Page 10 - MidJersey Business - May 2014

{ MIDjerseychamber.org }

President’s

Message

IDENTITY HEFT

W

e recently held our 2014 Board of Directors retreat. Historically,
this took place in October, but because of how our iscal year is

structured, it was moved ahead of the budget planning process this

year. Personally, I learned some extremely valuable things from
our board this year, many of which I know that our membership

agrees with and supports.
Since the rebranding of our Chamber, we have taken a much larger role in both

the community and in economic development opportunities. Our economic founda-
tion, the MIDJersey Center for Economic Development (MIDCED) is stronger than

it has ever been and recently launched In The MIDst, our destination marketing
initiative. Part of the reason these two

This marketplace is a niche all of its independent organizations have been so
successful in just a short time is that we have deined
own, with speciic characteristics
the identity for this region as mid-Jersey.
unlike that of the neighboring regions This marketplace is a niche all of its own, with specif-

of Philadelphia or New York.
ic characteristics unlike that of the neighboring regions
of Philadelphia or New York. Mid-Jersey is becoming

known for emerging and growing industries, such as

advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology, education, logistics, inance, and insurance and
transportation, just to highlight a few.

We are attracting businesses that are outside of Mercer County because our Chamber is now
identiied as the doorway to business in this region, and the mid-Jersey marketplace is the economic

driver for the economy and business. In The MIDst, for example, promotes the region’s physical
attributes by attracting visitors and fostering tourism. MIDCED is the platform for growth and

development. And our Chamber remains the hub for New Jersey business.

Robert D. Prunetti

President + CEO
Robert@MIDJerseyChamber.org

8 business.com
midJersey