A Chamber Year In Review

Written by: FMWF Chamber of Commerce

Photos special to Fargo INC!

Just like that, another outstanding year at The Chamber has come to a close. As you’re reading this, we have just entered into our new fiscal year. We have had many successes with strong advocacy efforts, focused education and growing programs due to enhanced engagement and extended reach in the community through leadership.

We continue to have a strong and growing Public Policy committee that has been active in taking positions on vital issues in our region and statewide. This past year, we were able to bring in all three members of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation, as well as various Minnesota and North Dakota state legislators and other statewide and local officials from both sides of the river to address important topics. Some of these community leaders spoke at Eggs & Issues, which continues to be a well-attended educational event where experts and professionals share information about important and timely issues. Topics this year covered various issues in the metro, including the FM Diversion, tax reform, public education, economic growth, downtown developments and safety. With a year of many contested local elections, The Chamber also worked to educate the public on the various candidates’ stances through debates and social media. As a successful and busy year wraps up, we are in the heart of advocacy efforts through planning a Cracker Barrel forum to get to know more candidates in all three major cities, drafting our policy agenda and planning Chamber Day at the Capitol. It is sure to be another exciting year of active advocacy for The Chamber.

Speaking of active years and growing programs, we have had an outstanding year for many of our programs. This year’s Leadership Fargo Moorhead West Fargo program’s Community Change Initiative groups had seven awesome projects that changed the community in a positive way. We are proud of the dedication and service of these community leaders to community and personal growth. Another group of individuals that we are extremely proud of is our YEA! students. Yet again these young minds developed some amazing business plans and even gained extra exposure for their businesses at 1 Million Cups and in local media. It is exciting to watch these students passionately hit the ground running and launch their ideas. Our Women Connect, Military Affairs, Business Training, Agribusiness, YPN and Ambassadors groups all had numerous successes as well. Thank you to all who have become engaged in these committees and programs, because your participation produces success.

In keeping with the theme of exposure and growth, our Voices of Vision was nothing less than a huge success. Last fall at our eighth annual Voices of Vision, we welcomed in basketball all-star Shaquille O’Neal who impressed the crowd with his humorous stories and strong character. He shared his inspiring stories of success and encouraging future aspirations. The event itself could be called “Shaq-sized” as it turned out to be our biggest Chamber event to date. Further, we were honored to win the Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE) Award for Digital Campaign of the Year for this event. It was an all-around outstanding event from start to finish. A “Shaq-sized” thank you to all staff and volunteers who helped make the event possible as well as all attendees for your continued interest in Chamber events like these.

It seems fitting to end my remarks thanking all of the staff and volunteers for their tremendous work, as their efforts paid off in an outstanding Chamber year. I look forward to the continued success of our programs and events, as well as education and advocacy efforts in another all-around great year ahead.

FMWF Chamber of Commerce

FMWFChamber.com

202 1st Ave. N, Moorhead

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The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce is a bi-state, regional federation of over 2,100 private, public and non-profit member firms representing more than 109,000 people. The largest local chamber in North Dakota and Minnesota, The Chamber advocates for a strong metropolitan community and supports the interests of its members, which are located in Cass and Clay Counties and beyond.