Political observers documented well Michigan’s draw-down in political muscle through pending Congressional departures. Less is said about the Northern Michigan impact, but the region is sure to see the ripples.
Grand Traverse is fortunate for its federal lawmakers’ attentiveness over the years in an area hundreds of miles from their backyards, political bases and constituencies. It wasn’t unusual to see U.S. Senator Carl Levin — an authoritative figure in Washington — quietly slip in the Chamber building on an early Friday morning for coffee with local business men and women. He was a regular at the Chamber’s Annual Celebration, which comes up Jan. 23. His capable staff frequently reached out for input through the Chamber to the region’s business community. The defense contract and supply work done by Northern Michigan manufacturers expanded significantly in recent years, whether or not related to his long-time chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Read more: Traverse City Record Eagle
Doug Luciani is President and CEO of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.
U.S. Chamber - Free Enterprise: Our 5 Most Popular Stories of the Year: Smart Government
Coverage of Virginia Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce has formed a nonprofit foundation with duties that will include surveying, collecting and providing more information on the state’s economy and job market.
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation also will work with the Virginia Employment Commission and other statewide associations and local chambers to conduct the survey, which will identify the fastest-growing industry sectors and what job skills are in demand.
“The purpose is to survey employers and determine more clearly the labor market needs of the business community, the expected hires over the next two years, the skill sets of those future hires, and to identify any challenges that employers have in recruiting talent,” Barry DuVal, the state chamber’s president and chief executive officer, said at the organization’s annual economic summit in Williamsburg. Read more: Richmond.com
Jefferson City Chamber preparing for a welcome back reception
January is a time where people look forward and the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce is planning on how to welcome the members of the Missouri General Assembly back to their “home away from home”.
The Taste of Jefferson City is sponsored by the City of Jefferson, County of Cole, Lincoln University, State Technical College of Missouri, Jefferson City Public Schools and the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
This is an opportunity to welcome back those who have called Jefferson City home during the legislative session and a great way to meet and greet the newly elected senators and representatives. “The economic impact of the General Assembly while they are in session is huge” shared Missy Bonnot, Director of Economic Development for the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: Missouri Times
Chamber news: Batesville's Main Street Makes a Major Comeback - Honorable Mention in Preservation
Batesville is an idyllic American town, but as recently as early 2013, its downtown was dying on the vine. Empty storefronts, broken sidewalks, weeds and dead plants welcomed visitors. Danell Hetrick, communications coordinator with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, called it “all but extinct” with Main Street through downtown serving as a traffic filter and little else.
Today, Batesville is home to a revitalized and thriving downtown, and its efforts to resuscitate its center earned the city recognition as a 2014 City of Distinction for Main Street preservation. Main Street Batesville board chair Bob Carius took charge in 2013 to ignite interest in revitalizing downtown.
“Carius and the board worked diligently to let the people know that Main Street was still around and that it would be successful again,” Hetrick said. Read more: Arkansas Business
Chamber Awards: Carlson, Weiss Earn Top Glenview Business Honors
Larry Carlson, owner of Carlson’s Heating Cooling and Electric, is Glenview’s Chamber of Commerce 2014 Business Person of the Year, and Weiss Ace Hardware is the Business of the Year.
Both are family businesses -- a tradition in Glenview. Chamber officials announced the honors Friday, Dec. 26.
Carlson’s Heating Cooling and Electric, which is approaching its 60th anniversary, provides cooling, heating and electrical services in 28 communities north and west of Chicago. Founded by Larry’s father, the company currently counts M-J Detwiler, Larry’s sister, and Daryl Carlson, his nephew, in its leadership team, making the company one of the oldest and most revered multi-generational family businesses in Glenview. Read more: Journal & TopicsChamber issue: Statewide coalition launched to support Sunday sales of adult beverages in Indiana
Hoosiers for Sunday Sales, a coalition of consumers and retailers from across Indiana, launched a campaign today in support of legislation to change Indiana law to permit the sales of adult beverages on Sundays in drug, grocery, liquor and convenience stores. The coalition rollout follows a recent poll showing that a majority of Hoosier consumers believe that state law should be changed to legalize Sunday alcohol sales at retail stores.
“This is about consumer choice and convenience,” said Grant Monahan, executive director of the Indiana Retail Council. “It makes no sense that Hoosier consumers can buy adult beverages at a store six days a week, but not on Sunday. All of our surrounding states allow consumers this basic freedom and it’s time that Indiana modernizes our laws to fit the 21st century.”
A new website, www.hoosiersforsundaysales.com gives visitors the ability to sign an online petition to Indiana legislators in support of Sunday sales legislation. The website will also be used to inform consumers on how they can contact their legislators and stay updated on progress made during the legislative process. Read more: Greensburg Daily News
Study: Stillwater could support commercial flights
A study indicates that a north-central Oklahoma community could support daily commercial airline flights from its airport to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The Journal Record (http://bit.ly/1vtqAhp ) reports the study by the city of Stillwater is the latest in a three-year effort to obtain commercial air service at the Stillwater Regional Airport.
A Stillwater Chamber of Commerce official says the goal is to begin providing jet service for 50 passengers at the airport. Read more: New9.com
Chamber message: Through community spirit, Clinton is moving forward
by Nathan Sondgeroth Chamber president
What’s changed in Clinton in 2014? To me, the answer is clear – there is a genuine feeling that we are in this together.
On Dec. 2, 2014, the City Council chambers in Clinton City Hall were as crowded as I have ever seen them. This was the night at Committee of the Whole that the developer of the Wilson Building was presenting to the Clinton City Council. The feeling in that room that night was electric. People representing different organizations, businesses, and interests all came together to watch the presentation and wonder what the Council was going to do. The Council’s unanimous 7-0 approval of the local incentives necessary for the building to be redeveloped not only paves for this catalytic project, but also exemplifies what’s changed in 2014. Read more: Clinton Herald
Oskaloosa Chamber Outstanding Educator Gale Vermeulen receives 2014 Outstanding Service Award
Gale Vermeulen, former chemistry teacher and Science Department Chair at Oskaloosa High School, was recently honored with the 2014 Outstanding Service Award at the ICTM-ISTS Math Science Conference held at Iowa State University.
The award is presented by the Iowa Science Teaching Section of the Iowa Academy of Science to an ISTS member who has made sustained extraordinary contributions to ISTS and/or to science education at the state and/or national level.
Vermeulen taught a variety of science courses and chaired the science departments at four different high schools during her 36-year teaching career. In addition to Oskaloosa, she taught at Tri-County of Thornburg, Twin Cedars of Bussey and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. She also taught biology for elementary majors at William Penn University. She piloted both the PRISMS physics and CRISTAL chemistry courses, earned National Board certification for chemistry teaching in 2002, and received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce in 2012. Read more: Oskaloosa Herald online
It’s been a big year for us at FreeEnterprise.com: We completely redesigned the site, launched a new LinkedIn showcase page, and had the chance to interview incredibly successful entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson—and that’s just touching the surface.
With 2015 nearly upon us, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to highlight some of our favorite and most successful stories from 2014. So, starting today and stretching through the end of next week, we’ll be showcasing the most popular stories from each of our five content categories—Doing Good, Creating Opportunity, True Innovation, Smart Government, and America at Work. Read more: Free Enterprise
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