After GE Waukesha announcement, Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce issues 'action alert' for members on Ex-IM Bank; Illinois Chamber President stands with Gov. Rauner-Budget Standoff worries chamber chief; Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives announces new board for 2016; Chamber interest: Meridian Groundbreaking marks start date on Future site of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center; Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce Business Education Series Workshop: Employee Wellness - Happy, Healthy and Good for Business?; Chamber event: Local Northern Michigan Beer at Empire Hops Festival; Indiana Chamber : Submit Your ‘Best Places to Work’ Application Now; Town Square Chamber Publications

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

After GE Waukesha announcement, Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce issues 'action alert' for members on Ex-IM Bank

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, which has been lobbying for more than a year in support of Congress authorizing the Export-Import Bank of the United States, has issued an alert to its members after Monday’s news that GE will build a plant in Canada that will result in a loss of 350 jobs at the company’s Waukesha engines plant.

“We are up with an action alert again today pushing members to contact their congressmen/women,” said Steve Baas, senior vice president of governmental affairs and public policy for the MMAC.

MMAC and some Milwaukee-area manufacturers are worried that if the bank’s charter isn’t renewed, export sales and jobs in the area could be hurt. The bank provides government assistance for exports of American companies, MMAC says.

“If the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s charter is not reauthorized, American companies and Wisconsin employers would be put at a unique disadvantage in global markets, resulting in lost sales and lost jobs,” MMAC’s form letter to Congressional representatives states. “In fact, recently GE announced it would be relocating over 300 jobs from Waukesha to Canada due to uncertainty over the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s future.”

The Connecticut-based corporate parent of the GE Waukesha gas engines plant is “looking at the long-term viability of the company” in light of the U.S. House of Representatives’ decision not to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank, a spokesman said Monday. Read more: Milwaukee Business Journal

Illinois Chamber President stands with Gov. Rauner-Budget Standoff worries chamber chief

 Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch said an ongoing impasse over the state budget is starting to strain businesses in smaller communities such as Jacksonville.

Maisch was in town Thursday to visit businesses and the budget standoff was the major topic of discussion for many of them

“It really varies community by community,” he said. “I think in Jacksonville, it’s a big impact. There are places in the state where if you say ‘budget impasse,’ they’ll say ‘what budget impasse?’”

Gov. Bruce Rauner has been a large proponent of businesses in the state, in the chamber’s opinion. Maisch said state chamber officials have regular talks with legislators, but said the governor’s direction is the way he feels the state should go.

Maisch said that he thinks small businesses and those affected by the budget impasse know that without change, growth will continue to stagnate.

“The status quo is completely unacceptable,” he said. “The governor has our full support. We talk to our members every day and they’re unwavering. They say ‘if we don’t make real changes now, we may never make them and my business and my children may not be in Illinois to see the aftermath’.” Read more: The Telegraph

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives announces new board for 2016

Frankfort, Ky. – The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives (KCCE), the professional development society for local chambers of commerce in the Commonwealth has announced its new board beginning October 1st. Brad Schneider, President and CEO of Kyndle, the economic engine for Henderson, McLean, Union and Webster, will serve as President of the Board of KCCE.

“Our new board represents an outstanding group of Chamber Executives with vast experience in building a favorable business climate for Kentucky,” said Ali Crain, Executive Director of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives.  “This is an excellent group of leaders who will help set the agenda when it comes to chamber best practices and development.”

The full KCCE board is:

President: Brad Schneider (Kyndle)
President-Elect: Brad Richardson (Hardin County Chamber)
Treasurer: Aaron Dail (Murray-Calloway County Chamber)
Secretary: Deanna Herrmann (London-Laurel County Chamber)
Immediate Past President: Amy Cloud (Jessamine County Chamber)
New Board Members: Jill Cutler (Mercer County Chamber) and Jacob Colley (Southeast Kentucky Chamber)

Remaining Board Members:

Carmen Inman (Frankfort Area Chamber)

Shawna Burton (Greater Louisville Inc)

Lee Lingo (Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber)

Vicki Steigleder (Maysville-Mason County Chamber)

Dana Zinger (Commerce Lexington)

Aimee Hiller and Patrick Merchak from the Kentucky Chamber serve as ex-officio members. Read more: Lane Report

Chamber interest: Meridian Groundbreaking marks start date on Future site of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center

Local and state officials and area business leaders gathered in Meridian Saturday at the future site of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center for a groundbreaking for the public-private facility.

The groundbreaking was the culmination of a decade-long effort to build a world-class museum in Meridian.

At the groundbreaking, officials announced that the exhibition space that will feature Mississippi artists in film, literature, music, arts, dance, theater and visual arts has been rebranded the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.

MAEE Executive Director Marty Gamblin said the work has only started.

"It's been a long ride, a long journey, but we don't look behind," Gamblin said.

"… This was probably the easiest part — sticking the shovel in the ground. Now we have to determine what is going to be in this facility and that's the challenge – to do it right."

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation Chairman and the MAEE's architect, Bob Luke, said the target date to open the $45 million facility is November 2017. Read more: Meridian Star

Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce Business Education Series Workshop: Employee Wellness - Happy, Healthy and Good for Business?

Wednesday, October 14, 2015 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce
1886 Metro Center Drive Suite 230
Reston, VA 20190

The workforce is changing – and for many companies those changes are occurring in the form of increased healthcare costs, decreased retention rates, higher employee stress, and lower office morale and productivity.  The secret to impacting these changes lies in creating a healthy workforce.  Attend this Business Education Series workshop presented by Mary Zmuda of Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center for an interactive insight into how to create a healthier workforce and how this can improve your company’s bottom line.  You will overcome excuses (think: “I don’t have the budget” or “my company is too small”) and will leave this seminar with personalized action steps for how to implement a successful employee well-being program.

The seminar is open to all, however, will be most valuable for Human Resources, Benefits Managers, Senior Level Management, and any business professional who is looking (or should be looking) to improve their company through employee well-being programs.
About Our Presenter
Mary Zmuda is the Wellness Manager at Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center where she helps to empower employees to achieve optimal health.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, and a Health Communication Graduate Degree from the University of South Carolina.  Mary is also a Certified Health Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine.  Prior to joining Nova Medical, Mary lived South Carolina and worked for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and a local hospital system focusing her career on workplace wellness.  Fitness, nutrition, and overall health and well-being have always played an integral part in Mary’s life and she greatly enjoys the satisfaction of helping others achieve their goals. More information: Greater Reston Chamber

Chamber event: Local Northern Michigan Beer at Empire Hops Festival

Join us for the second annual Empire Hops Festival in beautiful downtown Empire near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Presented by the Empire Chamber of Commerce, the festival will take place Saturday, October 3 under the Big Tent on Front Street  from noon until 9 pm. Stop by for some Northern Michigan beer and food along with live music from Black Jake & The Carnies, The Benzie Playboys and Strobelight Honey.

The Empire Hops Festival will feature several breweries including hoppy potables from Right Brain Brewery, Northport Brewing, Shorts, Lake Ann Brewing, Workshop Brewing Company,Filling Station, Beards, St. Ambrose, Brewery Becker, Storm Cloud and New Holland Brewing. There will also be plenty of good eats with food from Little Traverse Inn, Deerings Market, Scalawags Fish & Chips, MI Grill (Baytown Kitchen), Fire Dog Artisan Pizza and Art’s Tavern. Read more: MyNorth.com

Indiana Chamber : Submit Your ‘Best Places to Work’ Application Now

The Indiana Chamber is now accepting applications for the state’s annual competition naming the “Best Places to Work in Indiana.” In its 11th year, this program honors top companies in the state as determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys.

Companies need to have at least 15 Hoosier employees to be eligible. Out-of-state parent companies are also eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.

Winners are selected in four groups: small companies of between 15 and 74 U.S. employees; medium companies of between 75 and 249 U.S. employees; large companies of between 250 and 999 U.S. employees; and major companies with 1,000 or more U.S. employees.

The application deadline is Friday, November 20. To apply, visit www.bestplacestoworkIN.com.

“There are many Hoosier employers of all sizes who go above and beyond for their employees. We would love to recognize them for that important effort and encourage companies from all over the state to apply for the Best Places to Work honor,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar.

Town Square Chamber Publications

Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, with over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest, allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. Email address: <jdussman@tspubs.com> with the subject line: Chamber Directory Request For Proposal (RFP).