Wisconsin Chamber issue: Room Tax Rules & Tools - Who's got the answers?; Kentucky Chamber Outlines Vision for State, Legislative Priorities; Michigan Senate Hits Pause Button on $1.98B HICA Tax Hike; Plans to Revisit in Jan. 2016; Richlands among top 15 Virginia cities and towns for raising a family; Indiana Chamber Day At The Statehouse; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey; MEC, #Chamber issue: Business, political leaders cite infrastructure needs; Lake County Chamber of Commerce - Forecast Lake County Luncheon; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps

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

Wisconsin Chamber issue: Room Tax Rules & Tools - Who's got the answers? 

On July 14, 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 made numerous reforms to Wisconsin's Room Tax Statute 66.0615. WH&LA is in the process of developing new resources to assist the lodging industry and the general public in interpreting the new statutes correctly and adhering to the new requirements. The tools posted below include the revisions, with further resources coming soon.

• Wisconsin Local Room Tax Model - a diagram displaying how the process of local room tax works in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Room Tax Statute - includes the updated Wisconsin statutory language regulating Room Tax in an easier to follow format
• Clarification on Confidentiality of Room Tax Information, relates to what information should be kept confidential by a municipality collecting Room Tax in Wisconsin
• 2015-17 Biennial Budget Revisions to Municipal Room Tax is an Information Memorandum issued by the state's Legislative Council, focusing on municipality clarifications
• Tourism Commission Overview - organizes the multiple references to commissions in statute 66.0615 in one easier to read tool that will help ensure that there is increased awareness, understanding, and compliance with our state law.
• Tourism Entity Overview - This document summarizes the definition and requirements for a "Tourism Entity" under Room Tax Statute 66.0615 in an easy to read format. More info: Wisconsin Lodging

Kentucky Chamber Outlines Vision for State, Legislative Priorities


Building a more prosperous future for Kentucky’s communities and the state as a whole is the focus of a recent report from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Dave Adkisson has been touring local chambers around the state, outlining the report and offering a preview of the state chamber’s 2016 legislative priorities since early November. Four Pillars for Prosperity suggests a new emphasis on issues that influence the state’s economy and on the actions that will chart a path toward success. The report details the state’s current and recent economic performance; the workforce, technological and economic trends affecting Kentucky; and the perspective of business leaders on issues that most affect their ability to succeed.

The Chamber’s vision rests on four pillars: A healthy, skilled workforce to create a globally competitive talent development system A sustainable state government that is financially stable and creates a competitive environment for economic growth A 21 st century infrastructure to capitalize on the state’s strategic advantages and to advance its energy agenda Aggressive job creation through the implementation of an economic development program that recognizes the potential of Kentucky’s distinct regions and industry sectors and encourages entrepreneurship and innovation Read more: Kentucky Chamber

Michigan Senate Hits Pause Button on $1.98B HICA Tax Hike; Plans to Revisit in Jan. 2016

Thanks to your emails, phone calls and advocacy efforts, the Michigan Senate hit the pause button on efforts to rush through a $1.98 billion tax increase on individuals and businesses who purchase health insurance in the final days of the 2015 legislative session. While the good news is that this tax irresponsible legislation will not be signed into law in 2015, the bad news is that the bill remains on the Senate calendar and could come up for a vote when the Senate returns to Lansing as early as January 13. 

The Michigan Chamber is strongly opposed to House Bill 5105 (Pscholka). We worked around the clock in the closing days of the 2015 legislative session to kill this tax increase. Although our efforts are working, big-spending House Republicans, who passed this bill earlier in December, continue to push the Senate to take a vote. 

We hope you will thank the Senate for not rushing to drastically alter current law to extend the sunset of the HICA tax by seven years and nine months - from December 31, 2017 to September 30, 2025. And we hope you will urge them to hold strong against this $1.98 billion tax increase on businesses and individuals purchasing health insurance. 

Since its inception in 2011, Michigan's Health Insurance Claims Assessment, or HICA tax, has added nearly $1 billion to the already high cost of purchasing health insurance in Michigan. Passage of House Bill 5105 would be both unwise and unfair. No other state in the country imposes such a penalty tax. Read more: Michigan Chamber

Richlands among top 15 Virginia cities and towns for raising a family

Ginger Branton, executive director of the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce, had a chamber board meeting on Friday morning and didn’t get a chance to review her email messages until that afternoon. When she did, she started spreading the news.

Niche, a national ranking agency, ranked Richlands as the 15th best town in Virginia to raise a family. The western Tazewell County town with a population of about 6,000 people was included in the group of Virginia cities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people.


“I think it is great,” Brandon said. “When you consider that we were included in a group that includes Charlottesville, Blacksburg and Bristol, it is exciting. I have been telling everybody: ‘OK. Now that we’re 15th, there are only greater things to come.’”

According to the information in the announcement, Richlands was recognized because of its safe streets, a close-knit community, historical sites “and some of the most beautiful countryside.”

Branton said that the community is proud of its first-class health care facilities, its public school and higher education opportunities as well as its commitment to veterans, “and to coal miners,” Branton added. “When you go about doing things, you never know what’s going to come from it.” Read more: Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Indiana Chamber Day At The Statehouse

Bring your members to the Statehouse on  Tuesday, February 9 for Chamber Day at the Statehouse. We are organizing local chambers from across the state to learn more about the legislative process and hear from top policymakers. Show your members that you are advocating to their interests with the state legislature. 11:30 - 1 - Lunch at the Indiana Chamber During lunch we will hear from Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar and state lawmakers. We have invited, but not confirmed, another notable speaker. 1:00 - Walk across the street to the Statehouse. 1:30 - 2:00 - Visit statewide elected official 2:00 - 3:00 - observe session and Statehouse tours 3:00 - 3:30 - Visit Glenda Ritz, Superintendent of Public Instruction 6:00 - 9:00 - (optional) Indiana Chamber reception and legislative dinner with Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report  (additional fee required - reservations should be made through the Indiana Chamber of Commerce) Your local chamber will be responsible for marketing and tracking attendance for your chamber. ICEA recommends you charge at least $35 per person to participate. ICEA will invoice you to cover lunch costs for your delegation (estimate $20-$25 per person).  You need to e-mail names of participants to shelli@iceaonline.com no later than February 1 for lunch reservations and so that name badges can be prepared. The St. Joseph County Chamber staff has developed a flyer that you can customize for your chamber and share with your membership.  Draft flyer is attached. Our suggestion is that local chamber staff edits this document and saves as PDF to send out. If you have changes to the bottom, it's done in a footer, you just need to double click the text to activate the footer.   Questions?  Contact Kyle Hannon, IOM, Chamber Day Coordinator, at khannon@elkhart.org.

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey -

RULE #125    Sponsor everything

MEC, #Chamber issue: Business, political leaders cite infrastructure needs

Political and business leaders highlighted the need for increased funding for infrastructure at the state chamber of commerce’s annual Capital Day.

Joe Sanderson Jr., the CEO of Sanderson Farms and chairman of the Blueprint Mississippi Transportation Infrastructure Task Force, told attendees that the 18-month study revealed a need for an additional $375 million in infrastructure funding each year. The Mississippi Economic Council is pushing for the increase in funding while simultaneously supporting corporate franchise and personal income tax cuts.

As of June 2015, 936 state bridges and 24,591 state lane miles are in need of repair and the number rises when local bridges and roads are added, according to the study commissioned by the MEC's Blueprint Mississippi. The total estimated cost to fully fund current transportation needs is $6.6 billion. Read more: The Clarion Ledger

Lake County Chamber of Commerce - Forecast Lake County Luncheon

Find out what the economy has in store for 2016. This is the MUST attend business event of the year!

Forecast Lake County 2016, presented by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, provides Lake County’s business and government leaders a chance to examine the issues, challenges and opportunities in 2016.

We are pleased to welcome back Mr. William Strauss, Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve, to present his forecast for the coming year, with an economic assessment of the US and Midwest economy for 2016. He will be joined by Aaron Lawlor, Chairman of the Lake County Board; Michael Stevens, CEO of Lake County Foundation and Dr. Jerry Weber, President of the College of Lake County.

Date:		January 13, 2016
Time:		11:30 AM - 01:30 PM CST
Location:		Lake Forest Club 554 N., Westmoreland Road Lake Forest, IL
Date/Time Details:		Wednesday, January 13 11:30 a.m. - Networking 12:00 p.m. - Program begins 1:15 p.m. - Event concludes 1:15-1:30 p.m. - Opportunity to ask questions with William Strauss
Fees/Admission:		Ticket Prices - Members - $50 - Non-Members - $75

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location 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, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience 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