Chamber news: Detroit: America’s Emerging Market - How the city can teach us to reinvest the rest of the U.S. economy; Tweet of the Day: Schools That Can Milwaukee - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce; Kentucky Chamber president stresses importance of pension oversight; Chamber issue: South Dakota Senator could lead Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; Chamber Directory or Map; Arkansas chamber, stakeholders debate impact of proposed ‘Clean Power Plan’; Nebraska Chamber Holds Fall Forum in Beatrice; Chamber issue: Oklahoma City businesses see value in hiring foreign students after graduation; Lincoln-Logan County Chamber of Commerce to Host Art and Balloons Festival; Cape Girardeau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce offers work excuse note for football tailgating; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Attitude): Victor Frankl

Chamber news: Detroit: America’s Emerging Market - How the city can teach us to reinvest the rest of the U.S. economy

In August, a year after I wrote a TIME cover story on Detroit’s bankruptcy, I visited Motown again. This time I found myself reporting on a remarkable economic resurgence that could become a model for other beleaguered American communities. Even as Detroit continues to struggle with blight and decline–more than 70,500 properties were foreclosed on in the past four years, and basic public services like streetlights and running water are still spotty in some areas–its downtown is booming, full of bustling restaurants, luxury lofts, edgy boutiques and newly renovated office buildings.
The city struck me as a template for much of the postcrisis U.S. economy–thriftier, more entrepreneurial and nimble. Many emerging-market cities, from Istanbul to Lagos to Mumbai, share similar characteristics, good and bad. The water might be off on Detroit’s perimeter, but migrants are flooding into its center, drawn by lower-cost housing and a creative-hive effect that’s spawned a host of new businesses. Read more: Time Magazine

Tweet of the Day: Schools That Can Milwaukee - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce

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Kentucky Chamber president stresses importance of pension oversight

Referring to the state’s unfunded pension liability as a dark cloud over Frankfort, Kentucky Chamber President & CEO Dave Adkisson stressed the importance of oversight to the Public Pension Oversight Committee last week. With billions of dollars at stake, Adkisson suggested the committee strongly consider contracting with a professional investment firm to help provide adequate oversight of the investment of public dollars. His comments followed a formal presentation of the investment returns, which indicated the Kentucky Retirement System (KRS) investment returns were lower than other benchmark funds for the last ten years. Read more: Kentucky Chamber of Commerce blog

Chamber issue: South Dakota Senator could lead Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

U.S. Sen. John Thune could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of internet access in America should he become the head of the powerful U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Thune could take on the lead role at a time when residents in even the most isolated parts of country demand faster Internet connection, the Argus Leader reported Sunday. But whether he takes charge of the committee or remains the second in command depends on Republicans winning control of the U.S. Senate this November.Thune says telecommunications reforms are “long overdue” and would be a “high priority” if he were chairman of the Senate committee, which has jurisdiction over issues including highways, space, product safety and insurance. Thune could oversee changes to the country’s communication law that has been criticized for failing to keep up with innovation in cable, telephone and Internet. How the Telecommunications Act that was signed into law in 1934 is changed and which companies are affected could spur or deter investments in new technologies and affect millions of customers.

“Don’t look at this as a national issue that doesn’t affect South Dakota, for crying out loud,” said David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We can’t go thinking it doesn’t matter here. It matters very much to South Dakota, and people need to pay attention to it.” Read more: sdsucollegian.com

Chamber Directory or Map

Get a free estimate for your chamber of commerce on a map, community profile or membership directory. Call John Dussman at (800)-600-0134 x239 or email jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com. If your chamber has 500 members or more, please ask about our no-cost option. 

Arkansas chamber, stakeholders debate impact of proposed ‘Clean Power Plan’

Six stakeholder groups went back-and-forth Thursday for several hours on the economic impact of the Environmental Protection Agency’s pending regulations to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants in Arkansas.
The presentations, held at the North Little Rock headquarters of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, are part of the state’s ongoing process to meet the EPA mandate in Arkansas to reduce carbon emissions by 44% – if adopted by the federal regulators on June 1, 2015. The City Wire

Nebraska Chamber Holds Fall Forum in Beatrice

Like other lobbying organizations, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Industry will have to get familiar with new faces in state government, this coming year. The organization held one of several fall forums at Aunt Mary’s Center in Beatrice, Tuesday, seeking survey input from citizens. 

State Chamber President Barry Kennedy notes that 17 senators must leave the legislature because of term limits, but as many as 20 new faces could be seen.Beatrice 1450 KWBE

Chamber issue: Oklahoma City businesses see value in hiring foreign students after graduation

Nearly 40 percent of foreign students who graduate from Oklahoma City metropolitan area colleges stay and get jobs here, a new study shows.
Based on data from 2008 to 2012, the Brookings report identifies 118 metro areas with the largest numbers of foreign students and measures their monetary contributions to their U.S. metropolitan destinations.

Oklahoma City ranked 28th with 8,576 students on the F-1 visa — the most common visa issued to foreigners studying in a full-time academic program. The top destination institutions were Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City University, Southern Nazarene University, University of Central Oklahoma and University of Oklahoma. Foreign students paid $113,073,309 in tuition and $70,156,544 in living costs. Read more: The Oklahoman

Lincoln-Logan County Chamber of Commerce to Host Art and Balloons Festival

The Art and Balloon Festival is considered the largest event of the year for Lincoln.  It's expected to bring in nearly 20,000 people throughout the weekend.
Some of it's festivities include hot air balloon rides, carnivals and all types of live entertainment.
The events will continue Downtown on Saturday with a Fine Arts Fair, Craft Fair, and all types of vendors.
Andy Hake of the Chamber of Commerce says will be a huge financial benefit for the whole town. WICS Newschannel 20

Cape Girardeau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce offers work excuse note for football tailgating

Need an excuse to leave work early on Thursday? Here you go! The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce sent an excuse note from Southeast Head Football Coach Tom Matukewicz and John Mehner with the Chamber of Commerce to leave work early and tailgate before the first game of the season. 

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Attitude)

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances... - Viktor Frankl