CHARLOTTE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP TAKES ITS MISSION SERIOUSLY
By Jerri Haigler
              
Like any good marketer, promoter, and collaborator, Ronnie Bryant, President and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership (CRP), stepped up to the plate as guest speaker on Tuesday when Lew Ebert from the North Carolina Chamber wasn't able to make the meeting. A seasoned 30 year professional in the economic development business, Bryant was quick to jump at the chance to promote the Charlotte region and the Charlotte Regional Partnership to Rotary members.
 
Founded in 1991, the Charlotte Regional Partnership is an economic development organization that promotes the 16-county Charlotte USA region as a premier location for businesses considering expansion or relocation. "Our organization's top priority is to market and promote the Charlotte region, which includes 12 counties in North Carolina and 4 counties in South Carolina," stated Bryant.
 
According to Bryant, the Charlotte Regional Partnership is about the art of collaboration. Partnerships with economic development advisory committees, the airport, universities, the Department of Commerce, chambers, workforce development boards, the Charlotte Research Institute, elected officials, and community colleges, all help make the partnership strong and effective.
 
Recently, the CRP was involved in a five-year Regional Visioning Plan which focused on manufacturing, technology services, and tourism. Bryant noted that although the opinion is that manufacturing jobs are becoming obsolete, he stated that salaries and productivity in the field are up. CRP is working to build a system that grows, attracts, and retains manufacturing jobs in this region. Another mission of the CRP is to maintain the appropriate level of public/private partnerships. With a budget of more than $4 million, the CRP receives 25% of its funding from North Carolina, 25% from the 16 counties, and 50% from private funds.
 
The third mission of the CRP is to initiate and participate in strategic organizational and regional economic development planning. "In 2006-2007, we identified more than 109 new projects for this region," stated Bryant. "The powerful force of regionalism and collaboration has truly made a difference in our economic development efforts."
 
Bryant also noted some of the barriers and challenges this region faces including real estate product development, transportation infrastructure, air quality, and water quality and availability.
 
Bryant closed with one of his favorite quotes from Edwin Markham that summarizes the work of the Charlotte Regional Partnership - "There's a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others will come back into our own."

Head Table: Will Barnhardt, Tom O'Brien, David Zimmerman, Luther Moore, Jim Adams, Tom Burgess;
Invocation: Carroll Thomas;
Visitors & Guests: Bob Finley; Health & Happiness: Harley Dickson; Song: Pam Jefsen; Piano: Thomas Moore;

• Three new Rotarians were introduced this week: Ed McMahan, President Little-McMahan Group, was introduced by Tim Newman. Ed was a member of the Dilworth Southend club for ten years and can be reached at emcmahan@littleonline.com; Joe Gass, President and CEO of Heritage Printing & Graphics, was introduced by Tony Zeiss. Joe was a member of the Leonardtown, MD club for twelve years and can be reached at joegass@heritageprinting.com; Rick Handford, President of Myers & Chapman, Inc., was introduced by John Armistead. Contact Rick at rhandford@myers-chapman.com. Welcome!
   
• Steve Meckler has been made a Partner at Shumaker Loop & Kendrick LLP; Jerry Walters of Littler Mendleson has been named to the BTI Client Service All-Star Team for Law Firms 2008; Natalie English, Charlotte Chamber's senior VP for Business and Education Advocacy, has been awarded the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship. She is one of 53 Americans chosen to spend 23 days in Europe visiting institutions and cultures while learning about economic, political and social issues facing the US and Europe.
  
• Host Dinners are back in full swing. To review the schedule or sign up, check the website: charlotterotary.org. January hosts were Ron Campbell and Don Millen. Coming up in February are Steve Montgomery on the 9th, Henry Bostic on the 16th, and Phil Van Hoy on the 22nd.
 
• Chris Kemper announced the upcoming build for Habitat for Humanity. If you or your companies are in a position to provide in-kind services, please contact Chris for details. The schedule and dates will be posted to the website as soon as it is available.
     
- STOP HUNGER NOW is a program that provides food, medicine, and other life-saving aide to those with the greatest need around the country. Charlotte East Rotary Club is working to raise $20,000 in order to package and mail 100,000 meals to Haiti. Governor Graham has declared this effort a District-wide project and has announced a fundraiser to achieve this goal. Those attending the District Conference will work to package the food for shipping. Donations of $10 will be accepted at Charlotte Rotary meetings through January 28th. Should you wish to receive a tax donation by writing a check - make your check payable to Southpark Rotary DAF (Stop Hunger Now in the memo section). Visit www.stophungernow.org.