action. impact. The Chamber's 2022 Annual Report

action. impact.

The Chamber 2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Your FMWF Chamber

has served and represented Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and our greater metro for over a decade as a combined chamber. We are heading into a new fiscal year with energy, focus and collaboration.

Our businesses need to attract and retain top talent and stay competitive amidst changing and uncertain times. We are committed to providing our members with toptier events, programming, benefits and opportunities to engage and thrive.

I want to take a moment to thank you all for your integral role in driving tremendous success and achievement within our community. Every step forward we take as an organization, community and region is made possible by you – our dedicated members investing time, talent and resources into building a better tomorrow for FMWF and beyond. I am excited to share with you what we have been up to lately in the community, and the big goals and plans we have for the future.

Recently, our community was a part of something that was the highlight of my career as a chamber executive. In August, our Chamber Foundation was awarded a $9.62 million Good Jobs Challenge Grant from the Economic Development Administration. Together with several community organizations, we will be bolstering our region’s economy by training and developing a skilled workforce in the industries of precision agriculture, advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity/IT. I am beyond grateful for the dedication and support from our entire community, and especially the 78 businesses and elected officials who submitted letters of support for this grant. We look forward to working with new and additional partners on this initiative, making a major impact in our region, and sharing the stories every step of the way.

We are one community, working together to propel us all forward. The Chamber is here to be a catalyst for growth and prosperity, and we are looking forward to another year of accomplishment together and creating solutions to our greatest challenges.

Shannon Full PRESIDENT & CEO

Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce

Builders are enhancing the FMWF community by investing in our programs and initiatives at the highest level.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY BUILDER?

Community Builders are a group of leading corporate citizens dedicated to the economic prosperity and progress of the region. Community Builders represent the highest level of Chamber investment, and their commitment enables The Chamber to promote and protect business, inspire innovation, cultivate communities, influence action, and be a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity.

Becoming a Community Builder distinguishes your business among the ranks of the most prominent, successful, involved and community-minded companies in the region, as they dedicate time and resources to shape our community. Community Builders receive access to top officials and Chamber leadership, and contribute input that shapes public policy and strengthens the local business climate through the work of The Chamber. Further, Community Builders receive unprecedented recognition throughout the business community.

Promoting and protecting business, inspiring innovation, cultivating communities and influencing action.

bringing our community together

The Chamber is proud to offer unapparelled experiences and opportunities for Chamber and community members to connect, engage, experience, learn, grow and of course – have fun. From welcoming nationally recognized speakers and leaders, to supporting our military in our own back yard, The Chamber’s events leave a lasting impact on attendees and the community.

This past year, The Chamber was proud to host OVER 150 EVENTS which welcomed and impacted more than 15,000 ATTENDEES.

VOICES OF VISION

This spring, ‘Dirty Jobs’ host Mike Rowe visited the FMWF community to join us as the Voices of Vision keynote speaker. He discussed the importance of enhancing skilled trade training, education opportunities, and coming together as a community to solve our biggest challenges. At a time when workforce needs are at an all-time high, his discussion was timely and relatable for those in attendance.

CORPORATE CUP

Every summer, The Chamber hosts the Corporate Cup – a full day for members to get out of the office and enjoy team building and some friendly competition. This summer did not disappoint. From tug-of-war to volleyball and everything in between, members enjoyed a day of play and getting to know fellow Chamber members from across the community.

WOMEN CONNECT CELEBRATION

Mel Robbins brought energy and inspiration to the big stage at our eighth annual Women Connect Celebration. We had deep and meaningful moments throughout the afternoon with a healthy dose of laughing, crying, connecting and strengthening relationships with OVER 1,600 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

The annual Military Appreciation Night at The RedHawks has become a favorite within the local military community and Chamber membership alike. This August, we were able to WELCOME NEARLY 1,000 MILITARY MEMBERS and their families to a night of fun at the ballpark which included a picnic, balloon animals, music, recognition and more. The Chamber is proud to honor and support our community’s military members and their families

elevating our region’s presence and impact

The Chamber has been working around the clock to elevate and strengthen our region’s presence, voice and collaborative partnerships.

MIDWEST SUMMITS

The Upper Midwest is not only the place we all call home, it is a national and global powerhouse in many areas, including our economic impact, agriculture, technology and energy. The Midwest Summit series is an impactful way we can combine efforts and convene our industry leaders and policymakers from across multiple states to discuss those four critical topics. These events are hosted live in Fargo and are livestreamed to chambers, associations, schools, businesses and industry leaders across the Upper Midwest and beyond. So far in it’s first year, the event series has welcomed 26 CO-HOSTING CHAMBERS of commerce and nearly 2,000 ATTENDEES from FMWF and across the region.

LIVE IN FARGO-MOORHEAD CAMPAIGN

To address the ongoing workforce challenges in our metro, The Chamber, the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC joined forces to launch and lead a campaign in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to bring awareness to the FMWF area, targeting jobseekers, young professionals and families who have expressed interest in relocation or a career change.

• 4,835% traffic increase to LiveInFMArea.com

• 3.2 million impressions on digital ads

• 1.02 million impressions on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

• 141,000 link clicks on social media

WASHINGTON D.C. FLY-IN

The Chamber’s annual D.C. Fly-In features key meetings and face time with U.S. Congressional delegates, federal agencies, and other major decision makers and stakeholders. Businesses and military leaders from the FMWF area were able to discuss and advance issues that are key to the success of our region, as well as represent FMWF on the national stage and raise awareness for our area.

FUTURE

EAST MEETS WEST

This year marked the first East Meets West tour, where chambers, businesses, legislators and influential leaders from across North Dakota were able to meet in person and connect on various state-wide policies, challenges and new opportunities. Strengthening our ties, relationships and lines of communication will enhance our ability to accomplish major goals not only as a metro area but as an entire state.

METRO PROFILE & BRIDGE DISTRIBUTION

The Bridge, The Chamber’s flagship publication, has recently seen significant enhancements to increase the reach and impact of our Chamber and community voice. The bi-monthly magazine now has an increased number of timely topics and stories, is mailed directly to OVER 5,000 AREA BUSINESSES AND LEADERS, and the digital version of each issue is sent to approximately 50,000 INDIVIDUALS in the FMWF region.

In addition, The Chamber publishes a yearly Metro Profile for attracting and acclimating new and relocated talent, families and businesses to our vibrant region. This year, we expanded distribution and had a presence in the Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport, along with dozens of hotels between the FMWF region and the Twin Cities. In 2023, our presence in outside markets will increase further.

MAKIN’ IT

Launched in spring of 2021, this series has Chamber President & CEO Shannon Full exploring every facet of our industry-diverse region to highlight and focus on the people who “Make It” here in FMWF. Shannon will get hands on with the jobs that keep our community operating every day, and explore careers that many people may not know exist right in our own backyards. These episodes are also distributed outside of the FMWF region, as another way to pull back the curtain and showcase our community, people and opportunities.

• 15 western legislators, 5 regional chambers, key state leaders

engaging and inspiring emerging leaders

like the

dedicated to engaging and

in our community. With

Professionals Network,

of Color, Leadership FMWF and more, participants have the option to become members, join active committees and work together to build a better community.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK (YPN)

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is home to the leaders and influencers of tomorrow. Throughout this past year, members had the opportunity to meet other professionals, tour businesses, volunteer, attend happy hours, participate in professional development events and so much more. The program saw a 23.9% INCREASE in the number of active and engaged YPs in our community. There are also various committees for members to take their involvement to the next level, including professional development, member engagement, social and more.

PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR (POC)

Professionals of Color (POC) is a vibrant and inclusive environment that engages individuals reflective of the full spectrum of diverse backgrounds in our region. The program saw a 49.1% INCREASE in the number of active and engaged professionals of color in our community. POC hosted several monthly events, including networking, professional development, education, and service opportunities. POC is on a mission to impact the FMWF community by creating inclusive opportunities to develop personally and professionally through meaningful engagement and a sense of belonging.

LEADERSHIP FMWF

Every year, 40 participants are selected to be members of the

FMWF class. These emerging leaders come from varying backgrounds within our community, and come together to grow as leaders and improve the community. Participants work together to create Community Change Initiatives, which aim to provide real-world solutions to issues happening right here in our community. This year, seven projects were completed. A few highlights include a single parent support community; a program to introduce sports to underprivileged children; and an election resource, known as voteFMWF, to increase civic engagement.

YPN

amplifying the voice of our businesses

The Chamber actively serves as the voice of business to promote a vibrant and prosperous metro and region, and works across our communities, region, states and nation to keep our finger on our most pressing issues and to accomplish our area’s priorities.

THE FM DIVERSION PROJECT

This summer, our community came together to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the FM Area Diversion Project, an over decadelong project fueled by community organizations, residents and policymakers working together and advocating for permanent flood protection. The collaboration throughout our communities, on both sides of the river, is truly remarkable, and all parties involved should be proud of this one-of-a-kind project that we were able to bring to fruition together. The Chamber’s taskforce, Business Leaders for Permanent Flood Protection, is an illustration of what can be achieved when we bring leaders and businesses together to advance an issue.

ENGAGING AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY

During election season and throughout the year, The Chamber is committed to sharing election and candidate information to reduce barriers and encourage election participation. State capitol visits, candidate forums, election guides, legislative reviews, video series and social media efforts are just a handful of ways Chamber and community members got involved and gained information to prepare for important local, state and national elections.

COMMITTEES INFLUENCING ACTION

The Chamber has continued to encouraged business and community members to get involved in various efforts and initiatives to further amplify the voice and impact of our community. The Military Affairs Committee works to foster a community of support for the men and women of our military through events, activities and policy promotion. The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee was presented with the Bridge Builder award at the 2022 North Dakota Governor’s Military Ball, for working together to ensure readiness and enduring success of the ND National Guard.

The Agribusiness Committee serves as an extension of The Chamber’s policy efforts, and is comprised of businesses and leaders representing the agriculture industry in the Red River Valley, advocating at all levels of government and spreading awareness of its impact of agriculture throughout the region. The Chamber’s Agribusiness Committee hosted an ag industry breakfast at the 2022 Big Iron show to convene leaders, collaborate and address challenges and opportunities.

tackling our region’s biggest challenges

IGNITE INITIATIVE

The Ignite initiative works to connect students, educators, professionals, businesses, and non-profits through meaningful opportunities and its platform, Ignite FMWF.

• Features OVER 1200 CAREER CARDS connecting users to regional education and career opportunities

• Trained over 100 EDUCATORS across Cass & Clay counties on platform utilization

• PILOTED IGNITE SUMMER EDVENTURES in partnership with Cass County CTE, connecting over 20 educators directly with businesses and non-profits

• Filmed MORE THAN 100 VIDEOS with local businesses communicating career awareness, exploration, and preparation

IGNITE REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING

In August, The FMWF Chamber Foundation was awarded a $9.62 MILLION EDA GOOD JOBS

GRANT. The FMWF Chamber Foundation, in collaboration with organizations such as Grand Farm, NDSCS, Emerging Prairie, University of Mary and Workbay, will bolster the region’s economy by growing the skilled workforce necessary to support the regional manufacturing, agriculture and cybersecurity/IT industries. Over the next three years, our region can expect MORE THAN 900 PARTICIPANTS to receive training and placement through programs funded by the grant, with an estimated $59 MILLION IMPACT IN SALARIES.

As our region continues to grow and evolve, The Chamber continues to address specific challenges that may impact the growth and success of FMWF. Of the many challenges facing our metro that The Chamber is actively working on, the FMWF workforce is of top priority. The Chamber, community leaders and partner organizations have been dedicated to championing several initiatives and programs to overcome these challenges.

FUELING OUR FUTURE

Fueling Our Future (FOF) is a joint venture between The Chamber and the Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC. The program

a platform for regional leaders to convene, identity, understand, discuss and invest in initiatives that will provide our region with lasting positive impact. Fueling Our Future strives to collaborate with community partners and resources to power initiatives that drive this impact.

FOF

INFLUENCING ACTION

public figures, industry

region

year, events such as Eggs & Issues and State of the Cities

dove

topics such

education needs,

and much more.

The Chamber has OVER 80 AMBASSADORS dedicated to engaging and connecting our members with peers and leaders, helping them to achieve their business goals in the community. Chamber Ambassadors celebrated OVER 100 RIBBON CUTTINGS, MILESTONES and CEREMONIES with our members this past year.

Beyond the HUNDREDS of events and over 600 ONEON-ONE DISCUSSIONS and MEETINGS we were able to hold with our members this past year, we also partnered and collaborated with many organizations and industry professionals to set our member businesses up for success. We aim to keep our members and community at the table and in the know when it comes to all things business. We are also proud to lift up our member businesses and offer them the visibility, credibility and storytelling platform they deserve.

at the heart of everything

do. We strive to provide the

need to grow and flourish.

When it comes to personal and professional development, The Chamber team is involved with many great organizations across the region and nation. The Chamber team is also currently implementing and experiencing EOS, which focuses on helping teams improve vision, traction, impact and staying healthy.

organizational impact

Every year our team members are involved in the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE), Leadership FMWF and serve on various boards throughout the community. It is crucial that our team members are constantly learning, connecting and developing as professionals, to better serve our membership and community. We also prioritized going out into the community together to give back and volunteer.

As we grow our team to better serve our community and region, we will be pursuing a new building and business resource hub to suit our growth and impact as an organization. This new building will also provide a common space for collaboration with various small businesses and mission-aligned organizations throughout our region.

President & CEO Shannon Full is proud to serve on the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100 and ACCE’s Board of Directors, bringing our voice to the national stage and keeping our organization and community directly connected to discussions at the highest level.

• Joining forces with community organizations

• Engaging with initiatives throughout FMWF