Indy Chamber event: Entrepreneur, 25, who hires homeless shares her story; Charlottesville Regional Chamber Report: Businesses Plan to Add Jobs This Year; Rhinelander chamber recognition: Northwoods mentoring program makes BIG impact; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives; Botetourt County (Virginia) Chamber of Commerce's seminar on recruiting employees is March 19; Chamber delight: Ocean Springs Mississippi makes USA Today top 10; Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce details area honors; It's Time to End Michigan's Wasteful Film Subsidy, Says Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Bloomington Illinois: Six honored with chamber agriculture awards; Vicksburg selected to be member of Michigan Main Street program through MSHDA; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

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

Indy Chamber event: Entrepreneur, 25, who hires homeless shares her story

What began as a class assignment five years ago for Veronika Scott has evolved into a nonprofit agency that cities across the nation and Canada want to emulate.
Scott's The Empowerment Plan manufactures coats for the homeless that can be converted into a sleeping bag. But more importantly, the workers who produce the garments are single women, mostly mothers, who are recruited from homeless shelters.
In a talk Thursday at the Indy Chamber's Women's Business Retreat, the 25-year-old from Detroit shared her journey from being the child of addicts, to a student at the College for Industrial Studies assigned to design something that would fulfill a need, to a founder and CEO of a nonprofit that has changed the lives of hundreds. In its second year, the retreat at the Alexander Hotel targets women entrepreneurs and attracted 200 attendees. Read more: INDYSTAR

Charlottesville Regional Chamber Report: Businesses Plan to Add Jobs This Year

For the seventh consecutive year, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce member enterprises cite “Economic Growth & Vitality” as their top public policy interest – and nearly half of those enterprises plan to add jobs in 2015 – while business confidence remains steady in the response to the Chamber's thirteenth annual member economic survey.
The Annual Chamber Member Economic Survey, which takes an annual reading of the leading representatives of Chamber enterprises, offers an insight index into Chamber member's economic and policy concerns. The survey responses came in over December 2014 until February 2, 2015.
The continued positive national and local economic indicators show in the Chamber survey response: 44.2% of the 2015 Chamber member enterprise survey responded that they plan to add jobs; down from last year's 51.1% level but up from previous surveys. A verysizablee 55.8% anticipate holding level on jobs.
Regarding profitability, 51.2% of Chamber member enterprises expect to see growth in 2015; down just slightly from the 54.7% who anticipated growth last year but consistent with the confidence levels of the years leading up to and following the “Great Recession” (2007-2009). Read more: Charlottesville Regional Chamber

Rhinelander chamber recognition: Northwoods mentoring program makes BIG impact

The Northwoods branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin is coming off a big year. Acquired by Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2013, the Northwoods branch has added community mentoring to the program, brought the Color Dash to Rhinelander, and has been recognized by the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce.

“It was recognized as non-profit of the year because of the immediate and significant impact on the Rhinelander area within just one year of founding up here,” said Chamber Executive Director Dana DeMet. “The value of their programming was made especially clear when they were able to assume the services previously provided by Kinship of the North rather than let those services go away. Coupled with their significant community investment in bringing the Color Dash to the Rhinelander area, it is apparent that the organization takes great pride in their service to the Rhinelander area and its community.” - See more at: Star Journal


Chamber Tweet of the Day: Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives

KyExecs @KyExecs  ·  

Want to attend @USChamber Institute this summer? Registration is now open: http://uscham.com/1ohQ6m7  #chamber #assn

Botetourt County (Virginia) Chamber of Commerce's seminar on recruiting employees is March 19

Competition for the best employees is fierce. Learn the tricks and avoid the pitfalls of recruiting quality job candidates at "Marketing Your Company to Find the Best Employees," a seminar sponsored by Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce, Botetourt County Economic Development and Virginia Western Community College.
There will be a panel discussion with members of the Virginia Workforce Network.

The workshop will be held 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19, at Greenfield Training Center, 57 S. Center Drive, in Daleville. Read more: The Roanoke Times


Chamber delight: Ocean Springs Mississippi makes USA Today top 10

The city has been ranked in USA Today's top 10 Best Coastal Small Towns, and Chamber of Commerce leaders are seeking help with voting online and on Facebook to get it ranked No. 1.
The latest distinction includes praise for the city's food, lodging destinations, travel gear and things go do.
Towns nominated have a population less than 20,000 and are considered uncrowded, unpretentious and affordable.
Supporters can vote for Ocean Springs once a day until the polls close March 16. Read more: Sun-Herald 

Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce details area honors

Playing to a sellout crowd of more than 400 people, the Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce presented its annual awards banquet Jan. 22 at the Malvern Community Center. Malvern Mayor Brenda Wilson welcomed the audience, and Circuit Judge Chris Williams served as master of ceremonies. Nikki Cranford Launius, executive director of the chamber, gave the opening remarks, referencing the theme for the evening, Winds of Change.
“We have change in our community,” she said. “We have newly elected officials, some new City Council and Quorum Court members and an active mayor in office.
“The chamber predicts positive change by the leaders in our community,” she said.
“I believe there are two primary choices in life: to accept the conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility of changing them,” she said. “I encourage each of you to support our leadership during this time of change.”  Launius said the area has seen positives changes.
“The past year, we’ve seen a new $6 million manufacturing plant built, Prime-Line, moved from Jones Mill Industrial Park, next to Flakeboard,” she said. “We’ve seen two church expansions — First Baptist Church Vine and Lifepoint Church. Read more: Arkansas Online

It's Time to End Michigan's Wasteful Film Subsidy, Says Michigan Chamber of Commerce

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today commended State Representative Dan Lauwers for introducing House Bill 4122 to finally end Michigan's wasteful and counterproductive film subsidy.

"We applaud Rep. Lauwers and every state legislator who joined him by co-sponsoring this important reform," said Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber.

"This boondoggle currently costs Michigan taxpayers $50 million a year and even the state's own economic development agency (MEDC) reported this costly subsidy failed in 2013 to create one permanent job," noted Tricia Kinley, Senior Director of Tax & Regulatory Reform the Michigan Chamber. "The time to end this wasteful spending is long overdue and we are urging the Legislature to take immediate action." Read more: Michigan Chamber

Bloomington Illinois: Six honored with chamber agriculture awards

Six people were honored for their work in agriculture by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce on Friday at its annual Agriculture Awards Dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
The Outstanding Conservationist Award was presented to Chip Henrichs, who has spent 30 years managing habitat in McLean County and throughout Illinois and Iowa. In 2007, Henrichs founded the Prairielands Preservation Foundation, dedicated to the conservation and restoration of natural resources in both Central Illinois and Iowa.
The Emerging Leader in Agriculture Award was presented to Anna Ziegler of the McLean County Farm Bureau. Ziegler is actively involved on numerous leadership and agriculture committees around McLean County and volunteers with numerous agriculture education programs.
Matt Witte of Heyworth was presented with the Outstanding Young Farmer Award. Witte is an Illinois State University graduate who farms and works for his family’s business, Bloomington Meats. Witte has been involved with agriculture since a young age in programs such as 4-H and FFA, and is president of the McLean County Beef Association. Read more: Bloomington Pantagraph

Vicksburg selected to be member of Michigan Main Street program through MSHDA

Vicksburg is one of only 12 communities in the state to be chosen this year for the Michigan Main Street associate level program through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
The selection will allow members of the village staff, Downtown Development Authority and Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce to be trained on the basics of the Main Street Four Point Approach, including organization, promotion, economic restructuring and design.
Kathleen Hoyle, Vicksburg DDA director, said the program will train Vicksburg’s volunteers to help revitalize and improve its downtown area, which is all part of the DDA’s rejuvenated efforts the past year that includes everything from a reorganization of the group to expanding its boundaries. Read more: M LIVE



Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” - Shauna Niequist