Chamber of Commerce

Planning forYou T The Chamber of Commerce raises money to compete with other municipalities for scarce government resources. here's a new type of warfare being waged in the United States. It comes in the form of cut throat com- petition among states, counties, and municipalities for limited resources, shrinking federal and state dollars, and for the homespun quality of life enjoyed by Andy, Opie and Aunt Bea just up the road near Mount Airy. This warfare means that North Carolina and Virginia fierce- ly compete for water rights from Lake Gaston. It means many southern Cape Fear River Basin communities oppose Cary's siphoning from the Cape Fear River and transferring the water into the Neuse River, thereby potentially leaving the south- ern burgs high and dry. And most recently, it has meant the Fayetteville community mustering arms under the leadership of the local Chamber of Commerce when Charlotte garnered scarce and competing state highway dollars for yet another Queen City roadway, while Fayetteville fought to maintain funding for its long sought and much needed bypass. Natural resources, infrastructure and quality of life ameni- In an economy where opportunities are rare and coveted, it takes leadership, planning and determination to secure a city's growth. ties are the spoils of war that make a region fertile for business expansion and, in turn, economic prosperity. But winning the economic development war and the ensuing economic prosperity doesn't happen in a vacuum. It takes money, leadership, strategic planning and a commitment by organizations and individuals alike to earn economic opportunities that are becoming a rare find in a bear market economy. Locally, the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce leads the effort to en- sure a healthy economy that will continue to grow and provide the quality of life residents and business owners expect. Led by CEO and President Doug Peters, his staff and the membership, the Chamber works tirelessly to seek new economic opportunities for the community. Its aim is to grow this community into a major economic center in the Southeast United States for busi- ness, defense and industrial development. As the Chamber competes for an ever-shrinking piece of the American dream, it touts among its arsenal the Community Development Foundation or CDF, a sister organization to the Chamber in the form of a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to foster economic growth and development by raising money used to attract new business and to expand existing businesses. Its ultimate goal is to create better career opportunities, higher paying jobs and a better quality of life. 30 | Accents • 2011 - 2012

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