Monthly Roundup - March 2026
Economic and Community Development / March 6, 2026
- The St. Petersburg Area Chamber launched the Tech Founders Committee, a new initiative to support established entrepreneurs and foster the next generation of innovators. The committee will oversee four key pillars that include funding access, advisory and mentorship, partnership and collaboration and talent and education.
- The McKinney Chamber launched a new initiative designed to support employers’ recruitment needs while offering community members a new way to get connected with the city. The Community Compass presented by Trinity Falls, offers customizable tours of McKinney for prospective employees, relocating families, business partners and anyone interested in learning more about the community.
- The Texarkana USA Regional Chamber received a $120,000 grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation to support workforce development efforts in Bowie County. The funding will support the Chamber’s initiative to achieve ACT Work Ready Community Certification in 2026. The ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a credential that measures workplace skills and provides employers with a standardized method to assess job candidates’ skill levels.
- The Greater Houston Partnership held its first Procurement Exchange of the year, a targeted convening for procurement, supply chain, supplier diversity and ESG leaders from across the Houston region. The event was held in partnership with Houston’s Asian, Black, Hispanic, and LGBT chambers of commerce as they share how their organizations are navigating today’s political and economic landscape, supporting small businesses, and addressing evolving challenges
- The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber unveiled its new strategic plan, setting a bold five-year roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, advance housing solutions and enhance the South Coast experience for residents, employers and visitors
- The Greater Tallahassee Chamber is prioritizing regional growth, innovation and talent retention as its goals in 2026. The chamber will work with neighboring counties, advocating for policies that benefit the entire region and helping attract new industries across county lines.
- The Greater Harlem Chamber hosted forum to support and empower local entrepreneurs. The event attracted a diverse group of entrepreneurs, financial leaders and community advocates and focused on how minority-owned businesses can move beyond survival to secure the capital and resources needed for growth.
- The Greenville Chamber’s TalentRiseGVL initiative helps adults navigate post-secondary education opportunities to advance their careers. It provides one-on-one, individualized career counseling to connect adults with the education and training aligned with their career goals. Some of the areas of study include trade skills, health care, business, manufacturing and education.
- The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched a new AI Advantage Program, which will bring local entrepreneurs together for hands-on education on artificial intelligence and workforce innovation. The program will help small business owners adopt artificial intelligence in practical, accessible and immediately useful ways via hands-on instruction, real-world use cases and expert-led training.
- The Salina Area Chamber unveiled a new community brand aimed at attracting visitors, residents and economic development. The brand aims to strengthen local pride and reshape how Salina is perceived by visitors, job seekers, families and businesses.
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