The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber continues to expand, announcing a new partnership in the Buchanan area and highlighting the creation of two new chamber and growth alliances in Berrien County on Friday at its annual meeting.
The chamber’s Arthur Havlicek tells us the organization has reached an agreement with the Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce, similar to an agreement reached with the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce last year. Under that arrangement, the Niles chamber retained its own board and brand identity while integrating into the regional organization’s structure.
Havlicek says the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber continues to demonstrate there’s strength in unity.
“What makes this so important is that successful regions around the country are successful because they compete and win together,” Havlicek said. “They’re unified, they’re aligned, and in Berrien County there has long been this north and south divide that’s held us back. And by bringing these chambers under one umbrella, these business and community leaders all working together toward the common vision across community lines. We’re one major step closer to thinking and competing and winning as one region.”
Havlicek says that’s finally being overcome.
Also Friday, the chamber touted the creation of new CGAs in central Berrien County and Harbor Country in the past year. Havlicek says Baroda Township, the village of Baroda, Berrien Township, Oronoko Township, the village of Berrien Springs, and the village of Eau Claire have joined forces with the regional chamber for the Central Berrien CGA. And Chikaming Township, the city of New Buffalo, New Buffalo Township, and Three Oaks Township have joined together to form the Southwest Berrien CGA.
“Those two CGAs represent an unprecedented investment in economic development in our community and from those specific communities. And what it’ll do is enable us to hire and dedicate a full-time staff to each of those footprints that will be dedicated solely on the growth of those communities.”
Havlicek says the success of the Greater Bridgman Chamber and Growth Alliance shows how effective the CGA model can be. The newly formed CGAs are in the process of hiring directors now, further growing the regional chamber’s ranks.
