Chamber interest: Chicago Fed: The downturn in agriculture: Implications for the Midwest and the future of farming; Innovate Mississippi’s Discovery Luncheon to Spotlight Local Oxford Innovators and Kick-off the Ole Miss Venture Launch Weekend; Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017; Harry Potter festival moves to Jefferson; Logan County Chamber celebrating 225 years; announces annual dinner date; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: Mary Byers: from Race for Relevance; Muncie-Delaware County Chamber presents Congressman Luke Messer Lunch; Cheboygan Chamber swears in officers, board of directors; Bolingbrook Chamber: Kevin O'Keefe - Executive Director's Message; Lake Zurich Chamber names award winners; Romeoville Chamber of Commerce: 27th Annual State of the Village Luncheon; Loudoun Chamber Foundation Awards $10,000 to Local Nonprofits; Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance To Host the Annual Williamsburg Area Career Fair; Virginia Peninsula Chamber Youth Career Expo 2017 - Business and Industry Supporting the Emerging Workforce; Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's 127th Meeting of the Membership; Northern Virginia Chamber, Cardinal Bank, George Mason University, and Washington Business Journal to Host Annual Economic Conference; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!

Chamber interest: Chicago Fed: The downturn in agriculture: Implications for the Midwest and the future of farming 

by David B. Oppedahl, senior business economist 
Prices for key agricultural products have fallen from their peaks in recent years, while input costs have not fallen as much. Consequently, many farm operations in the Midwest have had lower revenues and thinner profit margins—and some even losses. On November 29, 2016, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago held a conference to examine the agricultural downturn in the Midwest and discuss future directions for farming. Read more

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Innovate Mississippi’s Discovery Luncheon to Spotlight Local Oxford Innovators and Kick-off the Ole Miss Venture Launch Weekend

(Jackson, Miss.) – Innovate Mississippi announces that it will host a Discovery Luncheon in Oxford on Friday, February 10, 2017, at the Oxford Conference Center from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Discovery Luncheons are community-based events held throughout the state designed to spotlight Mississippi’s rich entrepreneurial culture. Organized by Innovate Mississippi, the Oxford Discovery Luncheon is presented by mTrade, LLC and sponsored by the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation.  The luncheon will serve as the kick-off to The University of Mississippi’s Venture Launch Weekend event.

The agenda begins at 11:30 a.m. with registration and networking. The lunch program starts promptly at 12:00 noon. Dr. Bill Rayburn, founder of Mortgage Trade, will serve as the featured speaker and share his inspiring and successful entrepreneurial journey. The entrepreneur speaker will be Karen Kurr, owner and founder of NoTime2Cook, a health-conscious, made-from-scratch packaged meal operation. Time for Q&A with the speakers will be included. The event will conclude at 1:00 p.m.

“Entrepreneurs are often the hidden gems of any community, and Oxford’s entrepreneurial scene is as vibrant as any community in Mississippi,” said Tony Jeff, president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi. “We’re excited to hear Bill Rayburn’s story of a local entrepreneurial success and his immediate re-investment into his next startup. We hope to also uncover some other great entrepreneurs in the community and to help connect the community to statewide innovation activity.”

“Oxford is on fire with successful business startups,” added Jon Maynard, president and CEO of the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation. “If you have any interest in starting a business, or even growing the business that you have, you need to come hear what Bill Rayburn and Karen Kurr have to say. They are two success stories from opposite ends of the spectrum for their types of businesses. You can learn a lot from what these two individuals have to say about the resources and experience in Oxford.”

To register or for more information, visit www.innovate.ms or contact Janet Parker, outreach and development manager for Innovate Mississippi, at jparker@innovate.ms or 601-832-8100 or Allen Kurr, VP Economic Development for The Oxford Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, allen@oxfordms.com, 662-234-4651.

Innovate Mississippi is a nonprofit organization with the mission to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the State of Mississippi. Visit www.innovate.ms to learn more.



Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017 

The Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory 2017 is available at the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Niki Foster and Pam Riffle and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Town Square Publications  (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.

Harry Potter festival moves to Jefferson

What has come to be known as the Edgerton Harry Potter Festival has undergone a name change: 2017 Harry Potter Festival USA, and will be moved to its new host city: Jefferson.

The Jefferson Common Council voted unanimously, during a special meeting held Jan. 26, to approve by way of resolution a request made by festival organizers, bothers, Robert and Scott Cramer, to designate the Jefferson as host community in 2017. The resolution further authorized the city’s "financial participation in the event to include a contribution of $25,000 to effectively market and promote the event and additional costs estimated to be between $15,000 and $25,000 for event security, parking and traffic control, and facility maintenance."

As specified within the resolution, the city’s commitments are conditioned upon city officials and event organizers "negotiating an agreement that establishes the minimum standards which will control, among other things, the planning, scheduling and operation of the festival and provides for the recovery of city funds advanced for marketing and promoting the festival."

Funds used for security, parking and traffic control, and maintenance would not be reimbursed, officials said, with some discussion revolving around the idea that advertising monies recovered might be used to help finance future festivals.

Prior to the vote, city officials and department heads, festival organizers, and members of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce were given opportunity to participate in the discussion.

"We’re very pleased that Jefferson has been selected as the site of the 2017 Harry Potter Festival USA, Mayor Dale Oppermann said. "We have an experienced local support team … Many of our team members have extensive experience safely managing crowds of this expected magnitude," he added. During discussions, organizers offered early crowd size projections for 2017 of 15,000 to 20,000. Read more: Milton News

Logan County Chamber celebrating 225 years; announces annual dinner date


This is a BIG year! The State of Kentucky and Logan County are both celebrating 225 years in 2017! Several events are being planned around this occasion and the Logan County Chamber of Commerce is welcoming all Chamber members to the first one of the year!

The Logan County Chamber of Commerce is once again hosting it’s Annual Dinner for Chamber Members and it’s just around the corner. On March 2, 2017, at the Logan County Cooperative Extension Office (255 John Paul Road in Russellville), the doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the food line. The program will start at 6:30 p.m.

This event is for Chamber Members to come together and enjoy a fun-filled evening with fellowship, food, live auction, raffle for prizes and best of the year awards. Tickets are $35 each. Reservations are currently being accepted. If you would like to market your business at this event, there are many opportunities available including event sponsorship, table sponsors, gift basket donations for auction, raffle and more. You can contact the Chamber at 270-726-2206 or email karen.logan@loganchamber.com to sign up your business or to purchase tickets. The Chamber will be happy to help you. Read more: News Democrat-Leader

#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: Mary Byers: from Race for Relevance

“ The trends affecting today’s trade associations and professional societies are similar.  As a result, they are in the same race for relevance that many civic and community nonprofits are losing.  The associations that will thrive – not just survive – are those that undertake these five radical changes:”

from: RACE FOR RELEVANCE: 5 RADICAL CHANGES FOR ASSOCIATIONS BY HARRISION COERVER AND MARY BYERS, CAE


Muncie-Delaware County Chamber presents Congressman Luke Messer Lunch

Congressman Luke Messer will be the guest of your Chamber on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017.
This will be a lunch event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Horizon Convention Center located at 401 S. High St., Muncie.
Cost to attend is $25 per person
or $200 for a table of 8.

Reservation deadline is February 17th.

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor: Meridian Health Services
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information, contact Brenda Brumfield at 765-751-9128 or bbrumfield@muncie.com.

Cheboygan Chamber swears in officers, board of directors

The Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced that its officers and board of directors have been formally sworn in and have assumed their positions for 2017. The Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce represents member businesses, organizations, municipalities and individuals who operate in and contribute to the economy of the greater Cheboygan area. While the chamber employs a full time executive director and office manager to run day to day operations, it is the all-volunteer board of directors that is charged with the governance of the organization and setting the strategic direction. Elected as Chamber President for 2017 is Missy Koszegi, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Schmidt in Cheboygan. Joining Koszegi as officers of the board are 1st Vice President Dede Anderson of Mullett Lake Marina and Anchor In Marina, 2nd Vice President and Secretary is Darren Selden of Citizens National Bank, and Treasurer for 2017 is Marianne Ridings of Black River Customs.

Shari Schult of McLaren Northern Michigan just completed her term as Chamber President for 2016 and will join the above group of officers in a past presidents role. The remaining members of the Board of Directors are as follows: Scott Beard of Straits Area Printing, Emily Clare of Purple Tree Books and Coffee, Jade Hunt of Schwartz Boiler Shop, Bryan Groff of Cheboygan Brewing Company, and Linda Moline of Encore Financial Group. Each board member is a long standing member of the chamber and does business throughout the Cheboygan area and has a great passion for growing the local economy. "I am very excited for this year and for our chamber," said Koszegi. "Our economy is growing again and the Cheboygan Area is positioning itself to grow with it. Our chamber is poised in 2017 to enhance the value to our members through leadership, engagement, advocacy, development and support (LEADS)." Koszegi went on to encourage any and all businesses and organizations to get involved in the Cheboygan area, and to consider joining the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce as a member. For more information about the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce or to become a member , contact the Chamber office at 231 627-7183 or 

Cheboygan Chamber

Bolingbrook Chamber: Kevin O'Keefe - Executive Director's Message


If you have any questions on the following issues call or e-mail me. I will be traveling to Springfield next Wednesday the 8th to talk to our state legislators about these issues as well as any other issue that you may have, I appreciate your input

In this month's Executive Director's Message, I would like to let you know about the policies that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce is calling on state lawmakers to address these five key state policy areas that can help accelerate the Illinois economy. They are:

1. Enacting pro-growth economic reforms - Illinois tax policy cannot be developed without regard to its effect on Illinois businesses, workers and our economy. Instead, any revenue discussions must be balanced by including corresponding pro-economic growth reforms to help employers and workers. For example, the state could establish tax credits to help small businesses shoulder the cost of bringing on new employees. In addition, the state must immediately restore the Illinois Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Program (the EDGE tax credit) that helps attract investment and job creation and retention in the state.

2. Reforming Illinois' unfair workers' compensation system - The current workers' compensation system in Illinois is tilted far out of balance. Employers throughout the state continue to call for reform of the system because it hurts the ability of Illinois employers to create - and even maintain - jobs here. Reforming the system can restore balance, reduce employers' costs for insurance, and no longer allow workers' compensation costs to be an obstacle to growing a business in Illinois.

3. Rejecting anti-competitive proposals - Lawmakers should do no further harm to our state's jobs climate. Proposals that pile more requirements on employers in our state adversely affect Illinois businesses and make our state less competitive with others. These shortsighted proposals would only move Illinois in the wrong direction and lawmakers must reject them.

4. Working together on common sense regulatory issues - When state Democrats and Republicans have worked together, they enacted important regulatory reforms for the state. In fact, the Illinois Chamber has led initiatives that reduce costs and make government more responsive. In 2017, legislators can finally modernize the state's outdated telecommunications law to drive more investment in modern technologies and networks to benefit those who rely on them: Illinois businesses, consumers and public safety officials.

5. Focusing on education outcomes and workforce preparation - While K-12 education funding gets most of the headlines out of Springfield, Illinois must avoid being dragged into an education debate that strictly focuses on who pays more, who pays less, whose communities receive more and whose receive less. Illinois must ask tougher questions if we are to improve our economy, respect taxpayers and live up to our obligations to the next generation. State policymakers must be focused on improving educational outcomes and supporting students interested in careers that do not require a four-year college degree. Those goals must be in sight before we begin a new discussion about education funding, not the other way around.

Sincerely,
Kevin O'Keeffe

Lake Zurich Chamber names award winners

The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce announced the award recipients for the 2016 Excellence Awards at the Evening of Excellence Awards Gala at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer.
The chamber's excellence awards recognize achievements in the areas of business, education, government and not-for-profit organizations for their efforts to make the Lake Zurich Area a better place in which to live and work. Nominations were made by chamber members, local residents and government entities.The awards include:

• Business of the Year, On Occasion Catering & Events

• New Business of the Year Award, Consume in Lake Zurich
• Citizen of the Year Award, Lisa Warren from Kildeer
• Young Professional of the Year Award, Justin Pathmann from Hawthorn Woods
• Community Unit School District 95 Educator of the Year Award, Alice Schmitz, Instructional Technology Coach, CUSD 95
• Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award, Susanne DePaepe, Hallmark Promotions Inc
• Samuel R. Mitchell Director of the Year Award, Ginny Opsahl, RE/MAX at Home -- Ginny & Ben Opsahl
• President's Award, Phil Guerrero, PMG Wealth Management and Ginny Opsahl, RE/MAX AT HOME -- Ginny & Ben Opsahl

Following the awards presentation, the following individuals were installed as the 2017 Chamber board of directors:

• President - Claire Slattery, Mindful Mix
• Vice-president -- Gale Cohen-DeMarco, Sport Clips
• Vice-president -- Ginny Opsahl, RE/MAX at Home -- Ginny & Ben Opsahl
• Treasurer - Steve Callahan, Barrington Bank & Trust
• Past-president - Ken Grooms, Grooms Insurance Associates
• Advisory council chair - Bonnie Conte, Avalon Salon & Day Spa 

Read more: Daily Herald

Romeoville Chamber of Commerce: 27th Annual State of the Village Luncheon

Romeoville 27th Annual State of The Village Address Luncheon

Thursday February 9, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM CST
27th Annual State of the Village Address by Mayor John Noak
Registration begins at 11 am - Seating begins at 11:30 am - Luncheon begins at 12:00 pm
Edward Hospital Athletic & Event Center




Loudoun Chamber Foundation Awards $10,000 to Local Nonprofits

Loudoun Chamber Foundation is dedicated to supporting economic development, 
education, public safety and wellness efforts in Loudoun County

Lansdowne, VA – The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce today announced the Loudoun Chamber Foundation has selected five local nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County to receive financial grants to support their work in our community.

The Loudoun Chamber Foundation has chosen to award $2,000 grants to:

1. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington
2. Crossroads Jobs
3. Friends of Loudoun Mental Health
4. Mason Enterprise Center Loudoun
5. Windy Hill Foundation

The Loudoun Chamber Foundation was created in December of 2014 to provide financial assistance to area nonprofits that are focused on economic development, education and workforce development, public safety and healthy communities. The Loudoun Chamber Foundation is a field-of-interest fund with the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

“The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is committed to investing in our community and investing in those organizations that are focused on the economic, educational and health-related needs of Loudoun’s citizens. These five organizations selected to receive Chamber Foundation grants are providing valuable services that are making a real difference in the lives of Loudoun County’s entrepreneurs and our neediest citizens. The Chamber is proud to support their work and that of many other outstanding nonprofit groups,” said Chamber President Tony Howard.

The 2017 Loudoun Chamber Foundation grant awardees are:

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) was founded in 1947 to serve the poor in Virginia. Now serving only Northern Virginia, the mission of CCDA is to serve the most vulnerable and to strengthen individuals, families, and communities. CCDA serves all in need regardless of race, religion, national origin. In 2007 CCDA opened its Leesburg Regional Office (LRO) to connect Loudoun residents in crisis situations with services, such food and emergency financial assistance with rent and utilities.

Crossroads Jobs offers free individualized employment services to unemployed and underemployed individuals not served by conventional agencies and job banks. Their mission is to provide job placement services, including job search training and counseling; help applicants find services to sustain them during the process; offer local employers a free source of prescreened applicants; place applicants in permanent marketplace jobs; and help successful applicants remain employed in stable careers.

Since 1955, the Friends of Loudoun Mental Health has been serving Loudoun citizens by providing assistance, awareness and advocacy for a broad range of mental health issues. With no paid staff, the Friends of Loudoun Mental Health is a resource efficient, volunteer driven, community based nonprofit that helps those suffering from mental illness by providing assistance for living arrangements, advocating for improved care and resources, and promoting recovery and community awareness.

The Mason Enterprise Center Loudoun, consisting of a business incubator, related entrepreneurship programs and the Loudoun Small Business Development Center, works to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem and impact economic development by tapping into the skills, resources and energy of local communities and organizations, including George Mason University, and offering services, programs and facilities that catalyze and support businesses as they start, launch, grow and scale.

For the past 35 years, the Windy Hill Foundation’s (WHF) mission has been to provide safe and affordable housing to low income families in Loudoun, Fauquier, and Clarke Counties. WHF currently provides 166 units of affordable rental housing for families, older adults, and persons with disabilities in Middleburg and Brambleton. WHF also offers its 124 residents in Middleburg comprehensive services to help them access resources such as healthcare, education, employment, and financial assistance.

Contact:

Tony Howard, President & CEO

thoward@loudounchamber.org, (703) 777-2176

Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance To Host the Annual Williamsburg Area Career Fair

Williamsburg, VA – The Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance will be hosting the Williamsburg Area Career Fair on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the newly remodeled Fort Magruder Hotel & Conference Center from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Job seekers looking to find the perfect career path should take full advantage of this opportunity! The event will include employer booths open all day featuring opportunities for full time and part time employment, a resume clinic, and career speaker as well as onsite computers for attendees to complete online applications as needed provided by Thomas Nelson Community College. New this year – a “Continuing Education Area” to promote workforce development with exhibitors that provide classes to help increase skills and certifications necessary to advance in your current career or change your career path.  This event is free and open to the public.

Interested in becoming an employer exhibitor? Spaces are still available for businesses to take advantage of hours of prime recruiting time and the chance to receive applications from several hundred job seekers. To register as an exhibitor or for more information, visit www.williamsburgcc.com .

Virginia Peninsula Chamber Youth Career Expo 2017 - Business and Industry Supporting the Emerging Workforce

Hampton, Virginia - - The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development, in partnership with the Greater Virginia Peninsula Six School Divisions, will host the ninth annual Youth Career Expo on Thursday, March 2, 2017 from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.  This award winning event is designed to help the future workforce make informed choices about life after high school.

Students from age 16-19 will participate in mock interviews and in a panel discussion with human resource professionals. Participating students will also visit exhibits presented by businesses from various industry sectors. They will gain exposure to the types of positions available and the educational and training requirements for entry level career opportunities within the Greater Peninsula area.

This year’s event welcomes back Newport News Shipbuilding as the presenting sponsor and participants can expect a spectacular technology display! The Youth Career Expo is expected to have over 2,000 high school students, 250 business professionals and members of the United States Armed Forces conducting mock interviews and serving as guides.  In addition, over 60 exhibitors divided by industry clusters:  Shipbuilding, Construction, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, Local Government Agencies, STEM, Defense, Finance, Higher Education, and more.

There are volunteer opportunities available for mock interviewers and guides.  Please visit www.pcfwd.org to learn more or contact Rita Bond at 757-826-3327.  For sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, please visit www.vaPeninsulaChamber.com or contact Jackie Shapiro at 757-325-8162.

Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's 127th Meeting of the Membership

On Tuesday, January 10, 2016, The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting it's 127th Meeting of the Membership. Long standing businesses in the area will be honored.

The CEO of Deschutes Brewery will be speaking. The meeting is scheduled for 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m., at The Hotel Roanoke. Read more: VirginiaFirst.com


Northern Virginia Chamber, Cardinal Bank, George Mason University, and Washington Business Journal to Host Annual Economic Conference

Tysons, Va. – The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Northern Virginia Chamber), Cardinal Bank, George Mason University, and the Washington Business Journal have announced that they will host the 25th Annual Economic Conference — Mapping New Economic Opportunities: Regional, National, and Global. The event will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church.

Mapping New Economic Opportunities: Regional, National and Global provides a forum for both public and private sector leaders to gain insight on key economic drivers, workplace trends, and the impacts and opportunities that will shape the regional, national, and global economies in the coming year.

Christopher Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton Worldwide will present the keynote. Washington Business Journal Publisher James MacGregor will serve as moderator for the keynote.

Featured speakers include:

• The Honorable Terry McAuliffe, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D., Dwight Schar Faculty Chair and University Professor, and Director of The Stephen S. Fuller Institute, George Mason University
• Terry L. Clowers, Ph.D., Northern Virginia Chair and Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University

Panelists include:

• Jennifer Aument, GM, North America, Transurban
• Teresa Carlson, VP, Amazon Web Services Worldwide Public Sector
• S. Tien Wong, CEO, Tech 2000 & Appnetic, and Chairman, Lore Systems

Registration is available online. Entry is $100 for Northern Virginia Chamber members and $125 for non-members. Members of the media who plan to cover the event should contact Northern Virginia Chamber Director, Communications and Marketing, Alex Thompson, athompson@novachamber.org, to register.

Follow the event on Twitter @NOVAChamber, @CardinalBank, #econconf.

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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 along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

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

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. 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 Chamber Proposal