2013 Annual Report THE VALUE AND RESULTS OF COLLABORATION
^ For strong economic growth and the growth of your business. For new jobs and investment. For widespread prosperity throughout Greater Omaha. That’s why we are so dedicated to:
Helping Businesses Succeed
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Expanded the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, a Chamber-led collaboration across six counties working to increase jobs and investment in the region
- Welcomed Greater Fremont Development Council
- Welcomed Advance Southwest Iowa in early 2014, transforming the Partnership into a two-state, regional economic development organization • Achieved significant economic outcomes working closely with Partnership partners
65 landed projects (25 new to the market, 40 retention/ expansion of area businesses), totaling $629 million in capital investment, approx. 2,800 jobs
• Expanded free Business Assistance Program to include all businesses across the Greater Omaha business community • Offered additional, one-on-one support to hundreds of small businesses through Chamber’s new THRIVE program
AHEAD IN 2014:
• Built the entrepreneur ecosystem with a variety of events and services - Served approx. 40 entrepreneurs, resulting in the development of 15 new startups
The launch of Prosper Omaha, which includes more aggressive goals to increase business/ investment in the region
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Promoting Our Members and Encouraging Meaningful Connections
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Facilitated about 50 opportunities and events for member networking, promotion and progress, attended by more than 13,000 people • Promoted members through on-line referrals from OmahaChamber.org’s business directory. • Offered high visibility through OmahaChamber.org’s Member News and Discounts section
AHEAD IN 2014: The debut of Open Omaha, an exciting initiative intended to spark robust, community-focused conversations; the launch of Savings Connection, an online “megaphone” for member-offered discounts
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Advocating for a Competitive Business Climate
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Worked diligently at state and local levels to reduce taxes and regulations • Advocated, on state level, for the passage of six important bills focused on tax reform and deductions, business incentives, renewable energy, and a municipal land bank • Recruited, trained and supported pro-business candidates, through the Greater Omaha Chamber Political Action Committee, for the OPS School Board race and state/local races
91 percent success rate for the spring 2013 election
• Supported the creation of a land bank and a housing development organization
AHEAD IN 2014: A continued focus on competitiveness through lower taxes and less regulations; guarding against BRAC
• Supported Offutt Air Force Base with the groundbreaking of USSTRATCOM headquarters and a new forensic mission
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Building a Strong Community Image and Developing Civic Leaders
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Reached a readership of more than 26 million through earned media efforts/97 articles; advertising reached another 12.8 million • Received 47 national rankings • Graduated 47 people in Leadership Omaha class 35 and 29 participants in Omaha Executive Institute • Facilitated YP Summit, Council of Companies, Lunch and Learns, YP Connect and Omaha after Work
AHEAD IN 2014: The launch of Prosper Omaha, which includes a community branding project and more aggressive goals to grow/ develop/attract talent
- Connecting over 2,500 young professionals
• Welcomed 180 student-participants to Intern Omaha, a program to showcase the community • Hosted four inter-community visits by other chambers to share area successes with hundreds of out-of-state business people and used the U.S. Senior Open to showcase the area to a variety of clients”
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Operate with Excellence
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Serving a membership base totaling 3,079 businesses
- 85% member retention rate
- 436 new members joined during 2013, using a more sustainable non-campaign sales model
• Strong employee engagement, with many Gallup Q12 scores for the organization in the best practice range • A new OmahaChamber.org and accompanying database was launched • Strong financial stewardship
- 2012 audit report was approved and received an unqualified opinion
- Closed 2013 with expected levels of revenue and expenditures
• Raised $18.8 million towards the $23 million Prosper Omaha goal (5-year economic development program)
AHEAD IN 2014: Complete Prosper Omaha fundraising Continue effective management of human capital and financial resources Continue to enhance technology, information and research capabilities
• A thorough review of Personnel, Operations, Safety and Travel policies was completed and distributed to staff
Feb. 2014