January 2020 Inside this issue: General Managers Report New Members Events Review Member Spotlight Sponsor Shout Out 5 Minutes For Business
CHAMBER at a glance
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Message From the President Happy New Year! Not only have we turned the calendar to a new year, but a new decade. With this also being Manitoba’s 150th anniversary, it will prove to be an exciting year filled with much celebration. In December, we were happy to hear that Past President, Jeff Hood had been appointed to the interim board for the new Southern Manitoba Economic Development Organization. This board is charged with setting up the new organization and in ensuring the office’s mandate aligns with the work of existing organizations and government.
growth, identify investment opportunities and address economic barriers in rural Manitoba. From the very beginning, the Board has advocated to have a position at the table and with the election over and this announcement having been made, we are expecting things to move ahead relatively quickly.
“A skilled workforce is a critical element to our ongoing economic development activities...”
Over and over, in the business climate survey, you have told us one of your biggest challenges is the labour/skill shortage. This year we tasked the Workforce Alignment Committee, chaired by Secretary Treasurer Barry Cooper, to dig a bit deeper into this issue that to understand if there are actions we as a community could undertake to resolve at least part of this issue. It is understood, in some cases, the issues may be out Under Manitoba’s Economic of our control, however it is my Growth Action Plan, this belief that if we can put definition organization is intended to identify around at least part or it, then priority areas, including target solutions could be identified and sector strategies, as a way to deployed. To this end, early in foster competitiveness, facilitate February this hardworking
committee is planned to host a half day summit of business leaders in the community to delve into this topic. Coming out of it, we are anticipating a report that will capture the feedback from the event and identify the next steps for the process. Having a skilled workforce is a critical element of our ongoing economic development activities, so we are excited to start this dialogue. If you would like to be part of this discussion, please contact the office. At this time of the year, our attention is also directed towards the upcoming budgets by the City