Happy Friday, Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!
U.S. Chamber Awards St Joseph County (Indiana) 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.” Read more: U.S. Chamber
Nancy Pool, outgoing Halifax chamber director lays out personal opinion for county future
“She’s come a long way, baby,” and outgoing Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Director Nancy Pool doesn’t mind telling county leaders what she has learned during her 35 years in the position.
Friday morning as the invited guest of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors, Pool shared her historical perspective of the chamber before being presented a resolution recognizing her countless years of dedicated service to the county.
It was in the late 1970s, when “some visionary people” realized every successful community had a full-time chamber of commerce, and acknowledged Halifax County also needed one if it were to be successful in a competitive economic development market. Read more: WORK IT SOVA
The Inner Blog - Greater Louisville Inc. - Attorney General Jack Conway Focuses on Jobs Creation, Public Safety and Education in Remarks During GLI’s Capitol Connection
Attorney General Jack Conway got right to the point. Three points, actually, as he spoke before a packed house at the Olmsted as part of GLI’s Capitol Connection series. He laid out a speaking agenda that included his upcoming campaign for governor, his record as attorney general and “some of the challenges we face here in Kentucky.”
As for his campaign, the two-term attorney general sounded a lot like an economic development director as he placed most of his proposed initiatives under a “jobs creation” umbrella. “As governor, I will market the state and the city of Louisville aggressively toward developing good paying jobs,” he said. His plans call for an Office of Small Business Advocacy at cabinet level to help cut through the red tape of starting and expanding businesses, noting that “nine out of ten jobs are created by an existing business.”
He vowed to “strengthen the link between education and economic development to help ensure that our universities are preparing our people for the jobs of the future.” Part of that plan is to make sure that “workforce and economic development are equal in terms of focus.”
Citing studies that show that most brain development happens between five months and 6 years of age, Conway says he wants to increase the emphasis on early childhood education. “It’s proven that every dollar you spend on pre-school is returned by seven,” he said. Read more: Greater Louisville Inc.- The Metro Chamber
La Crosse Chamber interest: Better economy, temps brings better business to downtown La Crosse
Local entrepreneur Ryan Johnson runs four businesses, including his latest venture, The Old Crowe. The La Crosse native said the city has become the perfect place to develop a brand."Downtown has kind of been viewed for the longest time as a night life and college area. I believe now that that's changing a little bit,” Johnson said.
New and different establishments are growing as the demographic in downtown changes.
"It’s young, old, families, daytime and night time,” Johnson said.
Vicki Markussen the executive director of the La Crosse area chamber of commerce, said the city's support of new owners is helping business boom.
"One of the signs of all of these businesses starting up is that people are really willing to take a risk and peruse this dream of owning their own business," Markussen said. Read more: News8000.com
Conway Chamber meeting: Developer: Dillard's key to Central Landing's early development
Dillard’s was a key player in Central Landing becoming a reality for Conway’s economic future.
That was a statement William “Will” Wilson, president of Jim Wilson & Associates, made during the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting at the University of Central Arkansas campus on Thursday.
“I think that without Dillard’s, I don’t know if we would have a deal because everyone in the retail market knows how strong they are,” he said.
When Dillard’s announced it would be the anchor tenant of The Shoppes at Central Landing last year, Wilson said developers saw the move as a sign that Conway is poised to handle a project of the lifestyle center’s magnitude. Log Cabin Democrat
Michigan West Coast chamber interest: West Michigan groups spend $10K for study of Grand Rapids to Detroit passenger rail service
Several local organizations have pledged support for a study, which begins today, to examine the possibility of a West Michigan to Detroit-area passenger rail line.
The Holland Visitors Bureau, Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council and Experience Grand Rapids each made a contribution totaling about $10,000 to fund a ridership and cost estimate study that could lead to actual service several years from now, project manager Liz Treutel said.
Treutel, who heads the study for the nonprofit Michigan Environmental Council, explains the seven-month project will examine ridership demand between the Holland, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit corridor to better understand the impacts of establishing coast-to-coast rail service. Read more: M Live
Levees, Education, Economic Incentives top Hancock County Chamber’s Legislative Agenda
Officials from across South Mississippi
will be in Jackson Wednesday to meet with legislators and push their
agenda at the annual Coast Legislative Reception.
Many of the Hancock Chamber members will stay until Thursday to join the Mississippi Chamber for Capitol Day.
In a press release, the Hancock Chamber
and executive director Tish Williams listed the priorities for the 2015
session of the Mississippi Legislature:
- Revamp and tier the investment schedule for the Tourism Tax Rebate law
- Drop in legislation to extend the Beach Boulevard Scenic By-way up to DeBuys Road
- Devise incentive districts to spur private investment in emerging key cities
- Support $5 million special appropriation for state tourism marketing funds
- Fully fund early childhood development in Mississippi
- Protect the Mississippi Coast from the Louisiana levee system
The recent Mississippi Economic Council Roadshow in Bay St. Louis showed how executives and elected officials in Harrison and Hancock counties have similar priorities. The said the state’s negative perception is Mississippi’s greatest roadblock to competitiveness, that highways and bridges are South Mississippi’s top infrastructure priorities and that the biggest opportunity for the Coast is the growth of tourism. Read more: hancockchamber.org
New director takes over at Romeoville Area Chamber
Michelle Jarnutowski started her relationship with the Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce in October of 2013 as an eager member who volunteered and quickly became more involved in the community.Now she's running the chamber as its new executive director.
Jarnutowski officially started as the new director on March 1, with a focus on bringing Romeoville businesses closer together.
"We need to make sure that we understand what our members' needs are and build relationships between them," Jarnutowski said.
Jarnutowski owns her own business, Plainfield-based ON Target Marketing Services and Promotional Products. She also has more than 22 years of experience in marketing. Read more: The Herald-News
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE
#71 - Never barter.
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