Chicago Fed: Midwest Economic Growth Slowed in May
The Midwest Economy Index (MEI) decreased to
+0.12 in May from +0.28 in April. The relative MEI declined to +0.53 in May
from +0.71 in April. May’s value for the relative MEI indicates that Midwest
economic growth was somewhat higher than what would typically be suggested by
the growth rate of the national economy. Read more
Download this article#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: Honoring Volunteers
Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need. Gillian Anderson - from www,BrainyQuote.com
Chamber Issue: Illinois DOT tells contractors to prepare for roadwork shutdown
With the start of the new fiscal year just more than a week away, the Illinois Department of Transportation is preparing to put the brakes on road and transit projects statewide.
The department began notifying contractors this week that they shouldn't start tearing up any roads or closing bridges lanes unless work can be completed by June 30, the final day of the current fiscal year. No work, including engineering, will be able to continue after that unless the General Assembly gives IDOT authority to spend money in the new fiscal year, Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said Wednesday.
Repeating a message he delivered last week at a Statehouse news conference with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Blankenhorn urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow work to continue.
"The message from last week isn't different," he said. "It's just we're another week that we've gone by without a budget, and this brings this crisis even closer."
Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, dismissed the warnings as a "PR stunt" and said House Democrats are "trying to work with the administration on the stopgap budget."
Brown noted that the House passed a spending plan for the new budget year that appropriated money for IDOT projects. The plan, which was more than $7 billion out of balance, was rejected in the Senate but could be reconsidered.
Democratic lawmakers continue to participate in working groups in "a good faith effort to negotiate" with their Republican colleagues and the Rauner administration on a plan to keep state government operating while broader discussions over the full budget and the governor's policy agenda continue, Brown said.
Blankenhorn said IDOT's announcements aren't a PR stunt but represent "the reality of the day."
"I'm glad the working groups are continuing to talk," he said. "I remain optimistic that something can happen in the next eight days or so, but the reality of the situation is, without an appropriation, I have no ability to pay any bills."
The shutdown would affect more than 800 ongoing road projects statewide, totaling $2 billion. Another $2 billion worth of projects slated for next year wouldn't be able to move forward.
The state also would incur "tens and tens of millions of dollars" in additional costs by stopping and restarting the projects, Blankenhorn said.
The Transportation for Illinois Coalition, made up of business, labor, government and nonprofit organizations across the state, issued a letter to its members and state officials Wednesday urging immediate action.
"A shutdown of this extent is unprecedented, and presents very real economic hardship and safety concerns," reads the letter from co-chairmen Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Kleinik, executive director of the Chicago Laborers District Council's Labor-Management Cooperation Committee. Read more: Quad City Times
Triple Play Chamber event: Birmingham baseball buffs head east for minor league fun
You know how the song goes: “Root, root, root for the home team.”
But on June 23, the crowd will be cheering for the rivals at the old ballgame when the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers take on the Eastside Diamond Hoppers at Utica’s new Jimmy John’s Field.
The new minor league ballpark will host residents and fans from the west side for Birmingham Night, beginning at 7:25 p.m. Guests can enjoy the game and special entertainment for $14.50, which includes a grandstand ticket, a hot dog and a soft drink.
“We’re going to have the mascots running around, a hula hoop contest, a little bit of everything. There’s great food all around the park, cheap beer if you want it and craft beer if you want it,” said Brian Berryman, executive director of baseball operations with the United Shore Professional Baseball League.
Despite the fact that the field sits in downtown Utica — a location that’s been more than welcoming to the new field, said Berryman — he can’t help but feel a little out of place sometimes.
“I am a little biased because I live in Bloomfield. I’m wearing my Beavers gear right now. My wife has Beaver fever; my daughter has Beaver fever,” he said with a laugh. “I’m a west-side kid, so coming east of I-75 is a little bit difficult for me, but the community over here has been great. They love their baseball, they love the park, and they love the idea of having their hometown team represented. It’s fantastic.”
The best part, Berryman said, is the opportunity to take the whole family out for a night of baseball for less than $50 in some cases — something that’s hard to come by at that other popular baseball stadium in downtown Detroit.
“You can expect to have a lot of fun and be entertained. And you can get here and get home in 20 minutes,” he said, noting that parking is free. “It’s a great night out — it’s very fun and very affordable.”
The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce is getting in on the action too, inviting its members out for a summer networking event July 14.
“We’re calling it the Chamber Triple Play — members of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Sterling Heights Regional Chamber and #YoPros will be some of the first to experience the sports enthusiast destination,” said BBC Director of Marketing and Events Andrea Foglietta in an email. “It’s geared toward professionals looking for a fun night out with business networking. You can bring a friend, family member or treat your staff. Jo Golda, owner of Jo’s Cleaning and Organizing Services in Rochester, purchased six tickets for a staff night out.”
Chamber members can enjoy a Beavers versus Hoppers game — along with a smokehouse-style barbecue buffet, two drink tickets, photo opportunities and more — for $30 per person. Contact the BBC for more information. Read more: C and G Newspapers
Leadership Academy is a four-month community leadership program that prepares, challenges, and engages emerging and existing leaders to strengthen the community. Participants are exposed to the larger community, exploring the public/city government sector, private business sectors, and not-for-profit organizations that play a role in building a strong community.
Interested in attending the 2016 Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy?
Mission
The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy provides a growing leadership pool of willing and able leaders for current and future civic, charitable, and governmental organizations in Valparaiso.
Overview
The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy encourages individuals to be trustees of their community — to work for the common good — and to become a leader for the entire community. The program uniquely focuses on connection and engagement in community service - specifically, leadership roles.
The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy complements other leadership organizations with a focus on the skills and knowledge necessary to be an effective leader in the community; for example, expectations of board service, governance, understanding financial statements, fundraising, ethics, accountability, and time management.
At the end of the Academy program, participants are expected to become continually, substantively, and actively engaged within community organizations in leadership roles.
"The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy brought me together with many of the important leaders in our community within the public, private, and non-profit sectors. I was able to connect with these individuals face to face and really find the right ‘fit’ for my desire to serve the community. The Leadership Academy is such an asset for the new leaders of the community."
Vanessa Schnell, Leadership Academy Class of 2008
"Participating in and graduating from the Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy is a great experience. The process of introducing new people, learning about the community, and making a decision in which sector you have a passion to help is what makes me grateful for attending it. Presently, I serve on the Board of the Macedonian Church. My further plans are to serve one of the not-for-profit organizations."
Aco Sikoski, Leadership Academy Class 2008
Benefits of Leadership Academy
Whether you are new to that area or not, Leadership Academy participants will build a better understanding of the nature of community leadership and open new doors to opportunities within our community.
- Exposure
- Develop valuable contacts and communication networks within the community
- Discover Valparaiso in a new way through panel discussions and conversations with local leaders
- Gain awareness of critical issues facing the community today and into the future
- Enrichment
- Develop individual and organizational problem-solving skills
- Discover leadership development networks, collaborations, and valuable community resources
- Build confidence and motivation to become actively involved in the community
- Engagement
- Connect with current community leaders/mentors who share their experiences of community leadership
- Build peer networks
Become continually, substantively, and actively engaged within community organizations in leadership roles
Interested in sponsoring the Leadership Academy?
Call Kurt Gillins for details: (219) 462-1105
Jackson County Chamber honoring small businesses with 8th Annual ANCHOR Awards
Jackson County will honor small businesses on Wednesday, August 10, at 7:30 a.m. at the Pelican Landing Conference Center in Moss Point.
The ANCHOR Awards was created to honor, reward and celebrate the achievements of outstanding small businesses and non-profits in Jackson County. Applications for the ANCHOR Awards are due on June 24, 2016, with Brian Cuccias, President of Ingalls Shipbuilding keynoting this year's awards ceremony.
According to Yvette Barr of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, having this program each year allows the Chamber to showcase businesses that are "anchors" of the local community.
Four categories of businesses are honored including Rookie Business of the Year Award (company has been in business more than one year but less than three years--with under 200 employees), Small Business of the Year Award Category 1 (company has 50 or fewer employees), Small Business of the Year Award Category 2 (company has 51 to 200 employees) and Non-Profit Organization (an entity with IRS Section '501(c) 3' status).
The ANCHOR Awards allows the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce to recognize nominated members at this event each year, according to Barr. Nominees receive exposure at the event and through publicity. The community supports the program through attendance and sponsorship and the program continues to grow each year as the business community continues to grow in Jackson County. Read more: GulfLive.com
Northern Kentucky Chamber focuses on millennials remaking workplace
Millennial Brent Boden of Florence is willing to work at 10 p.m. in exchange for a flexible work schedule.
Millennials are a generation of people ages 19-35 who grew up using smartphones. With 74.5 million people, millennials are the biggest generation in the U.S.
A Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Eggs ‘N Issues panel of millennials and company representatives discussed how the generation is already changing workplaces at a June 21 breakfast in Erlanger.
“You can’t track a work schedule, but you can track production,” said Boden, 34, a vice president/private adviser at Branch Banking and Trust Co. (BB&T). Boden is president of Legacy, a Northern Kentucky young professionals leadership group.
“I can work almost anywhere as long as I have my phone or laptop,” Boden said.
Bellevue resident Ryan Salzman, 35, a Northern Kentucky University assistant professor of political science, led three other panelists in a “Millennials in the Workplace” discussion.
Salzman said managers seeking to understand millennials need to pull out their phones and start asking questions. Ask millennials what apps, including Snapchat, they are using, he said.
Follow along on your phone to show you are interested, Salzman said.
Salzman waved his mobile phone above his head to prove his point.
“This is the new normal,” he said.
Millennial panelist Detries Miller, director of human resources at Fidelity Investments, said companies need to ensure all generations have access to flexible schedules and other benefits millennials desire.
Fidelity’s new benefit to help employees pay off their own student loans is especially attractive to millennials, Miller said. It’s open to all employees, she said. Read more: Cincinatti.com
Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber starts blue ribbon campaign
The Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting on Tuesday, June 21 kicked off its Blue Ribbon Campaign by distributing dozens of huge blue bows to chamber members, who will display them at their businesses.
About 500 ribbons are being given to local businesses, according to Jeanette Edwards, chamber of commerce executive committee member.
The project is a team effort of the chamber's membership committee — Edwards, Wanda Fitchett, Ann Williams and Rhonda Marsh — who made the bows with the help of organizations, students and friends, Edwards said.
Attached to each bow is a laminated tag with the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce logo and a list of the Top 5 reasons to be a chamber of commerce member.
This is the chamber's second blue ribbon campaign — the inaugural campaign was two years ago.
The bows will be hand-delivered to businesses — in one case during the first campaign a ribbon was delivered by boat to a Tangier business. Edwards' husband Tony contacted a Tangier boat while out crabbing in order to hand off the ribbon, meeting halfway between Onancock and Tangier on the Chesapeake Bay.
"Throughout the past six decades, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of activities affecting planning and zoning, business advocacy, tourism, transportation, economic development and the quality of life," said Steve Mallette, Chairman of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Read more: delmarvanow.com
New Arrival: Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin 2016 Community Guide
The Mount Pleasant 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Village of Mount Pleasant today! Thanks to Anna Marie Clausen, Logan Martin and the village team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town Square Publications (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.
Mauston Chamber of Commerce moving to new location
In a about a week, Mary Hudack will no longer have to present Mauston’s greatest attractions through a cramped office.
Hudack, director of the Mauston Area Chamber of Commerce, has been busy planning the chamber’s move to a new location. The chamber is moving from its current office inside the Bank of Mauston to Union Street Plaza, next to H&R Block. It will share the office space with Juneau County S.E.A. of Change, an organization that assists people who need shelter and support. The Greater Mauston Tourism Association will also be housed in the facility.
The chamber has shared office space with the Bank of Mauston since the new bank opened in the 1990s. Hudack, who has led the chamber for five years, is looking forward to having a larger space the organization can call its own.
“I’m shooting to be open on July 1,” Hudack said. “It’s a matter of doing all the fine tuning: cleaning, painting, things like that, but it’s coming along.”
With the chamber growing, Hudack knew it was time for a change. In addition, the bank is also planning to expand its loan department. For Hudack, the timing worked out perfectly.
“It’s not hurting anybody, it’s all for the best,” Hudack said. “I’m really going to miss the bank employees here though.”
In recent months, the chamber has been more involved with the Greater Mauston Tourism Association, previously known as the Mauston Room Tax Committee.
“In room tax, we’ve done a lot of tourism marketing projects, like the ‘Where’s Aldo?’ campaign,” Hudack said. Read more: Star Times
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