Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce members optimistic about second half growth
Metro area businesses remain optimistic toward future growth prospects as the largest number of businesses surveyed see gains in sales, profit and employment levels in 2015’s third quarter, according to a business outlook survey conducted by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
The results from the third-quarter survey offer somewhat mixed results. While prospects remain at healthy levels, there has been some modest back-sliding from previous quarters. Nonetheless, survey results suggest that continuing growth is likely both in 2015’s third quarter and for the year as a whole.
Seventy-two percent of surveyed businesses see rising real sales levels for the third quarter (versus 2014’s third quarter), down from the 76 percent that forecast second-quarter gains. While sales expectations have slipped from earlier levels, the percentage of businesses predicting quarterly sales increases has reached 70 percent or better – generally indicative of a healthy business environment – in five of the past six quarterly surveys. Currently, 16 percent see declines in third quarter sales levels, while 12 percent expect no change.Non-manufacturers are more confident of improving third-quarter sales levels than manufacturers. Seventy-seven percent of non-manufacturers see third-quarter sales gains (versus one year ago), while 64 percent of manufacturers see increases. By employment size, 75 percent of large companies (100 or more employees) surveyed see third-quarter sales gains, versus 70 percent among small companies. Read more: BizTimes.com
Bristol Chamber names Beth Rhinehart new CEO
Beth Rhinehart has been selected as the Bristol Chamber of Commerce new CEO.
The announcement was made at a called meeting in the Bristol Chamber of Commerce Board room Thursday morning.
Rhinehart will be assuming her new role at the chamber in the coming weeks.
She is a life-long Bristolian who has served as the Wellmont Health System’s director of government affairs since 2008. She has also served as a chamber board member, was chairman of the government affairs committee and chairman-elect.
A search committee comprised of Maxwell and four other Board Members vetted more than 50 applicants for the Chamber’s top leadership position. Staff members were also included in the selection process.
“We are extremely excited about having Beth accept our CEO position,” stated Board Chairman Jim Maxwell. “We interviewed eight exceptional candidates, all with excellent credentials and local ties. Beth, was the best fit for the job. She brings an outstanding level of leadership, accountability and experience that will complement our growing organizations needs.” Read more: Bristol Herald Courier
Indy chamber launches biz portal aimed at streamlining permitting
Indianapolis has joined about a dozen cities in hiring a California-based startup to develop a portal designed to help small business owners cut through red tape.
The step-by-step interface dubbed OpenCounter provides entrepreneurs a roadmap to handle permitting, zoning and licensing issues, which can be intimidating and time-consuming. The Indy Chamber paid for the project, at a cost of $36,250.
The site, which is live in beta at Indianapolis.OpenCounter.com, is offered in English and Spanish and is free to use. It connects with case-management software used by the city's Department of Code Enforcement, but users cannot yet handle everything online.
If the system is well-received, economic development officials hope to expand OpenCounter to allow seamless online permitting, said Ashley Elrod, the Indy Chamber's program director for economic development.
The current version allows business owners looking to open their first location or a new location to get information on what permits will be required, how much they will cost, and how long the process likely will take. The system lets users search an address to find out which types of businesses are allowed in the area. Read more: IBJ.com
Ultra-speed Internet could fast-track South Mississippi economy
The idea of ultra-fast broadband Internet service as an economic driver started with Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich and is rapidly spreading across South Mississippi.
Biloxi City Attorney Gerald Blessey said Tuesday that Coast mayors will meet soon to discuss the idea of creating a Mississippi Gulf Coast Fiber Ring that would provide Internet access to every home, business and public space at a super-fast 1 gigabit per second.
The idea is to link South Mississippi with fiber optic cable in a circle along Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 and then provide access to each city, which would determine its own service and rates.
Speaking at IP Casino Resort to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Leadership Gulf Coast alumni, Blessey described how this network could create opportunities and jobs in education, health care, film and many other industries. Read more: Sun-Herald
Northern Kentucky Chamber to host seasonal hiring best practices summit
On Thursday, July 9, 2015 Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will present “Employer Solutions Monthly Programming: Seasonal Hiring Best Practices and How to Attract Talent Among Competition” from 8:00 am-9:30 am in the St. Elizabeth Board Room of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
With unemployment hovering around 4 percent across Northern Kentucky counties, the competition for candidates to fill employment needs can be a tough battle.
Historically, the demand for talent increases during times of seasonal hiring, especially for companies within high demand industries such as Manufacturing and Distribution/Logistics. In an effort to get ahead of this hiring uptick, the Chamber will address this challenge with a panel discussion featuring those in the trenches. Select employers will share best practices and innovative approaches, while community partners including TANK and the Kentucky Career Center discuss their role in this regional issue.
The cost to attend the event is FREE for NKY Chamber members and $15 for future Chamber members. Read more: Lane Report
Chamber event: Sixteen Candles, Wedding Banned headline Mt. Prospect downtown block party
Two full days of free entertainment, kids activities, local food vendors and more await in Mount Prospect July 24 and 25 for the 16th annual Downtown Block Party.
Sponsored by the Village of Mount Prospect and the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, the party will be held 4-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Emerson Street and Busse Avenue, next to Village Hall.
"The Downtown Block Party is an eagerly anticipated midsummer delight enjoyed by families of all ages, a real hometown celebration," said Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene A. Juracek.Children's activities include a climbing wall, pony rides, slide, mini Ferris wheel, bounce houses, face painting, balloon artist and more. Pony rides and face-painting will be held 2-6 p.m. on Saturday.
"People love the atmosphere of this successful community event," said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dawn Fletcher Collins. "The recipe ... local restaurants, local businesses, great music and free kids' activities all in one place." Read more: Daily Herald
Three Rivers Area Chamber Inaugural 'Art and Food Fair' set
People who enjoy art are in store for what should be a pleasant experience this week.Three Rivers Area Chamber Inaugural 'Art and Food Fair' set
People who like food also have something to look forward to in a few days. For those who enjoy art and food equally, the countdown is on.
Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday presents an event that combines the two: the inaugural Art and Food Fair.
Set for 3-7 p.m. Thursday at Scidmore Park, the event was planned to coincide with a portion of the city’s weekly farmers market, which runs 1-6 p.m. that day.
Christy Trammell, executive director of the chamber of commerce, said the idea of combining a higher-caliber art show with food was actually presented a few years ago by the chamber’s programs committee.
“It was pitched as an opportunity to highlight the many artists in the community … there is an incredible amount of talent out there and the idea of an art fair was planted from that point,” Trammell said. “I really like that it is showcasing local artists.” Read more: Sturgis Journal
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)
"You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership." — Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (retired)
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