Chamber Executive Mississippi Digest February, 2016

Chamber Spotlight: Grow Your Business --- Jackson County Chamber welcomes 127 new members

This year the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce has welcomed 127 new members. Together the membership has accomplished many things through the five Chamber Issue Manager Groups and community events. There are many opportunities for people to grow their business in 2016, through the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber is starting its annual Community Business-to-Business Membership Drive in February. This will coincide with the start of the 2016 Façade Grant Program—grants that are available to members of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

What are some upcoming events and deadlines for the Chamber?

• Leadership Jackson County Kickoff: Jan. 22

• 2016 Community Business-to-Business Membership Drive: Feb. 23-25

• Taste of Jackson County: March 1

• Jackson County Industrial Trade Show: March 22; Booths and sponsorship opportunities are available.

• 2016 Façade Grant Program: The deadline is March 15.

• Explosion of Excellence Scholarship Program: Scholarship contributions are now being accepted.

• Entrepreneurship 101: 2016 Small Business Seminars: Register today for these free seminars. Read more: Gulf Live

 

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation President Optimistic About Future

Economic Development is important for the infrastructure of a region. Companies who are looking to locate to an area look at certain data and how a region pitches themselves to a company.

"We can't wait on it to come to us, we have to pursue this kind of work that we're trying to get," East Mississippi Business Development Corporation President Bill Hannah said.

Hannah says bringing new development to the region requires hard work on both sides of the table.

"We have to form our team, our regional team, we have to develop our regional data because it's not out there," stated Hannah. "We have to come up with data to sell ourselves with."

Hannah says typically companies begin the search for a new location objectively, starting with The South and then working down to a specific location. He says then, when companies have potential candidates, they switch to a subjective view and start looking at the people and their culture.

"We have to have our best players playing in the game," said Hannah. "So, whether it's legislatures, MDA, or our local leadership, we have to form this team, it's very fundamental." Read more: WTOK.com

 

Dickie Scruggs appeals to local chamber to help state’s dropouts

At the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting Thursday, former trial lawyer and convicted felon Dickie Scruggs made an appeal to help Mississippi’s dropout problem. Doing so isn’t just the right thing to do, he said, it’s also good business.

“Five-hundred thousand Mississippians do not have a high school diploma,” Scruggs said. “That’s bigger than the population of any town in the state. That means Mississippi has as many dropouts as it does students in school on any given day.”

Scruggs was arrested in 2007 on federal charges that he conspired to bribe a circuit judge. He found a heart for dropouts while tutoring inmates trying to earn their GED. In prison, he found out 1 out of 10 dropouts end up in prison. Scruggs said it’s no coincidence that Mississippi has the second-to-last labor force participation statistics in the country.

Monroe County seems to be a bright spot in the state. The Chamber of Commerce celebrated a year marked by a 3.2 percent decrease in unemployment and the creation of more than 300 new jobs. While these statistics will hopefully be enticing to potential businesses looking to expand into the area, more and more these businesses are considering the merits of an area’s labor force.

“Labor force participation offers a snapshot of a community’s labor pool and its potential,” said Brad Stevens, the Chamber of Commerce’s outgoing chairman. “It can be used as a barometer for a willing workforce.” Read more: Daily Journal

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recognizes January ambassadors

 The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (EMBDC) recently presented its January Ambassadors of the Month awards to three very deserving participants.  In first place was Casey Hendricks with The Montgomery Institute, second place went to Sonya Scarbrough with BankPlus and third place went to Derron Radcliff with the MSU Riley Center.

     Also, winning the red ticket drawing was Krilecia Gianakos with State Games of Mississippi. The red ticket drawing is from the pool of ambassadors who have attended EMBDC events over the past month.

    This committee of volunteers assists with membership activities and events throughout the year including ribbon cuttings and ground breakings conducted by the EMBDC.  

    They work to secure new members and increase membership retention by building relationships and maintaining communication with existing and prospective members.  To find out more about becoming an Ambassador for your community, contact the EMBDC at 601-693-1306. Read more: Meridian Star

Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Kristina Simmons and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Town SquarePublications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

This Week is Visit Oxford's Third Oxford Restaurant Week 

Nothing brings people together like food!  The Chamber of Commerce salutes Visit Oxford this week as they celebrate three years of Oxford Restaurant Week.  Many of Lafayette County's most treasured restaurants are ready to dish up delicious food at fantastic prices during Layette County most anticipated culinary week.

Oxford Restaurant Week runs all this week through Saturday, January 30. You will need to print out the coupons below or pick up your coupon card at the Visit Oxford Visitor Center or Oxford-Layette County Chamber of Commerce.  Proceeds will benefit Oxford Food Pantry.  What a great opportunity to help out a charity right here in Oxford!

After a snowy weekend have you got a case of the Monday blues?  Do you need a hot cup of coffee to get your morning going? Stop by High Point Coffee and show them your coupon card to receive your discount for Oxford Restaurant Week. Need an idea for lunch? Head over to Newk's, My Michelle's or Proud Larry's.  Help us support Oxford Food Panty every day this week and try something new every day.  

Mississippi good news: South Carolina praises Continental

South Carolina officials say Mississippi is getting a great corporate partner in Continental AG.

The German-based tire company announced Tuesday that it will be investing $1.45 billion in Mississippi as well as creating 2,500 jobs.

Formerly known as Continental General Tire, Continental Tire the Americas LLC is based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It is a subsidiary of Continental AG.  It is the world's fourth-largest tire manufacturer, with locations in Mount Vernon, Illinois, and Sumter, South Carolina.

Continental moved its North American headquarters to South Carolina in 2014. Ted Pitts, president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, said Continental has made it a point to be a great business partner for the state as well as a community partner in Sumter.

"Continental here in South Carolina has come in and been a great corporate partner, a corporate citizen if you will, for the entire state but especially to the Sumter community," Pitts told The Clarion-Ledger by phone this week. Read more: Clarion Ledger

Mississippi public universities partner with business groups to launch MBEN

Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Glenn Boyce has announced the launch of the Mississippi Business Engagement Network, an initiative to connect business and industry to the wealth of university assets housed within Mississippi Public Universities. The initiative has a website, msben.com, to facilitate these connections.

“The Mississippi Business Engagement Network serves as a way for business leaders, economic developers and site selectors to collaborate with our universities, said Dr. Glenn Boyce, Commissioner of Higher Education. “The website was created to provide answers and make connections in a quick and easy manner.”

The Mississippi Business Engagement Network is designed to connect business leaders and economic developers with all of the resources, experts and research capabilities within Mississippi Public Universities and help develop, grow and sustain collaborative relationships between the business community and the university system.

“Connecting Mississippi businesses to the assets within our universities is vitally important – especially the asset of our talented students,” said Blake Wilson, President & CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council. “Working with MEC’s Leadership Mississippi Program, MBEN developed a unique internship program to allow students to gain real-world knowledge of the workplace, as well as provide employers an opportunity to work with the future business leaders of our state.” Read more: Mississippi Business Journal

Chamber Note from Rex Richards, President, Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce:
December 18, 2015
John, I want to thank you for an outstanding map which you produced for our Valpo Chamber.
In my 43 years as a CEO in the chamber field, it was the smoothest project I have ever seen done. You made all the deadlines, your print quality and cartography were second to none. And of course you paid us in exactly the time frame you said you would so we could count the Royalty Check towards our current year revenues.
Life is very good when dealing with Town Square Publications.
You have the right of first refusal on our next map. You are a great partner for our chamber, We are living proof that a printed map is still very much in demand by both advertisers and consumers.
It would be my pleasure to recommend Town Square Publications as a firm Chambers and Tourism Bureaus should use when considering a printed map or other print publication.
Sincerely,

Rex G. Richards CCE

President, Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce

Former Mississippi Economic Council's Chairman Jack Reed was the ‘conscience’ of state’s business community

 Jack Reed Sr.’s legacy extends deeply, not only in Tupelo and Northeast Mississippi, but across the state.

Blake Wilson, president of the Mississippi Economic Council, praised Reed, who led the statewide chamber of commerce in the early 1960s.

“The leadership, and all of MEC in fact, has referred to him as the conscience of MEC in so many ways,” Wilson said. “Jack believed in economic opportunity for all. He was a positive and consistently forward-thinking spirit. He was optimistic, focused on the future, interested in progress. While honoring the past, he was not someone who dwelled on it.”

Wilson said Reed was an outspoken – and bold – voice for integration, and he took that stance while serving as chairman of MEC in 1964.

“Jack was a quintessentially positive spirit and even when taking on others and encouraging them to come along, he kept doing it in a positive way,” Wilson said. “That’s why he was able to provide great guidance during a dark time in the history of Mississippi.”

Throughout his life, Reed commanded great respect and admiration. His business acumen was renowned, his insight sought and appreciated.

“Jack Reed Sr. spent his life serving a cause that was greater than himself,” said David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the Tupelo-based Community Development Foundation. “As a founding member of our own CDF, Jack sought to make Tupelo a better place to live and work for not some, but all of its citizens. His vision and commitment to improving public education, economic development and civic involvement helped transform Lee County from what was once the poorest county in the poorest state, to a model community anywhere, by any standard.” Read more: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Selling Mississippi — Swoope’s varied experience key to MEDC leadership post

As she assumes the duties of executive director of the 500-member Mississippi Economic Development Council, Mary McDaniel Swoope feels honored, excited and respectful.

“I’m honored and humbled to fill the role of MEDC Executive Director and to serve the economic developers and chamber executives of Mississippi,” she said. “I’m excited to be serving our members and finally pulling together all the years of preparation from my different careers and using my skills to assist our members to better their communities and the state. I respect each member of this organization and I do not want to let any of them down.”

Swoope (pronounced swope) arrives at the MEDC with a varied work background. She’s worked in business outreach, marketing, real estate and in business and nonprofit leadership at the state and local level.

“Every job in my career, whether private or public, has prepared me for this position,” she said.

“Economic development is about teamwork, and I’ve had to be a collaborative leader in every position to accomplish results.”

She hopes to use Gov. Phil Bryant’s inaugural theme of Imagine Mississippi, for MEDC members to help them not only imagine what they can do for their communities, but to help make this a reality.

“My basic goals are simple: manage a professional organization, add value to the membership and be a resource for economic transformation,” she said.

MEDC serves as the voice for Mississippi’s economic development and chamber of commerce professionals and other constituents, providing professional development training and bring consultants  to work with community leaders. Collaborating with other entities, the organization is an advocate for Mississippi’s economic and community agenda. Read more: Mississippi Business Journal

#BestChamber Practices: Hancock County Chamber Testimonials

“Being new to the community and knowing literally NO ONE, I needed a way to meet people in the area and introduce myself to the business community. The Chamber was a great way to do just that. Over the past several years, some of my best clients are a direct result of connections I’ve made through the Chamber, and membership continues to be a profitable experience.”
Yuki Northington, Owner
Social Chair

Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests

“Where do I buy goldfish?”

Leadership Lafayette class of 2016 named

Emerging community leaders of Oxford and Lafayette County are set to complete the 2016 class of Leadership Lafayette. 

Put together annually by the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, the nine-month program is full of training sessions and activities for professionals to build their leadership skills and learn more about the community.

In addition to the sessions, everyone will participate in a community-based project.

Among the participants this year is the Oxford EAGLE’s advertising director, Nikki Paine.

“As the hometown paper of the L-O-U community, I have always felt that it is important for our employees to take an active role in our community,” said EAGLE Publisher Tim Phillips. “I’m proud of the diversity of the clubs and organizations that our employees have decided to make a part of their life. Advertising Director Nikki Paine will do a tremendous job with Leadership Lafayette and will learn a great deal in what it takes to make a great community that we live in prosper. While in Leadership Lafayette, she will learn to work as a team on a worthwhile project that will enhance our community.” - See more at: Oxford Eagle

A note to share from Jim Baumann, Executive Director of the Boyne City, Michigan Chamber of Commerce:

(Hi John), Wondering if you might post this on your blog or a future newsletter?

Would you like to live and work in a cool little town - Boyne City, population 3,700, in Northern Michigan? Your office would be in a log cabin on the waterfront of Lake Charlevoix. Jim Baumann has had this great job for nearly 8 years and will be retiring in early November. We're looking for my replacement and would like to start interviewing in March so the new person could work with me for awhile during a transition period. You'd also get to hire your own Associate Director - we're holding the position open with some part-time people for awhile. That's the staff - two. Budget is $150k, healthy reserve fund, 360 members, great board, great community where everyone works well together. Job description: http://bit.ly/1nv1eDb

Thanks!

Jim Baumann

Petal Area Chamber of Commerce to hold multiple ribbon-cuttings this week.

Speaking of Mount Vernon, the church and the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The church has been around for about 100 years, but suffered major damage during the February 2013 tornado. Church officials will be dedicating its new worship center that day.

Petal Chamber has two other ribbon-cuttings scheduled for February.

Wings Boutique and More will hold its ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Wings stands for Women in Need of God's Shelter, which is a domestic violence center that serves area women. The boutique is more or less a thrift store that benefits the center. It is located at 404 E. Central Ave. in Petal.

On Feb. 25, Petal Animal Clinic will celebrate its new location with a ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m. The clinic is located at 1111 Evelyn Gandy Parkway. Read More: Hattiesburg American

#BestChamber Practices - Natchez Adams County Chamber website - Services & Benefits

Join Hands With Your Fellow Businesses

Your Chamber of Commerce serves as your spokesperson in local, state, and national affairs, your business recruiter and promoter, and your good will ambassador. The Chamber is the central organization in which you and your fellow business people join hands to promote projects and goals that benefit you, your family, your business and your community.

Identification

Your membership decal identifies you as a leading local business and establishes credibility with customers inside and outside the community.

Chamber Brochure Rack

The brochures and flyers of member businesses are distributed to visitors, newcomers, and businesses who inquire at the chamber office.

IRS Tax Deduction

Your investment in the chamber may be deductible as a business expense. The chamber is not a charity, but a nonprofit corporation.

Networking

Your best opportunities to meet business people like yourself are the chamber-sponsored Business After Hours, Legislative Forums, and Membership Luncheons.

Resources

Updated traffic counts, demographics, and a variety of other information is at our fingertips and just a phone call away for you.

Legislative Forums

Speak directly to your state representatives to find out from them what important legislation is in the works.

Chamber Business After Hours

Well-attended social mixers, sponsored by chamber members, providing opportunities for members to network in a relaxed atmosphere.

Annual Chamber Awards Dinner

Special awards are given to honor outstanding businesses, business leaders, and educators, and members are brought up to date on the past year's activities.

Membership Referral Service

The most successful and beneficial service offered is our Membership Referral Service. This service has become an even bigger advantage with the move to the Natchez Convention Center.

Sponsorships

Get recognition for your business by sponsoring luncheons, mixers, and a wide range of chamber-sponsored community events.

Quarterly Chamber Membership Luncheons

Quarterly luncheons are held for members and prospective members, featuring speakers on timely topics. Read more: Natchez-Adams County Chamber

#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: (Volunteers)

Volunteers are paid in six figures... S-M-I-L-E-S.  J   ~Gayla LeMaire

Top Five Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce blog – click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce blog”

Virginia Peninsula Chamber Blockbuster Hire Penins... Jan 20, 2016	137
Happy Friday, Chamber World! It's going to be a GR... Feb 5, 2016	98
Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives announces... Jan 21, 2016	83
Crossroads Regional Chamber interviewing couples f... Feb 8, 2016	79
Happy Friday Chamber World! Have a GREAT weekend! ... Feb 12, 2016	76

Last Month’s Stories

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation President Optimistic About Future WTOK.com

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Annual Meeting - call Debi Green at the chamber office at 601-948-7575, ext. 294, or email dgreen@greaterjacksonpartnership.com.

Longtime assistant Cynthia Sutton tabbed to replace Margaret Miller as Ocean Springs chamber director Gulf Live

City of Madison to take ownership of Chamber building Read more: Morgan Daily Citizen

Mississippi Economic Council talks roadways, education to Vicksburg Warren County Chamber Vicksburg Post

State Chamber of Mississippi Pushes Roads/Bridges Fix Mississippi Public Braodcasting

MEC concern: More demands, fewer dollars driving legislative agenda in Mississippi Sun Herald

#Chamber education: Free Hancock County courses sharpen online and business skills  Sun Herald

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Get Out of Your Own Way  by Robert Cooper Barnes & Noble

Monroe County Chamber assistance: American Furniture Expands Production Centers In Amory, Mississippi Area Development

#BestChamber Practices: Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber: Do you own a second business? Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber

157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey - RULE #122    Think of inactive members as Patriots.

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation Recognizes December Ambassadors of the Month Contact: Casey Holladay, Events Coordinator, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation

If you would like delivery of a new gloss Chamber directory or gloss community map in September 2016, please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Best,

John

John Dussman | Chamber Manager
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005

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If you know of a chamber news item that you would like to be included in the CHAMBER EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT or the MIDWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE blog, please email me at jdussman@tspubs.com or call me at (847)-427-4633. Thank you.