Mission Statement: Our mission is to keep Mitchell County strong by championing local businesses, facilitating future growth and leadership, embracing tourism, and fostering vibrant, collaborative communities.
Vision Statement: Our vision is a strong Mitchell County where resilient communities embrace opportunities for future growth and tourism, and the quality of life is exceptional due to every resident, business, attraction, and nonprofit having access to the resources they need to prosper.
Why is change necessary?
For several years, the Executive Directors of the Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce and Solomon Valley Economic Development have explored ways to streamline our services and better serve the entirety of Mitchell County. Mitchell County Convention and Tourism, Solomon Valley Economic Development, and the Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce have been collaborating on projects for many years as well.
In the past 5 years, we have seen a shift in how rural communities are organizing chambers, economic development, and tourism. As the lines between these organizations become increasingly blurred, we want to create clear goals and roles for business support, economic development and tourism. We feel is important for the public to understand each of the unique roles we represent, so we can better serve our communities and businesses.
Additionally, in rural communities, our businesses need as much local support as possible, and we understand not every business or organization is in a situation to afford memberships in exchange for services. With that, we also understand the tremendous value in having a hired point person, similar to a chamber director, to assist our businesses with marketing, training, networking, and more! The proposed changes will allow us to help anyone in need, while still providing above and beyond services to investors and partners to Discover Mitchell County.
Previously known as “Mitchell County Strong”, Discover Mitchell County will be an active 501c3 organization overseen by a 13-Person Executive Board. Representatives from an Economic Development Committee, Business Support Committee, Young Professionals Committee, and the existing Mitchell County Convention and Tourism Board will be appointed to the Board of Directors. Additionally, two “at-large” community members will be appointed. The work under Discover Mitchell County will be carried out by active committees. These active committees will assist the Directors with strategic planning, goal setting, program development, public outreach, and more.
The Economic Development Committee will be overseen by the Economic Development Director. Rather than reporting monthly to the existing Solomon Valley Economic Development board, the Economic Development Director will work alongside this active committee to make progress. The Economic Development Committee will focus on business recruitment and expansion, workforce recruitment and development, community development (like housing and childcare), and more. Three representatives of the active committee will serve on the Executive Board. These representatives will keep the Executive Board updated on economic development projects and bring formal requests to the Executive Board on behalf of the Economic Development Committee.
The Business Support Committee will be overseen by the Business Support Director. This committee will replace the existing Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Business Support Director will work alongside this active committee, not unlike the Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce board has functioned in years past. The Business Support Committee will focus on programming, marketing, business retention and succession, ribbon cuttings, and anything directly supporting our existing local businesses. Three representatives of the active committee will serve on the Executive Board. These representatives will keep the Executive Board updated on business support projects and bring formal requests to the Executive Board on behalf of the Business Support Committee.
The Mitchell County Young Professionals Committee will be overseen by a volunteer Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. These two positions will be appointed by the Discover Mitchell County Executive Board. While Young Professional groups are not a new concept, this will be a brand-new group for Mitchell County. The Young Professionals Committee will work to foster meaningful connections, attract and retain talent, and develop the next generation of business and community leaders in Mitchell County. Mitchell County Young Professionals will be a separate membership-based group. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson will keep the Discover Mitchell County Executive Board informed and engaged with Young Professionals.
Committee Members:
The Mitchell County Convention & Tourism Board will continue to operate as a completely separate organization from Discover Mitchell County; however, three members of the existing tourism board will be appointed to the Executive Board of Discover Mitchell County. Tourism has already embraced and rebranded under “Discover Mitchell County”. In order to ensure communication and collaboration continue between businesses, economic development, and tourism, three Mitchell County Tourism Board Members will be appointed to the Discover Mitchell County Executive Board.
Mitchell County Convention & Tourism Board:
To the general public, the changeover to Discover Mitchell County will be almost unnoticeable because it is primarily a change in the organizational structure of the Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. The services currently provided to the general public will not change.
Current Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce members will be most affected by these changes; however, we are confident the effects will be positive! As we have seen in other rural communities and counties, the change from the traditional “Chamber” model to a more all-encompassing business support model will better support the needs of our local businesses while still providing many of the same great offerings of a traditional chamber.
Uniting the former Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development under one Executive Board allows the Directors of those entities to be more efficient and collaborative. We can avoid duplication of services, engage more voices through active committee work, and continue to collaborate to help Mitchell County thrive.
Learn more about Beloit, Cawker City, Glen Elder, Hunter, Scottsville, Simpson, Tipton and our other communities.
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