• Increase staff and Board knowledge on key issues and Chamber initiatives through training sessions.
  
• Provide educational services that assist in business growth and success.
  
• Recruit and sustain ambassadors who are energized and informed

GOALS:

• Recruit 100 new members.
  
• Retain 95% of current members.
  

Tourism and Retirement

Strategy: Expand the revenue base for Chamber members through tourism and recruitment of retirees.

Issues for Consideration: We are just beginning to think about North Augusta as a destination for tourism and retirement. Baby boomers are projected to be more active retirees than past generations. We don't see North Augusta as a traditional tourism destination; however, tourism is a part of economic development.

Outcomes: Expanded revenue base for our members by promoting North Augusta as a desired retirement community

Actions:

• Identify how to leverage existing assets and events (Masters, Heritage, Peach Jam, River, hospitals, disc golf competitions, festivals, surroundings assets [beach, mountains, larger cities]) through partnering
  
• Maximize the benefits of existing events and “micro” tourism already happening.
  
• Increase advertisement at key events through coupons and packaging.
  
• Work with Heritage Corridor as promoting North Augusta as the “Gateway” into S.C. from Georgia
• Promote North Augusta's retirement-friendly amenities such as affordable housing, recreational opportunities, medical facilities, climate, etc.
• Promote North Augusta as a tourism stop over through branding and using a tag line.
  
• Explore with developers for underwriting promotions.

Economic and Community Development

Strategy: Strength our business community through services to sustain growth through existing businesses and by assisting in business recruitment. Be a liaison between start up or expanding businesses and the city of North Augusta to navigate the business regulations

Issues for Consideration: The perception exists that North Augusta city government makes starting a business difficult. Sometimes entrepreneurs aren't fully prepared for business operations and are not successful.

Outcomes: An economic climate that encourages the growth and creation of businesses

Actions:

• Develop awareness and education programs showing North Augusta as a good place to start a business by giving good information to our business community through the Chamber, SCORE, etc.
  
• Advocate with the City of North Augusta for fair and good standards and oppose unproductive or highly restrictive ones.
  
• Provide, through partners or as a Chamber, education and advocacy for sustaining and growing businesses.
  
• Explore the start up of a Leadership North Augusta program if unable to successfully collaborate with Leadership Aiken.
  

Government Relations and Public Policy

Strategy: Advocate for the business community before regulatory and legislative bodies to assure pro business outcomes.

Issues for Consideration: The average business person does not have the time to be a watchdog of city, county, state, and federal legislative and regulatory bodies.

Outcomes: The Chamber will monitor these legislative and regulatory issues and advise our members when they are needed to support or oppose a particular issue.

Actions:

• Continue to work with the City of North Augusta and Aiken County as necessary to voice business' interests on current issues.
  
• Partner with the SC Chamber of Commerce for their Grassroots effort and legislative agenda for the SC Legislature annually. Join our members with E-voice to give North Augusta's businesses a voice in statewide issues.
  
• Partner with the US Chamber to keep abreast of national legislative and regulatory issues which affect the business community. Send their advisories to members as needed for action on federal issues affecting business as a whole or us locally.
  
• Co-sponsor the annual Washington trip.
  
• Co-sponsor the annual Columbia/Atlanta trip.
  
• Develop a process for member generated advocacy issues. If there is a legitimate difference of opinion between members, provide a forum for airing both sides of the issue. Where there's consensus, provide advocacy.
  

Chamber Operations

Strategy: Adopt best practices for managing a growing Chamber with limited resources.

Issues for Consideration: We have a small staff with much to do! We will look to insure that the foundations are in place for effective and focused action.

Outcomes: To have in place the most effective, dedicated, and well trained and committed Board members, staff, and volunteers in order to insure that the Chamber can effectively deliver all of the programs and services which the membership requires while maintaining a financial position comparable to a successful business.

Actions:

• Conduct an internal audit to establish and insure proper policy, procedure, style, leadership orientation, accounting, and employee manuals.
  
• Increase non-dues revenue by 25%.
  
• Maintain a balanced budget and build a strong reserve
  
• Utilize volunteers and interns and develop a process for recruiting and training them.
  

Communications and Technology

Strategy: Develop multiple ways to communicate “our story” to our membership as well as the community.

Issues for Consideration: The average business is not aware of the many things that a Chamber does on a daily basis to improve the business climate in our area much less what is being done for his/her particular business.

Outcomes: Make our businesses cognizant of the Chamber's Business Plan, events, and opportunities.

Actions:

• Develop a new Chamber website that better promotes our members, the community, and the chamber.
  
• Develop an electronic newsletter to go with newspaper insert
  
• Have weekly Chamber updates to membership about events or issues via e-mail.
  
• Have a committee to look at Chamber's technological ability and devise a three year plan for upgrades.