Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, Midland Tomorrow name William Allen as new CEO
William “Bill” Allen has been named the president and CEO of the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce and Midland Tomorrow umbrella organization, with his tenure beginning in mid-January 2016. The new umbrella organization creates a partnership between the chamber and Midland Tomorrow designed to strengthen Midland County’s economic development efforts and maximize resources.
Allen is currently the president and CEO of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce in New Mexico. He has a background in chamber management and has been active in the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance. Allen’s other involvement with the industry and community includes an education advisory council, legislative coalition, regional marketing committee, as well as the affordable housing land bank and trust advisory committee.
He also was involved in the Western Association of Chamber Executives, and was honored with its Russell J. Hammer Award in 2014. Prior to his current position, Allen was the executive director of the Royal Oak (Mich.) Chamber of Commerce and built an extensive background in operations, sales and management with the Xerox Corp. and in the real estate industry.
The extensive national search for the person to fill this position was overseen by both the MACC and Midland Tomorrow boards of directors. Read more: Midland Daily News
Charlottesville Chamber Supports Community College Workforce Credentials Initiative
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced the Chamber’s strong support for an innovative “workforce credentials” initiative led by Virginia’s 23 Community Colleges. The Charlottesville Regional Chamber’s support is among the first Chambers in Virginia.
The Chamber’s support comes in a Chamber resolution approved by the Chamber Board of Directors at their regular monthly meeting held earlier this morning.
The Chamber resolution notes that the “Workforce Credentials: The Pathway to Virginia’s New Middle Class,” initiative presented in September by Dr. Glen DuBois, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, to the Virginia General Assembly, “has assessed the current and future state of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s workforce needs and reported the significant misalignment of those needs with the current state of the Commonwealth’s workforce training capacities – a large and increasing gap between the needs of enterprise and available training and certification that must be addressed.”
Chancellor DuBois’ report states that the “misalignment requires an understanding of the staffing ratio consistent throughout today’s workplace. In general, for every one job that requires an advanced degree, there are two jobs that require a bachelor’s degree, and seven jobs that require postsecondary training that leads to an associate’s degree or industry-recognized credential beyond a high school diploma but not a four-year degree.”
The Chamber resolution further notes that the proposal offers “an innovative approach, at reasonable levels of new investment, to building Virginia’s existing workforce by establishing a determined, effective performance-based program led by Virginia’s community colleges, to train and prepare an adequate, on-going and growing number of our fellow Virginia citizens with industry-recognized workforce credentials.”
The Chamber resolution states that the “Chamber fully supports innovative, reasonable investment by the Commonwealth of Virginia for enhanced industry-recognized workforce credentialing.” Read more: NBC 29
Chamber issue: Beloit businesses urge Walker to find funds for 39/90 work
Members of the Beloit business community are urging Gov. Scott Walker to find a way to pay for the I-39/90 project.
In a timeline sent out last month by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, major construction is delayed until 2019. Previously that work was scheduled to begin in spring 2017.
The I-39/90 expansion project extends approximately 45 miles, along Interstate 39/90 from the Illinois state line to Madison. As part of the project all lanes will be widened to three to four lanes from Beloit to Madison. Currently, it’s only two lanes in each direction, although there are some parts near Madison where it is extended to three lanes. The project is estimated to cost nearly $900 million.
"Across the state, Chambers of Commerce are calling for transportation funding to rebuild our infrastructure here in Wisconsin. Why? Because it has a direct impact on businesses, tourism and our image and branding. Businesses need the assurance that their products can travel to market safely and quickly. It’s estimated that visitors spend over $1 billion each year in Dane and Rock counties on food, lodging and shopping. Moreover, right now it’s one of the first things that you notice when driving in from Illinois, the fact that the highway goes from three lanes into two … that and the fact that it needs to be redone. Not to mention the interchanges; the one for Milwaukee Road is practically a death trap,” said Tim Dutter, executive director of the Greater Beloit Chamber, in an email. Read more: Beloit Daily News
Chamber Collaboration: Indy Looking For Hollywood's Lens
Visit Indy says Indianapolis is looking to gain "incredible marketing exposure" and millions of dollars in economic impact through a new effort aiming to attract film and television production projects. Vice President Chris Gahl says Film Indy is a two-year public-private partnership that will promote the city as a good location to film movies, TV shows and commercials. He says, even without state-level incentives, Indianapolis is attractive because of its "diversity of locations within minutes of each other."
Visit Indy is partnering with the Indy Chamber, the city of Indianapolis and the Central Indiana Community Foundation on the pilot program. It will begin in January and be overseen by a 12-person Film Advisory Board. Organizers expect to hire an Indy Film Commissioner in the first quarter of 2016. It is being funded by $300,000 from Visit Indy, the CICF and the city of Indianapolis.
Officials say three years of research showed the need for the effort. Other cities, including New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City and Portland have created a city-level office to promote their film-friendliness. Read more: Inside Indiana Business
Hancock County Chamber of Commerce celebrates 90th anniversary
The Hancock County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 90th anniversary Thursday night at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club.
The chamber was first organized in 1925 by the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club. It began as a city organization, the Bay St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, until it grew to a countywide effort and changed its name in 1945.
The nonprofit organization is an economic-development partner with elected officials, tourism leaders, the Port & Harbor Commission, Partners for Stennis Space Center, Infinity Science Center and local media, Executive Director Tish Williams said.
"Chambers are often perceived as being for the elite," Williams said. "Yet most chamber members aren't rich. They are individuals, rich or poor, who put their heads together and change their communities in fascinating ways."
One of the first projects endorsed by the Rotary Club and the chamber was the 1926 seawall. The latest was the new Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor. Read more: Sun Herald
Attend the Young Professionals of Frankfort Visioning Meeting Thursday
The Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce invites all young professionals (ageS 21-40) to the Young Professionals of Frankfort’s visioning meeting from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday at the chamber’s office, 100 Capital Ave.
Lori Garkovich, a professor from University of Kentucky specializing in community and leadership development, will be the facilitator.
This meeting will help build the vision for the Frankfort Area Young Professional’s Network, so attendance and input at this meeting is crucial in growing the program.
Please RSVP attendance to suzy@frankfortky.info or by calling 502-223-8261. The Young Professionals of Frankfort group is open to anyone in and around the Frankfort area.
#BestChamber Practices: Villa Park (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce
Do you have a parade in your town on 4th of July? Villa Park does, and the chamber WOWS their chamber membership by including the name of every chamber member on its float! The response has been overwhelmingly positive. What a great way to showcase your membership in front of their best customers!
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