The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, under its strategic objective of human competitiveness, has launched a young professional initiative, EPIC Toledo. EPIC, which stands for engaging people, inspiring change, is based on the belief that a region that is influenced by diverse young professionals is a region that can attract and retain them.¹

Goals

• Develop future business and community leaders.
• Provide emerging leaders with a voice in the future of our region.
• Attract and retain diverse young talent to our region.

Action Committees

Advocacy

The Advocacy Committee is formulating a program that may include marketing items and discussion groups to promote the positive aspects of our community.

Community involvement

The Community Involvement Committee has identified a collaboration with the United Way's HelpClick online volunteer database to connect EPIC members to volunteer opportunities within our nonprofit organizations. The Community Involvement Committee will be a resource for identifying Board positions and other specific volunteer activities which EPIC members may be able to fill. The committee is also working to provide training sessions on the basic functions and responsibilities of being a board member.

Cultural arts

The Cultural Arts Committee has hosted three focus groups with many of our community's cultural arts organizations to identify how EPIC may partner with them.

Economic development

The Economic Development Committee has created a Breakfast of EPIC Proportion series that begins with Economic Development 101 at 7:30 a.m. March 22 at Sylvania Country Club to be presented by Steve Weathers, President of the Regional Growth Partnership. The committee has been meeting with various community leaders to begin learning how EPIC members may get involved in the many economic development initiatives.

Marketing

The Marketing Committee formulates plans to promote all the individual committees' initiatives, as well as EPIC in general. Plus, the committee will have an integral role in the next generation of the EPIC Web site, which will include a members-only section.

Membership

The Membership Committee continues to promote individual and corporate memberships. Soon, EPIC members will receive a membership card which will provide access to EPIC members-only events and other economic benefits.

Networking/Social

The Networking/Social Committee is planning a tailgating party for the MudHens Opening Day on April 13 and is formulating an EPIC Race and other events to bring EPIC members together to connect to one another.

References

¹ Web site : Epic Toledo.

March 9, 2007 Toledo Free Press article.