Joining your local economic alliance is a great way to stay up to date with economic development in your area or region. Economic alliances cover specific areas, where they are involved in planning, research, and business development in the region. If your area does not have a local economic alliance, joining the local Chamber of Commerce is another good idea to stay familiar with similar happenings.
Becoming a member of your local economic alliance can help you both personally and professionally, offering opportunities for education and ongoing learning. Below, learn more about why you should consider taking part in your local economic alliance’s efforts to support economic development in your region.
Networking Events
When you join a local economic alliance or chamber of commerce, part of your membership includes access to networking events. These may be held several times a month, giving you plenty of opportunities to attend events that work best for your schedule.
Attending networking events is a great way to expand your connections and contacts by mixing and mingling with new people. At networking events, you’ll have the chance to intact with other working professionals in the same community. These are people you may not have otherwise interacted with if it weren’t for attending a networking event! Worried you won’t know how to make conversation during networking events? You can always discuss recent events and news as small talk, such as how poker became more popular in recent years thanks to online casinos. Although you may be concerned about knowing what to say, networking events often provide plenty of opportunities to discuss your work role and goals for your career.
When joining your local economic alliance, ask what type of networking events may be available. Whether it’s an after-work social at a bar or a seminar, there’s always a great variety of events you can attend. Some economic alliances, such as the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation put a full list of events right on their website.
Opportunities for Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations
Some economic development alliances also focus on awarding money through grant funding to help local businesses or non-profits. Joining an alliance can help you professionally, giving you access to opportunities such as the Downtown Revitalization Invitation Grants provided recently by the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. This grant awarded 10 million dollars to a city in need of some support.
In addition to grant opportunities, many local businesses and non-profit organizations can join forces through partnerships, sponsorships, and other awareness initiatives. Becoming a member of your local economic alliance or development corporation can give you a chance to meet working professionals in other industries, helping to diversify your business’ efforts.
Also, it should be noted that becoming a member of a Chamber of Commerce can help boost your business’s credibility and visibility. If you have a local business, this can be what helps set you apart from the competition. Joining a Chamber of Commerce can help provide a trusted endorsement that consumers trust while helping to get your name out there.
Learning and Educational Opportunities
Remember, the primary purpose of many local economic alliances and chamber alliances is to support the community and uplift the economy. By providing educational opportunities, they help to enhance the community and help its economy prosper. As such, many learning and educational opportunities may be available to members. From education forums to week-long summits, there are lots of chances to learn something new.
Does public speaking or other job tasks stress you? If so, you might find that you gain valuable insight, tips, and tricks to help you at your job too. Professional development requires ongoing learning, as there’s always something new to learn. Advancing your skills by taking part in learning opportunities gives you opportunities to grow professionally.
It’s also important to stay on top of current trends in economic development. Actively participating in your local economic alliance can help ensure you do not fall behind with current trends and research in your niche or industry. The more you know, the more successful you can be in your career!
Support from Other Professionals
No matter what industry you work in, advancing your career can be difficult. While it’s admirable to want to do it all alone, it’s always a good idea to accept help from other successful individuals. Not only will joining your local economic alliance help you stay up to date with happenings in your community, but it will provide resources that can be beneficial to your success.
Through your alliance, you may find opportunities to connect with others and ask questions from intelligent and successful business people. You might even build the right connections that can help you get a new job or get a promotion at your current workplace.
