The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce this year is hosting a new Buy Here Holiday Blitz, which offers consumers six chances to win $500. Starting today, consumers will earn ticket chances by dining and shopping locally at participating businesses. Iowa City Press-Citizen

Chamber business: In Wisconsin, the money's on manufacturing

On Thursday, two days after being re-elected to a second term, Gov. Scott Walker toured technical colleges in five Wisconsin cities, promoting his worker training and job creation efforts.
The governor's message: He wants to "build off of the successes and investments of his first term to encourage economic development in all sectors across the state," said Laurel Patrick, a spokeswoman.
If Walker's second term is anything like his first, the biggest beneficiary could well be summed up in one word: manufacturing.
From an enormous tax credit that promises Wisconsin tax bills of nearly nothing on in-state production, to awards made by the economic development agency and training funded by the workforce development agency, manufacturing has won big.
Industry is a powerhouse in Wisconsin, representing about 20% of all jobs. But manufacturing is pulling in considerably more than 20% of all state business incentives. Some say this represents a shortsighted strategy that favors old-line industry over higher-potential sectors like biotech and information technology that create living-wage jobs and could breathe new life into the state's moribund job and business creation record. Read more: JSOnline.com


Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)


“Successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity” ~ Reed Markham

Forbes 47/50