Count On Us

By Matt Ballard, Alliance President/CEO

& Jack Rossi, Alliance Chairman

There isn’t much you can count on these days. However, you can be certain about one thing: the Charleston Area Alliance and our commitment to you, our members and our community.
During good times and in times of challenge, the Alliance is hard at work on your behalf, building a more vibrant community and prosperous economy.

Just recently, we were pleased to announce TRG’s expansion and 225 new good-paying jobs with benefits at its Corridor G location, unveil our East End Main Street wireless Internet project and the East End Main Street’s second Art Mural, we are making significant progress in making Gateway Greenspace, a sustainable park planned near the Clay Center, a reality and there is much more to come. These are just a few examples of the many innovative projects we undertake on your behalf to make the Kanawha Valley a better place to live, work and play.

In addition to grand-scale projects such as these, we provide a wide range of programs and services that can boost your bottom line today:

• Business referrals: As a member, your name is added to our industry-specific roster of businesses and service providers and posted on our Web site. The hundreds of inquiries we receive each year for recommendations are directed to the businesses that have demonstrated their professionalism and commitment to our community through their Alliance membership.
• Free technical assistance and business solutions: Our economic development and engineering professionals can provide guidance on a wide range of issues, from land development, to selling your products internationally, to recruiting specialized personnel. If we don’t have the answer, we know who will. Help is just a phone call away.
• Networking and business contacts: Our popular Business After Hours, Small Business Trade Fair, Generation Charleston and Professional Women’s Council are just a few of the low-cost forums available for connecting with others and raising the visibility of your business. Why not bring the whole office to the next event? Young professionals and experienced managers alike can benefit from networking with their peers and establishing new connections.
• Expertise: Our CEO Roundtable series, TechKnowledge and other educational programs provide very affordable ways for you and your employees to hear from the experts and stay abreast of industry trends.
•Marketing: Through our new "Member Market" program, you can promote your business to the 3,000+ business people, young professionals and community leaders on the Alliance’s exclusive email list for only $150 ($100 non-profits). Members may also submit information for inclusion on our blog and calendar of events at no charge.
• Special events: Our popular special events, such as the Annual Celebration, Issues & Eggs breakfast and Golf Outing, provide members with cost-effective and highly visible opportunities for showcasing their businesses to decision-makers and business and community leaders in a professional setting

In addition to these direct member benefits, the Alliance delivers a solid return on your membership dollars through the programs and services we provide as a multi-faceted economic, business and community development organization as well as the largest regional Chamber of Commerce in West Virginia. These include:

• Economic vitality and growth for our region
• New jobs and new customers for your businesses
• Capital investments and improvements in our community
• Legislation and policies that promote bottom-line results
• Retention of our youth and growing the talent that fuels innovation
• Enhanced quality of life and quality of place
• A promising future in a community that you and your family can be proud to call home.

We encourage you to take full advantage of the many benefits of Alliance membership. With your participation and support, the best is definitely yet to come!