The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce said recently it has been working over the last year to promote Phoenix Forward, an economic development initiative to propel Phoenix’s growth, by visiting more than 150 companies.

During work on the initiative, a five-member chamber team gathered information, helped connect businesses to needed resources and promoted the Phoenix region as an economic hub.

  

The main responsibility of the team members is to meet with the owners of the various businesses they visited and discuss their needs while assessing their industry.

Business research analyst Ashley Ferguson and economic development specialist Taylor Gillings said they gained invaluable knowledge by serving on the team.

Gillings said the visits to executives was intimidating but allowed him to connect with the community, which gave him a better appreciation for the businesses and the common ground they share.

Phoenix Forward was put into place to cultivate the business community by serving as a development opportunity for young professionals.