Essential Chambers Cohort: Adjusting the Chamber organizational model to address the need to transition from “relevant to members” to “essential to the community” is not a turn key process. It is an evolution of a culture and the development of an operating model to execute it. It is many small iterations over time that will transform the work and the organization. It will take leadership and the buy-in of the team to get there.  It will also help to have a peer network immersed in that same unique transition within their organization. 

The Essential Chamber Cohort will consist of 10 Chambers, their execs and their leadership teams working with Finding Next to assess and develop strategies for the internal and external transition of their organization through the lens of the five key insights featured in “From Relevant to Essential”.  The program includes an initial organizational assessments, monthly strategy sessions and executive coaching for each of the individual cohort chamber members, along with quarterly virtual gatherings of the full cohort featuring speakers that will provide executable ideas for each of the five key insights. 

Relevant to Essential Assessment: If your organization is considering transitioning to a deeper, more essential role to the community you serve, assessing the capacity for the organization to make that transition is a key first step. Using the five key insights featured in “From Relevant to Essential, Finding Next can assess and rate your organizations current culture and internal operations to determine easy wins and longer term retooling needs to make that transition. 

Setting and Resetting Priorities

With the ever changing landscape, organizations need assistance in assessing their current and future priorities. Our process guides that assessment with the staff and organizational leadership to determine what are the key focus points for the next 12 to 18 months.

Small Business Ecosystem Strategies:  Effective small business ecosystems are more important than ever for communities in 2021.  The Finding Next team can assist you in analyzing your existing ecosystem, identifying gaps and barriers and  reimagining a more connective, supportive ecosystem strategy to ensure your small businesses don’t just survive but thrive post pandemic recession. 

Integrated Economic Development Strategies:  Aligned economic development, community development and talent develop strategies have become a significant recruitment and expansion advantage for communities as employers value integrated systems in their site decisions.  Our process assists communities in assessing the gaps and misalignment in their current strategies and provide specific recommendations for more intentional connections designed to produce better outcomes. 

Entrepreneurial Eco-Systems Assessments
Creating successful entrepreneurial eco-systems can provide significant economic benefits for your community. The process however is unique and often times at odds with the traditional economic development ecosystems.  Our process guides communities through the apparent dichotomy of an intentional and yet organic system of connections and support that has provided significant results for entrepreneurs and the community, with a priority emphasis on women and entrepreneurs of color.

Talent Development Pipeline Strategies:

Developing and recruiting talent is essential to support the growth and vibrancy of local economies. Our process helps you understand the nuances of each, the importance of equitable opportunity and the most effective way to build strategies that produce results for your local employers and your local talent.

IdentiVibe Assessment and Strategy:  

The most under-prioritized piece of an economic development strategy is understanding the important of community vibe to the talent recruitment and retention efforts of the community. Our process helps answer the question: Does the brand match the talent demand?  It assists communities in understanding their authentic brand, how to use sense of place to enhance it and how to engage the community in selling and living it.