June is a month when many of us turn our thoughts to the future. Many of our young people are graduating and planning for their future. This is an exercise that we should all be doing on a regular basis. After a series of meetings, I feel the future of our community is now. Many changes have taken place in the last 5 years that we must now adjust our strategy on how to optimize our current environment.

Economic development for our region is something in which everyone can participate. The focus has shifted from job creation and luring manufacturing companies to prospecting for small businesses and entrepreneurs that can fill a void within our community. CACIF (Cumberland Allegany County Industrial Foundation) has a committee headed by Renee Bone, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development that follows retail development. Frostburg and Cumberland each have someone dedicated to filling the vacancies that exist in our Main Street areas. The Allegany Arts Council, headed by Andrew Vick, has a strong component of relocatoin to bring artists and their businesses to the area. Tourism has turned the corner where several of our capital projects such as the Great Allegheny Passage and Canal Place have been completed to a point where marketing is now the focus to bring tourists here.

While all these changes have taken place there has been an ongoing mantra in the business community for a need in succession planning for the next generation of leaders. As the "Baby Boomers" start to step down from current leadership roles and pursue other interests and passions, opportunities exist for the next generation to step up.

All of the changes were pulled together with suggestions on how to move forward by a group of very bright young MBA students from Frostburg State University. Their assignment was to research "what attracts young professionals and entrepreneurs to an area". The results were fascinating and encouraging in that our area is in a great position to attract the young professionals that are starting out today. Each generation has a different set of priorities. The "Baby Boomers" normally sought employment in their hometown, often following in their family's business or working for a company where a relative had a stable job. The next generation moved out of town where the money and opportunities existed. Now the college graduates are seeking a location which offers a quality of life first then seeking their career opportunities. All four of the students doing this project are staying in our area.

The study concluded with an outline of action items that the Chamber could do to be proactive in attracting professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses to our region. In addition there were great suggestions on mentoring and engaging the emerging leaders of our community.

                      Great job!!!!
                      -- Barb