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Auburn Area Connect outlines networking, outreach and leadership programs as part of city economic-development contract
Summary
The Auburn Area Connect Chamber of Commerce told the Auburn City Council it is supporting local businesses with monthly networking events, awards and marketing, reporting sizable social-media growth and an expanded email list. The chamber emphasized scholarships for leadership training and cooperation with the city—s economic-development staff.
The Auburn Area Connect Chamber of Commerce presented an overview of its work under the city economic-development contract at the Oct. 13 study session, highlighting networking events, awards and marketing efforts aimed at retaining and connecting local businesses.
Casey Bray, executive director of Auburn Area Connect, told the council the chamber runs monthly Business Connect events that have attracted 63 distinct businesses so far this year and two remaining events scheduled in November and December. The chamber also stages Spotlight Awards to recognize community contributions, holds ribbon cuttings and hosted a centennial celebration this year that drew 98 attendees.
"We do business connect events once a month, and those events take place at different locations every single month," Bray said during her presentation. She added the chamber—s promotional work has driven a 172% increase in social-media views year-over-year through September and that the chamber maintains an email contact list of about 5,663 addresses.
Bray described the Leadership Institute, facilitated by George Frazier of Green River College, as a development program for emerging leaders that begins a new cohort in January. The institute costs $1,500 per participant; Bray said the chamber provides scholarships funded by events such as its golf tournament and spotlight awards and that scholarship applicants can be individuals whose employers will not pay the fee.
Council members asked how the chamber measures outcomes. Bray said the chamber tracks attendance, new business engagement and social-media engagement, and supplements quantitative metrics with anecdotal success stories when businesses report new relationships or contracts that formed because of chamber events.
The chamber also outlined marketing efforts and new merchandise as part of a brand push to increase Auburn—s visibility. Bray said the chamber—s website was rebuilt in September after its former provider ceased operations and that a vendor dashboard is available for some analytics; she said some historical website data from the previous vendor is no longer retrievable.
Bray said the chamber partners with city economic-development staff when requested and otherwise focuses on member services. She noted the city contract provides modest funding and is intended to support promotion of city events and job fairs while the chamber—s membership revenue funds broader services for members.
Bray—s presentation followed questions about coordination with the Downtown Auburn Community organization and the chamber noted the DAC had withdrawn membership in the past.
The chamber closed by encouraging council members to attend events and consider the Leadership Institute for leadership development and networking.
Ending: The council thanked the chamber for the update; Bray said the chamber will continue to coordinate with city economic-development staff when requested and to provide networking, marketing and training resources for area businesses.
