Chamber collaboration: Elkhart plan encompasses $32 million health center, $29 million in athletic facilities, $55 million housing development
You can’t accuse Elkhart boosters of thinking small.
A coalition of city leaders has crafted an ambitious $127 million blueprint for significantly changes in the area east of the Elkhart River along Jackson Boulevard. From a new $32 million health and fitness center to a new 400-unit residential development along the Elkhart River, the plan — if it comes to fruition — would dramatically alter the entire neighborhood and is aimed at bolstering activity in and around the city center.
The plan, which relies heavily on private investment, is contained in a 371-page, $703 million proposal put forward by boosters from Elkhart, St. Joseph and Marshall counties for a piece of $84 million in state money aimed at fostering regional collaboration and development. The three-county group, Regional Cities of Northern Indiana, crafted the plan, which the Indiana Economic Development Corp. publicly unveiled Tuesday, along with plans from six other regional Indiana coalitions also vying for part of the $84 million, earmarked per the state’s Indiana Regional Cities Initiative. Read more: Elkhart Truth
Charlottesville Regional Chamber Jobs Report” – Regional Data Show Jobs Gain: Area Employers Add 12,359 (+11.8%) Net Jobs Over Decade
Charlottesville Regional Chamber Jobs Report” – Regional Data Show Jobs Gain: Area Employers Add 12,359 (+11.8%) Net Jobs Over Decade
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, in advance of Labor Day, today released its “2015 Chamber Jobs Report,” the Chamber’s twelfth annual comprehensive compilation and analysis of employment in Greater Charlottesville.
Overall, over the report’s 10-year study period (2004-2014), the Chamber Jobs Report data illustrate total jobs in the Greater Charlottesville region growing from 104,997 jobs in 2004 to 117,356 jobs in 2014, an increase of +11.8% or 12,359 total jobs; an annual growth rate of 1.18%. Over the report’s 10-year period, the region has added a net gain of 8,960 (+11.3% / +1.13%/year) jobs in private enterprise and 3,399 (+12.0% / +1.2%/year) in governmental jobs.
Greater Charlottesville’s job-producing engines added a net +2,445 jobs (+1,960 in private enterprise; +485 in government) in 2014 over 2013. The Report’s data show that in 2013, overall employment within the Region finally exceeded 2007 levels; the year prior to the “Great Recession” (2008-2009). The continued job growth in 2014, places overall employment within the Region at the highest reported level to date. In 2014, total private-sector jobs (a key economic job diversity metric), at 83,861, is the first year that private enterprise jobs in the Region have exceeded the pre-recession level.
“The Chamber Jobs Report – 2014, Report & Analysis: Employment in the Greater Charlottesville Region, 2002-2012” is underwritten by Chamber member enterprises – Adams & Garth Staffing, the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development, and Wells Fargo. The study was conducted for the Chamber Economic & Government Affairs Committee by Jill Williamson, a College of William & Mary summer intern with the Free Enterprise Forum, using the official employment database of the Virginia Employment Commission. Chamber President Timothy Hulbert and Free Enterprise Forum President Neil Williamson coordinated the project, developed by Kevin Decker, of Decker Economics, an independent economist. The 2015 Chamber Jobs Report can be accessed at: www.cvillechamber.com.
Chamber collaboration: New campaign aims to help promote Muskegon's revitalization
The new campaign, called Watch Us Go, is a collaborative effort between the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, the City of Muskegon, the Downtown Muskegon Development Corp. and many other groups.
The collaboration kicked off a planned three-year campaign to introduce a new Muskegon, which they say features trendy restaurants and breweries, shopping and recreational opportunities, as well as abundant jobs and affordable housing.
“The timing was right,” said Carla Flanders, who works for CMF Marketing & Events and is a member of the Watch Muskegon promotional team. “We’re in a good position, with a way the unemployment numbers are going down with all the job creations, as well as the cost of living here, the revitalization of the downtown. … A lot of things came together for us to take the next step and show the local area, and the world, what Muskegon is all about.”
Cindy Larsen of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce told those in attendance that community leaders realized the city had an image problem, and that image problem was more locally based than statewide.
The initiative paints Muskegon as a great place to live, work and play. Read more: Grand Haven Tribune
Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce affiliation: Future 50 Awards highlight fast-growing companies
The Future 50 Awards program celebrates the success of southeastern Wisconsin's rapidly growing companies as they continue to accelerate both their employee base and revenue.
Since the Council of Small Business Executives – affiliated with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce – launched the Future 50 program 28 years ago, 678 area companies have been honored.
“These are the companies that we really need to recognize because without them, our region is not economically healthy or vibrant,” said Mary Steinbrecher, executive director of COSBE.
The Future 50 program was created out of a desire to spotlight regional business growth, according to Steinbrecher. The program calls attention to independently-owned companies that are headquartered in the seven-county Milwaukee region, have been operating for at least three years, and have demonstrated growth in revenue and employment over the past three years.
Award winners are selected through a formula that analyzes three years of an applicant’s actual growth and three years of projected growth, according to Steinbrecher. The formula is weighted more toward companies’ actual growth. Through the formula, COSBE awards points to applicants, and those with the most points are crowned Future 50 honorees.
The 2015 pool of winners, announced in June, sways heavily toward manufacturing, construction and technology. Of the 50, 15 are manufacturers, seven are construction-related, and eight are technology-focused. Read more: BizTimes.com
Ambassadors are the face of the Greater Starksville Development Partnership Chamber
Ambassadors for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Chamber. They wear maroon in keeping with the hometown Mississippi State University theme.
Ribbon cuttings are probably what come to mind when you hear a mention of Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors but the community volunteers provide many more valuable services to chambers and economic development agencies across the nation. In Mississippi, Ambassadors can be found from Oxford to the Coast.
They help with membership drives, welcome new businesses to the community and serve as chamber liaisons at networking and other events.
The success of the Ambassador programs has helped spread the idea from one chamber to another.
Heath Barret of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership said Realtor Melanie Mitchell helped found the Starkville Ambassadors in 2002 after she moved from Greenville. She and others thought Starkville would benefit by having a similar program, he said.
The new group even borrowed a fashion idea from Greenville, where Ambassadors wore red jackets. The Starkville Ambassadors wear maroon in keeping with the hometown Mississippi State University theme.
“People around town recognize them because they wear the maroon blazers to our events and ribbon cuttings and are also some of the faces of the GSDP to new and existing businesses,” Barret said.
The Ambassador programs in Starkville and elsewhere have similar guidelines. Members apply to join and are selected by the membership. There are regular meetings and functions to attend and members earn a quota of points for their participation at various events. All volunteer their time which makes them even more valuable to Chambers with limited budgets. Read more: Mississippi Business Journal
Chamber collaboration: Motorola, Elgin pursuing deal on training facility with 200-plus jobs
Motorola Solutions is seeking to establish a training and manufacturing center in Elgin, and city officials are calling it "a big victory."
The city council Wednesday will consider a development agreement with the Schaumburg-based company, which plans to invest approximately $18 million in a vacant, 300,000-square-foot building at 2580 Galvin Drive, in the Northwest Business Park, and create about 200 full-time positions, with the potential for another 200 seasonal jobs.
The proposed agreement grants fast-track permitting and waives development, impact and building permit fees for Motorola. A report from city staff members to the city council included in Wednesday's agenda packet doesn't state how much money that would amount to. City Manager Sean Stegall declined to comment.
"It's a big victory for the city and it's a big victory for the (Elgin Area) Chamber of Commerce," Councilman Terry Gavin said.
The Elgin Development Group, a division of the chamber, has worked during the past few months to persuade Motorola Solutions to establish the new facility in Elgin, according to the staff report. Read more: Daily Herald
The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2016 Business of the Year Awards. All Chamber members are encouraged to nominate their business and the businesses and non-profits they work with in the Greater Owensboro community. The awards program is designed to celebrate outstanding businesses and their efforts.
The categories of the Chamber Business Awards program include:
- Business of the Year (1-10 employees)
- Business of the Year (11-50 employees)
- Business of the Year (51+ employees)
- Emerging Business of the Year
- Non-Profit of the Year
- Education and Workforce Development Program of the Year
All nominees must be members of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, cannot have won a Business of the Year award from the chamber in the last five years, and must be able to provide percentage of gross revenue growth over the past three years. Nominations will be accepted until September 30, 2015, and all nominees will receive a packet with the application in early October.
The online forms for nominations are available by clicking on the links below:
- 1-10 Employee Award Nomination Form
- 11-50 Employee Award Nomination Form
- 51+ Employee Award Nomination Form
- Emerging Business Award Nomination Form
- Non-Profit Award Nomination Form
- Education & Workforce Development Award Nomination Form
Benefits of Winning the Award Include:
- Award presented at 2016 Annual Dinner
- Winner logo that can be placed on their marketing materials and on the Chamber website
- Profile GO Business Magazine
- Recognition at 2016 February Rooster Booster
- Can present award to winner upcoming year at annual dinner
- Press via press release, Chamber website, Chamber Matters email and newsletter
- Icon by name in business directory as winner
Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, September 30.
2015 Business of the Year Awards Winners:
- Business of the Year (1-10 employees) - Musick Studios
- Business of the Year (11-50 employees) - E.M. Ford & Company
- Business of the Year (51+ employees) - The Malcolm Bryant Corporation
- Emerging Business of the Year - Home Instead Senior Care
- Non-Profit of the Year - Girls Incorporated of Owensboro-Daviess Co.
- Education and Workforce Development Program of the Year - Brescia University
Read more: Greater Owensboro Chamber
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.