Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Greater Richmond Chamber moving to SunTrust Center; Indiana Chamber Unveils Top 6 Legislative Priorities for 2016; Brookhaven Lincoln County Chamber welcomes new president: Two Chamber events set record crowds in 2015; Naperville Chamber Launches Virtual Concierge; Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests; Chamber interest: Both youth and employers would win if Kentucky expands proven program; Chamber of Commerce exec named Flint planning and development director; Chamber interest: Twin Lakes starts saving for road projects; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Lo Guides and Custom Maps


Happy Thanksgiving Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!



Greater Richmond Chamber moving to SunTrust Center


The Greater Richmond Chamber is moving to new digs.The business group announced Wednesday that it had signed a lease to take over much of the 17th floor of the SunTrust Center at 919 E. Main St. downtown. Its board approved the move Wednesday morning.

The chamber will lease nearly 12,000 square feet, taking about two-thirds of the floor. It will have views looking north, east and south.

The organization currently leases 17,000 square feet on the seventh floor of the Main Street Centre building, which the state now owns. It moved there in January 2006.

The group’s 10-year lease there expires in January. It plans to move into the new space in late January or early February, depending upon when construction on the new space can be completed.

Kim Scheeler, the chamber’s president and CEO, said the group has been looking for new space for more than a year. One of its goals was to find space where the chamber could hold larger-scale meetings. Read more: Richmond Times Dispatch



Indiana Chamber Unveils Top 6 Legislative Priorities for 2016

Transportation infrastructure funding, reverse credit transfer to the state’s accredited two-year colleges and expansion of the state’s civil rights law are among the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s top priorities for the 2016 session.
These objectives were announced at the organization’s annual Central Indiana Legislative Preview in Indianapolis today.
The Indiana Chamber proposes an array of strategies to establish a sustainable funding stream for the state’s roads, highways and bridges. These include dedicating more of the state’s sales tax on fuel purchases to infrastructure, increasing and indexing fuel excise taxes and implementing fees on alternative fuel vehicles.
“Indiana benefited greatly from the Major Moves program that accelerated our timeline and funded $4 billion worth of projects over the last decade. But those dollars are spent or allocated. It’s time to move forward with the next generation of resources to drive our economy by moving people and products throughout our state and beyond,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar.
“Legislative action is needed in the coming session to address glaring needs and begin implementing long-term strategies to allow our state to live up to its ‘Crossroads of America’ designation.”
Brinegar concludes that the good news is that legislative leaders, the Governor and others are on the same page about the need; the challenge will be how to get there. Read more: Indiana Chamber


Brookhaven Lincoln County Chamber welcomes new president: Two Chamber events set record crowds in 2015

The Brookhaven ­Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Celebration at Ole Towne Church Tuesday night went off without a hitch despite the forecast for inclement weather. The Chamber recognized those who have strived to further local business, industry and education and announced its new president. Outgoing Chamber President Stan Patrick addressed the packed house about the achievements and successes of the past year. He passed the gavel to a new Chamber president, Mike Whatley of Mike Whatley Honda. Patrick cited the new Tourism Council and its marketing accomplishments, a new city of Brookhaven logo and website, as a highlight of the year. Patrick said not only has 2015 been the best year financially for the Chamber, but two of its largest events, Girl’s Night Out and the Ole Brook Festival, were both record­breaking in attendance and participation. “Being at the Annual Chamber Celebration reinforces why I am so proud to live in Brookhaven,” said Kay Burton, chamber program director. “Brookhaven is well­known for unparalleled natural beauty and quality of life and is a place of momentum. Momentum happens when community comes together to promote the ideals and opportunities for the future. Last night, we honored those who have made a difference in our community.” “Where would we be without our teachers?” Read more: Daily Leader


Naperville Chamber Launches Virtual Concierge

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a virtual concierge service to help connect you with local businesses.
“Members of the community, and chamber members as well, can come to our website and they can put in a request for any kind of product or service and then it will shoot out as an email to our members, and then they can go back and contact the individual looking for that service and put a bid in and let them know they’re interested in providing that product or service for them,” said Lauren Holtz, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Naperville will be the first chamber in Illinois to roll out this program, which is powered by EZBZ Inc., a technology based concierge company out of New York.
Launching November 15th, this resource will be free for the community to use. Read more: NCTV17



Chamber Chuckle -  Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests

"Can you come fix my outside light?"



Chamber interest: Both youth and employers would win if Kentucky expands proven program



The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce released a report this summer entitled, "Kentucky's Workforce Challenges." Employers surveyed for the report identified the lack of "soft" skills as the primary difficulty encountered in addressing their employment needs.

As defined by the chamber, soft skills, or employability skills, include understanding the importance of showing up for work, communicating well with others, being able to work as part of a team, taking responsibility for one's actions and managing time effectively.

To address this concern, the chamber recommended the development and implementation of K-12 soft skills training programs into classroom curriculum along with incorporating a soft-skills/work-readiness certification into college and career readiness requirements.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel, as such a curriculum has been taught in schools throughout Kentucky since 1993.

Jobs for Kentucky's Graduates is the state affiliate of Jobs for America's Graduates. For over 35 years, JAG has been dedicated to helping students overcome barriers to graduation and transition into postsecondary education, the workforce or the military. JAG programs work with at-risk middle-school and high-school students, teaching them employability skills along with leadership- and team-building aptitudes through competency-based curriculum modules. Read more: Kentucky.com


Chamber of Commerce exec named Flint planning and development director




Brian Larkin, an executive with the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, has been named director of Flint's Planning and Development Department.
Larkin, 31, was chosen for the job by City Administrator Natasha Henderson, who called him "a very good fit for the position."
The Flint native worked most recently as the chamber's director of core initiatives, and he worked previously as associate director of the Michigan Governor's Office of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives in Flint.
Larkin will earn $92,000 in the city job, overseeing 24 full-time and two part-time employees.


The department includes the city's divisions of building and safety inspections, blight elimination and neighborhood stabilization, community and economic development, zoning and case management, planning, and parks and recreation. Read more: M LIVE


Chamber interest: Twin Lakes starts saving for road projects



A 4.4 percent increase in the Twin Lakes tax levy, approved Monday, reflects a decision by officials to begin putting aside $150,000 per year to fund road projects such as street resurfacing, Administrator Jennifer Frederick said.
"In the past, we have borrowed for road resurfacing," Frederick said. "That is where the increase lies."
Frederick said the plan is to set money aside each year and spend it every three years on a significant road project. She said the owner of a $200,000 home will pay an additional $6 per year for these road improvements.
The total levy will increase $151,149 from $3,449,984 to $3,601,133. Of that, $3,016,053 will support general fund expenditures, $298,520 will be used to pay debt, $236,447 will support the Community Library, $35,039 will fuel the Boat Launch and Marina Fund and $15,074 is earmarked for capital projects.
The corresponding tax rate is $5.15 per $1,000 of assessed value. This means the owner of a $200,000 home will pay $1.030 toward the village and library levy. The tax rate is up from this year’s $4.99.
"This year we had a communitywide revaluation," Frederick added. "The last one was in 2012, and the village value dropped 19 percent. This time, it went back up 1.3 percent." Read more: Kenosha News

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Lo Guides and Custom Maps 



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. More information: Town Square Publications

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your publication proposal, Click here

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