The Longview Chamber of Commerce is passionate about “leading people, leading prosperity.” Our community is one filled with diverse people who need bold, visionary leadership. That vision includes the potential of economic prosperity for every community member. Economic prosperity is about helping people fulfill their dreams. It could be the dream of owning a business or the dream of leading a company to grow and add jobs. The primary way that we accomplish this prosperity is by planting seeds as a catalyst, convenor, and champion. 

Planting those seeds can be illustrated by a recent trip we hosted to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was the tenth trip of what we call an “InterCity Trip.” A team of fifty key influencers from the Longview area joined us to visit with Tulsa’s leaders about initiatives they have launched and the challenges they have overcome as a community.  

The impact of each of the Intercity Trips over the past ten years has been tremendous, and this one was no different as we witnessed those seeds planted in the hearts and minds of the leaders who participated. So what seeds were planted, and how does the Chamber help nurture those seeds?

As a catalyst for business growth, the Longview Chamber is a believer in and defender of our free market economy. It is the free market that promotes competition and drives ingenuity. In that same vein, we also champion business as a force for good. One way the Chamber champions business is through our redevelopment initiative. A seed that was planted in Tulsa was the idea of beautifying our downtown alleys as a way to attract and keep people who will shop, eat, and play while they are here. A group has already formed to move this project forward. 

As a convenor of leaders and influencers, the Longview Chamber excels at connecting with key influencers at the local, state, and federal levels. Advocacy is perhaps our most important initiative as we are the voice for the businesses of our community. In Tulsa, there was a unified voice among organizations and entities. That voice was laser focused on talent attraction and retention. We are committed to helping convene the people who will adopt a “one-voice” mentality for Longview.  This focus may also revolve around talent attraction and retention, which is why we have launched our LongviewNow! initiative with a website, videos, and digital magazine. You can see all three at www.nowlongview.com. 

Finally, as a champion for a better community, our plans, goals, and initiatives are not for our benefit. They are for future generations – our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren – with the dream of a community where they will thrive and desire to be involved. A better community means better education and a better workforce. Teams have already formed for projects like our higher ed consortium, an intern program for college students, and an industry coalition to better utilize our East Texas Advanced Manufacturing Academy.