Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Elects New Chair
Terry Dunn, President & CEO of JE Dunn Construction Group, was unanimously elected the new Chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. His term will begin November 1, 2014, succeeding previous Chair Roshann Parris, President & CEO, Parris Communications.
Dunn becomes only the second person in Chamber history to serve more than one term as Chair of the KC Chamber. The first was Conrad Mann, who held the post from 1928 to 1934. Dunn says he’s looking forward to once again serving as Chamber Chair, adding, “Entrepreneurship and Kansas City’s economic competitiveness will be my top priorities during the coming year.” Read more: Kansas City Infozine
Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce recognized as an outstanding chamber in Michigan
The Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce was recognized with a 2014 Outstanding Chamber of Commerce Award by the The Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals at the association’s conference in Muskegon, Oct. 2.“The Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce received this award based on its accomplishments in leadership and governance, financial stewardship, business advocacy and member programming,” said Bob Thomas, Director for the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals.Read more: The Oakland Press
Chamber Economics: Oklahoma Inc.: Energy growth continues in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s energy industry has
accounted for about 20 percent of all the jobs in the state and almost
two-thirds of the jobs created since the recession ended in 2010.
The ongoing oil and natural gas boom continued to drive the state
economy over the past year, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and
directing hundreds of millions of dollars to state coffers.
The energy
industry has accounted for about 20 percent of all the jobs in the state
and almost two-thirds of the jobs created since the recession ended in
2010, Oklahoma City University economist Russell Evans said.“When you look at the economic impact of the oil and gas industry, it dwarfs almost anything else we look at,” said Evans, executive director of Oklahoma City University’s Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute. “Oklahoma’s economy is founded upon an energy-based economy.”
The boom also propelled most of the state’s energy companies to strong gains over the past year as the industry swept the Oklahoma Inc. top 10.
“It confirms the story we’ve been telling — that Oklahoma City has become the center of domestic oil and gas exploration,” said Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. “Houston is the international center, but when you look at what’s going on in the United States, we are the leader now.” Read more: NewsOK.com
Wisconsin Rapids initiative: Heavy Metal Bus Tour explores manufacturing careers
Local businesses opened their doors to about 45 high school sophomores Wednesday to teach the students about careers in manufacturing.
Wednesday's event was the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce's fifth Heavy Metal Bus Tour, created to pique students' interests in manufacturing-related jobs by linking them with local employers.
"As the baby boomers retire, we are going to have more jobs in this community than we have people to fill them," said Melissa Reichert, Chamber of Commerce president. "So we are going to need word-of-mouth from students, parents and anyone who cares about the community, to develop the workforce we need for these positions." WisconsinRapidsTribune.com
Chamber issue: $4.5 million South Sioux City road overhaul nears finish
Businesses affected by a nearly six-month road construction project on Dakota Avenue are hoping residents will resume their former shopping habits. Ten blocks were upgraded.The reconstruction project, which started in early May, was designed to address safety concerns and fix drainage issues along one of the city's main thoroughfares. The street is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday.
"This has been difficult for all our businesses along South Dakota Avenue," said Lori Warner, president of the South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: Sioux City Journal
Chamber Economic Development: SynergyTech hosts H.O.T. Day to raise awareness about manufacturing
Steve Cox, vice president of Economic Development with the Rogers-Lowell chamber also said reshoring is changing the dynamic in Northwest Arkansas.
“The recent onshoring initiatives have had an impact in NWA,” Cox said. “Companies are not only looking at our area as a place to operate a new business which will create new jobs and help improve the local economy, but it also has in impact in existing businesses by creating more demand for local sourcing like raw materials, plastic molds, or shipping and logistics.” Read more: The City Wire
Chamber partnership: Local Business Retention and Expansion Program Holds Orientation Meeting
Over 22 community leaders met at Belle Plaine City Hall last Tuesday evening to prepare for the community’s economic future. The two-hour meeting was the orientation and formal kickoff of the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program, which is jointly sponsored by the Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce, Xcel Energy and Scott County Community Development Agency.
The BR&E program is receiving technical and research support from the University of Minnesota Extension Agency. Last Tuesday night’s orientation program was led by Michael Darger, program director of BR&E, and Chelsea Alger, Belle Plaine community development director.
“Existing firms are the best sources of growth we have in our community. We want to find out how we can help them to grow. We have a great team in place to work on this and we expect excellent results,” said Kelly Melo, Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce executive director and BR&E visitation coordinator.
The program is designed to stimulate economic development by assisting existing industry, according to Darger. He pointed out that to assist industry, a community must first identify industries’ needs and problems and then address those concerns to improve the local business climate. Read more: Belle Plaine Herald
Chamber Tweet of the Day: Detroit Chamber
Detroit Chamber
.@Oakgov's new #Tech248 initiative aims to grow & connect the county's emerging tech industry: http://ow.ly/DJSt3
Chamber Study: Indiana needs $10M for water planning
The author of a study on the link between water and Indiana's economy is calling on region environmental leaders to push for a state planner dedicated to turning the data into action.The perceived problem, he said, is the annual $10 million budget it would take to make it happen.
"The political leaders right now realize this is important but don't know what to do and are afraid it will be labeled a tax," Jack Wittman, principal geoscientist for Bloomington's Intera Inc, said. "That's $1.75 per person per year in the state and we won't pay it."
Wittman spoke to the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission's Environmental Management and Policy Committee meeting earlier this month at the commission's Portage office.
Wittman was commissioned by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to review data on current and predicted water use and population growth in an effort to forecast future water needs and resources. The study was released in August. Read more: NWI Times
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)
“Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determinations.” ~ John Seaman Garns
Forbes 46/50
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