Grand Rapids Area Chamber: Legislative Wrap-up; Chamber announces first-ever restaurant week for Edwardsville/Glen Carbon; Town Square Chamber Publications: Geneva Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!; Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce to host U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; Six elected to Boone County Chamber of Commerce board; Hampton Roads Chamber: State of the Region Address; #BestChamber practices: Greater Starkville Development Partnership: Multi-Chamber Networking Events: Meet someone new this month; ‘Bazaar After Dark’ debuts Sept. 28 in Appleton; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories, Community Profiles;

Happy Monday, #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT week!

Grand Rapids Area Chamber: Legislative Wrap-up

In the legislative realm, things move in waves. This was the last full week of session for the House before the November election, which means there was a lot of action on a number of the Chamber priorities.3rd Grade Reading
On Wednesday, the House and Senate passed third grade reading legislation with bi-partisan support: 60-47 in the House, and 25-10 in the Senate. This was two years in the making and comes after a summer of meetings and negotiations to come to a compromise on how to improve the reading proficiency of our State’s students. Third grade reading legislation is a key issue for the Chamber. As we look at the talent preparation system, improving early literacy is a critical issue. The bill is now heading to the Governor for consideration. Click here to read the final bill.

Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) tax
Yesterday, the House passed a package of bills that would reform the HICA tax. HICA has not been a reliable source of revenue for Medicaid funding and these bills represent a comprehensive, long-term solution. This step is necessary to balance the state budget, to provide critical Medicaid funding, to avoid service and provider cuts, and to avoid increasing taxes on health care purchasers. The bills are now back in the Senate, where the Chamber will be advocating for the bills advancement later this fall.

Port Authority
Legislation that could enable a public-private partnerships to enhance the Port of Muskegon passed the House on Thursday 98-9. This bill would enhance commercial maritime activities and help fund port facility improvements and operations. The bill is now in the Senate where the Chamber will be advocating for its passage in the fall.

Autonomous Vehicles
A package of bills that will allow for greater development and deployment of autonomous vehicle technology moved out of the House Communications and Technology Committee on Tuesday with some minor changes from the Senate-passed versions. The bill is now on the House Floor awaiting action.

Energy
A new announcement between regulatory bodies and a new substitute to Senate Bill 437 muddied the water a bit this week and while the energy legislation was discussed extensively, no action was taken. The Chamber continues to advocate for an amendment to better protect ratepayers and the electric choice program.Questions? Contact Andy Johnston at 616.771.0335





Chamber announces first-ever restaurant week for Edwardsville/Glen Carbon

The Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce is spearheading the community’s first-ever restaurant week dining campaign, SAVOR 2016, which will run from Sept. 16-25, according to a press release.

A total of 21 Ed/Glen Chamber member restaurants are participating along with a presenting sponsor — Ordello Online Menu Ordering Systems — and eight media and marketing partners.

“SAVOR 2016 is a salute to our community’s restaurateurs, cuisine and diners and a celebration of the delicious fare that makes our region a culinary hot spot,” said Desiree Bennyhoff, Ed/Glen Chamber president and chief executive officer. “The 10-day campaign features a special opportunity for diners to visit old favorites and also try the many new restaurants that have opened in our market.”

Specially priced lunch and dinner offerings — at price points of $10 for lunch and $25 for dinner — will be highlighted by each participating dining establishment in addition to the regular menu. Several participating restaurants are also featuring signature event glassware as part of their offer.

The 21 participating SAVOR 2016 restaurants are: 1818 Chophouse, Andria’s Countryside Restaurant, Annie’s Frozen Custard, Bella Milano Edwardsville, Big Daddy’s Edwardsville, Bull & Bear Grill & Bar, Catrinas, Chava’s Mexican Restaurant, Cleveland-Heath, Doc’s Smokehouse & Catering, Foundry Public House, Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill, Hotshots Sports Bar and Grill, Mike Shannon’s Grill Edwardsville, Peel Wood Fired Pizza, Recess Brewing, Source Juicery, Stur Restaurant, Sugo’s Spaghetteria, Wang Gang Asian and The Wooden Nickel Pub & Grill. Read more: STLToday.com

Town Square Chamber Publications: Geneva Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce has worked with Town Square Publications on several publications. Chamber maps and community profiles are well done and we are especially pleased with the quality of the printing and the paper.

Production schedules were provided when we began the projects and the schedule did not waiver from our agreement. Most importantly we had editorial control over the copy and we were able to select the photos and the subjects that are featured. We were able to proof before going to print but we rarely found errors or concerns. Communications throughout the production period were excellent.

We work hard to provide quality and outstanding service to our members. We identify programs that will be good for the business community with an additional benefit – some non-dues income for the Chamber.

We appreciate our partnership with Town Square and will call on them again for the next project.

Jean Gaines
President 
Geneva Chamber of Commerce

Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce to host U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce will host U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell on Monday, Oct. 10, from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. The luncheon will be held at the Boyle County Extension Office at 99 Corporate Drive. Event price is $15, and includes a catered buffet lunch by Southern Plate Catering. RSVP by Oct. 5 to Treina at (859) 236-2361, ext. 120 or by email toinfo@danvilleboylechamber.com.

The Senator will give a Washington update and take questions from the attendees.

Mitch McConnell is the Senate Majority Leader. Elected to that position unanimously by his Republican colleagues in 2014, he is only the second Kentuckian to ever serve as Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate. The first, Alben Barkley, led the Democrats from 1937 to 1949.

Senator McConnell previously served, again by the unanimous vote of his colleagues, as the Republican Leader in the 110th, 111th, 112th and 113th Congresses and as the Majority Whip in the 108th and 109th Congresses. McConnell also served in leadership as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 1998 and 2000 election cycles. Read more: Advocate-Messenger

Six elected to Boone County Chamber of Commerce board

Six people were elected to the Boone County Chamber of Commerce board of directors Tuesday morning during the organization’s annual election meeting, held at Ulen Country Club.

Bob Clampitt of North Salem State Bank; Norb Stransky of R.L. Turner; Joe LePage, communications and community development director for the city of Lebanon; Mandy Saucerman, Boone REMC’s communications and marketing specialist; and Corrie McConnell of Lind & McConnell CPA; were elected to three-year terms. Spenser Rohler, an associate attorney with Taylor, Chadd, Minnette, Schneider and Clutter P.C., Lebanon, was elected to a two-year term.

Chamber executive director Michelle Wiltermood opened the meeting, noting it was her 13th year as director. “It’s been a great ride; it’s been a wonderful adventure,” she said.

Alan Milburn, who is one of only two individual members of the Boone County Chamber — the other is County Commissioner Marc Applegate — was one of the featured speakers.

Milburn said his first experience with the local chamber was in 1961, when his job with the telephone company brought him to Lebanon. He was introduced to the Chamber of Commerce by the now-late Jack Mossman, who then was publisher of The Lebanon Reporter.

“Jack and the chamber instilled in me the value of being involved and trying to make a difference in some way,” Milburn said.

Job transfers took him elsewhere in Indiana and to New York, but he continued to be active in chamber of commerce events wherever he was, Milburn said. He returned to Lebanon in 1978. Read more: Lebanon Reporter

Hampton Roads Chamber: State of the Region Address

You live, work, and play here, but do you really understand the key issues currently effecting Hampton Roads? Join over 900 business leaders at the 17th Annual State of the Region Address and get up to speed. The State of the Region Address, produced by LEAD Hampton Roads, provides a premier review of the region's economic strengths, challenges and inter-relationships based on the Old Dominion University Regional Studies Institute annual report. Dr. James V. Koch, President Emeritus at Old Dominion University, will present the 2016 report alongside his colleagues, Dr. Robert McNab and Dr. Timothy Komarek at two separate events in Norfolk and Hampton.  A printed copy of the report will be distributed to all attendees. 

2016 Topics Include:

°          The Hotel Industry in Hampton Roads, Virginia & the U.S.

°         The Rise of Single Households: Why It Matters

°         Traffic Congestion in Hampton Roads: Myths and Realities

°         The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Community in Hampton Roads

°         Will Robots Take Your Job?

°         Prisons and Prisoners: The Virginia Way and Alternatives.

Date:                October 4, 2016

Time:               8:00 a.m.

Location:        Norfolk Waterside Marriott
                        35 E Main St,             

Norfolk VA 23510

Date:                October 7, 2016

Time:               8:00 a.m.

Location:        Hampton Convention Center
610 Coliseum Dr,
Hampton, VA 23666

#BestChamber practices: Greater Starkville Development Partnership: Multi-Chamber Networking Events: Meet someone new this month

Thursday, Sept. 15 Regional Business After Hours -- A Regional Business After Hours is 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cadence Bank Plaza in Starkville, co-hosted by the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and the West Point/Clay County Growth Alliance, open to all members.

‘Bazaar After Dark’ debuts Sept. 28 in Appleton

Live music, art vendors, food trucks, family activities and a few other quirky surprises are sure to create excitement as the Fox Cities first night market, Bazaar After Dark, debuts Sept. 28.

Pulse Young Professionals Network, a program of the Fox Cities Chamber, along with Tundraland and the support of the City of Appleton, will host this unique event which will bring attention to the small businesses and pop-up vendors who will participate in the event 6-10 p.m. on Wisconsin Avenue.

Bazaar After Dark will celebrate the variety and diversity of people, art and food in the Fox Cities while also expanding on the momentum of the Artery, Pulse’s urban market which promotes local artists to showcase their work and drive the local creative economy forward. These events strive to become an example of inclusion and community unity in the Fox Cities.

For more information, visit http://pulsefoxcities.com/bazaar-after-dark/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1263237183695922/. Volunteer opportunities are available online at http://pulsefoxcities.com/bad-volunteer-sign-up-sheet/.

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories, Community Profiles

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 chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here