Well it’s that time again. 2010 has been a challenging year and the Miramichi Chamber of Commerce has risen to the challenge. We have moved forward in so many ways.

One of the Chamber's mandates is to support and advocate the interests of its members in local, provincial, and national issues and over the past year we have spent a considerable amount of time meeting with all levels of government and various political parties. We were able to express to them our main concern for Miramichi.

In 2010, our position and concern for our community has been a consistent one note song. Jobs, jobs, jobs! Over and over we expressed the need for jobs on the Miramichi.

We also spent a great deal of time meeting with business people from other areas trying to attract them to our community. And in 2011, jobs will continue to be our main focus going forward.

As a Chamber, we recognized that typically not enough effort goes into business retention or cultivating our own local entrepreneurs. A Business Retention and Expansion Executive working on behalf of the Chamber would have an impartial directive to not only work to convince companies from outside the area to relocate, but within our own community, identify a business that might leave, down-size, or expand elsewhere.

We see this individual as a necessary component to a healthy economy.

All in all, it has been a good year, however, there is still much to do. Our goal for 2011 is to grow our Chamber membership. We want to have 500 memberes by the end of the year. This is a lofty goal but one that can be achieved. I believe a strong Chamber makes a strong community. I would like to encourage every chamber member to get involved. Let your voice be heard. We need your ideas and your support. I believe the Chamber exists to make a community a better place to live. Let's make our Chamber and our community of Miramichi one that we are all proud of.

Sincerly,

Hal Somers
President
Miramichi Chamber of Commerce