Winston-Salem's two leading civic business groups are joining forces to create a unified marketing operation. The city's Chamber of Commerce will team with Winston-Salem Business Inc., with the merger scheduled for sometime in 2020.
The goal is to submit a leadership and governance structure proposal by next April.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports while the organizations will continue to operate separately for the time being, the boards of directors for both groups have approved a merger that will incorporate new branding and marketing strategies.
Bob Leak Jr. is the president of Winston-Salem Business, which spun off from the chamber in 1989. Leak says the time is right to redefine economic development in the face of regional changes, including the planned move of BB&T to Charlotte.
Leak's organization has traditionally handled recruitment efforts, while the chamber has concentrated on businesses already established in the community.
Mayor Allen Joines praised the merger, saying that “having a single voice for recruitment and retention will be helpful."
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