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The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is Stronger Together

This site is your resource for information about the merger of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Cedar Rapids Downtown District and Priority one, now known as the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

Media releases, articles and Frequently Asked Questions are a few of the things you will find here as we progress toward a unified message and branding in the next few months.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Common themes from the Business Input Sessions

On October 11, three different Business Input Sessions were held to gather feedback from the base memberships of all three organizations to guide and shape the new organization as it moves forward in 2012.


Common themes we found through out all 3 sessions. Below are a compilation of the common themes presented, as well as answers to questions posed by participants.

General Comments that surfaced with each group:

  • Much needed, overdue
  • Business Input Session is a good overview – participants glad they came to a session to learn and provide their feedback
  • Merger resolves messaging conflicts from separate organizations
  • Excitement about the operational savings/efficiencies
  • Continue with the improved communications
Additionally, participants asked questions ranging from how the new organization will be structured, how the innovation councils will be determined and governed, how the new organization will be named and where it will be located. As the structure and timeline continues to unfold, we will make announcements on each of these integral pieces.

Participants in the Business Input Sessions indicated a strong interest in participation in the new organization and also questioned whether additional organizations would be able to join forces with the new organization in the future.

Affecting Regionalism
A common question that has been expressed throughout is how the new combined organization will affect the efforts being made to enhance regionalism. The new organization with its common vision is aligned with the values sought in regionalism and is a step forward in the entire region's success. We expect, as a result of this intensified focus on the north end of the Corridor, a stronger focus on our combined objectives and a greater ability to affect change alongside our community partners throughout the area.