Chicago Fed Survey of Business Conditions (CFSBC) Shows Growth Picked Up in Late August and September; Valpo chamber asks for Porter Co. to be included in convention center study; Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and Calamos Investments Host 2016 Regional Economic Forecast; Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Jackie Lovejoy, IOM, Appointed to Northeast Board of Regents of Institute for Organization Management; Hampton Roads Chamber presents U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus; Kyndle to host candidates debate Oct. 18; EMBDC ribbon-cutting: Anderson Regional Health System debuts new cafeteria; WMC Chamber concern: Hard to hire: Employers are having problems finding workers; Town Square Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-lo Guides and Maps

Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!
Chicago Fed Survey of Business Conditions (CFSBC) Shows Growth Picked Up in Late August and September

The Chicago Fed Survey of Business Conditions (CFSBC) is a survey of business contacts conducted to support the Seventh Federal Reserve District’s contribution to the Beige Book. The Chicago Fed produces diffusion indexes based on the quantitative questions in the survey that are released at 3:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. CT) on the same day of the official release of the Beige Book.

Latest CFSBC Release - 

Survey Shows Growth Picked Up in Late August and September
The Chicago Fed Survey of Business Conditions (CFSBC) Activity Index increased to +7 from −16, suggesting that growth in economic activity picked up to a moderate pace in late August and September.

CFSBC Activity Index and U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product Growth

Download the latest data.



Valpo chamber asks for Porter Co. to be included in convention center study

Any consideration of a new convention center in Northwest Indiana should include Porter County as a potential location, according to local chamber officials.

But, Porter County elected officials would need to agree before that happens.

In a letter dated Sept. 28, Rex Richards, president of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, asked Bill Hanna, president and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, to include Porter County should that agency study the feasibility of a new convention center.

Talk of a new facility was prompted by news that the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza and Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville would be demolished next year.

Hanna said his agency is drafting a document to solicit companies to conduct a feasibility study to replace the meeting space lost next year with the demolition of the Merrillville hotel. Read more: NWI Times

Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and Calamos Investments Host 2016 Regional Economic Forecast

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and Calamos Investments will co- host the Regional Economic Forecast Thursday, Oct. 27, from 7-9 a.m. The event will feature a panel of local and national industry experts who will share unique insight and analyses of market conditions for the coming year and provide attendees with economic perspective to help them better manage their business.

Returning again this year, is financial expert Terry Savage who will moderate the discussion. Her columns, blogs and TV appearances have helped Americans make sense of markets and the economy for years. She is a regular guest on CNN and CBS and has authored two best-selling books.

This year’s panel includes experts: John P. Calamos Sr., Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments; Blu Putnam, managing director and chief economist for the CME group; and Caroline L. Harris, Vice President, Tax Policy & Chief Tax Policy Counselor for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation.

Nicki Anderson, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce believes that with current economic uncertainty, the distinguished panel of experts will provide valuable insight.

“With Terry Savage returning as our moderator, she does an exceptional job of working with the panelists to dispense the information that is important to the future of business,” said Anderson.  

The event will take place at Hotel Arista at CityGate Centre, located at 2139 CityGate Lane in Naperville. Registration and a buffet breakfast will be available at 7 a.m., with the program beginning promptly at 7:30 a.m. To learn more, visit www.naperville.net.



Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Business Directory is available at the Lake Zurich Area Chamber today! Thanks to Dale Perrin 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 guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633. 

Jackie Lovejoy, IOM, Appointed to Northeast Board of Regents of Institute for Organization Management

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, has appointed Jackie Lovejoy, IOM, president of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, to the Northeast Board of Regents. As a member of this Board, Lovejoy will implement the policies created by Institute’s National Board of Trustees.

“A strong Board of Regents is essential to Institute’s success,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, vice president of Institute for Organization Management at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “These volunteers drive site attendance, provide recommendations for program improvement, and serve as an on-site resource for Institute participants."

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has educated tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members, and become strong business advocates. 

Institute’s five Boards of Regents serve on behalf of the National Board of Trustees. Each Board of Regents is responsible for recruitment, retention, and marketing of the program nationwide. Each regent is an Institute graduate nominated by their peers.

Institute for Organization Management is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is the premier nonprofit professional development program for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future. More information: institute.uschamber.com 



Hampton Roads Chamber presents U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus

Norfolk, VA –The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus. Secretary Mabus will present at the next Chamber Leadership Series event to meet with Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce members to thank the business community for supporting the Navy and give us an update on U.S. Navy initiatives. His remarks will focus on Navy and Marine accomplishments over the past seven years and continued efforts to advance the Department of the Navy in innovation, energy, shipbuilding, personnel initiatives and partnerships.

Chamber Leadership Series with Secretary Mabus

Date: Friday, October 14

Time: 12:00-1:30pm
Where: Sheraton Norfolk Waterside 
777 Waterside Drive, Norfolk VA

Day of contact: Shannon Curtin (570)-854-1882

Kyndle to host candidates debate Oct. 18

HENDERSON, Ky. — Candidates in seven races for elected office will be on hand to participate in a debate (5 p.m. Oct. 18) at the Henderson Fine Arts Center located on the campus of Henderson Community College.

Attendees should enter the Fine Arts Center using the doors that face the HCC campus lake. The event is free and open to the public.

Candidates for Henderson City Commission, Henderson Circuit Clerk, Henderson County Judge-executive, Henderson County School Board, District Judge, State Representative District 7 and State Representative District 11 will be answering a multitude of questions from the panel. Candidates will also be encouraged to mingle with attendees before and after their turn at the microphone to answer questions and talk about issues important to local voters.

Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar (CKB) Food Truck and Boucherie Winery will be on site for dinner purchases.

The event is being sponsored by The Henderson County Democratic Party, The Henderson County Republican Party, SurfKY News and Bacon Farmer Workam Engineering & Testing.

Call the Kyndle office at 270-826-7505 or email at info@kyndle.us for more information. More: Lane Report

EMBDC ribbon-cutting: Anderson Regional Health System debuts new cafeteria

A ribbon cutting was held for Anderson Regional Health System's newly renovated cafeteria Tuesday evening.

The ribbon cutting was part of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation's monthly Business After Hours event. The cafeteria at Anderson has been being renovated for the past year, and the staff says they are very happy with how it has turned out.

"We've got a couple of new stations. We've got our deli area which serves sandwiches. We have a pizza station. We brought back our grill area which has hamburgers, and then we have our Morrison favorites fried chicken, mashed potatoes and things like that," said Tre Freeman, System Food Service Director.

The cafeteria is open from 6:30 in the morning until 7 at night. Read more: WTOK.com

WMC Chamber concern: Hard to hire: Employers are having problems finding workers

Wisconsin businesses, both big and small, are struggling to find workers despite some areas in the state still seeing higher pockets of unemployment.

“We are hearing it all over the state, that employers are having problems finding workers. Even Amazon in Kenosha is finding it hard to hire workers,” said Kurt Bauer, president/CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

Bauer said that’s despite recent figures that show the nearby city Racine has the highest unemployment rate (6.7 percent) of any Wisconsin metro area. The state’s unemployment rate is 4.2 percent, slightly lower than the 4.9 percent national average, according to August numbers released by the state Department of Workforce Development.

Rock County’s unemployment is 4.3 percent, unchanged from July and slightly changed from the 4.8 percent unemployment rate in August 2015.

Businesses, Bauer said, are coping with labor shortages by increasing wages, offering more benefits, automating jobs and finding efficiencies in production. But Bauer said he’s concerned that the tight labor pool means some businesses are not bidding for projects, outsourcing from outside Wisconsin and delaying expansion.

In an attempt to head off of an employment “crisis” over the next 20 years, WMC launched the Future Wisconsin Project in partnership with other state organizations, colleges and tech schools to train, attract and retain employees. Bauer outlined some of WMC efforts during a Sept.15 Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce presentation.

Bauer says the state’s low birthrates, more baby boomers than millennials, and young, educated workers leaving the state to work in more desirable areas are contributing to the labor shortage.

The goal is to attract more workers from other states by changing perceptions of Wisconsin. Bauer said some people think of Wisconsin as dated, perceptions fueled by Hollywood and sitcoms like “That ’70s Show.” While the state’s image based on beer, cheese and the Packers, is good he said, it doesn’t promote the other benefits that would lure people to move here — the quality of life, strong work ethic, outdoor opportunities and “Wisconsin nice” people.

Partnerships with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the UW and tech colleges is also giving young people exposure to jobs in manufacturing and showing how technology is transforming careers in those fields.

Town Square Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-lo Guides 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 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