Chamber Event: 'Virginia Governor Bullish on Petersburg'; Rapid City South Dakota Civic Center Expansion - YOUR VOTE COUNTS MARCH 1OTH; Todd Maisch, Illinois Chamber President and CEO, Reacts to State of the Budget Address; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Detroit Chamber; Kentucky Chamber pens open letter to legislators urging action on pensions; Conway Arkansas Chamber leads delegation to Washington; Chamber event: Bay Area leaders look toward future at annual State of the Community Luncheon; Jasper Chamber Support: Women Empowering Women inaugural event draws 400 people; Mississippi Economic Council: Mississippi Silicon Creating 200 Jobs in Burnsville; Floyd County Virginia Chamber news: Ferrum College Internship Opportunities Can Benefit Floyd Businesses and Organizations; Chamber interest: Winter Fest to host Valentine’s cross-country skiing and other events; Schaumburg Business Association Welcomes Christina Keeley, Events Director; Burlington, Wisconsin Chamber Craft Fair with the Home & Garden Show;Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Gov. Terry McAuliffe encouraged the city to keep pressing forward during his keynote address at the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Membership Dinner. He commended the city for strides made in business, education, tourism and other areas. - See more at: http://www.progress-index.com/article/20150220/NEWS/150229974#sthash.QvucD1gf.dpuf

Chamber Event: 'Virginia Governor Bullish on Petersburg'

Gov. Terry McAuliffe encouraged the city to keep pressing forward during his keynote address at the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Membership Dinner. He commended the city for strides made in business, education, tourism and other areas.

The governor said that he would also work to help to improve Petersburg and acknowledged the city’s support during his first year in office. Overall, McAuliffe said he was "bullish on Petersburg" and saw brighter days ahead for the city.

“I do love Petersburg, I’ve spent a lot of time here, you’ve been good to me,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here and I never forget my friends … and that ‘s just the beginning.”

Part of not forgetting his friends was taking part in efforts to facilitate the sale of the former Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals plant to Chinese firm UniTao Pharmaceuticals LLC, in October. The firm will eventually create 376 jobs with an investment of $22.5 million. B-I Chemicals announced in August 2013 that it was closing, which would have resulted in the lose of 240 jobs.

McAuliffe called Unitao’s Petersburg location the “biggest success he has had as governor” so far during the first year of his term. See more at: Progress-Index

Rapid City South Dakota Civic Center Expansion - YOUR VOTE COUNTS MARCH 1OTH

Expanding and updating the Civic Center means more revenue for Rapid City. A new arena will draw more concertgoers, sporting event fans and convention attendees. It will also create local revenue and jobs for Rapid City construction and supply companies. Let's invest in the future.

 

Todd Maisch, Illinois Chamber President and CEO, Reacts to State of the Budget Address

“Years of fiscal games have come to close with Gov.Bruce Rauner’s state of the budget speech today. The Illinois Chamber has asked for financial stability for years, and acknowledges that this spending outline is what fiscal reality looks like. The business community anticipated the considerable pain in the governor’s speech because taxing and spending was never going to fix the problem. This is the day the check is due.

Now is the time to engage in debate on balancing that pain with the insistence that the state only spend the money that’s available. Legislators will have to determine whether they believe some cuts are too painful and negotiate the details given that the state should only spend what it realistically can take in this next year. Source: Illinois Chamber

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Detroit Chamber


Detroit Chamber ‏@DetroitChamber 

Since 2009, IT job growth in metro #Detroit has outpaced the nation by nearly 2.5%: http://ow.ly/ITENn  #SelectUSA

 

 

Kentucky Chamber pens open letter to legislators urging action on pensions

Even with changes to the state’s largest pension system, the crushing effects of Kentucky’s severely underfunded pension systems remains a major concern for Kentucky businesses and taxpayers.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce sent an open letter to members of the General Assembly Wednesday applauding the work that has been done to reform the state’s largest retirement systems but also making it clear there is much more to be done to ensure the solvency of the pension systems.
The Chamber has long been a vocal advocate for reform as well as a proponent of taking a closer look at the systems in order to see how they are being run and where there is room for improvement. Read more: Kentucky Chamber blog

Conway Arkansas Chamber leads delegation to Washington

A group of Faulkner County business, government and community leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., this week as part of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s D.C. Fly-In.
The annual trip is a “proactive measure toward supporting Faulkner County businesses and organizations,” said Jamie Gates, executive vice president at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important, particularly when there is turnover within our federal delegation, to maintain old relationships and build new ones.”
Gates said that topics of discussion this year included continued support of the new airport, natural gas, higher education, health care, disaster relief, consumer data and surface transportation. “It’s obviously a Faulkner County flavored agenda,” said Gates. Read more: Log Cabin Democrat

 

Chamber event: Bay Area leaders look toward future at annual State of the Community Luncheon

Area leaders updated the public this week about future programs and initiatives taking place in Bay City and Bay County government and education.
The 15th annual Bay Area Chamber of Commerce State of the Community Luncheon was held Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Bay Valley Resort and Conference Center in Frankenlust Township. More than 300 people attended the annual event.
The meeting began with a moment of silence for Alice Wirt, the Bay City philanthropist who died this week. Wirt, 93, and her husband, the late Jack Wirt, are best known for making a $750,000 to help construct the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library in downtown Bay City.
Bay City Manager Rick Finn, Bay County Executive Thomas Hickner and Pinconning Area Schools Superintendent Michael Vieau offered snapshots of accomplishments and new initiatives to those in attendance. Read more: M LIVE

Jasper Chamber Support:  Women Empowering Women inaugural event draws 400 people

Over 400 attended the Women Empowering Women inaugural event:  “When Women Succeed...Our Communities Succeed!” The keynote speaker was Sue Ellspermann, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana. A steering committee of women business leaders from throughout Dubois County has been developing the organization over the past year with support of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce. The mission of Women Empowering Women is to inspire women in business to reach their highest potential by instilling confidence, building networks, and promoting community in Dubois County. A schedule of informative programs has been developed for 2015. For more information about Women Empowering Women, call the Jasper Chamber of Commerce at 812-482-6866 or go to Jasper Chamber of Commerce  

Mississippi Economic Council: Mississippi Silicon Creating 200 Jobs in Burnsville

 
Gov. Phil Bryant and officials announced recently that Mississippi Silicon will locate a new silicon metal production facility in Burnsville. Silicon is investing $200 million in the project, which will create 200 jobs.

The new Mississippi-based facility will produce silicon metal for a broad range of industries in the United States including the aluminum, automotive and chemical industries. Mississippi Silicon’s high-tech facility is expected to be one of the most efficient and cost competitive silicon metal production facilities in the world.

Mississippi Silicon is a strategic partnership between Rima Holdings USA, Inc., and domestic investor group Clean Tech I, LLC.

“I congratulate the team at Mississippi Silicon for becoming the state’s newest corporate partner and for choosing Tishomingo County,” said Gov. Phil Bryant. “Mississippi is strongly positioned for growth in advanced manufacturing, and I am pleased to see another company placing its faith in our world-class workforce. We look forward to working with Mississippi Silicon and wish the company many years of success.” Read more: Mississippi Economic Council


Floyd County Virginia Chamber news: Ferrum College Internship Opportunities Can Benefit Floyd Businesses and Organizations

Internships offer employers an affordable way to bring new skills and ideas to the workplace.

Floyd Businesses and Organizations:  Based on my personal experience with utilizing college internships, service learning and benefiting from class projects, I urge you to consider working with college students.  Examples of how internships have been utilized locally include, but are not limited to: conducting market research; community surveys, developing business strategies or campaigns; coordinating or assisting with special events; conducting business reviews of marketing, operations and finances; developing websites and building social media presence; and filling short-term staff positions.  Ferrum College staff and faculty are very motivated to support the Floyd community by developing Floyd-based internship opportunities for Ferrum College students.  Click on the links in this sentence for a fact sheet and list of academic department contacts from Ferrum College.  They can assist with creating a job description or suggest options that your business or organization can utilize.  If you have any questions that we can answer from the perspective of having utilized internships for your business and also service learning and class projects for your not-for-profit organization, please feel free to contact me at executivedirector@floydchamber.org or 745-4407 or Derek Wall at derek@hotelfloyd.com or 745-6080. -- John McEnhill, Chamber Executive Director.

Chamber interest: Winter Fest to host Valentine’s cross-country skiing and other events

The 25^th annual Higgins Lake-Roscommon Winter Fest takes place this weekend.

"It’s a smaller town, but it’s really the heart of pure Michigan," Mariah Frye Colie, Cross Country Ski Headquarters co-owner, said. "There’s so much to do here outside and people know that in the summer. But, the winter’s a little harder to find stuff to do. So, having all this access to outdoor, winter activity is just a really cool thing. I think it’s a great celebration of what we have to offer in northern Michigan."

Even with freezing temperatures forecasted, organizers of the event are prepared by having warming tents during Winter Fest for those that brave the cold.

"It’s Michigan," Connie Allen, Higgins Lake Roscommon Chamber of Commerce executive director, said. "It’s winter time, ice fishing season, (and) it’s cold. (The) snowmobile radar run is the same thing. We’ve had all kinds of weather. We’ve had times with no snow. So, we just make do with what we have and have fun while we’re doing it." Read more: UpNorthLive.com

Schaumburg Business Association Welcomes Christina Keeley, Events Director

The Schaumburg Business Association now has a full time Events Director. Christina Keeley joined the staff on Monday, February 9, 2015. As the Events Director, she will oversee the coordination of all events, including signature events and monthly events. Christina has an extensive event planning and hospitality background that includes sales and events for hotels, restaurants, and Convention & Visitors Bureau representation.  Most recently, she worked as Director of Events with the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.  We are thrilled to have her experience and expertise as part of our team and look forward to many years of collaboration.
Christina has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Communication from Loyola University of Chicago.  She looks forward to working with SBA members that have volunteered to be part of our 5 event committees; the Savour Food and Drink Experience, the Ladies Golf Outing, the Golf Classic, the Toast of Schaumburg, and the Good Morning Schaumburg Committee. More information: Schaumburg Business Association

Burlington, Wisconsin Chamber Craft Fair with the Home & Garden Show

03/21/2015 - 9:00am to 3:00pm

The event will present many of the talented artists and crafters who live and work around Southeastern Wisconsin.  Original handmade artwork and craft in many categories will be showcased including jewelry, pottery, paper goods, glass works, floral, woodworking and other handmade items. This event is very limited on vendor space. So if you would like to join us, please fill out the registration form and return it back to us. Click here to view the registration form.

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

“You just have to live your life not caring what they think and shake off the drama and prove to them that you’re better than they think you are!”- Author unknown