Unifying C.R. groups good for the city

Cedar Rapids has taken a great step forward by plans to unify the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Priority One and the Downtown District under one structure. When a community's leaders are united, the community's resources are focused and that's a win for the community.

This is an opportunity to give the Cedar Rapids area a more unified voice. With this organization and the good things going on at the Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC), we can be a top economic growth area.

I've seen other local economic development organizations successfully merge, including Des Moines and Waterloo/Cedar Falls. We can learn from their successes and weaknesses, and build a better Cedar Rapids.

The leaders of the new organization live and work here. They care about the community just as much as you or I do.

I'm anxious to see what the “unification council” has planned to grow our economy and community. I have a lot of confidence in this organization.

Bruce Lehrman

Cedar Rapids