Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!
Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce Announces November 4, 2016 Reality Store SM
Friday,
November 4, 2016 ~ 7:00 a.m. till 2:45 p.m. Colonel Wheeler Middle School, 401
Joliet Street in Crown Point will be the site of the Crown Point Reality StoreSM.
Each year, the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts a Reality StoreSM
for the Crown Point and Merrillville Community
School Corporations as a way to connect the business community to students. The
Reality StoreSM is a day of simulation where 8th graders become 28
years old and have to live on a paycheck. 8th graders learn about the real
world, costs, and various lifestyles. This encourages students to learn
budgeting and begin planning their careers early in life. One of the best parts
of the Reality Store is that over 600 students are impacted by nearly 90
professionals who volunteer for this event.
We want to
thank the businesses that are sponsoring a table at this event; 219 Healthy Vending, Centier Bank,
Chick-fil-A, First Merchants Bank, Generate Sales, Indiana Wesleyan University,
Junior Achievement of Chicago, Member Source Credit Union, Momentum Church,
Peoples Bank, and Tech Credit Union.
We need 45 more volunteers for this event. Would your business
like to send 2 all-day volunteers to help for free marketing opportunities?
Remember you don’t have to be a chamber member to volunteer for this event. Email
Lee at lee@crossroadschamber.org or call 219.769.8180
for a copy of the volunteer form!
#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: Mark Twain
There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded. - Mark Twain
Kenosha County official outlines united effort to attract businesses, talented workers
Representatives from Kenosha County and an economic development organization are turning to municipalities for help attract retail business and address an anticipated future shortage of talent within the local workforce.
At a work session of the Somers Village Board on Tuesday, Andy Buehler, the county’s director of planning and development, and Heather Wessling, vice president of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, spoke of partnering with municipalities.
Under the plan to attract retail, the county is seeking support from municipalities to hire a strategist at a cost of $50,000. The breakdown of proposed contributions includes $5,000 apiece from Somers, Bristol, Salem, Twin Lakes and Paddock Lake.
Kenosha County would subsidize $10,000, the city of Kenosha, $8,00 and Pleasant Prairie, $7,000, according to the proposal.
The plan would target locations in the area with sustainable competitive advantage, consumer demand and changes that drive the need for retail and how communities can leverage their knowledge of how retailers look at them.
“This is something that we have been working on because, even though we realize we are happy with all the industrial and warehouse development that has been going on, we don’t want that to define us exactly and we find out that there are gaps in retail,” he said. “We wanted to be more strategic in being able to go after retail development.”
The consultant would be responsible for identifying specific gaps in retail and making recommendations with a plan that would take into account the unique opportunities afforded in each of the communities involved, according to Buehler.
In a separate presentation, Wessling said the initiative for attracting and retaining talent would create a brand identity representative of the entire county. The business alliance is developing and promoting that brand via website to target people who may consider living or working in the area, including millennials. The website also would act as a resource for information on quality of life such as, education, neighborhoods, health care, cost of living, major employers, among others.
The cost of developing the website is $79,500 with $50,000 already pledged by seven funding sources, including Kenosha County, the business alliance, Kenosha, Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, Epic Real Estate and Pleasant Prairie.
An additional $30,000 in potential funding is being sought from municipalities, including Somers. Read more: Kenosha News
Prince William Chamber Announces 2016-2017 Vision Partners
Manassas, VA- The Prince William Chamber of Commerce is pleased to recognize and extend appreciation for their 2016-2017 Vision Partners: Didlake, Inc. for Economic Development; Dominion Virginia Power for Education; Transurban for Advocacy and Zeiders Enterprises, Inc. for Quality of Life. Each partner has chosen one of the areas of vision that influences the Chamber’s program of work – because it is an area to which that member is committed.
Zeiders Enterprises, Inc. is the newest Chamber Vision Partner. Their logo identifies them as “a quality of life company,” making them an ideal partner for the Chamber. Paul Richardson, President of Zeiders Enterprises, Inc. said, “Zeiders delivers quality of life services and support that make a positive difference for individuals, families, and organizations of Military and Veteran communities. We chose to participate with the Prince William Chamber as the Quality of Life Vision Partner because of our shared commitment to making lives better.”
The Chamber’s commitment to quality of life issues for the people of Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park is reflected in programs like their Veterans Council, Valor Awards program, Not-for-Profit (NFP) Council and annual Salute to the Armed Forces Luncheon. Quality of life programs through the Chamber are member-driven and reflect a desire on behalf of the business community to build a local culture that honors the sacrifices of active-duty and retired military as well as law enforcement. With a diverse network of not-for-profit organizations represented among the Chamber’s membership, the Prince William Chamber’s programming both reflects and strengthens the Prince William community’s passion for serving the underserved among us. The Chamber’s Not-for-Profit Council provides professional development and relationship-building opportunities for NFP executives to further enhance their ability to serve their varying constituencies.
“Dominion Virginia Power and the Dominion Foundation support education initiatives from early childhood, through K-12 and higher education to adult continuing education,” said Deborah Tompkins-Johnson, Regional Policy Director for Dominion Virginia Power.
This year Dominion Virginia Power moved from being the Prince William Chamber’s Quality of Life Vision Partner to their current role as the Education Vision Partner, highlighting a different facet of their company culture after partnering with the Chamber for more than 7 years. Dominion’s work is in line with Chamber initiatives led by the Education and Innovation Committee, which similarly focuses on involving businesses at all levels of education, even working with local institutions of higher education to ensure that students will graduate with the skills that employers are looking for in their next generation of new hires. Chamber members are active contributors to school robotics clubs, CTE programs and early childhood initiatives to get books into the hands of every child from birth, thanks to a program through Novant Health UVA Health System’s birthing center.
Tompkins-Johnson went on to say, “Some examples of support in Prince William include Dominion's representation on the SPARK Board of Directors since its inception as the Prince William County Schools' Education Foundation. In addition, one of our company's officers, Paul Koonce, CEO-Dominion Generation, was the keynote speaker at this year's kickoff of the Smart Beginnings Early Childhood Network in Prince William. The Director of our Possum Point Power Station, Jeff Heffelman, was instrumental in reviving the welding program at Potomac High School and the Dominion Foundation provided funding for students to continue at Northern Virginia Community College. We have supported many STEM and other environmental programs and projects at George Mason University. And we were very excited to be a partner in bringing to life the Discovery Trail between Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, Coles Elementary and Benton Middle School. Education and volunteerism are at the heart of Dominion; therefore, we are excited to be the new Vision Partner for Education at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.”
The Chamber appreciates the continued support of both Didlake, Inc. and Transurban, both of which have been Vision Partners since the inception of the Prince William Chamber. For more information on the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and their work in the areas of Quality of Life, Education, Economic Development and Advocacy on behalf of the business community, call the Chamber at 703-368-6600 or go online to PWchamber.org.
Carbondale Chamber speaks against proposed 1 percent tax for schools
The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce and its members are not in favor of a proposed 1 percent sales tax increase in Jackson County to support school facilities, according to a news release from the chamber Monday.
The chamber says it wants voters to take into account the potential negative impact a sales tax increase will have on local businesses. This statement comes after the chamber performed a survey of its member businesses, and a discussion with the chamber’s Board of Directors, which affirmed a resolution from the group’s Economic Development Committee against the proposed tax increase on the Nov. 8 ballot.
“The Chamber holds strongly to the importance of our children and our schools," Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Les O'Dell said in a news release. "However, our organization feels that this proposed tax increase will have a negative effect on retailers and restaurants in our community and county."
He said, based on research presented to the chamber, if the tax passed, a disproportional amount of new revenue would be generated in Carbondale compared to the funds distributed to Carbondale schools.
"While the Chamber holds the needs of students in high regard and is aware of the need for funding — especially for facilities — we do not believe this form of revenue to the best solution," he said in the news release.
The chamber said the tax would make Carbondale’s retail sales tax among the highest in Illinois, which is a source of anxiety for the chamber. He said there are concerns that a higher sales tax may drive businesses to other communities or online. Additionally, he said it would have more impact on those with lower incomes, including students at Southern Illinois University. Read more: The Southern
Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Directory and Resource Guide
The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Directory and Resource Guide is available at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber today! Thanks to Mike Kuhns, Suzy Johnson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
 |
| Virginia Peninsula Chamber |
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Christian County Chamber Host: Veterans Day Parade to be held Nov. 5
The Christian County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee will be hosting the 2016 Veterans Day Parade Saturday, Nov. 5.
The community is invited to attend the parade which will begin at 10 a.m. at the War Memorial Building. The lineup includes veterans, Fort Campbell soldiers, military vehicles and local bands.
The parade route will run from the War Memorial Building to the Christian County Justice Center. Following the parade, there will be a brief program in the parking lot of the Christian County Justice Center.
The Military Affairs Committee encourages businesses and organization to join the route on Ninth Street as a sidewalk saluter to show support of local veterans and their families for their service.
EMBDC Ribbon-cutting: Blood drive planned Nov. 1 at Anderson
Anderson Regional Health System will host its first blood drive with Mississippi Blood Services from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Located inside the auditorium at Anderson, the drive will give donors a t-shirt. Donors can also check their cholesterol levels on their MBSConnect account with Mississippi Blood Services.
This blood drive marks a new partnership between Anderson and Mississippi Blood Services and the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation will open the blood drive with a ribbon cutting.
Donors must be at least 16 years old, with signed parental consent for minors. The form can be found on msblood.com. Donors must also be at least 110 pounds and have a valid ID. Read more: Meridian Star
Federal EDA grants to Kettering University, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce support economic development in Flint
Kettering University, the University of Michigan-Flint and the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce have received Economic Development Assistance grants from the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA). Kettering University received $1.9 million for completion of phase two of the Kettering University GM Mobility Research Center. The University of Michigan-Flint received $400,000 to establish a University Center for Community and Economic Development. The Flint & Genesee Chamber received $197,416 to create a brownfield redevelopment accelerator.
“Ensuring that our nation’s communities have the vital, infrastructure and tools needed to support economic growth is a top priority for the Economic Development Administration,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary Jay Williams. “Today’s investments support Flint’s initiatives to grow the local economy and provide employment opportunities for the local workforce which helps strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.”
Kettering’s Mobility Research Center is being constructed on a 19-acre property at the corner of Chevrolet Avenue and Bluff Street. Phase one of the project, which included construction of a 3-acre test pad, was completed in the fall of 2016.
Phase two construction, with support from the EDA grant, will begin in the spring of 2017. Components of phase two include a low-speed road course with elevation and surface changes, optional routes and other features aimed at creating diverse testing environments. A garage facility will be constructed to include automotive bays, conference and office space and indoor lab space.
Another distinctive aspect of the facility is its connection to Kettering’s 4G LTE Advanced wireless cellular research network. Kettering is the only university in the country operating a private 4G LTE Advanced cellular network infrastructure. The network operates at 10X the data speed of current cellular networks, and provides researchers on the proving ground and surrounding areas with unique access to the next generation of cellular communications systems.
“This unique facility – the only one of its kind on a university campus in the country – puts Kettering and Flint at the forefront of research and development in mobility and autonomous vehicle systems, as well as associated safety and other related technologies,” said Dr. Robert K. McMahan, Kettering University President. “This facility will create learning opportunities for students that are unmatched anywhere while also enhancing opportunities for faculty research in collaboration with industry. As importantly, though, it will also allow the University – and the city of Flint – to attract and retain new industry partners that will develop and manufacture these new products and technologies. We are grateful for the support from the EDA to allow us to construct phase two of this incredible facility.”
The University of Michigan-Flint received a highly-competitive grant of up to $400,000 over five years to establish a University Center for Community and Economic Development. The EDA-funded University Center will provide entrepreneurship and innovation support in the seven-county region (Genesee, Shiawassee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties). The project includes funding for a regional asset mapping initiative — which will evaluate the impact of regional economic development efforts and conduct an annual regional business climate survey. A dedicated EDA University Center Research Fund also will support applied UM-Flint faculty and student research around economic and business development needs. UM-Flint students also will create a website to facilitate access to regional economic data, research findings, and create an interactive map.
“Our faculty and student researchers will provide important insights our region needs to make the most of its economic development work,” Chancellor Susan E. Borrego said. “The UM-Flint EDA University Center will help our region’s economic development planning and decision making — and ultimately evaluate economic development efforts to assess which were most effective. We know that the U.S. Economic Development Administration is very selective in the creation of its University Centers and we are proud to host this project on our campus.”
The Flint & Genesee Chamber’s EDA grant will be used to help accelerate brownfield redevelopment in the city of Flint. This includes the completion of a feasibility study that will assist with redevelopment of the city’s most critical brownfield manufacturing site at the former Buick City complex. The feasibility study will include three main elements that will guide the implementation process for construction of a business accelerator facility at the Buick site – a market study, a site plan, and a business plan.
“Brownfield sites are both a challenge and an opportunity for Flint,” said Tim Herman, CEO of the Flint & Genesee Chamber. “Apart from a perception that there are environmental and infrastructure challenges at the sites, there can be difficulties involved with identifying property price, processing site plans, and working through business licensing and legal procedures. On the other hand, brownfield sites are optimal sources of real estate on which build modern facilities that will be attractive to site selectors and businesses looking to locate here. The EDA grant provides a critical piece of the puzzle for brownfield redevelopment in Flint.” Read more: Kettering UniversityTown Square Chamber Community Profiles
Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.