Mission:  to promote progressive economic and community development to enhance our quality of life.

Chamber Initiatives

• Arrange for key board members from the Chamber and EDC to meet with Clear Lake Chamber board members to explore consolidation scenarios resulting in county-wide or regional organizations.
• Continue to partner with area chambers to provide assistance with grass-roots state legislative efforts, training, events, etc.

Government Advocacy
The Chamber will continue to advocate at all levels of government (local, state, federal) for a strong business climate that will promote economic development for our region.

Chamber Initiatives

1. Provide leadership in the region to encourage support for pro-business and pro-growth issues at the state level.
2. Participate in the Iowa Chamber Alliance and ICCE to leverage pro-growth and pro-business positions.
3. Conduct membership surveys on local, state, and federal issues to seek input and develop legislative priorities.
4. Meet with state legislators at a Chamber Board meeting to discuss agenda items.
5. Host a state legislative forum mid-way through the session.
6. If desired, host a bus trip to the state capitol to enable Chamber members to participate in advocacy efforts.
7. Form a North Iowa Chamber legislative coalition to work on grass-roots advocacy.
8. Plan and facilitate the annual trip to Washington, DC.  Include Clear Lake chamber representatives in this effort.
9. Participate in opportunities through the US Chamber to improve our advocacy efforts and increase our legislative network and reach.

Workforce Attraction & Retention
The Chamber will develop specific new initiatives and continue current programs designed to recruit and retain a diverse workforce (young, non-traditional, multi-cultural) to North Iowa.

Chamber Initiatives

1. Provide marketing materials for professional and executive recruitment (community view book, community resource guide, DVD, etc.)
2. Partner with regional partners in attraction and retention efforts.

Quality Amenities
Natural and constructed amenities are essential to a happy and productive workforce.  The Chamber will continue to support and lead initiatives to expand and revitalize North Iowa’s amenities.

Chamber Initiatives

1. Continue to lead the Vision Iowa application. 
• Provide monthly project updates to Vision Iowa staff.
• Execute the Development Agreements between Vision Iowa, the Chamber, Chamber Foundation, Wright on the Park, and the River City Society for Historic Preservation.
2. Provide assistance as needed for the Performing Arts Pavilion committee to benefit the North Iowa Band Festival through grant writing, mailings, etc.
3. Provide support for downtown revitalization.
4. Provide support for Clear Lake environmental projects (i.e. dredging, etc.)
5. Signage & Wayfinding for cultural & entertainment options, bike trails, walking tours 
6. Support initiatives to expand and connect recreational trails in the region.
7. Support initiatives to increase festivals, events, and activities in the region.
8. Support the Arts Incubator initiative.

Workforce Preparedness
The Chamber will align with North Iowa partners in human resources, K-12 education, vocational education, and legislators to support and expand programs to increase skill development, educational relevancy, leadership potential, ESL, and internship positions.

Chamber Initiatives

1. Sponsor area educators in attending the U.S. Chamber’s “Education and the American Workforce” conference in Philadelphia.
2. Sponsor follow-up meetings with local educators to begin community conversations about educational effectiveness and workforce preparedness.
3. Participate in the North Iowa Human Resources Professionals chapter.
4. Continue and expand the assistance with interviewing skill development efforts (all 9th grade students at MCHS).  Explore the potential of expanding the program to include Newman students and adding a similar program for 12th graders.
5. Continue the YIELD program.
6. Continue the Leadership North Iowa program.  Encourage and market LNI graduates to local organizations to both further develop and utilize their talents.
7. Continue to participate in the MC Schools Vocational Education Advisory Council and provide feedback on curriculum relevancy.   Anderson serves as committee chairperson.
8. Continue to participate in the MC Youth Task Force Youth @ Work program, which emphasizes workforce preparation. 
9. Endorse a strong legislative agenda concerning workforce preparedness (suggestions include hair test legislation for drug screening, tuition reimbursement/college loan forgiveness to encourage college graduates to stay in Iowa, statewide standards for K-12.
10. Continue to partner with local businesses to expand internship opportunities.  Specific internship actions:
• Continue and expand College Connections program. 
• Utilize Iowa Workforce Development to post internship positions online.  Help connect local firms to college programs with required internship programs.
• Help to provide low-cost housing information to interns or companies interested in hiring interns.
11. Encourage the schools and our members to hold more career opportunity discussions between students and local business professionals.
12. Provide specific leadership training for managers and supervisors on the management and retention of Gen X, Gen Y, etc. employees.
13. Serve as a community change-agent to support the increase of K-12 educational outcomes as identified by the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce.  Utilize suggestions identified by this bi-partisan taskforce to significantly improve our outmoded education system.

Quality Infrastructure
The Chamber will continue to assist the City in securing federal funding for necessary infrastructure including all city services and the airport.  In addition, the Chamber remains a strong supporter for the implementation of the 2006 Mason City Comprehensive Plan, the 2010 Strategic Plan, and the HNTB Mason City/Clear Lake Corridor Study.

Chamber Initiatives

1. Include city infrastructure needs in federal funding requests for the annual Washington, DC trip, and continue to present these needs as common community priorities.  Possible needs include:  Winnebago River levy, streets, trails, sewers, etc. 
2. Mason City Municipal Airport
   This is an important community asset (especially for the business community in the region) and the Chamber should continue to support the airport for both commercial carriers and general aviation.
   --marketing & promotion 
   --lobby to maintain EAS program 
   --continue to provide information regarding flights, schedules, prices 
   --contact chamber directors in the region to enlist their help in promoting use of MCW 
3. Telecommunications Utilities.                                                    
   Telecommunication connectivity is vital for our community.  The Chamber should monitor the progress of the new Municipal Telecommunication Utilities Board and provide regular updates to board members.  Some Iowa communities are providing free wireless connections throughout the community (or at a minimum in the central business districts) and others are embarking on fiber-to-the-home projects.  The Chamber should continue to monitor this issue, as well as monitoring state legislation that could hinder free choice.

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