Partnerships

The Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce serves a unique population not only within Oakland County, one of the most prosperous counties in the country, but within the State of Michigan. Representing a community where Fortune 500 companies are located down the road from the locally-owned coffee shop, the Chamber understands that growing businesses — of any size — are the common value of our membership.

The Chamber was founded in 1991 by a group of businesses committed to putting Auburn Hills on the map. With its humble beginnings in the coat closet of what is now the Crowne Plaza Hotel off of I-75, the Chamber today boasts an office suite found in the city’s ever-expanding downtown. The membership is approximately 300 businesses and has been experiencing 20 percent growth on an annual basis. We see an exciting expansion in emerging sectors in technology, advanced manufacturing and service sectors within this historically automotive community.

The Auburn Hills Chamber serves hundreds of companies in a city that is 80% business, including multi-national companies, a renowned sports and entertainment complex, a regional shopping center and hundreds of hotels, restaurants, and locally owned businesses which support our thriving economy. You’ll find our focus and programming to be reflective of this dynamic culture.

In addition, 30,000 students are educated each year in our community’s universities, medical school, law school, community colleges and award-winning school district. Connecting employers to future talent is an important value as we rebuild and retool our workforce. As such, the Chamber offers events designed to meet these goals. Our high-performance internship program models best practices in career training and development.

The Chamber is at the heart of the community, connecting our members to one another and to opportunities for commerce. A core value is also supporting our non-profit organizations, which provide vital services to area residents while allowing businesses to embrace their mission. There are many ways to engage with our local community both through the Chamber and directly through our members.

AuburnHillsChamber.com

The City of Auburn Hills is a distinguished leader in southeast Michigan, known not only for its 22 high-technology parks but also for having world-renowned retail, entertainment, and manufacturing. Home to more than 23,000 residents, it also serves as Michigan’s global business address, with 40 international corporations from 32 countries, including many world and North American headquarters. Auburn Hills’ residents enjoy the amenities of city and suburban living with parks, a revitalized downtown district, and a welcoming city complex with a library and community center. Additionally, the city has four colleges and universities, and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, one of the state’s largest destination shopping centers, providing a variety of cultural, social and educational opportunities to residents, workers, and visitors.

Mission: To be stewards for the community through a connected, transparent and efficient government.
Vision: Auburn Hills will be a community with the heart of a small town that operates with the excellence of a world class city.
Values: Attentive Service, Diversity, Excellence, Fiscal Responsibility, Humility, Safety.

AuburnHills.org

OU INC is an InBIA-authorized international soft landings site. The InBIA recognizes the need for entrepreneurship centers that have the capacity to serve foreign companies interested in expanding outside of their domestic markets. So in order to serve these foreign companies, they’ve developed a global network of Soft Landings centers, including OU INC.

Companies that want to expand into international markets need unique programs and services, and this Soft Landings network identifies the entrepreneurship centers that excel in serving these companies while providing them with support and visibility.

For more information, contact Steve Kent at [email protected] or (248) 648-4802.

iNBIA.org/global-programs/soft-landings/

The mission of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is to market Michigan and provide the tools and environment to drive job creation and investment. The vision is to transform the Michigan economy by growing and attracting businesses, keeping talented residents here, and revitalizing our urban centers.

MichiganBusiness.org

The Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC) offers expert assistance at no cost to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a business. With a location right on-site at the Velocity Center, the MI-SBDC provides counseling, training and research to assist small business to launch, grow, transition and innovate. They enhance Michigan’s economic wellbeing by providing counseling, training and research for new ventures, existing small businesses and advanced technology companies. With headquarters at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, 11 regional offices and more than 20 satellite offices, the MI-SBDC provides entrepreneurs and business owners with convenient access to counseling and training throughout Michigan.

SBDCMichigan.org

David Coulter is honored to serve as Oakland County's third County Executive. At this important juncture for our County, his inclusive style seeks to leverage the strength of county government and tap the broad diversity of our residents to open a new doorway for future progress.

Dave brings a wealth of local government and executive experience. He represented Southeast Oakland County on the Board of Commissioners from 2002-2010 where he was well-respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle. While on the board, he was a member of the Finance committee which oversaw Oakland County's balanced three-year budget and started an innovative program that provided health insurance to over 5000 residents.

He brought that experience with him to his service as Mayor of Ferndale. At his first meeting, Dave directed City staff to begin implementing multi-year budgeting. He also formed the Mayor's Business Council in order to be more responsive to industrial and large businesses. During his tenure, Ferndale improved their credit rating twice, lowered city taxes, reduced the industrial vacancy rate, invested in local roads, parks and parking accessibility in their thriving downtown.

At the same time, Dave served as the Director of External Relations for the Children's Foundation of Michigan, formerly the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation. Here he was able to focus on public policy and local efforts to improve the health of children and families through our region and state. Under his leadership the Foundation invested in abuse and neglect, nutritional wellness and cancer research.

OakGov.com

The Rochester Hills Public Library provides lifelong learning opportunities, instills a love of reading, and offers equal access to information. Over 45,000 monthly visitors enjoy innovative ways to learn and socialize through a variety of programs, including Sunday concerts, a summer reading challenge, parent-child workshops, and weekly lectures. The library’s expansive and user-friendly database system allows its 70,000+ card holders to utilize e-books, movies, and music downloads, language and genealogy services, and consumer reports from the comfort of their own home at no cost.

The Rochester Hills Public Library is located in the City of Rochester and equally serves the residents of Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township. Find out all that the Rochester Hills Public Library has to offer at rhpl.org.

The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is an award winning Chamber in the state of Michigan. Founded in 1955, the Chamber is the principal voice of the business community in Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township. We are focused on fostering a favorable business climate, and promoting orderly, progressive development for our region.

The Mission of the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership and resources in order to advance business and community development in partnership with civic, cultural, and educational interests for the benefit of its members and the community.

RRC-MI.com