Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership Releases its 2016 General Assembly Legislative Scorecard
Partnership of Loudoun, Reston, Dulles, Mount Vernon Lee Chambers Created Scorecard to Track General Assembly Members' Votes on Key Business, Economic Priorities
Northern Virginia - The Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership today released its third annual Virginia General Assembly Legislative Scorecard, a report that details the voting records of the Partnership's Senate and House of Delegates members on the bills outlined in the Partnership's 2016 Legislative Agenda.
Comprised of the Loudoun County, Greater Reston, Dulles Regional, and Mount Vernon Lee chambers of commerce, the Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership recently completed its seventh year of working in Richmond to represent the economic and quality of life interests of the businesses and residents in Loudoun, and Fairfax Counties.
"Our members and the communities we represent deserve to know how our state legislators are voting on the issues that will impact the economy and quality of life in Northern Virginia. Many of our legislators earned high marks for their voting records on the Partnership's priorities, but there are a few legislators we need to continue to educate," said Loudoun County President & CEO Tony Howard.
The Scorecard reflects votes taken by the House of Delegates and Senate and, in a few cases, by the subcommittees and committees on which a legislator served during the 2016 General Assembly session. Prior to every vote, the Partnership communicated its position on each bill and reminded the legislators that these bills would be included in the Scorecard. In addition, bonus points were awarded if a legislator served as a chief patron for one of the Partnership's priority bills, and points were deducted if a legislator served as a chief patron for a bill that was inconsistent with the Partnership's priorities.
"Scorecards are a valuable tool to communicate to our members how their legislators vote on issues important to the business community in a quantifiable way. This year, the members of our four chambers choose, as areas of importance, business taxes and regulation, economic development, workforce development, healthcare, transportation and non-partisan redistricting. We believe this scorecard approach is the most straightforward format of identifying legislator's support for the Partnership's initiatives," said Greater Reston Chamber President & CEO, Mark Ingrao.
"Northern Virginia's economy continues to evolve away from a dependence on federal dollars and how successfully we accomplish this shift will be greatly enhanced or constrained by the flexibility allowed us by the General Assembly. Consequently, it is more important than ever that business stay attuned to the issues monitored by our Partnership," said Dulles Regional Chamber President and CEO Eileen Curtis.
The purpose of the Scorecard is to help Northern Virginia's business leaders recognize those legislators who support the Partnership's efforts to improve the business climate and quality of life in Northern Virginia and to promote a dialogue with those legislators whose votes don't align with Partnership priorities.
To view the complete Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership 2016 Scorecard, please click here.
To view the complete Scorecard criteria, please click here.
Save the date: Schaumburg Business Association’s 2016 October Manufacturing Summit Economic Development in the Golden Corridor - Elk Grove | Hoffman Estates | Schaumburg - October 27, 3:30 – 7:00 pm
Prairie
Center for the Arts
$25
SBA member
$35
non-member
Panel
discussion featuring:
The
Mayors
–
Craig Johnson, Hoffman Estates
Bill McLeod, Elk Grove
Al Larson, Schaumburg
The
Economic Developers:
Josh
Grodzin, Director Business Development and Marketing, Elk Grove Village
Kevin
Kramer, Economic Development Director, Hoffman Estates
Matt
Frank, Assistant Director of Community Development – Economic Development
Manager
·
Learn
about collaborations between the Villages regarding manufacturing and with
manufacturers.
·
Hear
about finding needed resources and gaining a voice within village government.
·
Utilize
the insight of premier manufacturers and gain benefit from their
experiences.
Our
villages past, present and future including areas of shared interest and
cooperation between the three villages. A premier manufacturer from each
Village will also be presenting and answering questions.
October 27, 3:30 – 7:00pm
October 27, 3:30 – 7:00pm
Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map
The Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map is available at the Cary Grove Chamber today! Thanks to Lynn Caccavallo and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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| Cary Grove Area Chamber map |
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Stable Talent, Inc Announce Strategic Partnership
Oxford, MS. – Online job-posting company, Stable Talent, Inc, and the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, have entered into a strategic partnership to provide online job-posting services to the Oxford and Lafayette County business community. The website, www.stabletalent.com, is a job posting service that connects employers with candidates that have a proven track record of stability and longevity in their respected careers. A portion of the revenues generated from job postings that use the coupon code, oxchamber, will go directly to the chamber.
"We are extremely excited to partner with our hometown chamber to provide this service to the Oxford business community. In our work as executive search consultants we saw a real need for a service that could help save time in reviewing a large number of less than desirable applicants," said Co-Founder and CEO Daniel Logan. "This partnership offers an effective recruiting tool while supporting the Chamber at the same time. It is really a win-win."
Employers can post a 30-day job posting on Stable Talent for $150 per posting or different price points for multiple postings. When the employer proceeds to the checkout area of the website they can enter the oxchamber coupon code to ensure that the portion proceeds go back to the Chamber. Interested employers can also contact Stable Talent or the Chamber directly to post any opportunities. When potential candidates wish to apply for a position they must fill out an application form that assists in the vetting of currently employed candidates that have been with their current organization for at least two years. Stable Talent will also actively recruit candidates for all the positions posted on the site through its proprietary database of professionals.
"We aren’t a job posting service that is trying to produce thousands of applicants," Logan said. “We are trying to produce the one right candidate.”
"The site development is focused on providing a user friendly website for both employers and candidates; refining the traditional job posting and applicant process through front-end vetting," stated Eric Gibens, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. "Stabletalent.com is in its introductory version. We anticipate consistent growth and upgrades to the site as client needs shift and technology expands. Although the website is developed on a responsive platform for optimal performance on mobile devices, we are exploring the development of an app for Stable Talent as well." More information: Pam Swain -
#BestChamber practices: Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber: 28th Street Metro Cruise
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.
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
#BestChamber practices: Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber: 28th Street Metro Cruise
The 28th Street Metro Cruise began in 2005. The Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce began the event to help drive business to the 28th Street corridor when M-6 opened on the south end of Grand Rapids. The cruise has been held every August since 2005.
Cruising 28th Street, however, began a long time before the Chamber created this annual event. Cruisers have long considered 28th Street a memorable place for car lovers, particularly around the Roger's Plaza area in Wyoming. Bringing car lovers together to celebrate this long standing tradition was the foundation for the current event. And Cruisers have shown up in the thousands to reminisce. All types of vehicles are included in the event: hot rods, low riders, muscle cars, performance cars, classics, antiques, even motorcycles!
Cruising 28th Street, however, began a long time before the Chamber created this annual event. Cruisers have long considered 28th Street a memorable place for car lovers, particularly around the Roger's Plaza area in Wyoming. Bringing car lovers together to celebrate this long standing tradition was the foundation for the current event. And Cruisers have shown up in the thousands to reminisce. All types of vehicles are included in the event: hot rods, low riders, muscle cars, performance cars, classics, antiques, even motorcycles!
Since 2005, the event has grown from 85,000 attendees the first year to over 250,000 in recent years. The number of participating vehicles attending each year is estimated at well over 15,000. People have come from all over the United States to attend and participate in this annual car-fest. It is an open event, without limits on the types of vehicles allowed and is a non-judicated event. In 2007 the event expanded from one to two days. The current event schedule runs on both Friday and Saturday.
Each year, a team of volunteer Chamber members gather to plan, organize, and run the event. Proceeds for the event are used to help support Chamber programs.
The 28th Street Metro Cruise only happens with the participation of Business Sponsors. It is an open, free-to-attend event. Each venue activity is paid for by valuable annual sponsors. Past venues have included a wide variety of activities such as the Metro Million, a show of high-end classic and antique collectible cars, a Swap Meet, a Car Corral, Pinup Girl Contest, Sock Hop, Celebrity Guests, a Manufacturer's Midway, a Classic Car Auction, Entertainment Stages, Hop-Off Competitions, Dino Challenge and more.
The event is staffed by an awesome crew of volunteers. Some non-profits have helped with the many staffing needs but most are people, like you, who have a love for the event and want to be a part of it. each year we seek more volunteers as the cruise continues to grow. Whether directing traffic, guiding guests, or setting up and taking down equipment, there is a spot for everyone. Read more: Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber
Elkhart launches communal work space for local entrepreneurs
Startups in Elkhart are about to get a leg up now that the city is launching a communal work space for local entrepreneurs.
Launch Elkhart will be located on the second floor of the Chamber building on Main St. downtown. There’s room for ten startups, eight will share one co-working space with two private offices and a conference room at their disposal.
“In order for the City of Elkhart to really be open for business, we must recognize the needs of started businesses and help them find the resources they need to actually be successful,” said Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese.
The startups won’t be without assistance.
Also located on the Chamber’s second floor is the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the offices of Small Business Downtown Development. President of the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, Kyle Hannon, says the startups will work closely with both.
“You have enough room in here; sometimes in the co-working spaces you build a culture of entrepreneurship with each other. You have people you can bounce ideas back and forth,” Hannon added.
Oftentimes local entrepreneurs with good ideas can be scared off by the cost of opening a brick and mortar store. For roughly $150 per month, for a maximum of two years, the startups will be able to utilize the launch pad 24/7 to grow their client base and build a base capital.
Hannon says the goal is to “graduate” the startups and move them into actual storefronts downtown before, or by the end of the two-year lease. Read more: WNDU.com
Launch Elkhart will be located on the second floor of the Chamber building on Main St. downtown. There’s room for ten startups, eight will share one co-working space with two private offices and a conference room at their disposal.
“In order for the City of Elkhart to really be open for business, we must recognize the needs of started businesses and help them find the resources they need to actually be successful,” said Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese.
The startups won’t be without assistance.
Also located on the Chamber’s second floor is the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the offices of Small Business Downtown Development. President of the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, Kyle Hannon, says the startups will work closely with both.
“You have enough room in here; sometimes in the co-working spaces you build a culture of entrepreneurship with each other. You have people you can bounce ideas back and forth,” Hannon added.
Oftentimes local entrepreneurs with good ideas can be scared off by the cost of opening a brick and mortar store. For roughly $150 per month, for a maximum of two years, the startups will be able to utilize the launch pad 24/7 to grow their client base and build a base capital.
Hannon says the goal is to “graduate” the startups and move them into actual storefronts downtown before, or by the end of the two-year lease. Read more: WNDU.com
Southern Kentucky Chamber event: Lisa Oliver Gray, Blind Ricky slated to play NIBROC 2016
In-demand, veteran Nashville vocalist Lisa Oliver Gray has signed on to play this year’s NIBROC Festival along with Country/Bluegrass six-piece Blind Ricky, who will be taking the main stage for the third time.
Gray, who has harmonized with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Lee Roy Parnell, Marshall Chapman, and others in the past 15 years will play the festival in support of her debut record “Dedicated to Love” described as a “triumphant celebration of life well-lived, a showcase for a very special voice only now getting it’s due, and a studio collaboration of some of the finest names in underground Americana Nashville.”
Gray was born and raised in Elizabethtown and got her start singing at home and in church. After years of cover gigs in Kentucky bars, she moved to Chicago to sing jazz, then to Nashville in 1989 to pursue her music career.
It will be Gray’s first time playing the NIBROC Festival and she will be the main entertainment Saturday, Aug. 13 beginning at 8:00 p.m.
“I think people will be really amazed by this lady’s voice,” said Bruce Carpenter, Executive Director of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is the founder and organizer of the NIBROC Festival.
“Vocally, she often gets compared to Emmylou Harris which is an amazing compliment,” Carpenter said. “I think she’s a talented musician who will fit in very well with our festival. It should be a fitting way to end for 2016.”
On Friday, Aug. 12, NIBROC regulars Blind Ricky will take the main stage at about 8:00 p.m. Read more: News Journal
Town Square Publications: Mount Pleasant, WI: Promises made, Promises kept!
Mount Pleasant WI Community Development
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| Mount Pleasant e-book |
Mount Pleasant is a growing and vibrant community with much to offer its residents, businesses, and guests. The Village prides itself in one of its greatest assets – our location. Comprising of 34 square miles in Eastern Racine County, Mount Pleasant is one of the fastest growing communities in the State of Wisconsin. Stretching from Lake Michigan to Interstate 94, our location provides easy access to metropolitan Milwaukee and Chicago.
Recently, our village teamed with Town Square for the production of our 2016 Community Guide. They exceeded our expectations in customer service and professionalism, and the final product was exceptional. We had editorial control over the copy and were able to choose all the photos used in the publication. For Mount Pleasant, the result was a win-win situation. We have a beautiful Community Guide to showcase our village, and the cost for the village was a no-brainer.
We are happy to have chosen Town Square to put together a turn-key gloss magazine that conveys the pride we have in our community.
We appreciate our partnership and intend to use their services in the future.
Logan Martin
Community Development Director
Mount Pleasant, WI
Baileys Harbor Community Association: Town Garage Sale next weekend
Next weekend Baileys Harbor will be having a Town Garage Sale. The Baileys Harbor Community Association along with Immanuel Lutheran Church is sponsoring the sale which will take place from Thursday through Saturday, Aug.4-6.
Location maps showing all of the garage sales in town will be available at the Baileys Harbor Visitor Center, the Town Hall and at various businesses throughout the town. The Baileys Harbor Community Association will also have information about the sale on its website.
If you like bargains, pick up a map and have fun next weekend. Read more: Green Bay Press-Gazette
Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Profiles and 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.
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
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 chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here
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