As we begin the transition from summer to fall, as students return to school and those lovely lake weekends start to slow, we also turn over a new leaf. With the start of The Chamber’s fiscal year on September 1, we’re excited to usher in a new year of our own.

This year marks the start of our newest three-year strategic plan. Our three main strategic priorities, as outlined in the plan, are as follows.

• Establish the region as a full-service metropolitan marketplace.

With a thriving economy, it is our responsibility to ensure our region has the resources to become a full-service marketplace. To do that, we’re committed to being a leader in advocating for the appropriate infrastructures, as well as talent attraction, retention and training at all levels.

• Be a bold voice for business through strong thought leadership and a rich policy agenda.

With our responsibility of being the voice of the business community, we aim to establish ourselves as credible thought leaders within the community. This license to lead is also the license to convene business and other interests to work together. With leadership in both thought and action, a prosperous Fargo Moorhead West Fargo region will be realized.

• Build a place of belonging to best serve members’ interests.

As our member businesses are our primary customer and driving force, their needs—your needs—are paramount. Therefore, we must operate at a level of excellence, efficiently and effectively, to provide a place businesses and professionals can belong, engage and thrive.

We have a series of specific strategies tied to each of these goals that gives our staff and board a roadmap to lead us forward into continued prosperity .

We believe that we have a distinctive role to play in the community that requires continued evolution in our events, programs and services, effective partnerships, and prudent but bold leadership on policy initiative. You can expect to see work in seeing through Fueling Our Future (the initiative set forth with the EDC), advocating for flood protection, nurturing our region’s next-generation leaders, and increasing member engagement through value-added benefits, programs and outreach efforts. This new plan will challenge our organization to work harder, smarter, and be better.

We’re so excited to get to work. Stay tuned to see what this new year brings.

And a huge thank you for your membership and support.