CORNERSTONE EXCEEDS FUNDING TARGET-Jacksonville, Florida

From left to right is Peter Rummell (Chairman and CEO of The St. Joe Company), Tom Petway (Chairman and CEO of Zurich Insurance Services), Mike Shalley (Vice President, The St. Joe Company), and Jerry Mallot (Executive Vice President of Cornerstone) The Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership, in Jacksonville, Florida, exceeded its private sector campaign goal of $10 million and is fast approaching its stretch goal of $11 million.  The campaign, which focused on generating private sector support that will be matched by public sector dollars, increases Cornerstone’s five-year operating budget by $3 million over their last funding cycle, and will assist the organization in its efforts to capitalize on Jacksonville’s successful hosting of the 2005 Super Bowl. “We are very excited about our enhanced marketing and international initiatives”, stated Jerry Mallot, Executive Vice President of Economic Development for Cornerstone.  “none of this would have been possible without the 30% increase in funding.” The dollars raised are allocated to recruitment and marketing, retention and expansion, small and minority business development, workforce development and the Blueprint for Prosperity initiative.   Bob Helms, Immediate Past Chair of the Chamber and President of Wachovia Bank for the state of Florida, said, “Cornerstone has been vitally important to the region.  The success of this campaign will ensure that we sustain our momentum.” “Choosing to work with Resource Development Group on this campaign was the right choice for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber”, said Wally Lee, President of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.  “Their professionalism, knowledge about economic development, and aggressive but structured approach to the campaign allowed us to complete the process in an efficient and painless fashion. ” Cornerstone is a 15-year-old public/private partnership, and is the primary business development and marketing arm of the Northeast Florida seven county region.  Cornerstone is the economic development division of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER HAS NEW HOME-Asheville, North Carolina

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted hundreds of dignitaries and guests last month to commemorate the grand opening of their new headquarters and Visitor Center. U.S. Congressman Charles Taylor, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy and Buncombe County Commission Vice-Chair Bill Stanley assisted Chamber Board Chair Charles Haltiwanger (Eaton Corporation) with the ceremony. Major donors to the Advantage Asheville 2000 campaign, which helped fund the building, included Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Janirve Foundation, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the Asheville Merchants. The ceremony was also used to launch the Advantage Asheville 2010 campaign, which will generate remaining funds needed for the building, as well as fund key economic development and workforce development initiatives. Advantage Asheville 2010 Co- Chairs Robert Sipes of Progress Energy and Fred Groce, retired BB&T, thanked current investors for their support and outlined key future programming for the Chamber.