Partnering for Economic Vitality Developing Business, Talent and Place
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Partnering for Economic Vitality Developing business, talent and place 2018 Annual Report hank you to our generous 2018 funders! Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundation Martha Merkley Youth Charitable Trust Aspen Institute Michigan Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers Burroughs Memorial Trust Michigan Department of Natural Resources Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Michigan Economic Development Corporation Chemical Bank New York Life Foundation Child Welfare Society Stephanie Pasternack Community Foundation of Greater Flint The Hagerman Foundation CYMER, LLC The Huntington National Bank Defense Logistics Agency The Whiting Foundation Genesee-Lapeer-Shiawassee Region 5 (GLS Region V) United Way of Genesee County Herman Miller Cares Foundation WalMart Community Impact J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation Zonta Club of Flint 1 Jennings Memorial Foundation Marin Community Foundation 2 essage from the Chairman and CEO We Can Achieve Great Things When We Work Together Flint and Genesee County continued to experience reinven- We are also encouraged by continued tion and growth in 2018, as we completed the first year of growth in tourism in Flint & Genesee. our three-year Strategic Plan – built on the economic driv- Last year, the Convention & Visitors ers of business, talent and place. The Chamber’s focus on Bureau booked meetings and events strategic partnerships, unwavering business support and that contributed to regional hospital- advocacy contributed to the region’s forward momentum. ity and tourism generating over $134 In col- Partnerships are a thread throughout everything the million in economic impact. laboration with various community Chamber does. One of the most significant in 2018 was partners, the team supported events creating a partnership between the City of Flint, Genesee that showcased the community to County and the Flint & Genesee Chamber. The group’s influencer groups, including Michi- purpose is to lead a planning process to create an economic gan tourism professionals, venture vision for moving the county forward – now branded capitalists, statewide chamber profes- Forward Together. The partnership is already creating a stronger synergy among the three entities. sionals, environmental journalists, and Flint and Genesee County residents, Business was great in 2018. There were business expansions, which allowed us to promote a bal- real estate development projects, a lodging boom, and small anced narrative of the county. business openings. Last year, our economic development The bottom line: Every year has its staff supported projects that totaled over $194 million in challenges and opportunities in busi- private investment and created over 260 jobs. ness, and last year was no different. So, we’re very pleased to We worked with our investors to build a strong business report that our momentum continued in 2018. climate that helps our members prosper collectively and On behalf of the staff and the Board of Directors, we thank individually. This includes serving as a resource that busi- our members for your support and look forward to continued nesses can rely on to help solve their business challenges, success as we partner for economic vitality in 2019. make connections and have a voice in creating a stronger, more vibrant county. In addition, our team continued to support employers’ needs for job candidates well-versed in soft skills, such Steve Landaal, Board Chair as communication, teamwork, conflict resolution and the ability to problem-solve – underscoring the need for workplace readiness training from programs like Teen- Quest, the Chamber’s pre-employment program. Last year, over 500 teens graduated from TeenQuest, with nearly Tim Herman, CEO 400 hired for jobs through the Summer Youth Initiative. In the K-12 realm, 954 students were served through the Chamber’s YouthQuest afterschool program. 3 ntroduction In 2018, the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce developed the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan. It serves as a roadmap for the Chamber and its partners to align with a shared vision, goals and strategies that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in Genesee County. The Plan also established an important premise for the Chamber’s work: A thriving economy needs business. Business needs available, qualified talent. Attracting and retaining talent requires a desirable place to live. As such, the key drivers of developing the economy are: Business: Provide the tools for businesses to develop; keep the value of their location high, and costs to do business low Talent: Provide talent through key development, retention and attraction initiatives Place: Provide a resource-rich environment where people want to be To achieve these conditions, the Chamber must execute new strategies based on leadership, proper structure, relationship building, and an active partner engagement over the next three years. The Plan is built on four goals: Build a strong business community Improve the perception of that furthers the collective and Flint & Genesee to increase individual success of businesses in tourism and drive business Flint & Genesee. in the region. GOALS 1 2 3 4 Be a relentess force for Support the success of our facilitating economic growth region’s growing workforce with in Flint and Genesee County. K-12 career preparation programs and adult talent development. This year’s annual report highlights the Chamber’s progress toward its strategic goals in the first year and the role that partnerships play in our success. 4 National Geographic Society’s Faye Gore (left) and Mary Adelaide Williamson (right) with YouthQuest Site Manager Willie Buford (center) during a Flint visit. In 2018 the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and NatGeo began a multiyear partnership to bring new resources into afterschool and summer learning programs. 5 usiness Goal One: Be a relentless force for facilitating economic growth in Genesee County “The Flint & Genesee Chamber’s relationship with the City of As Genesee County’s economic development organization, the Chamber Flint was important in helping seeks to drive business investment and grow the number of high-quality jobs us move our project forward in the region. in an efficient manner. The Chamber helped us to connect We are the bridge between our partners in local and state government, and work with the city to make education and workforce development, and business to facilitate attrac- sure all departments that tion, expansion and retention projects. needed to be involved with our In 2018, our Economic Development (ED) team facilitated 13 projects expansion project were at the worth more than $194 million in private investment in Flint & Genesee. table. This partnership was Closing out year one of the three-year Strategic Plan, total private invest- key in helping us to make the ment nearly doubled the goal of facilitating $100 million by 2020. project happen.” The investment projects created 263 new jobs with an estimated increase in Curtis Steele, General Manager annual payroll of $10.4 million. Last year’s tally accounts for 26.3 percent of Knapheide Truck Equipment Center the goal of creating at least 1,000 new jobs by 2020. Capital Investments General Motors Magna Electronics General Motors Customer Care Magna Electronics is nearing comple- A few of the projects that the and Aftersales (CCA) is building an tion on a $50 million, 229,500-square- Chamber supported last year include: all-new $65 million ACDelco and foot building on Holly Road south of Genuine GM Parts processing center Baldwin Road in Grand Blanc Town- on a previously vacant 141-acre lot ship. The manufacturer of automotive near the intersection of Genesee and cameras currently employs about 600 Davison roads in Burton. It is the people at three nearby facilities on company’s largest single investment in Holly Road. The new building will a warehousing and logistics facility in replace the existing plants when it is the United States in nearly 40 years. completed in June 2019. 6 Medical device manufacturing at Domico Med-Device LLC in Fenton Hilton Garden Inn Genusee Rassini Brakes, LLC Construction began on transforming Genusee is bringing a new manufac- Rassini Brakes, LLC is expanding the former Genesee County Savings turing legacy to Flint, creating jobs by its Mt. Morris Township facility by Bank at south Saginaw and Kears- turning recycled single-use plastic wa- 50,000 square feet, adding more space ley streets into a 101-room Hilton ter bottles into eyewear. The company for manufacturing and warehouse/ Garden Inn. The new hotel in the is also working with the M.A.D.E. distribution operations. The $8.5-mil- historic, 11-story building will feature Institute to employ returning citizens lion project will create 50 new jobs at a banquet center and restaurant on the and displaced workers in Flint. the plant. second floor and a rooftop deck. The $37.9-million project is scheduled for completion by spring of 2020. 7 “We’re proud to partner with the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce because of our shared commitment of looking out for people and helping businesses thrive. We invest in the Chamber because together, we can build a stronger tomorrow where kids can grow up well, where people can start their own businesses, and where neighbors don’t hesitate to reach out and lend a hand to those who need it.” Greg Viener, Community President Huntington Bank Membership by Industry 250 Goal Two: Build a strong business community that furthers the collective and individual 225 Professional Services success of businesses in Flint & Genesee Local & Home Services 200 The Chamber promotes entrepreneurialism by partnering with start-ups and small businesses to deliver value-add programs, services and capacity-building courses pro- vided through the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and Member Services. 175 PTAC – which serves the seven-county I-69 Thumb Region, including Genesee Health & Medical County – counseled 403 clients while helping companies secure more than $89 mil- 150 lion in government contact value in 2018.