You Are An Economic Developer

“You’re not an economic developer”.

Have you heard that before?  Do you feel left out of the conversation? Does it frustrate you?

Stop thinking that way; nothing could be further from the truth. I guarantee that every one of you is an economic development professional.  Think about what you did today:

Did you introduce a local business owner to a potential customer?  That’s economic development.

Did you connect a business with resources that will help them grow?  That’s economic development.

Did you advocate for new schools? Better workforce development programs?  Improved infrastructure?  Anything at all that would strengthen the business climate in your community?  That’s economic development.

Simply put, chambers are economic developers too.

People tend to think that the only true economic developers are the ones with the big city contract, the ones doing all the travel, the ones recruiting big business to move to our cities. Too often Chambers sell themselves short, focusing on the fun things they do like business after hours, ribbon cuttings and golf tournaments.  But even those programs have an element of economic development to them.

As someone who has worked in economic development my entire career, half at government entities and half at chambers that contracted with their cities to do economic development, I know the dynamic.  The Chamber isn’t part of the “serious” discussions when it comes to business; as a result of that perception, it gets left out.

The only reason that should be true is if you let it be true.  You’re skilled at things that economic development organizations are not always good at.  For example, you know how to get a message out to the business community.  You know how to convene a big group. You know how to get volunteers excited about helping you accomplish your mission. Just because another organization gets the spotlight doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a place at the table. Find that place and own it.

You are an economic developer.