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The keystone
of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association’s (RCGA)
mission is to develop a strong, vibrant regional economy. This
directly benefits everyone who lives and works in the bi-state
region. The RCGA serves as the business liaison for organizations
that want to grow, and the people, organizations, and governmental
entities that can facilitate their success.
As an RCGA
member, you have invested in the continued positive momentum of
the bi-state region. Likewise, your organization strengthens the
region, as a partner with fellow civic and business leaders, in
helping to provide:
Economic
Opportunities
The RCGA leverages the talent and resources of members like you
to improve economic opportunities for all. Our regional economic
development efforts continue to focus on national marketing and
“deal-making”—with the goal of enhancing the region’s success
rate in attracting and retaining jobs, investment and talent.
Advocacy
The RCGA serves
as a strong advocate for member interests, lobbying for a favorable
legislative environment in Jefferson City, Springfield and Washington,
D.C., that supports continued economic growth. We help enhance
the future of the region by bringing the entire business community
together on vital legislative issues that create economic stimulus
and make our region a better place to do business.
Focus
The RCGA remains
focused on and involved in key business and civic priorities,
including working to strengthen the region’s transportation infrastructure.
Impact
The RCGA keeps
members up-to-date on vital regional issues through informative
symposiums, seminars, meetings, and frequent printed and electronic
updates.
Connection
and Recognition
The RCGA presents
events that offer members a range of opportunities to get connected.
These informal get-togethers provide special opportunities for
members who many not necessarily meet in the course of doing business,
to get to know one another; settings such as: RCGA Breakfast with
the Gazelles; Business After Hours; the Annual Dinner and Meeting;
and the annual Leadership Exchange—each help to develop and enhance
peer-to-peer relationships.
The RCGA also
helps to increase the visibility of your organization by listing
it in our annual Who’s Who, What’s What in St. Louis membership
directory, posting your organization in our website membership
directory, and offering numerous sponsorship opportunities.
About the
RCGA
What
Is Our Mission?
“To unite
the region’s business community and to engage dynamic business
and civic leadership to develop and sustain a world-class economy
and community.”
What
Do We Do?
The RCGA has
three primary roles:
- To serve
as the regional chamber of commerce with over 4,000 member companies;
- To serve
as the bi-state region’s economic development organization;
and
- To assess
and support public policy initiatives that help the region to
thrive.
Whom
Do We Serve?
The RCGA is
influential throughout the 16-county, bi-state region, which is
comprised of the City of St. Louis and the Missouri counties of
St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Franklin, Jefferson and
Washington, and the Illinois counties of St. Clair, Jersey, Madison,
Clinton, Monroe, Bond, Macoupin and Calhoun.
Members of
the RCGA constitute 40 percent of the region’s work force. Businesses
of all sizes—from entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 500 headquarters
companies, non-profits, governmental bodies, educational institutions,
healthcare and labor organizations, are included in our membership.
Membership
Benefits
RCGA membership
provides many direct benefits to you and your organization. Each
year, we produce a number of one-of-a-kind events to provide exclusive
information, opportunities to network, and build relationships
with your peers. Benefits at a glance include:
- Recognition
of your membership in St. Louis Commerce Magazine, which is
distributed monthly to some 14,000 decision-makers.
- Increasing
the awareness and visibility of your organization by listing
it in the annual roster issue of Commerce, the region’s ultimate
resource guide.
- Hyper-linking
your organization’s website to the RCGA website, which receives,
on average, 16,000 key-word searches each month, with the average
viewer spending 21 minutes on this site.
- Providing
access to key decision-makers
- Helping
to identify and build relationships with potential customers
- Helping
to develop innovative business solutions
- Giving
you information to make critical business decisions
- Accessing
a pool of professional solution providers
- Opportunity
for your organization to be covered in St. Louis Commerce Magazine
- Discount
rates for mailing lists/discs
- Affordable,
high-quality comprehensive insurance plans
Networking
Opportunities
- Breakfast
with the Gazelles
Outstanding St. Louis-area entrepreneurs, “The Gazelles” share
the secrets of how they successfully turned their ideas and
hard work into growth and profits.
- The
RCGA’s Business After Hours
Blending business with pleasure, these informal networking gatherings
held at member companies are a popular way for members to meet
new people. RCGA members also have an opportunity to purchase
exhibit tables for a nominal fee to present their products and
services firsthand to other members and guests.
- “Try
St. Louis... Buy St. Louis” “Golf Tournament
One of the region’s largest and most successful events, this
annual tournament always sells out. It’s a great day of golf,
prizes, networking and fun that members all look forward to.
- Annual
Dinner and Meeting
This is St. Louis’ premier business event, where some 1,000
people gather for an evening of entertainment, networking, and
camaraderie. The RCGA celebrates the successes of the past year
while honoring its dedicated board of directors and volunteers.
The evening’s highlight is the presentation of the Right Arm
of St. Louis Award to an outstanding regional leader(s).
- Annual
Top 50 Business Awards Gala
Fifty companies are selected based on their significant contributions
to the region and are recognized for their potential to shape
the future of how business is done here. The gala is presented
by the RCGA in conjunction with the St. Louis office of Deloitte.
- Annual
Leadership Exchange Trip
Now in its 10th year, this is a valuable opportunity to travel
and soak up the civic “best practices” in other regions. This
trip facilitates peer-to-peer networking among influential regional
leaders. Top business, civic, educational and elected leaders
participate. (Previous trips have explored the approaches to
regional growth in Cleveland, Seattle, Baltimore, Denver, Toronto,
Boston, San Diego, St. Louis, Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul.)
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