Billings Chamber of Commerce > Priorities

Priorities

This will be a year focused on uniting our stakeholders and the community behind all the wonderful things Billings has to offer while showing pride in our home and working together to improve areas needing attention such as public safety and our parks, trails and recreation. 

Our 2023-2024 and Beyond Strategic Priorities:

A Safer Billings
Although violent and property crime has gone down in the past two years and since the passage of the Public Safety Mill levy, there remains work to be done.  We will continue to make tangible strides through our Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) program, convening  partners to address the judicial and jail system, and ongoing improvement to public policy.

Love Where You Live
We will continue our focus on fostering a community that is welcoming to all via all Chamber avenues including our programing, networks, public policy leadership, political candidate support and more. We will connect new resident-employees to individuals, groups and activities such as cultural, heritage and lifestyle groups (human relations coalition, LGBTQ+ community, Mexican-American community, etc). We will enhance and repurpose the “Please Be Kind” campaign.

Build Our Place
Parks, trails and recreational facilities are indicators of a city’s health and contribute to benefits such as building a stronger quality of place and talent attraction. The Chamber will continue ongoing efforts to improve and expand these areas through our direct fundraising efforts, and support for creative, comprehensive and sustained investment.

You Belong In Billings
The Chamber will continue to build welcoming and belonging in Billings and our area businesses through our ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, relocation resources and related services, and talent recruitment and retention, supporting Billings as a welcoming home for all.

The Billings Chamber does not exist to sell memberships, services, and seats. We exist to move Billings forward and help your business grow.

Strategic Objectives 2023-2024the Catalyst of growth

The Billings Chamber of Commerce has four core competencies: Business Advocacy, Visitor Economy, Connect & Grow Business, and Quality of Life which drive our strategic objectives.

Advance Quality of Place

Grow Workforce and Develop Leaders

Lead Visitor Growth

Influence Public Policy

Spark Success in Members

Exceed Organizational Expectations

Our Mission: To develop a strong business climate and vibrant economy by serving the community in a leadership role thereby enhancing the quality of life.

Our Vision: To achieve excellence in community leadership and growth.

Champions and Conveners, The Catalyst for Growth. The Billings Chamber represents our 1,100 members who employ nearly 45,000 people. We are Champions of our community; the Convener of leaders and influencers, the Catalyst for business growth.

Our Team Promise: Our brand speaks loudly of change, energy, and excitement. As a team we will consistently deliver the wow factor; innovative ideas, knowledge, integrity, leadership, and laughter. We’re proud of what we do and where we live. Let’s SHOUT it out!

Core Competencies

  1. Business Advocacy: Lead local, state and federal legislative issues impacting business and our quality of life; and proactively support business-friendly elected leaders that drive those policies;
  2. Tourism Marketing: Promote Billings and the region as a preferred destination for visitors, business travelers and sporting events;
  3. Connect & Grow Business: Provide opportunities for our membership relating to education, leadership development, networking and value added services.

Your Chamber

The Billings Chamber has received the highest award that a chamber can receive from the United States Chamber of Commerce: 5-Star Accreditation. Less than 1% of the 7,000 chambers in the U.S. have this designation. The Billings Chamber was recognized as the 2015 “Chamber of the Year” by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. We are a non-profit 501(c)6 representing and serving 1,150 members who employ more than 50,000 people. Your Board consists of community leaders representing small and large businesses and diverse business interests. We are governed by 19 voting members and seven ex-officio members who provide expertise in their fields and connect us to local government, higher education, economic development, and arts and culture. Your staff consists of 17 professionals who are enthused, engaged in the community and full of great ideas and energy. The Chamber has strategic management agreements to further the regional travel industry with the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development (lodging tax); Visit Billings; Billings Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID); and Visit Southeast Montana Tourism (SEMT).

Our Story

Billings is Montana’s Trailhead: it is the starting point for business growth, development, and the gateway to finding community and raising a family. Billings enjoys a large trade area (500,000 square mile retail trade area covering four states) with a diverse economy (healthcare, agriculture, tourism, natural resources). Educational opportunities (Montana State University Billings, Rocky Mountain College, a strong pre-K-12 system) are abundant as are our recreational and scenic surroundings. Residents and visitors alike enjoy “River to the Rims” beauty (from Swords Rimrock Park to the Yellowstone River); cultural attractions (Yellowstone Art Museum, Western Heritage Center, Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site, ZooMontana, etc.); and an increasingly vibrant downtown (the heart of our community). A short drive places you in the heart of international icons and beauty, heritage, and the old west (Pompeys Pillar, Yellowstone National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield). Employers tout a strong employee work ethic, short commute and satisfied workforce. As with any community on the move, Billings faces challenges such as: talent availability; an aging population; being an urban area in a rural state/region; taxing structure equality; air service; lack of facilities (event space, attractions, sports, infrastructure); crime rates, meeting worker needs (workforce housing, childcare).

Challenges for Progress

Collective Community Vision: Develop a vision for Billings that defines success, goals, and roles with our strategy partners in order to accomplish greater objectives with a shared vision.

Develop Consistent Funding Mechanism: Fight for a local option sales tax while securing alternative funding in the interim.

Tell Our Story: Increase celebration of community and economic successes and instill an overall sense of community pride and place.

Elected Representatives: Support those running for public office who possess strength, vision and true leadership. Montana and Billings struggle with partisan politics. We need leadership with drive and focus that will use their influence, collaboration, and cooperation to move our community and economy forward.