The Chamber’s economic development department actively

provides assistance to area companies, primarily in the industrial

and commercial sectors, as they seek to grow and expand

their businesses. The Chamber networks business owners and

managers with various resources and incentive programs available

in the community and strives to match individual company’s

needs to available and appropriate resources.

Economic development is a relationship business and as such,

the Chamber continually seeks new opportunities to increase

business leaders’ awareness of our ability to help them grow

their operations. In 2009, the Chamber, in partnership with

DeHoff Development, will aggressively pursue development of

the Mills Business Park. The business park will further position

Canton/Stark County to attract new industrial and commercial

development. The park is already being actively marketed to

prospects.

The Chamber will continue to utilize the SYNCHRONIST economic

development software tool to capture input from area

businesses, including expansion projects and investments,

issues affecting the workforce and business environment. Plans

are to extend the program beyond the manufacturing sector

and to leverage the data we have collected since the program

was implemented seven years ago to better understand underlying

trends and issues affecting area employers. The combination

of ongoing contact with our business base and improved

application of these tools will serve to better focus our efforts

where they will generate the most results.

The overarching goals for the economic development department

are to facilitate new capital investment and the resulting

economic growth for Canton and the surrounding region. We

will expand our ability to provide existing and prospective businesses with pertinent information regarding the region’s assets, resources and benefits by including a focus on sustainability and environmentally-friendly aspects of our businesses, products and operations.

In 2009, the department of business development and strategic

projects at the Chamber will be focused upon the connection

between education and economic development, and the connection between good government and economic development.

The Chamber sees an opportunity to provide creative

and effective business leadership in these two areas that

enhance and sustain an environment for business growth.

The department will work to advance business development

through education and make an impact on the statewide

debate over public school funding and education reform. In

addition, the department will strive to advance the cause of

local government reform and collaboration.

The Chamber’s Government affairs committee maintains

strong, positive relationships with the area’s elected officials.

In addition, the committee actively monitors legislative developments, conducts programs to provide opportunities for

members to express their views, and collaborates on issues of

mutual concern with other chambers and organizations.

The Government affairs committee works to ensure that public

policy and legislation create a positive climate for business

growth and capital investment in Canton/Stark County and to

effectively convey the pro-growth business perspective to our

elected and public officials on pending legislation and pertinent

regulatory issues.

With the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and committee

members, the Chamber events department produces more

than 70 events annually. These events range from large-scale,

downtown Canton community street festivals to pro-business,

networking events and member-engaging programs. The

Chamber events department is a hub of year-round activity,

and acts as one of the chief catalysts for succeeding in our mission, “Advancing Business. Developing Community.” The goal of our events is to provide professional, unparalleled community

and business events for Canton/Stark County.

The marketing department directs and implements all marketing

strategies, public and media relations activities and advertising

campaigns for the Chamber and its departments. The

department provides in-house creative concepting and graphic

design work, copywriting, media relations, strategic brand management and offline and online marketing tactics. The marketing department is in the unique position to interact, collaborate and impact each of the Chamber’s departments and events, and the team works to align all advertising, marketing and PR essentials to support the Chamber’s mission and goals.

Canton Development Partnership (CDP) is a coalition of area

development organizations and city government that shares

an interest in downtown Canton’s continuous improvement,

revitalization, image and quality of life for its citizens.

The CDP’s mission is to support and coordinate the activities

and programs of its partnering organizations in order to

encourage and sustain community and economic development

in downtown Canton.

The partnering organizations include Canton Regional Chamber

of Commerce, Downtown Canton Special Improvement District

Inc. (SID), Downtown Canton Land Bank Corp. (DCLB), Canton

Tomorrow Inc. (CTI), and City of Canton.

The mission of the Canton/Stark County Convention &

Visitors’ Bureau (CVB) is to attract, orient and serve visitors, to

educate local residents and to initiate projects and programs

that promote and grow tourism in Canton/Stark County. It

is the policy of the CVB to ensure professional, countywide

representation of tourism entities to convention organizations,

sporting events and motor coach tour companies, and to the

individual leisure traveler.

Through training in leadership skills and education about the

community, Leadership Stark County (LSC) develops a core of

motivated leaders, with lifelong commitment to community

trusteeship. LSC programs include:

Leadership Signature Program – 10-month program for a

diverse group of participants that aims to enhance leadership

skills and identifies local and regional issues, assets and

resources

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival is a “One

of a Kind Celebration” consisting of 15 diverse events over a ten-day period, enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people. The annual celebration surrounding the enshrinement of football heroes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the culmination of a year-long planning process by the professional staffs of the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with a team of more than 4,200 extraordinary volunteers who receive outstanding support from sponsors, community leaders, government entities, other Chamber departments, local citizens and visiting guests.

We are strongly committed to assuring safe and successful

Enshrinement Festival events that produce a positive social and

economic impact and bring national recognition to our community,

and to encouraging year-round enjoyment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – “America’s Premier Sports Museum and Showplace!” – and our other numerous community assets.

Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with

the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (OBWC) Division

of Safety & Hygiene, administers Stark County Safety Council

(SCSC). The educational programming, monitoring of safety

issues and operation of the Council is coordinated by a volunteer

steering committee. SCSC conducts monthly meetings,

workshops and seminars that examine and resolve potential

and existing safety problems and inform participants about

new techniques, products and services.

In addition, SCSC executes a safety campaign to promote

greater interest in the prevention of occupational accidents and

disease and recognizes companies with the best safety records

during the annual Safety Awards Banquet. Although there is no

membership fee, members are required to attend a minimum

number of programs annually and complete semi-annual safety

reports. The Stark County Safety Council was named number

one in 2007 by OBWC for its membership growth and excellent

programming.