Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!
Chamber Best Practices: Plainfield (Illinois) hits 600 member milestone with "seven touch" communication system
One of Tasha Kitson’s goals for the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce when she became executive director two years ago was to surpass the 600-member mark by Christmas of 2014.
“We missed it, but not by much,” she said.
The Chamber broke that mark this month, with the final membership count expected to hover around 612 members by the end of May.
Along
with keeping members active, the mark is important because it suggests
members are attending events and keeping active in the community.
Kitson said Mari Edmondson’s work as membership relations director was one of the main drivers for the milestone achievement. Read more: The Herald-News
If the head of Virginia's Chamber of Commerce is right, Northern Virginia is poised for an economic coup.
Last week, Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the state chamber, laid out the five components a region needs to develop the economy of the future: connectivity to the outside world, a competent workforce, intellectual capacity, an entrepreneurial spirit and a pro-business climate.
With its proximity to interstates and airports, its colleges and universities and its pro-business political leaders, the region – and Prince William, are set, he said.
DuVal was speaking as part of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce's economic summit, “Building the New Northern Virginia Economy,” which was held May 20 at the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts.
One of the keys to economic success, Duval said, is remembering that “Regions grow and prosper along economic boundaries, not political boundaries.” Read more: Loudoun Times
Pam Swain, vice president of the Chamber, said the red carpet will stretch 125 feet right into the front door of The Colonel’s Headquarters at Castle Hill and all attendees will be greeted with flashing cameras “Hollywood premiere” style as they are interviewed by Rick Mize on Q93.7 (now found on 105.1 FM).
Here is a video of her previewing the gala. Read more: hottytoddy.com
Chamber interest: Top 10 places to start a business in Michigan
Lexington, Kentucky, business professionals, elected officials & community leaders to visit Kansas City, May 13-15
Lawyers for the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock will return to the courtroom Monday with the hope of persuading Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce to reconsider his January ruling that invalidated the municipalities' contracts for economic development services from their respective chambers of commerce.
Hundreds of thousands of municipal dollars that are sent to the chambers, and similar economic development promoters, are at stake.
Pierce's decision that the contracts are a violation of the Arkansas Constitution, which bars cities from giving out money to private business without getting anything in return, had statewide implications that continue to be felt.
The ruling has caused several cities to call into question their arrangements with their respective chambers, and it's inspired legislators to propose a constitutional amendment that, if voters approve it in November, would explicitly legalize the contractual relationships between cities and chambers for economic development purposes. Read more: Arkansas Online
The project to expand Highway 23 between Fond du Lac and Plymouth from two to four lanes will get underway this year, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2018. However, that end date could change due to the next state budget.
The Joint Finance Committee will decide this week how much money to put towards transportation projects over the next two years. Some lawmakers are concerned about the level of borrowing for transportation, and may decide to push back projects in order to lower those costs. Committee papers show the Highway 23 project could be affected by delaying work, and thus having the expansion completed in 2019.
In response, the Sheboygan County Chamber is asking its members to write to state legislators and government officials to not have the Highway 23 project delayed again.
“It’s been 30 years in the making, in the planning, and it’s been postponed numerous times during that period of time,” says executive director Betsy Alles. “So when we heard that perhaps it was in question in the budget negotiation, we thought it was time to let people know.”
Alles says one of the main concerns for chambers members is people’s safety on the roadway. She points to DOT figures that show both the expected increase in traffic on the highway in the near future, and the severity of crashes on the two-lane stretch being worse than the state average for similar rural state highways. Read more: WHBL.com
For most college students
, summer is a break from schoolwork and an important time to explore what may be their life's work.
Prince William Chamber Economic Summit: Group focuses on ‘Building the new Northern Virginia economy’
If the head of Virginia's Chamber of Commerce is right, Northern Virginia is poised for an economic coup.
Last week, Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the state chamber, laid out the five components a region needs to develop the economy of the future: connectivity to the outside world, a competent workforce, intellectual capacity, an entrepreneurial spirit and a pro-business climate.
With its proximity to interstates and airports, its colleges and universities and its pro-business political leaders, the region – and Prince William, are set, he said.
DuVal was speaking as part of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce's economic summit, “Building the New Northern Virginia Economy,” which was held May 20 at the Hylton Center for the Performing Arts.
One of the keys to economic success, Duval said, is remembering that “Regions grow and prosper along economic boundaries, not political boundaries.” Read more: Loudoun Times
75th anniversary of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, and the chamber invites all to celebrate at a diamond jubilee on June 4!
The celebration will begin with the chamber’s traditional annual meeting luncheon at the Oxford Conference Center. Later that day at 7 p.m. the red carpet will be rolled out for the black-tie event in the new ballroom at Castle Hill.Pam Swain, vice president of the Chamber, said the red carpet will stretch 125 feet right into the front door of The Colonel’s Headquarters at Castle Hill and all attendees will be greeted with flashing cameras “Hollywood premiere” style as they are interviewed by Rick Mize on Q93.7 (now found on 105.1 FM).
Here is a video of her previewing the gala. Read more: hottytoddy.com
Chamber interest: Top 10 places to start a business in Michigan
1. Auburn Hills
This northern Detroit suburb tops our list because of its high average revenue per business ($9,544,306). It has a mix of industrial, commercial and residential areas, which together create an economy for both global and local businesses. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. and other automobile manufacturers are headquartered here, as well as smaller businesses like Munetrix. The Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce offers member businesses networking opportunities, conferences, workshops and marketing tools.2. Traverse City
Traverse City’s economy runs largely on tourism. Visitors come here to play on the beaches, check out the region’s wineries, breweries and distilleries, attend the National Cherry Festival and to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, just northwest of Traverse City. Local businesses include Cherry Capital Foods, a distributor that works exclusively with Michigan farmers, and Grand Traverse Distillery, which makes vodka, whiskey, gin and rum and offers public tours. The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce provides businesses with insurance discounts, marketing opportunities and networking events. Businesses can also join the Downtown Traverse City Association to tap into promotional tools and networking events.3. Plymouth
This suburban city west of Detroit has a picturesque downtown with a revolving lineup of festivals, concerts and other events that attract visitors. It also has many independently owned businesses, including Jay’s Stuffed Burgers, which makes up patties filled with combinations of cheeses, vegetables, eggs and bacon, and Espresso Elevado, a coffee bar. Businesses here benefit from being just 15 miles from Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan’s flagship campus. The Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce has networking opportunities, online listings and referrals for local businesses, and the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center is a resource for businesses focused on life sciences, biotechnology and health care. Read more: Nerd WalletChamber Best practices: Commerce Lexington annual Leadership Visit
Commerce Lexington's annual Leadership Visit has helped expose Central Kentucky's leaders to the best ideas of model communities throughout the United States, yielding valuable lessons that have been applied to the improvement of the Bluegrass Region. This three-day trip has become the most valuable opportunity to bring community leaders, decision makers and ideas together in order to make positive changes in our community. It's a very unique program that includes the foremost business, education, government and community representatives of Central Kentucky.Lexington, Kentucky, business professionals, elected officials & community leaders to visit Kansas City, May 13-15
Arkansas cities seek change of chamber ruling
Lawyers for the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock will return to the courtroom Monday with the hope of persuading Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce to reconsider his January ruling that invalidated the municipalities' contracts for economic development services from their respective chambers of commerce.
Hundreds of thousands of municipal dollars that are sent to the chambers, and similar economic development promoters, are at stake.
Pierce's decision that the contracts are a violation of the Arkansas Constitution, which bars cities from giving out money to private business without getting anything in return, had statewide implications that continue to be felt.
The ruling has caused several cities to call into question their arrangements with their respective chambers, and it's inspired legislators to propose a constitutional amendment that, if voters approve it in November, would explicitly legalize the contractual relationships between cities and chambers for economic development purposes. Read more: Arkansas Online
Sheboygan Chamber (Wisconsin) Fights for Highway 23 Project
The project to expand Highway 23 between Fond du Lac and Plymouth from two to four lanes will get underway this year, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2018. However, that end date could change due to the next state budget.
The Joint Finance Committee will decide this week how much money to put towards transportation projects over the next two years. Some lawmakers are concerned about the level of borrowing for transportation, and may decide to push back projects in order to lower those costs. Committee papers show the Highway 23 project could be affected by delaying work, and thus having the expansion completed in 2019.
In response, the Sheboygan County Chamber is asking its members to write to state legislators and government officials to not have the Highway 23 project delayed again.
“It’s been 30 years in the making, in the planning, and it’s been postponed numerous times during that period of time,” says executive director Betsy Alles. “So when we heard that perhaps it was in question in the budget negotiation, we thought it was time to let people know.”
Alles says one of the main concerns for chambers members is people’s safety on the roadway. She points to DOT figures that show both the expected increase in traffic on the highway in the near future, and the severity of crashes on the two-lane stretch being worse than the state average for similar rural state highways. Read more: WHBL.com
St Joseph County (Indiana) chamber: It's the crucial internship season
For most college students
, summer is a break from schoolwork and an important time to explore what may be their life's work.
It's
also a crucial season for employers trying to convince those students
they should stay in the South Bend area after graduation.
Local organizations have stepped up
their efforts in the past few years to make more internship
opportunities available here and help interns realize what the region
has to offer.
The St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce started internSJC in 2013 to publicize available services such as IndianaIntern.net,
a statewide website that matches interns and employers, and EARN
Indiana, which provides subsidies for businesses that hire interns.
The Chamber also has a Summer Community
Engagement Program that organizes activities for interns who are here
for the summer. Almost 60 people participated in the program last year. Read more: South Bend Tribune
#ChamberMonday - Famous Chamber of Commerce Thoughts & Facts
#ChamberMonday - Famous Chamber of Commerce Thoughts & Facts
The North
American story begins quietly, slowly, as a few windswept chambers of commerce
grapple with the Wild East maelstrom of trade and conflict on the Atlantic.
Somehow the plucky and cantankerous organizations survive, or at least give
birth to descendants, and begin a steady march across a continent that doesn’t
belong to them. Chris Mead,
The Magicians of Main Street, America and its Chambers of Commerce from 1768-1945
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