By mutual agreement between the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation (DRC) and the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber will now assume economic development activities for downtown Wake Forest as part of the Chamber’s overall economic development program.

Downtown economic development was one of five priorities identified at a strategic planning session of the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce this past year and has become an important component in the Chamber’s overall commitment to the Town of Wake Forest to provide economic development activities for the entire community.

“This partnership agreement allows us to have a coordinated and focused effort toward the continued revitalization of downtown Wake Forest and continued strides on the implementation of the Renaissance Plan,” Chamber Executive Director Jodi Ann LaFreniere said.

The Chamber and the DRC will assist and complement each other’s downtown economic development efforts through various roles and responsibilities as they relate to this important function. The Chamber will organize and lead monthly meetings of a separate downtown economic development task force with key stakeholders; continue to plan and manage the annual Economic Development Forum (February 2009); provide structured outreach to both existing and potential downtown stake holders; provide a progress report and prioritization objectives with regard to the Renaissance Plan; distribute a four page quarterly newsletter as a pull-out in the monthly Chamber newsletter; add a downtown section to the economic development web site scheduled for launch in February 2009; and participate in the DRC monthly board meetings.

Both the Chamber and the DRC have a strong commitment to downtown and want to ensure that all plans and opportunities to enhance and protect the economic vitality of downtown are fully realized.