Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Oshkosh Chamber good news: Army awards tactical vehicle contract to Wisconsin firm; U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly Works at Evansville Otters Game, Meets with Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce; Michigan Chamber of Commerce Launches "Don't Sign Away Your Job" Campaign; 2015 Annual Awards from the Northern Kentucky Chamber; Chamber Best Practices: Leadership Mississippi Application; Fairfax Chamber’s NOVABIZPAC Announces New Trustees; Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe featured at Princeton Area Chamber quarterly luncheon

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

Oshkosh Chamber good news: Army awards tactical vehicle contract to Wisconsin firm


Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. won a major contract Tuesday to build a new combat vehicle to replace a large share of the U.S. military's Humvee troop carriers.
The Department of Defense awarded the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract to Oshkosh Defense, one of three firms that were finalists for the work. The $6.7 billion contract is expected to support thousands of jobs.
The Army and Marine Corps plan to buy as many as 55,000 JLTVs by 2040. Nearly 49,100 would be built for the Army with 5,500 going to the Marines. The vehicle is designed to provide more protection against roadside bombs and mines than Humvees without being as big as another military vehicle produced by Oshkosh, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP.
Oshkosh Defense beat out Maryland-based Lockheed Martin and Indiana-based AM General for the contract. Pentagon officials declined during a briefing for reporters to say why they chose Oshkosh over its competitors.
Scott Davis, the Army's executive officer for the program, said the big winners are the soldiers and Marines who will gain a vehicle that offers a better balance of protection, payload and performance.
"Our JLTV has been extensively tested and is proven to provide the ballistic protection of a light tank, the underbody protection of an MRAP-class vehicle, and the off-road mobility of a Baja racer," John Urias, president of Oshkosh Defense and a retired Army major general, said in a statement.
Lockheed had said it would build the vehicle at its Camden facility in Arkansas, and state lawmakers there dangled an $87 million incentive package. It's not clear whether Wisconsin or Indiana offered any incentives, but union workers at Oshkosh in 2013 agreed to a contract extension so that the company could nail down its labor costs for the project.
The contract is a timely boost for Oshkosh, which eliminated about 760 jobs last year because of declining defense spending. The company plans to build the vehicle in Oshkosh, with deliveries beginning in 10 months.
"It's really a historic win for Oshkosh and it's a big victory for our employees and really the state of Wisconsin," Oshkosh Corp. CEO Charles L. Szews said in a telephone interview. "It means that we will have a stable revenue base for our company. ... More importantly, it means the brave men and women who go into harm's way will be protected" in a high-speed, light tactical vehicle.
The company initially plans to hire about 100 salaried employees, Szews said, and more production employees might be hired later. Production would begin in two to three years and would ramp up from a few hundred vehicles per year to 3,000 vehicles per year under the contract, he said.
The contract initially calls for 17,000 vehicles, with the Army to decide in 2018 whether to purchase the rest of its share, which would push the value of the contract up to around $30 billion. The Marines will get all theirs up front.
The contact will mean business for companies that supply Oshkosh Corp. and the economic benefits will ripple across the Oshkosh area for years, said Rob Kleman of the Oshkosh Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: Fox News


U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly Works at Evansville Otters Game, Meets with Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Spends afternoon in Evansville meeting with business leaders and the evening doing a “Donnelly Day” at Bosse Field

Yesterday afternoon, Donnelly met with the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce to discuss issues important to southwest Indiana’s economy. At the Otters game last night, Donnelly threw out the first pitch, flipped burgers, changed the scoreboard, and helped the announcers for his latest “Donnelly Day.” Read more: Donnelly.senate.gov


Michigan Chamber of Commerce Launches "Don't Sign Away Your Job" Campaign


Michigan Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Rich Studley today announced the launch of a statewide campaign against the proposed $900 million corporate income tax hike by three construction unions.
"We are strongly committed to informing voters about the harmful consequences of the proposed 83% tax hike on over 38,000 job providers," said Studley. 'This political attack on employers will cause greater unemployment, increased prices on a wide range of products and services, and would take a wrecking ball to Michigan's economic competitiveness."
"If approved, this union ballot proposal will severely damage our state's economic competitiveness by giving Michigan the second highest corporate tax rate among all states," Studley continued. "Just like alligators, these construction unions will bite the hand that feeds them and voters need to know that their jobs are at stake. We urge voters to not sign away their jobs."
The Michigan Chamber today released two digital advertisements. To view the ads and additional information on the proposed tax increase, go to www.michamber.com/CIT-Tax-Hike. Read more: Michigan Chamber

2015 Annual Awards from the Northern Kentucky Chamber

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will honor several individuals during the 2015 Annual Dinner on September 17.
The recipients:
The Walter R. Dunlevy/Frontiersman Award recognizes individuals who have a life long history of outstanding service to the Northern Kentucky community, exhibit outstanding service to their profession or industry and exemplify the highest standards of personal integrity and family responsibility. 
This year’s recipient is Gary Beatrice with Business Benefits Insurance Solutions. Mr. Beatrice has a respected history of service to the insurance industry, as well as service as chair of the Northern Kentucky Consensus Committee, chair of the HealthPoint Foundation Board, board member for Northern Kentucky University’s Health Innovations Center, and chair of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
The Walter L. Pieschel Award is named after the Chamber’s first volunteer leader and is given to an individual who exemplifies outstanding service to the Chamber. 
This year’s recipient is Dale Silver with C-Forward, Inc. Among many accomplishments, Ms. Silver has been instrumental in the growth of the NKY Chamber’s Women’s Initiative, served on the NKY Chamber Board of Directors, and held leadership positions as an alumna of Leadership Northern Kentucky. Read more: River City News

Chamber Best Practices: Leadership Mississippi Application

Below you will find the full application to become a member of the Leadership Mississippi Class of 2016. Upon completion, you will receive an e-mail with further instructions regarding your application. Your application will then be reviewed by a committee of MEC’s Leadership Mississippi Alumni and a decision will be made regarding your acceptance. You will be notified of the decision in November.
* Please note that your application will not be considered complete until we receive:
  • 1. A completed application
  • 2. Two letters of recommendation -
  • Please send to:
    Cathy Northington
    P.O. Box 23276
    Jackson, MS 39225-3276
  • 3. Employer Consent Form
  • 4. $25 Application Fee
More information and online application: Mississippi Economic Council


Fairfax Chamber’s NOVABIZPAC Announces New Trustees 

Tysons Corner, Va. –The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce’s (Fairfax Chamber) NOVABIZPAC (Northern Virginia Business Political Action Committee) has announced seven new members to its Board of Trustees. 

The following individuals named to the Board are:
  • Doug Brammer, Verizon
  • C. Michael Ferraro, TRAINING SOLUTIONS, Inc.
  • Mike Forehand, Inova
  • Brian Gordon, Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA)
  • Mark Moore, John Marshall Bank, and past chair of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
  • Phil Panzarella, 5GS, LLC, and past chair of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
  • Todd Rowley, Cardinal Bank

“I’m delighted to welcome these outstanding Chamber members and business leaders to NOVABIZPAC’s Board,” said NOVABIZPAC Chair, Scott McGeary of Washington Gas. “They will provide valuable service and insights as the PAC considers endorsements of candidates seeking our support. I look forward to working with each of them.”

The seven new board members join a diverse group of trustees from varying industries and sectors of the Virginia economy. A full list of the NOVABIZPAC’s Board of Trustees can be found online.

NOVABIZPAC was founded in 2002 to support Virginia legislators and policymakers who promote a favorable business climate and a high quality of life in Virginia. NOVABIZPAC is administered by a Board of Trustees composed of top executives and government affairs professionals from Chamber member companies. The success of NOVABIZPAC is not possible without the effective participation of the Northern Virginia business community in the political process and the financial support of our members. - See more at: Fairfax Chamber


Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe featured at Princeton Area Chamber quarterly luncheon



The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome Cory Jobe, director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, to Princeton as keynote speaker of the quarterly luncheon.
Jobe is responsible for leading the state’s tourism industry marketing and development efforts. He works in collaboration with tourism industry professionals to promote visitor travel both domestically and internationally, and to help grow the tourism industry throughout the state. Leading a robust tourism industry supports the state’s economic growth and jobs, contributes to the tax base and increases the quality of life for Illinois residents.
The public is invited to join as he shares his principles on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at The Barn located at Hornbaker Gardens in Princeton. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. The cost of the event is $16 per person and includes lunch. Reservations can be made by calling the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce office at 815-875-2616.
The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce has more than 340 members and serves as a service and action organization for business as well as a community development organization. The mission of the Chamber is to promote the viability, continued growth and quality of life in the Princeton area through economic development, historic presentation and tourism. Read more: BCRNews.com

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