Mission Statement

The mission of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce

is to be the representative voice of county for-profit and non-profit businesses in working to improve the county economy and to address pressing county socioeconomic issues.
 

Goals:

To knit the Cook County business community together in ways that put aside traditional sector and geographic divisions; that embraces a common economic vision, and that engenders a significant level of trust needed to advance the interests of all its members.
 
To develop, promote and help implement a countywide economic strategy that focuses on strengthening existing county businesses in all sectors and improving or diversifying the county economy in sustainable ways that increase full-time, year-round jobs available to county residents; that enjoys broad public support, and that can win the support of the Cook County Board and the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority as an official blueprint against which to measure policy initiatives and funding decisions.
 
To build relationships within the county and region, and in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., that will enable the Chamber to bring influence to bear on behalf of specific projects that advance the countywide economic strategy.
 
To keep current on the actions of and to provide pertinent economic and business information to the County Board; the EDA; City of Grand Marais; townships of Schroeder, Tofte and Lutsen; the Cook County Visitors Bureau; the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Council, and other groups or bodies as may prove necessary and useful.
 
To take an active, nonpartisan role in encouraging candidates for public offices in the county who are knowledgeable of and sensitive to business and economic concerns, and who demonstrate the leadership skills, speaking and writing abilities, policy positions and common sense needed to serve the county well. This goal shall include holding candidate forums that give all candidates the opportunity to demonstrate that they possess the traits and skills listed above.
 
To inform local, regional and state media of business, economic and policy matters that promote the goals and priorities of the Chamber and the economic and socioeconomic wellbeing of county residents.
 
To increase the prominence of economic and socioeconomic issues in public discussions among county residents and to be a positive force in formulating and implementing solutions and utilizing opportunities to improve the quality of life for current and future residents of Cook County.