#BestChamber Practices: Troy Chamber restaurants and Troy School District Partnership - Hamilton Elementary Wins $1,000 Cash Prize for Step Up Program; 12 K Since inception; Geneva Chamber Event: Swedish heritage on display in Geneva; Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow (LOFT) Board of Directors Announces 2016 Grant Application; Danvile Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Thumbs up — Teacher Academy; Jasper Chamber Celebrating Jasper Chamber of Commerce Week/June 20-24, 2016; Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Greater Reston Chamber: Promote Your Company and Build Your Brand at the 2016 ACE Awards; Fox Cities Chamber focuses on workplace health;

#BestChamber Practices: Troy Chamber restaurants and Troy School District Partnership - Hamilton Elementary Wins $1,000 Cash Prize for Step Up Program; 12 K Since inception

The Program is a Partnership between Troy Chamber and Troy School District
June 10, 2016 – TROY, MI — Congratulations to Hamilton Elementary School who was the winner of “Step Up to the Plate,” a partnership between Troy Chamber member restaurants and the Troy School District. The students at Hamilton took advantage of the restaurant discounts and collected the most receipts out of all the Troy schools.
As winner of the program, sponsored by Main Street Bank, Hamilton earned a $1,000 cash prize. Over the five-day period, restaurants offered diners 20% off their food purchases. Hamilton utilized their winnings from last year to add books to the fiction section in the school library.
“We are honored to sponsor this program,” said David LeVasseur, Vice President of Retail Sales at Main Street Bank. “This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and also support local businesses.”
Since its inception, Step Up to the Plate program has rewarded $12,000 in cash prizes to Troy schools, with $10,000 of that money being won by Hamilton Elementary.
The program was made possible thanks to the support of 15 local restaurants including: Bonefish Grill, Brio Tuscan Grille, Estia Greek Street Food, Shield’s Restaurant Bar Pizzeria, Papa Romano’s Pizza / Mr. Pita, Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria, Granite City Food & Brewery, Tropical Smoothie Café, Steelhouse Tavern, Mr. Kabob Xpress, La Marsa, Kruse and Muer Seafood Grille, Priya Indian Cuisine, Ridley’s Baker Café and Sy Thai.

The Step Up to the Plate program is slated to run again in November 2016. Visit www.troychamber.com or call 248-641-8151 for details about how you can participate. Contact:
Jessica Hruska, Director of Communications - 248-641-1606/ jessica@troychamber.com



Geneva Chamber Event: Swedish heritage on display in Geneva

What started as a street fair called Geneva Days 67 years ago has blossomed into a six-day celebration of Geneva's heritage and all things Swedish.

It's a chance to pay homage to previous decades when smorgasbords lined the downtown streets and the town's residents shared their Swedish lineage, said Laura Rush, with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. This year's festival, from June 21 to June 26, includes a craft beer tent, carnival, live music and lots of children's activities.

"I think about something running this long … I'm amazed that for 67 years we've been able to keep something going strong," Rush said, "and continue to draw crowds and keep the interest up and find new things to bring to the community."

New this year is a 5K run on June 25. The chamber partnered with the Geneva Running Club to present the run, which has many different age groups (and medals decorated with Viking helmets.)

"We're encouraging people to dress up in Scandinavian wear. Dress like a Viking, put your hair in braids," she said. "The overall men's and women's winners will ride in the Swedish Days parade."

Other changes this year include moving the craft beer tent and the Sweden Vast closer to ground zero on Third Street, she said. This is the third year for the craft beer tent, sponsored by Geneva breweries Stockholm's and Penrose, but it was "off the beaten path." By moving it closer to the entertainment stage, plus adding a hard cider and a hard root beer, organizers hope more people will visit it.

For entertainment, 7th Heaven opens the festival on June 21. Other bands include Johnny Russler and the Beach Bum Band on June 22, Dennis O'Brien Band on June 23, Mason Rivers on June 24 and Generations: The '60s Experience" on June 25. Read more: Chicago Tribune

Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow (LOFT) Board of Directors Announces 2016 Grant Application

The Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow (LOFT) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that applications for its annual grant awards are currently being accepted. Submissions must be postmarked on or before Friday, July 29, 2016.

Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow (LOFT) is a local community foundation whose mission is to improve quality of life within Oxford and Lafayette County communities.  LOFT’s five areas of interest for awarding grants are arts and cultural, civic, educational, health and human services, and municipal initiatives.

Since its inception in 2002, LOFT has awarded nearly $225,000.00 to many deserving non-profit, charitable organizations across Oxford and Lafayette County, and its permanent endowment secures this annual reinvestment through community grant awards in perpetuity.  In 2016, $28,000.00 will be available in LOFT grant funds to bolster both new and expanded local quality of life initiatives.

LOFT was founded in 2002 as an affiliate of the CREATE Foundation, Northeast Mississippi’s Community Foundation.  The LOFT Board of Directors is comprised of local business and community leaders who work diligently to raise money for its endowment, and maintain local decision-making regarding how funds are raised and allocated through its annual grant application and selection process.  As an affiliate of the CREATE Foundation, LOFT was founded to exemplify the mission of CREATE and its affiliates to “raise the level” of quality of life for Northeast Mississippians.

Organizations wishing to apply for a LOFT grant can download the application and guidelines at http://loftms.org/grants/.  Submissions will be accepted now through the July 29th, 2016 deadline.

For more information, please email LOFT Executive Director Jody Holland at loftdirector@gmail.com or telephone 662.418.1936.

Danvile Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Thumbs up — Teacher Academy

There’s a very old saying that goes something like “by teaching, you learn; by learning, you teach.” It’s a truthful phrase and it would serve well as a slogan for the Teacher Academy, an annual event organized by the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce.

The Teacher Academy gives teachers from area school districts an inside view of how area businesses and organizations work — the same businesses and organizations that may very well later employ the students the teachers are educating right now.

This year, 10 school districts participated and teachers got to learn how many businesses operate, from American Greetings to Ephraim McDowell hospital to the E.W. Brown Power Plant to Wilderness Trace Distillery.

Now, the teachers will return to next year’s classrooms armed with more knowledge about what their students need to succeed as adults.

Collaboration between school districts and area employers seems to be a growing trend in Kentucky, and it’s a very good trend to have. Our education system should provide students with something of value. That value should include the skills and abilities to do whatever it is they love; it should also include the skills and abilities to do whatever they need to do in order to earn a living.

The Teacher Academy is helping ensure teachers are prepared to help students in both regards. Read more: Advocate Messenger

Jasper Chamber Celebrating Jasper Chamber of Commerce Week/June 20-24, 2016

Letter to the Editor ---- June 13, 2016     

The Jasper Chamber of Commerce works with businesses, merchants, and industry to advance the civic, economic, industrial, professional and cultural life in the City of Jasper, Indiana.

     Chambers of Commerce have contributed to the economic life of Indiana for more than a century – and the Jasper Chamber of Commerce and its members provide citizens with a strong business environment that increases employment, the retail trade and commerce, and industrial growth in order to make Jasper, Indiana a better place to live.

     This year marks the 62^nd anniversary of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce.  Incorporated in 1954, the Jasper Chamber encourages the growth of existing industries, services and commercial firms and encourages new firms and individuals to locate in our city.  The week of June 20-24 is Small Business Week in Indiana – and the Jasper Chamber is pleased to be part of that celebration.

     As many companies continue to struggle through some difficult times, owners and employees are asking themselves how they can help their business.  Joining the Jasper Chamber of Commerce could be the answer they are looking for.

     By joining the Jasper Chamber, you make connections to possible clients, new business relationships and to your own town.  If a member makes a request of the Jasper Chamber, there are outlets and resources to connect them with to find an answer.  That is the one great benefit of having a local chamber of commerce.  The Jasper Chamber is local and knows the businesses and the community.

     The Jasper Chamber not only connects businesses to other businesses, the Chamber connects its members to valuable community resources and information that is essential to maintaining a business.  It’s a one-stop shop for business success.  If you utilize the Chamber’s assets:  the chamber, the business and the community all succeed. You can be part of this very active Chamber of Commerce – always in tune with its members and always seeking ways to improve the business climate of this area.  The Chamber has ties to the Small Business Development Center, Indiana WorkOne, the Better Business Bureau, Radius Indiana and many other agencies throughout Indiana.

     The Jasper Chamber partners with other organizations to provide programs and projects on a variety of topics.  The goal of these programs is to update members on “hot topics” and give those members an opportunity to meet one another.  Networking is key to communicating and the Chamber encourages members to host and attend a Time Out From Business (after-hours networking event) and to become a Chamber Ambassador.

     The Jasper Chamber is the first place many people come when they arrive in Jasper and Dubois County.  Some of the services provided are:  information, directions, maps, relocation packets, workshops, small business planning, tourist information, census and other statistical data, apartment and rental information, brochures, and various lists and information.

     The Chamber website is a great resource for those moving here, those living here and those doing business here.  Each member has a separate “page” of their own on this website.

Visit this newly designed site at www.jasperin.org.

     During Small Business Week in Indiana – also being celebrated as Jasper Chamber of Commerce Week - consider joining the Jasper Chamber.  You are invited to stop by the Jasper Chamber for an Open House on Tuesday, June 21 between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m to meet the staff members, Nancy Eckerle and Tina Vaal.  Also on hand that day will be their guest,

Troy Phelps, the Regional Director of the Indiana Small Business Development Center.

Being a member of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce  -  it’s just the right thing to do!

NANCY ECKERLE

Nancy Eckerle

Executive Director

Jasper Chamber of Commerce

 812.482.6866

CRAIG HANNEMAN

Craig Hanneman

Board President

Jasper Chamber of Commerce



Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Lake County Chamber today! Thanks to Stewart Kerr, Renee Coco 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.



Greater Reston Chamber: Promote Your Company and Build Your Brand at the 2016 ACE Awards

Promote your company and build your brand at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting & Awards for Chamber Excellence (ACE) Luncheon! Celebrate outstanding members and leaders in our business community, who have been nominated for their demonstrated excellence in innovation and community involvement over the past year! 

Why promote your business at the 2016 ACE Awards? Why not!

• 200+ Business Leaders, including 41 Board of Directors and 70+ ACE Award Nominees.
• Promotional visibility to 7,000 email subscribers!
• Extended promotions via our robust social media campaign.
• Keynote Address by Gunnery Sergeant of Marines, NoVA entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Fox TV reality star, Tee Marie Hanible, who will inspire business professionals to find their [American] "Grit" to succeed!

Event Marketing Opportunities include:

• Pinnacle Sponsor, $4000
• Executive Sponsor, $2500
• Presidential Sponsor, $1500
• Table Sponsor, $1000
• ACE Benefactor, $500
• ACE Patron, $250

Other highlights of this networking luncheon include transitioning the 2015-2016 Board of Directors under Michael Bradshaw of Google to the 2016-2017 Board of Directors under Charles Kapur of Access National Bank.

For more information on event marketing opportunities, including table sponsorships, view our flyer or contact Ashleigh Dorfman, Events and Development Director atashleighd@restonchamber.org.

Purchase tickets or Learn more

Fox Cities Chamber focuses on workplace health

The Fox Cities Chamber’s June Lunch and Learn session will be “Healthy Workers, Healthy Bottom Line” with Stephanie Pereira da Silva of Kimberly-Clark Corp.

The program will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 15 at Pullman’s, 619 S. Olde Oneida St., Appleton.

Workplace wellness is becoming a higher priority for many employers. Pereira da Silva’s presentation will focus on the importance of offering wellness programs within the workplace and the benefits and challenges that also come with that endeavor.

The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Register online at http://bit.ly/june-lunchnlearn. Read more: Post Crescent

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories, Community 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. To request your publication proposal, Click here