As the new year gets underway, we always spend time reflecting on past accomplishments and re-evaluating our priorities and plans for the new year. Our organization has a lot on our agenda for 2016, but we won't be able to do it alone. While we work to strengthen the local Grinnell community, it's also important that we work with the other communities in our region. The old adage that we're stronger together is so true.
You may not know that our Chamber of Commerce is a member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which is the powerhouse regional chamber in Des Moines. We work together with the Partnership and its 21 affiliate chamber of commerces to work toward a common goal of strengthening central Iowa as a great place to do business and raise families. Our 300 local chamber members are all members of the Des Moines Partnership, which now represents 5,700 business members and is the 4th largest chamber in the nation. I think that speaks volumes for the collaboration happening in our state.
It's easy for those of us in Grinnell to look at Des Moines as a giant and opponent, but let's not forget that good things happening there often have ripple effects throughout the region. Rather than working in our own bubble, we aim to collaborate with our counterparts and neighbors in other communities to learn from each other and grow stronger together.
We hope you have that same mentality here locally. Rather than doing something off on your own, consider ways you can collaborate with others here in Grinnell. That's largely what we do as the chamber of commerce. We bring together 300 members to work toward a common goal of making Grinnell an amazing place to live, work, learn and play.
I encourage you to reflect on how you work together with others in our community. It's always a good time to get more involved, and we'd be happy to help you make those connections if you can. Let's pool our resources, put our heads together, and work as a team.
We truly can accomplish great things when we work together.
- Rachael Kinnick
p.s. Our Annual Celebration will take place in March - please take a moment to nominate businesses and/or individuals for awards and help us celebrate their accomplishments! Submit your nominations online here.
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