The Mobile Area Chamber its released annual report for 2017 ahead of its 181st Annual Meeting set for Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Mobile Convention Center.
Highlights of 2017 include:
- Jobs: Among the key accomplishments were six economic development projects with a capital investment of $321 million and a commitment to create an additional 647 at new and existing companies in the Mobile area.
- Advocacy: Advocacy efforts in 2017 included monitoring 1,030 legislative bills and behind-the-scenes work with community partners to renew Alabama’s Historic Tax Credit. This tax credit is previously responsible for 52 projects across Alabama, including several in Mobile.
- Value: The Chamber assisted 46 small businesses with ribbon cuttings and grand openings and recognized 31 members and companies for their work, including Continental Motors Group as Manufacturer of the Year; 3 Echoes Productions as Small Business of the Year; Andy Newton with Uniti Fiber as Outstanding Entrepreneur; Gaines Plumbing and Harper Technologies as Eagle Award winners; WALA FOX10 as the Rev. Wesley A. James Minority Business Advocate; and Lisa Kavanagh with Junior League of Mobile as Ambassador of the Year.In addition the Chamber hosted 35 small business-focused workshops and seminars. Chamber members say networking opportunities and professional development workshops are two of the most important benefits.
- Excellence: At the close of 2017, the Chamber’s 1,936 members employed 107,844 employees.
During the annual meeting, the outgoing 2017 Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Liz Freeman with Long’s Human Resource Services and Chamber President and CEO Bill Sisson will discuss the report and what they believe to be the strongest accomplishments of the year and forecast what’s to come in 2018.
Brian Willman, South Alabama/Florida Panhandle area president for Regions Bank will outline specific deliverables for the Chamber’s more than 1,900 member businesses and close the meeting as the Chamber’s 2018 board chairman.
The full 2017 Annual Report can be found here.
