Council Bluffs, Iowa official: 'We Don't Coast' is 'something we can work with'; Chamber Training Resource: Get READY INDIANA; Chamber Synergy: Sen. Wallingford touts importance of tourism to Missouri Economy; Conway Chamber Event: Input gathered at Central Landing public meeting; Report: Federal Regulations Cost Wisconsin $2.4 Billion in First Six Months of 2014; Minnesota a close second; Batavia chamber event: Illinois State Championship chili cookoff ; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude) - Kevyn Aucoin

There are little hints around town of an economic development campaign that could be potentially big. It involves three words: “We Don’t Coast.”

That’s the new image-boosting slogan created by the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership that includes Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County organizations. The coalition was formed last January to promote growth on a regional basis, instead of as individual cities or counties.
“We’ve been working the last six months on a joint economic development effort,” said Bob Mundt, executive director of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. “Branding an image was part of the discussion. This is the first step in the branding process. We’ll see more of this.” Read more: Omaha.com

Chamber Training Resource: Get READY INDIANA

Ready Indiana is a free service to all employers in Indiana.  It streamlines information, making it easier for employers to identify their workforce training needs, choose quality training providers and investigate employer training grants. Ready Indiana focuses on increasing awareness of basic or functional skills in the workplace, including reading, writing, math, second language learning, teamwork, verbal and written communication, leadership skills, problem solving skills and technical skills. Find A Training provider in your area: Ready Indiana Training Providers

Chamber Synergy: Sen. Wallingford touts importance of tourism to Missouri Economy
State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, today announced the Missouri Division of Tourism has awarded grants to the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sikeston to help fund performance-driven projects designed to increase visitation to the 27th District. Each dollar of state funding will be matched with a dollar of local funds.
The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce received $44,330, while the City of Sikeston was awarded $11,965. The funds will be used to promote tourism in the region, a critical part of local economies. Read more: Democrat News

Conway, AR Chamber Event: Input gathered at Central Landing public meeting

People gathered in the conference room at the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday night to take a look at site plans for the proposed redevelopment of Conway’s former municipal airport site — Central Landing.
Central Landing developers Jim Wilson & Associates were in town to answer questions and hear concerns at a public information meeting as part of the Planned Unit Development process.
Before Tuesday’s public meeting, the developers took part in a meeting with city departments such as fire, police, Conway Corporation and sanitation to make sure Central Landing meets the necessary requirements. Log Cabin Democrat

Report: Federal Regulations Cost Wisconsin $2.4 Billion in First Six Months of 2014; Minnesota a close second

Federal regulations cost Wisconsin $2.4 billion in just the first half of 2014 according to a study by American Action Forum (AAF), a national public policy institute.
Wisconsin faced the largest per capita regulatory cost in the Midwest, costing every person in the state $415 from January to June of 2014. Minnesota ranked a close second at $408, while Iowa had the lowest regulatory cost in the Midwest at $282 per capita.
AAF's study focused on regulations imposed just this year from the federal government, finding that $104 billion has been regulated out of the U.S. economy altogether. On a state by state ranking of costs, The Badger State ranked near the top of the list at 14th in the nation for both per capita costs and total costs.
The report's author, AAF's Director of Regulatory Policy Sam Batkins, attributed Wisconsin's top 15 ranking to the prevalence of manufacturing in the State.

Batavia chamber event: Illinois State Championship chili cookoff

The summer is about to heat up during the 22nd annual Illinois State Championship Chili Cookoff, which will be held at noon July 26 at the Batavia Riverwalk, Houston Street and North Island Avenue. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. The event will have a slightly different format this year, as the Batavia Park District and the Batavia Chamber of Commerce are running the event this year. In the past, contestants had not been able to put beans in their chili because of Chili Appreciation Society International rules. This year, organizers have added a new category – homestyle division, in which the no-bean rule doesn’t apply.

“You can put anything you want in it,” Batavia Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Deitchman said. “We wanted to make it a community event that wasn’t as intimidating.” Read more: mySuburban Life.com

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

“Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.”
― Kevyn Aucoin

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