowa's quality of life and career opportunities. The week-long music festival in Austin, TX known as South by Southwest (SXSW), a major music industry event which attracts over 150,000 music fans, was the kickoff event to the sponsorship. "The majority of the people who attend SXSW aren't your typical professionals," says Mary Bontrager, executive vice president of community development for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. "They are individuals with day jobs who spend their weekends pursuing their passion – music. We got their attention by showing them their passion is alive and well in Greater Des Moines, that they can get a great job and also have the great life they've dreamed about."

The outreach goes beyond even the venues of live concerts. When the NCAA Track and Field Championships were held at Drake University this Spring, 1600 DVDs were distributed to the athletes and their families. The Partnership did the same at the Hy-Vee Triathalon as well.

You can view the "Do More in Des Moines" video on the Partnership's website.

All over America, chambers are working with their communities to develop and retain local talent. Blair County, Pennsylvania is no different. In 1995, the Blair County Chamber established the Businesses And Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions (BASICS) program to encourage more thoughtful interaction between the business and education communities within Blair County. Through the BASICS program, they were able to reach young people early and work with educators and parents to reinforce the importance of school attendance.

Over the past decade, the BASICS program has grown substantially to include career exploration opportunities for students; workshops for guidance counselors, school administrators, and human resources professionals; the "Attendance Counts" program to reduce truancy; and events featuring nationally-recognized speakers. Perhaps BASICS' most significant recent achievement has been the development of a Career Curriculum that most school districts in Blair County are now using to integrate career exercises into what schools are teaching on a variety of topics. Building on the proven track record that BASICS achieved at the secondary level, it was able to expand its scope to include work with higher education encouraging greater lifelong learning opportunities and to fostering internships and mentoring programs.

The success of the BASICS program is not just limited to Blair County, it has resulted in other Pennsylvania chambers launching BASICS programs of their own such as the one in Bedford County, PA. The BASICS program is a great example of a chamber working together throughout a state to form partnerships that improve the quality of life for the citizens of their community and the business environment for the local economy.

As one-third of the workforce prepares to retire over the next decade, the link between education and the workforce needs of the business community becomes all the more imperative. Preparing students for the transition from school to the working world means that local K-12 and post-secondary systems need to be aligned with local industry demands. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the area of career and technical education or CTE, where industries such as engineering, manufacturing, and energy/utilities are facing a shortage of candidates with proper science and math backgrounds. On the opposite side, the education community may not fully understand what local employers' staffing needs are.

In The Shoals, AL, all six public school systems were surveying local employers about workforce needs, but each with their own set of questions. In many cases, the audiences overlapped, so the same business could be filling out what seemed like the same survey multiple times. In addition, businesses and employers did not fully understand the very process they were being asked to comment on or how their feedback was going to be used. Naturally, response rates to the surveys were generally very low.

Seeing an opportunity to collect better data, and more of it, the Shoals (AL) Chamber of Commerce brought the schools together to develop a standardized survey that would go out once a year to all local employers. The chamber worked with all six school systems to make the survey as efficient and relevant as possible, then stationed it on-line to make it easier to manage. Thus, the Shoals Business and Industry Workforce Needs Survey was launched, in an effort to assist schools in improving their Business and Industry Certification (BIC) process every three years and better aligning CTE curriculum with industry needs. In taking over the management of the survey, the chamber added their membership base to the distribution list and has since seen a marked increase in the response rate.

The survey asks employers to identify their industry, the knowledge and skills required for work in that field, ideas for partnership between the education and business communities, and feedback on individual programs existing in each of the six school systems.

"Our workforce needs survey has been very helpful in hearing directly from business and industry so educators no longer have to guess at what their needs are," says Stephanie Newland, director of workforce development, Shoals Chamber of Commerce. "The two worlds – business and education – are many times foreign to each other and they don't know how to approach each other with challenges they face. The survey allows a 'third party' approach that opens the door for the first person conversation that's ultimately needed."

As we are all too well aware, America is in the midst of a housing predicament. In many communities nationwide, workers are facing an unprecedented shortage of attainable housing for their workforce. And with each passing month, the problem worsens. Professional and skilled workers such as fire fighters, teachers, social workers, trades people and mid- as well as entry-level employees are forced to live greater distances from the very communities they serve, all in the name of finding a home they can afford.

Affected communities are finding it more difficult to recruit and retain entry-level and moderate-wage employees and, therefore, more difficult to retain and attract the businesses who need these employees. That's why in 2006, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce commissioned a member survey which illustrated how the affordability of workforce housing is affecting the way business functions. Nearly 60% of respondents to the survey indicated that the rising cost of housing has impacted their ability to recruit employees, while 50% indicated that it has impacted their ability to retain existing employees.

Upon realizing the serious obstacles employers were facing in Miami, the chamber laid out an aggressive agenda to combat the need for attainable workforce housing and engaged the business community to take a proactive role in addressing solutions. The chamber's Roadmap for Workforce Housing includes developing an assessment to identify gaps in housing needs, engaging local employers to "lead the market" on the issue, and convening both public and private sector stakeholders to provide a platform for learning, collaboration, and action.

"The lack of attainable housing for the workforce in our region is seriously affecting South Florida's economy and quality of life." commented Barry E. Johnson, president/CEO, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. This is why the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is committed to working to remedy the situation through private and public sectors solutions. "

To learn more about the Greater Miami Chamber's workforce housing initiative and the many resources available to local Miami businesses, visit: http://miamichamber.com/live_work_play/workforce_housing_center/default.asp.

So how does the business community actively get engaged in bridging high school students to the world of work – especially when taking into consideration many students graduating high school are ill-prepared for the workplace?

The Salem and Keizer Chambers of Commerce have partnered with the Salem-Keizer School District, and E3: Employers for Education Excellence, to create Ready to Learn – Ready to Work. This initiative focuses on matching businesses in the community one-on-one with high school students before they graduate to impart what is really being demanded by employers in the region. Through a variety of activities such as job shadowing, internships, and workplace tours, businesses are assisting local educators in preparing young people with the skills needed to succeed and the networks to hopefully remain in the community.

"Employers recognize that workforce development is critical to our economic success," said Cori Clausen, director of workforce development for the Salem and Keizer Chambers of Commerce. "Ready to Learn - Ready to Work has provided a means for our chambers and local employers to be engaged in a meaningful way in helping prepare our youth for success in the workplace and college."

Since its launch in January 2007, 5,000 students have been affected through the Ready to Learn -- Ready to Work program. Below are few highlights from that first year:

"There is a growing understanding that the success of the school district is tightly correlated with Salem's future prospects," said Bill Church, executive editor of the Salem Statesmen Journal and member of the program leadership team. "Ready To Learn – Ready To Work" has helped the community recognize that student achievement is a team sport. Everyone needs to be in the game."

Learn more about the Ready to Learn – Ready to Work initiative online at: http://www.workandlearnnow.com/. Also, read more about the Salem and Keizer Chambers online and the work they are doing to improve their region every day.

The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce knows that a good start can often lead to a good ending. In 2005, the chamber helped to form a five-year demonstration project, the Business Partnership for Early Learning (BPEL), with the aim to close school preparedness gaps among 2 and 3 year olds, so that all Seattle children enter elementary school equipped to succeed.

Funded by local business and philanthropic leaders, BPEL targets families not being served by traditional early-school programs. Many of the 400 children and parents involved with BPEL come from immigrant or minority communities; and almost two-thirds speak a language other than English at home. When entering Pre-k and kindergarten, many of these children lag behind their counterparts when it comes to reading and writing, putting them at a disadvantage right from the start.

According to Bob Watt, former President & CEO of the Seattle Chamber and recently retired executive from the Boeing Company who was instrumental in creating BPEL, "It's time to change the paradigm from 'no child left behind' to 'no child starts behind'." BPEL is proving to be a powerful way to meet the needs of those children who are least likely to succeed.

Measurements and accountability are key components of BPEL's work. After just 2 years of closely tracking and evaluating progress, the results are far exceeding expectations:

As a response to a study that the Greater Manchester (NH) Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) conducted on the perception of the quality of local education, the GMCC created a Community and Business Pledge, which has the goal of assisting students to become "healthy, productive students, well-prepared for employment." This pledge, which GMCC asks businesses in the area to sign, aims to build a strong connection between the business community and its future employees.

To date, the pledge has been signed by more than 70 businesses in the Manchester area. The pledge asks businesses to choose one or more activities, laid out by the GMCC, which address the needs of local schools and their students. Each activity requires some investment, whether it is time or money being contributed. Businesses can choose how they would most effectively contribute in the area(s) of reading, personal financial literacy, career exposure, diversity outreach, principal for a day, business/education partnerships, or database expertise. The activities include allowing employees to volunteer their time, buying academic materials for schools, providing internships or class trips to businesses, and mentoring.

The Community and Business Pledge allows for large or small companies in any field to form a partnership with any school of their choice in the Manchester area, public or private, grades K-12, in a way that best suits them. Learn more about the GMCC's Community and Business Pledge online.

It is a known fact that the cost of a higher education is rising nationwide. Moreover, according to the Public Policy Institute for California, for the first time in California's history educational attainment of the state's population is declining. To address this problem, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and its business members are taking a leadership role in helping Los Angeles citizens gain access to higher education. One of the most successful initiatives that the L.A. Area Chamber has helped to establish is the Cash for College program. This program helps families learn about and connect to financial aid and scholarships in the region.

It is estimated that on average college graduates earn $1 million more over a lifetime than students who have only a high school diploma. On October 10 and 11, the L.A. Area Chamber, along with area businesses, community organizations, and government officials, held its sixth annual Cash for College Convention. More than 12,000 local high school students and their families attended workshops on financial aid and college access. In January and February the L.A. Area Chamber organizes more than 100 workshops that assist thousands of students in filing for financial aid and award over $300,000 in scholarships. Cash for College is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation.

"California once enjoyed the reputation of having one of the best educated workforces in the nation. That reputation fueled our economy and contributed to our quality of life," said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "We need to get back on that path. We need all of our high school students to be in college in the coming years so they can power our successful companies as college graduates."

In October, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the L.A. Area Chamber-sponsored Cash for College bill into law. It is now an official state program within the California Student Aid Commission. Through the law, the program now will reach more young people and provide them with needed access to financial aid and ultimately higher education.

For more information about Cash for College, visit http://www.lacashforcollege.org/. For more information about the L.A. Area Chamber's entire education and workforce initiative, visit: http://www.lachamber.org/.

It is estimated that by 2030, while 40 million new workers will enter the workforce, 77 million could enter retirement. The inevitable decline in workers leaves communities at risk for weakened economies. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce in Ohio is a good example of what a city can do to counter the nation wide shortage of employees.

The Columbus Chamber, in partnership with the Mayor, Columbus City Council, Chase Bank, and other community organizations, created a strategy to increase the number and quality of future workers in Columbus. The initiative is called "Attract & Retain Talent" and is designed to incorporate college students, young professionals and employers.

"A strong workforce is a key component of a successful economic development strategy," said Ty Marsh, president and CEO, Columbus Chamber. "This initiative will help build a skilled and talented workforce that meets the needs of our region's employers."

Attract & Retain consists of three prongs: creating college internships, attracting young professionals, and providing support to local employers as they recruit employees from outside the Columbus region. The goal of launching a community-wide web portal for college internships is to connect students from any of the 20 local colleges and universities to employers in the region, provide them meaningful work experience, and increase the likelihood they will stay in the region after graduation.

Attracting young professionals ensures the future workforce development needs of the region will be met—despite demographic shifts, such as the retirement of Baby Boomers. Since HR professionals and corporate recruiters are on the front lines selling the community's assets to attract new employees to their businesses, the Columbus Chamber is providing tools and resources, such as a DVD and website, so employers are better equipped to recruit employees from outside the region.

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce: Chamber Links Youth Initiatives, Workforce

In Durham's knowledge- based economy, one of, if not the most, critical component is the presence of a smart, well educated and growing workforce. With the various business clusters and job opportunities that abound in Durham, possessing a quality business environment and a growing, tech savvy and well educated workforce is the key for Durham's economic future. It all starts with providing first-rate education to Durham students to prepare them to enter the workforce. For nearly two decades, the Durham Chamber has been actively involved in linking workforce development to economic development. Last year, the Chamber staff found its stride in effectively connecting education, primarily K-12, as a critical linchpin in workforce development. In taking stock of its strengths and capabilities in the education arena, the Chamber staff realized that its strength was its ability to reach out to its members to collect critical data and develop collaboration between the business and education communities. The Chamber's approach is truly signified in its branding – connect, and in this case, connecting public schools to the business community.

The Chamber in partnership with the Durham Public Schools Superintendent's Business Advisory Council, links educators and workforce, and clearly identifies one of the Chamber's initiatives of helping teachers and counselors understand what the modern workplace is like and what workplace traits are most valued by the workplace. This initiative highlights only one of several Chamber education initiatives currently under way. Other Chamber education initiatives include conducting annual forums to inform the business community and general public about its educational partnerships, job shadowing and mentoring. Support for youth programs such as Futures for Kids, Student U., Shodor Computational Education, Achievement Academy and many more is provided year-round. A new initiative that was instituted this year was an evening career expo geared toward educating DPS middle schoolers and their parent/guardians showcasing the vast array of career opportunities available right here in Durham County. At the career expo, students were given the opportunity to talk with career professionals in several of their favorite careers as assessed by Futures for Kids as well as explore hundreds of other related careers in life sciences, art, entertainment, finance, construction, computers and more. More than 90 local employees shared information about their chosen professions.

"At the Chamber, our Workforce Development efforts help build relevance into the day-to-day learning process in the classroom", said Kathy Hoffmeier, the Chamber's vice president of Workforce Development. "We are helping every student, from high achievers to potential dropouts, reach their potential. We are proud to be a positive force in the community, aligning the talents of DPS students with careers in Durham County."

Johnson City, TN Encourages a Rigorous Curriculum for Local High School Students
The Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber of Commerce in Tennessee sponsors several educational programs that strengthen the local workforce and improve the community overall. One such initiative is the Tennessee Scholars Program, which is a regional rewards and recognition program for high school students.

Students participating in the Tennessee Scholars Program complete a demanding curriculum in high school that requires on level or above level classes so that they are ready for either postsecondary education or the workforce. Additionally the program encourages the importance of attendance, dependability and community service. Tennessee Scholars may receive scholarships, jobs, recognition, higher ACT scores and greater options for success upon graduation from high school.

The Tennessee Scholars Program, a state-wide initiative, is a part of the National State Scholars Initiative but is led primarily by local chambers of commerce. Local business leaders are invited and encouraged into the classroom before students select their classes to provide good examples of why a good education is essential to succeed as an adult. "Our chamber and our partners in education are working to prepare our local and regional young folks for the future," noted Chamber President and CEO, Gary Mabrey. "The recently announced TN Diploma Project by Governor Phil Bredesen positions us to marshal more resources to enhance the state's pursuit of excellence in education for the 21st Century. Resumes for jobs are received worldwide, and we want TN's students to be considered and hired."

Orlando Workers Are Getting the Credit They Deserve
The Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and its community partners have taken a huge step toward enhancing their local economy by sponsoring ExtraCredit, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign. In Orange County alone, an estimated $15 million of EITC benefits go unclaimed annually. This local initiative, which works in conjunction with the IRS and other local partners, encourages employers to inform their employees about the benefits of filing the EITC on their annual income tax returns. By helping families make the transition out of poverty, business leaders are not only investing in their employees, they are helping their entire community.

The ExtraCredit Community Campaign is a business-led initiative sponsored by the Orlando Regional Chamber and funded by the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, and the Orange County and City of Orlando governments.

ExtraCredit has been recognized by the National League of Cities as a national model for EITC programs, in part because of the business community's active engagement. In January, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce President Jacob Stuart commented on their engagement with ExtraCredit. "Last year," Stuart said, "the ExtraCredit (EITC) Campaign reached out to 1,160 employers that represent more than 650,000 working people in Central Florida. ExtraCredit teaches each participating business how to become a 'Hero' by helping its employees and Central Florida's working families. The ExtraCredit Campaign represents business advocacy at its best."

By engaging employers, and utilizing the network of their partner organizations, the Orange County area was able to increase EITC tax filings from 259 to 748, a 190% increase, during the program's first year alone. In 2006, the number of applicants increased another 56% to 1,167, and individual family returns are up 110% as well. With numbers like these, it is easy to see that business leadership is a key element to making a positive impact on the financial well being of employees and the community at large.

Learn more about the ExtraCredit Campaign online at http://www.extracreditorlando.org/.

The Clermont Chamber of Commerce (OH) is Committed to Students Obtaining a High School Diploma
Matthew Van Sant, the CEO of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce believes that "completion of high school builds character and is a large step towards achieving success." That is why the chamber is a big supporter of The Gateway to Success Program, a joint venture between Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development and UC Clermont College in Ohio.

To show its support for the initiative, the chamber has recruited local CEOs and Savannah city leaders to take part in Step Up's Poverty Simulations. These simulations are a sort of role reversal, placing local leaders in the unfamiliar economic position of having to live the life and make the choices many families below the poverty line are forced to make on a daily basis.

In addition, Step Up's community leaders have created action teams that focus on six poverty ending strategies—workforce development, personal asset building, transportation, health care, dependent care, and affordable housing. These leaders have pledged to work with Savannah families so that they can move toward economic self-sufficiency.

Tina Bonifacio, vice president of workforce and economic development at the Savannah chamber, knows that strengthening the job skills of the local workforce is the key to enhanced economic development in her community. "Step Up's approach is innovative because it makes the case for business involvement in what was once viewed as a human services issue," Ms. Bonifacio said. "It links poverty reduction to economic development by showing how many millions of dollars annually would be flowing through our economy if we helped to remove the barriers to these individuals getting skills, getting jobs, keeping jobs, and becoming self-sufficient."

The Greater Richmond Chamber: Creating a Single Resource on Regional Workforce Development
The Greater Richmond Chamber (GRC) understands that for a region to prosper, all facets of its economic development system must work in synchronicity. The chamber has tackled economic development from all sides, providing programs that focus on youth and adult education, community collaboration, and executive training.

Recently, GRC released its first Workforce Services Directory. This comprehensive publication includes all community resources available for recruiting and hiring new workers, retaining existing employees, and providing human resources support. This resource covers workforce initiatives throughout the Greater Richmond region and information related to transportation, health care, and other work supports. To make this Workforce Services Directory user-friendly, it is available online with hot links to all listings. There is no easier way to get workforce resources in Richmond than with this directory!

This directory serves as a useful model for chambers that are interested in taking a first step toward enhancing their local workforce development systems. The Greater Richmond Chamber is an example of how the public and private sectors can collaborate for economic success. Learn more about the chamber's workforce initiatives online.

El Dorado Chamber's Commitment to Education
The El Dorado, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce is banking on economic growth in their community thanks to a local company. El Dorado-based Murphy Oil Corporation and El Dorado Public Schools recently announced the El Dorado Promise—a scholarship program that will enable all El Dorado High School students the opportunity of higher education.

Local chamber member Robert Reynolds read an article about Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program in Michigan. When it was proposed that community leaders find a way to fund the education of local graduates, chamber members Knox White and Steve Cameron thought about Murphy Oil Corporation, which has historically allocated the majority of its contributions to educational institutions and programs.

"Thanks to Murphy Oil and their commitment to education and the future of El Dorado, the promise became a reality," said chamber President & CEO Don Wales.

With Arkansas' college graduation rate hovering around 16%, the El Dorado Promise vows to make striking impacts in both the education and economic indicators of El Dorado, and Arkansas as a whole. "We plan for growth in real estate values and housing construction in this area," Wales added. "We are hoping that people that operate business will relocate here to take advantage of the El Dorado Promise."

The Promise is available to all students who graduate from El Dorado High School, reside in the district, and have been a student in the system since at least ninth grade. Scholarship amount is determined by length of attendance in El Dorado Public Schools and based on the highest tuition rate in the state. In 2006-07, that amount was $3,005 per semester. El Dorado Promise goes into effect with the class of 2007.

"We are committed to making El Dorado a great place to live and work, and we created the Promise to further invest in El Dorado's greatest resource: our children," said Claiborne Deming, President & CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation.

Chamber of Commerce Highlights