Overview
Inventors Congress
T-BED series of
invited speakers
Alliance Partners
Board

BOARD & MEMBERS

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Become an Advocacy Committee Member

Primary Goals:

• enhance community awareness of the Rapid City Area Economic Development Partnership and to assist the Partnership in accomplishing their mission
• provide opportunities for informed and involved committee members to participate in area economic development activities
• identify and develop committee members as potential candidates for serving on the EDP Board
  

Strategies

1. Enhance community awareness of the Economic Development Partnership by selectively communicating and promoting the efforts and achievements of the Economic Development Partnership.
   • Identify publicity opportunities (press releases, campaign kick-off event, media hosting, press coverage (Dan Daly), KNBN news series & noon show, monthly newspaper column from RCED office, including: local expansions, Rapid Fund, New Businesses, Trade Shows, Business Park, Learning Luncheons)
   • Identify partnership “PR” opportunities (include ED news in other newsletters, members of committee and board, working with youth business organizations)
   • Identify advertising opportunities (on-going campaign, mailer to RC business owners, billboards, print and electronic)
   • Community Presence (Chamber Expo, Zonta Expo, Home Show, Sports Show)
   • Inform the business community of the business resources available and encourage the effective utilization of those resources.
     
2. Promote and support those agencies that provide research and support services directly related to economic development; specifically the Western Research Alliance and the West River Business Service Center.
   • Identify successes of the Western Research Alliance. (ex. develop a three or four point survey)
     
3. Provide opportunities for committee members and local business operators to increase knowledge in topics relevant to subjects and issues pertaining to business.
   • Continue the successful "Learning Lunches" as a means to foster communication between entrepreneurs, managers, business service providers, private and public sector agencies.
   • Evaluate different ideas for changes in the Learning Lunch program.
     
4. Identify challenges to existing and new businesses expanding or locating to and within Rapid City.
   • Educate new and existing businesses on economic development services available to them. (ex: speak at service clubs)
   • Identify opportunities and needs encountered by new and existing businesses in Rapid City.
   • Possibly develop a survey with the capability of notifying the business with an immediate result.
     
5. Establish a partnership relationship with local educational entities.
   • Promote Rapid City’s business climate in educational publications and websites.
   • Promote the Rapid City area and emphasize its pro-business climate to students, graduates, faculty and staff.
     
6. Promote and support effective partnerships between local governments and the business sector through effective political process participation and communication.
   • Actively support economic development-related projects at all appropriate governmental levels.
   • Become involved in the formal Rapid City Future Land Use planning process by providing informed comment and input to City officials.
   • Coordinate with other regional interest groups the necessary planning, education, and communications in support of the DM&E rail project.