Community Archives

2022: The Year of Businesses, Talent, Leaders, and Community Champions Thriving Together

Dec 8, 2021

As the winter months approach, with it comes the promise of an exciting new year. And as we prepare for 2022, I want to take a moment to thank you for your tremendous partnership with the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber (SWCRC), and your support of our strong efforts to serve Downriver and Southern Wayne County’s entrepreneurs, job providers, and workforce. The SWCRC continues to work toward unifying and strengthening our region and membership, and we believe that 2022 will provide great opportunity for our business community and workforce to thrive.

I am honored to lead such a dynamic organization, whose passionate mission is to serve our community by providing opportunity for engagement and growth throughout the 21 municipalities of Southern Wayne County. The SWCRC continues to stand firm for our shared values of free-enterprise, and together as one united region, we will advocate for our ability to freely serve and enhance opportunity for all who live and work in our Downriver community.

The SWCRC strives to provide opportunity for engagement that will empower each member to achieve success. Our vision is to be the unifying body of Downriver, bringing people together to have a positive, lasting impact on our region. With that vision in mind, our theme for 2022 is “Empowering Community Champions.”

Although 2022 will bring challenges, I believe that we can overcome any obstacle when we all work together as community champions. With our theme and vision in mind, the SWCRC will serve our region as a unifying force to:

Enhance opportunity of engagement to achieve success for all members of the SWCRC.
Work together to provide the resources and tools needed to empower our region, and discover unique solutions to resolve the challenges of our day.

Together, as one strong business community, we are accomplishing the impossible, and enhancing opportunity for our present and future generations.

With your partnership, we will continue to provide programming that enables our membership to enhance operations and opportunity throughout Downriver. Programs such as our HR Roundtable, SCORE business mentorship, and small business workshops provide direct access to meaningful resources that drive success for Downriver entrepreneurs.

Resourceful benefits empower small businesses with cost saving initiatives such as:

Office supplies discount program, email marketing savings, and commercial liability insurance savings
Complimentary advertising via our weekly Chamber Chat e-newsletter
Cost savings measures such as LED lighting solutions, exclusive workforce benefits programs, complimentary employment law hotline, discounted federal and state labor law posters
Exposure and credibility via the SWCRC’s online and printed Downriver community guide and business directory, distributed to thousands across our region
Opportunities for engagement with networking and referral connections groups, monthly networking and signature events, and so much more!

You can learn more about opportunities for success at www.SWCRC.com/membership.

2022 is our year to truly serve Downriver as champions of our community. Again, thank you for your partnership, and please feel free to reach out to the SWCRC staff. As one united Downriver region, we are Thriving Together!

Your partner in free enterprise,

Ronald J. Hinrichs
President/CEO

SWCRC “Thriving Together” Blog: Resolving the Worker Shortage Crisis will Require Us to All Work Together Toward Creating Real Solutions

Jun 10, 2021

June, 2021: Downriver is truly a remarkable place, and the challenges of the past year and four months have demonstrated our unique strength and ability to come together as one passionate community and thrive. With the rescinding of broad restrictions expected on July 1, we are coming out of a dark tunnel that has had devastating effects on us all. However, with that, a new crisis has lifted its ugly head, and we are once again being called to rise to the challenge. I believe that a new crisis brings new possibility, and there is no better region of heroes to discover the pathway to success than Downriver.

Downriver needs workers to fill job openings everywhere. This reality is apparent as you travel down any major roadway and see the endless “help wanted” signs in the windows of our region’s employers. Or, as you arrive at your favorite restaurant for a delicious meal, only to find that the eatery had no choice but to cut their hours of operation due to a lack of staffing. As Americans and Michiganders, we cannot and will not accept this as our new normal, but will seek positive and real solutions to ensure that our community, businesses, and workforce thrive. We are facing a significant challenge indeed, and we have the solution right here amongst us. Our region has amazing talent and it’s time for us to come back to work. Not only employers, but our communities need workers who are ready to truly make a difference, roll up their sleeves, and enhance the neighborhoods we call home. Our small businesses and non-profit organizations everywhere, and our entire community, are counting on us to join the cause and to serve our fellow citizens as we are, hardworking American patriots.

As I consider this challenge, I am reminded of the generations before us, who answered the call of their nation and community, and rose to the challenge to ensure that the greatest republic on earth will continue to stand strong for liberty and free enterprise. Your nation and your community are calling on you to lead in such a time as this. This is your moment. Rise up, seek meaningful employment in our region, and serve alongside our Downriver job providers and business community. I cannot say this any clearer; the destiny of our Downriver community is calling on you, and only with your talent and service can our community positively move forward.

Our elected officials at the state and federal level must provide the resources critically needed to empower workers and talent to overcome barriers preventing them from finding employment and making a difference. Federal relief funding must be used to invest in vital childcare programs, retraining programs for our workforce, and critically needed transportation infrastructure to enable talent to serve our communities. Proposals and legislation must not offer “band-aid” solutions, or seek only the personal ambitions of politicians that only leaves our community, employers and workforce to struggle with additional challenges as “relief” funding comes to an end. Legislative solutions must be bipartisan, and provide meaningful resources that will truly enable our workforce and job providers to work together in a powerful partnership that will drive our great state and nation forward. I encourage you to contact your state and federal representation, and encourage a discussion that will result in real and positive impact for Downriver. Contact your elected leaders at this link today: https://swcrc.com/michigan-government/

I am thrilled to congratulate tremendous Downriver entrepreneurs who celebrated grand openings over the past couple of months. Congratulations to Dairy Queen Grill & Chill in Taylor, The Vault on First in Downtown Wyandotte, Perfect Place Drop-In Center in Southgate, the new ownership of Big Boy Restaurant in Taylor, the grand reopening of Michigan Legacy Credit Union in Wyandotte, Julia Augustyniak Chiropractic in Trenton, the Services to Enhance Potential Cooking in the D center in Detroit, the new location of Big Lots in Southgate, the new branch of Public Service Credit Union in Trenton, Island Holistic Health on Grosse Ile, and Awesome RC Repairs in Riverview.

This past month, the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber announced the 2021 recipients of the Women of Achievement Awards presented by Beaumont! This exciting event honors and celebrates dynamic women in business leadership throughout our region, and we are looking forward to our elegant awards ceremony scheduled for Friday, October 15 at Crystal Gardens in Southgate. Congratulations to Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award recipient Mia Harnos of Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency; Entrepreneur Award recipient Ayana King of Maximum Communications; Unsung Heroine Award recipient Jessica Workman of Advantage One Credit Union; and a rising star in our region, Distinguished Young Woman Award recipient Deidre Crockett, who is a recent graduate of Taylor Preparatory High School and volunteers her time serving at Beaumont Health. Be sure to join us at this year’s celebration, and learn more about the event at www.SWCRC.com/WOA21.

As businesses and organizations continue to seek the tremendous talent needed to enhance our community, we are facing a real crisis and we must unite together. Downriver never gives up. Americans never quit. A generation is calling on our workers to come back and to build on our great nation as those before us strived to do. We’ve come this far, and as we face this giant, together we will overcome. Job openings are everywhere. As Americans, inaction is never an option. It’s time to get to work.

Your partner in free enterprise,

Ron Hinrichs, SWCRC President/CEO

2019 Election Day Message from SWCRC President & CEO Ron Hinrichs

Oct 31, 2019

November 5, 2019.

Today is one of the most important days of the year, Election Day 2019. I want to take a moment to once again thank the mayoral candidates throughout our region who took the time to meet with our local job providers and entrepreneurs at the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber‘s Mayoral Candidates Forum earlier this month. Their interest and desire to serve our business community, and to take the time to meet with our members means the world to me, and demonstrates outstanding leadership. This is what I expect from our region’s leaders, and their support, dedication and leadership is among the finest.

It is critical that our business community remains involved and engaged with local decision making, and continues to drive solid pro-business policy. I often say that the southern Wayne County and Downriver region has some of the greatest and most committed elected leadership. We must continue to elect leaders who will never sway from maintaining our community’s legacy of working together in a positive and productive manner. We must elect leaders who are motivated by a desire to have a positive, lasting impact on our region, and who are passionate about working together as a strong, engaged, and unified region.

The SWCRC’s mission is “to promote business, enhance economic development and serve as a catalyst for improving the overall quality of life in the region.” It is our vision “to be the unifying body for the Downriver business community, bringing people and organizations together to have a positive, lasting impact on our region.”

With these guiding principles in mind, I strongly urge our membership of Downriver’s entrepreneurs, difference-makers, and providers of opportunity to elect leaders who will stand with us and lead us toward further economic development and growth in a positive way. We will not support negative political rhetoric or intimidation, but will always stand with leaders who will work to unite our region to benefit all. I am grateful that the leaders of southern Wayne County are those who share these values of positive leadership.

Allen Park – A community with great promise and a bright future. I am looking forward to working with leaders and a mayor who are prepared to continue economic development and business growth in this City, and is ready to work with the community on projects such as the former Downtown movie theater and others, which will provide tremendous opportunity for growth and development.

Belleville- Leadership must continue to support the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce and other pro-business groups in the Belleville area. Under Mike Kole’s leadership, the BACC has added significant value for businesses and the entire community, and we hope to see continued support, involvement, and pro-business policy from City leadership.

Gibraltar – I am looking forward to continued growth in this great community such as the outstanding developments at Humbug Marina and what we have seen with the transformation of the former Gibraltar McLouth site with Hycal. Positive leadership in this community will continue to make Gibraltar a thriving City.

Flat Rock – Flat Rock continues to see tremendous growth, and like all of Downriver, is home to some of the most passionate and dedicated business leaders. We support policy and leadership that will continue to foster economic development and growth for this community in a positive and unified way.

Melvindale – As Mayor Stacy Bazman reaches her term limit, we are looking forward to continuing her legacy of positive leadership that will serve the community and provide policy that encourages economic growth. Thank you Stacy for your outstanding leadership and engagement with the SWCRC, and we are looking forward to working with the next Mayor and Council.

Riverview – Riverview has tremendous opportunity for growth in its future, and positive leadership will help this amazing community to overcome some of the challenges it faces in the future, but also to capitalize on the great opportunities. The Chamber is honored to enjoy a great relationship with Mayor Swift, and as an unopposed candidate, we are looking forward to working with the Mayor and other local leaders to continue to recruit businesses into this thriving City.

Rockwood- A gem in Wayne County, Rockwood’s community will continue to grow and thrive with continued positive and effective leadership. We are looking forward to ongoing pro-business leadership in this community and development of a great partnership with the SWCRC.

Trenton – Trenton is undergoing phenomenal growth and tremendous economic development, and has only just begun! We need leadership that will continue to support the careful cleanup of the McLouth property in partnership with MSC and the EPA, and looks forward to the outstanding potential this property has for our entire region. Also, leadership that will work and provide policy to continue the significant business growth we have seen in the community along West Rd. and W. Jefferson in the Downtown area. The Riverside hospital property and the upcoming closing of the DTE Trenton Channel power plant will be key moving forward, and continued positive and effective leadership will provide for real opportunity at these sites. I am impressed and encouraged with the planning and investment from DTE, in partnership with intelligent and effective leadership at the city to help make this property beneficial to the future of our community.

Downriver and southern Wayne County business community – now is your time to make a difference. Vote. Elect leadership that supports local business and provides for an atmosphere that generates economic development and opportunity.

The SWCRC is looking forward to working with our elected leaders toward accomplishing our shared vision to have a positive, lasting impact on our region. Together, we are making it happen. #ItsHappeningDownriver

Ronald J. Hinrichs
President & CEO
Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber