U.S. Chamber Awards Hot Springs (Arkansas) chamber with 5 Star Accreditation
“Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit its local economy and positively influence its community,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, executive director of Political Affairs and Federation Relations. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise.”
The only program of its kind in the country, U.S. Chamber accreditation recognizes excellence in chamber planning and performance. To achieve accreditation, a chamber must demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and effective communications by meeting minimum standards in its operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology.
Local and regional chambers are rated “Accredited” or “Accredited with 3, 4, or 5 Stars.” The final determination is made by the accrediting board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members and chamber CEOs from across the country. Read more: U.S. Chamber
The following chambers of commerce received accreditation today:
Accredited with 5 Stars:
- Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Anchorage, AK
- Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, Fort Collins, CO
- Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Hot Springs, AR
- Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, Hanover, PA
- Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Bradenton, FL
- Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida, Melbourne, FL
- Plano Chamber of Commerce, Plano, TX
- San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, San Clemente, CA
- Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, Simi Valley, CA
- St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph, MO
- St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce, South Bend, IN
The Top Job Creating Industries of 2014
By official estimates, the U.S. labor market in 2014 was the strongest it has been since 1999. Yet for all the new jobs that were created last year, growth was not evenly distributed across every industry. What sectors, then, led the resurgent labor market and helped drive down the unemployment rate?
As with anything that has to do with the massive U.S. labor economy, there are no simple answers to that question. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the pace of hiring accelerated toward the end of the year, a trend that continued through January, with private employers adding an average of 336,000 new jobs over that three-month period.
Over the course of last year, the unemployment rate fell accordingly, dropping from 6.6% in January to 5.6% in December. Though it currently stands at 5.7%, economists argue that the uptick was fueled by an increase in the number of Americans who, likely encouraged by recent upbeat jobs reports, have reentered the labor market and are actively looking for work. Read more: Free Enterprise
Ky. Chamber's David Adkisson: Make Kentucky more competitive
The global competition for talent is fierce. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is committed to improving the commonwealth to attract top talent. One way to do that is to give local communities tools to invest for their future opportunities and growth.
Over the past several years, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and over 45 other civic, government, economic development, and other business organizations have been championing an initiative called Local Investments for Transformation (LIFT) or Local Option. This would bring Kentucky in line with some 37 other states that allow for greater local control when it comes to investments.
Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo and House Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover are leading a bipartisan effort to enact this important legislation. There is growing bipartisan support for LIFT in Frankfort, which was evident when the House voted to pass the bill.
Very simply, LIFT would allow citizens to invest in specific hometown capital projects. It would give voters a say on whether they want to pay for new community infrastructure and economic development. It would be the right to vote — up or down — on those projects and their costs via referendum. If the voters say “yea”, the project moves forward. A temporary local sales tax of no more than one percent would be instituted, and then would expire once the project and its costs are paid for. If local voters say “nay,” the project and the levy does not happen. Read more: HarlanDaily.com
Arthur Brooks to Present at Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Naperville, Ill. – The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
will host its monthly General Membership Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville, 3003 Corporate West
Dr., Lisle, IL 60532. The event will be sponsored by Little Friends. General
Membership Luncheons are typically held on the fourth Monday of each month, so
it is important to note that this event will be held on a Tuesday.
The featured speaker will be Arthur Brooks, current
president of American Enterprise Institute. Brooks has published over 100
articles and 10 books on topics from philanthropy, to military operations
research, to the economics of happiness. He is the author of the New York Times
bestselling book, “The Road to Freedom: How to Win the Fight for Free
Enterprise,” released May 2012. Brooks’ unconventional path to an education and
unique areas of expertise make him an extremely interesting speaker.
To register, visit www.naperville.net
or call the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce office at (630) 355-4141.
Chamber Tweet of the Day: Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce
Wisconsin MC
Apache Stainless Pres. @EdParadowski is excited Right to Work could help provide jobs to those that need them https://youtu.be/90oJc3yMUM8
Best Chamber Practices: Danville-Pittsylvania Workshop to be held on running for public office
Interested citizens who may be considering running for public office this year or in future years, or who have an interest in learning more about the election process, are invoted to attend an upcoming workshop on “How to Run for Public Office.”
The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 16, with the program beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce (8653 US 29, Blairs). The workshop will conclude by 7 p.m.
The workshop is being sponsored by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Cooperative Extension – Community Viability. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs are open to all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, veteran status, national origin, disability, or political affiliation. Read more: workitsova.com
Vidalia outlines Town Center at Concordia Parish Chamber Luncheon
State Treasurer John Kennedy said Tuesday he anticipates questions concerning the proposed 65-acre Vidalia Town Center residential and commercial development project will be answered during a meeting scheduled with Mayor Hyram Copeland later this week.
Kennedy removed the project from the State Bond Commission’s agenda set for Thursday, March 19. He said he took that action after fielding “several” complaints.
Kennedy declined to identify the individuals who voiced concerns nor would he report the precise number of complainants.
“I would rather not go into personalities,” Kennedy said. “I have had several folks contact us about the project. This is not unusual. We often have members of the community to call about projects.”
He said his office was “in a fact gathering stage. The materials submitted to the Bond Commission are a little sketchy on precisely what would go in the development. Some questions have been raised about the appraisals.
“When we have items like this, my job is not to prejudge but to get the facts so that the Bond Commission can make an intelligent decision. I have a meeting with the mayor and his team on Friday that will likely answer many of our questions.”
The town is seeking Bond Commission approval to borrow $4.5 million in taxable bonds to purchase 65 acres of property along U.S. 65/425 on the west side of town across from Wal-Mart. Approval for another $2.5 million in tax-exempt bonds is sought for infrastructure development of the land.
The project is part of the town’s Master Plan, approved by the Vidalia Board of Alderman Tuesday night, which targets future residential and commercial growth and includes revised building codes. Until now, the town has been operating under codes developed more than 40 years ago.
Apartments, shops, offices, a restaurant, hotel, medical complex, single and multi-family housing, single-family town houses, a park, walking trail and other features have been on the drawing board for the town center project for months.
The project was outlined at the Concordia Parish Chamber of Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon in Vidalia on Tuesday. Read more: Concordia Sentinel
2015 La Porte Chamber Meeting Featuring Speech by U. S. Senator Donnelly
The Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Meeting at Best Western Plus, located at 444 Pine Lake Avenue in La Porte, on April 17th at 11:00 a.m.
The event will feature a speech by U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. with lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. This year's event will take a look at the year of 2014 for the Chamber and its significant events and accomplishments. There will also be awards given to the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year and Business Person of the Year. Registration is encouraged and can be done at: http://business.lpchamber.com/events/. Read more: LaPorteCountyLife.com
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