For more than a century, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) has served as the voice of probusiness ideals in the Greater Lansing region. Through the years, LRCC has worked with public and private sector partners to promote a favorable climate for economic growth and job creation in our community.
In the annals of Chamber history, 2011 may be remembered as the year in which LRCC was able to successfully engage its membership and the broader community in a collaborative effort to change the nature of the public discussion and outcome of critical issues that affect our region.
“It was evident in our discussions with numerous partners throughout the region that a small minority of elected officials were having a disproportionate negative
impact and promoting policies that hinder job growth and investment,” said LRCC president and CEO Tim Daman. “We knew that things had to change and that was going to require a new approach with a higher level of involvement from individual Chamber members and many other organizations across the region.”
What resulted was an issue advocacy campaign known as Greater Lansing Progress (GLP), a broad-based community coalition that represented a first of its kind effort to unify the community around a common vision of greatness. GLP was designed in part to promote a community conversation to define and work towards progess in the region. The group also intended to work to identify and support elected officials who shared its vision for the community.
Working with GLP and the Lansing Regional Chamber Political Action Committee (LRC-PAC), the Chamber was successful in backing several candidates for office, including Lansing City Council and the Lansing School Board. The outcome of the 2011 election was much more than who won and who lost, but also a clear signal that the business community intends to have a greater impact on the local election scene in coming years. For the Lansing Regional Chamber, 2011 represented the continuation of a series of election successes in recent years.
“LRC-PAC endorsed candidates have been successful in 38 of 45 elections over the past three years,” said Kristin Beltzer, LRCC senior vice president for government relations and public affairs. “We are making a difference, and recognizing that local elected officials are seeking out our opinion and expressing a greater willingness to work with us on important issues.”
Another important development in the past year has been the growing trend among local government to support a more regional approach to public services, which LRCC has been a leader in advocating for several years. The Chamber, LEAP and Michigan State University are strong supporters of a regional Emergency Services Study. The study, which is expected to be completed in April 2012, will seek to identify further consolidation opportunities for emergency services delivery involving Lansing, East Lansing and four townships. Two recent regionalism developments that were applauded by LRCC were the decisions to name a joint fire chief for the Lansing/East Lansing fire departments, and the creation of the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority consolidating fire and ambulance services between Delta, Watertown and Eagle Townships.
2011 also marked the continued growth of the Chamber’s international business services initiative, which is helping regional businesses identify and secure new global market opportunities.
The first substantial international shipments of materials were recorded through Port Lansing directly utilizing the Foreign Trade Zone program at Capital Region International Airport.
LRCC was also named one of just four organizations in Michigan to help lead a statewide initiative to help Michigan businesses significantly increase exports around the world. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has launched the statewide effort, called Pure Michigan State Trade and Export Program, which is intended to assist companies start or improve exporting activities.
The other exciting development that should encourage growth occurred late in 2011 when The Capital Region International Airport’s Port Lansing Global Logistics Centre was granted Next Michigan status by the Michigan Strategic Fund. The Next Michigan designation provides access to significant state economic incentive opportunities to assist the Capital Region Airport Authority in recruiting businesses that create new jobs in the Mid-Michigan area.
"The word is spreading," said Brent Case, LRCC vice president of international business. "Our region has all the tools needed to support substantial growth in international trade."
