Chamber of Commerce dropping 'St. Joseph' for 'South Bend'
In an effort to rebrand the agency around a more recognizable name, the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce has decided to drop “St. Joseph County” from its name in favor of “South Bend.”
The new South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce — featuring an updated logo and website — will debut on Jan. 1, 2017, Jeff Rea, Chamber president and CEO, said this week.
Members of the Chamber’s board of directors recently approved the change. An official announcement is expected later today.
The move — based on evidence that South Bend is more recognizable than St. Joseph County — is meant to establish a more distinct name for the agency, one that more clearly identifies the area to prospective visitors and investors.
At the same time, it’s likely to contribute to concerns among some in the community that economic development efforts have become too focused on South Bend in recent years at the expense of other parts of the county, including Mishawaka.
The Chamber, which works to grow business investment and tourism in all of St. Joseph County, already refers to the “South Bend region” in promotional videos.
“The board felt like the name people recognize, the name everyone can spell, the name that brings us national notoriety is South Bend,” Rea said, noting the city features prominently on national television whenever the University of Notre Dame plays a home football game.
And Google search data backs that up, said Rea, who grew up in Mishawaka and served as the city’s mayor from 2004 to 2010, before resigning to lead the Chamber.
As a search term, South Bend is far more popular — and has much greater reach in terms of pure geography — than St. Joseph County, “Michiana” or “Mishawaka,” Rea said. It even outperforms “Elkhart,” known worldwide for its ties to the recreational vehicle industry.
In fact, among South Bend, Michiana and St. Joseph County, only South Bend shows up in searches outside of North America, Rea said. Searches for “Michiana” only extend to 35 miles outside of South Bend or Mishawaka. St. Joseph County performs even worse.
“We need people outside of our area to also look at this area, whether to move here or do business here, and the other names just didn’t stack up as good as South Bend,” he said. Read more: South Bend Tribune
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
Jean Gaines
President
Geneva Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Peninsula Chamber BRIDGE: What do young professionals think the Peninsula is missing?
Young professionals would like the Peninsula to offer more opportunities to retain its university students.
Fifteen attendees of the Bridge young professionals meetup on Thursday at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce offices in Hampton also wanted more support for local small businesses over chains, more affordable quality housing options and laid-back nightlife. Bridge is a chamber program.
Ashley Reams, who moved to Chesapeake from the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina, didn't know what jobs the Peninsula had available besides in the defense industry and retail. She had been used to seeing plenty of available jobs in diverse industries, including tech, health care and pharmaceuticals, in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.
"I had no clue what the identity was here," said Reams, who works in Hampton.
Malcom Jones, who works in information technology at Newport News Shipbuilding, understood, and said that people don't realize the shipyard needs professional jobs, too, and not just welders. Read more: Daily Press
Hoffman Estates Chamber names award nominees
The Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected nominations for their sixth annual Celebration of Excellence awards dinner, scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Chicago Marriott Northwest, 4800 Hoffman Blvd. in Hoffman Estates.
Nominees for Small Business of the Year are L & M Insurance, Dick Pond Athletics, Rahl Jewelers, Garibaldi's Italian Eatery and Mary Kay Cosmetics.
Volunteer of the Year nominees are Jennifer Walker of Tate & Lyle LLC, Kathy Musial of BIK & Co. LLC, Linda Dressler of RE/MAX Suburban, Keith Evans of Key Financial Insurance Agency and Diane Schneider of Cabela's.
Nominees for Business of the Year are W-T Engineering Inc., McDonald's-Bear Family Restaurants, Tate & Lyle LLC, Sears Centre Arena and Chicago Marriott Northwest.
Public Sector Partner of the Year nominations are Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, Schaumburg Township District Library, NIU Outreach and the village of Hoffman Estates' Public Works Department. Read more: Daily Herald
#BestChamber Practices: Hardin County Chamber: How We DEVELOP
The Hardin County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping both new and established members grow their businesses through professional development opportunities. Our training programs foster increased productivity, greater commitment and higher levels of success. The Chamber also brings accomplished regional and national speakers to the region so that members can benefit from their expertise – providing a valuable learning experience without an extended time commitment or expensive travel.
Participating in the Chamber’s professional development opportunities can save you from “reinventing the wheel” by connecting you to leading business professionals. Further, a membership to the Chamber exposes you and your business to regularly scheduled networking meetings, where you can meet and learn from seasoned professionals. You can also take advantage of our educational seminars. Still, the Chamber offers you excellent opportunities to take part in the development of our future community leaders through a partnership with Hardin County Schools’ Work Ethic Certification program and the Chamber’s Youth Leadership Program. Contact us for more information on the opportunities described below.
Leadership Hardin County
The Leadership program is a great way to help broaden the base of local leaders, while enhancing awareness of local issues and increasing understanding of different perspectives. By providing a means for broadened citizen involvement in solving our challenges, the Chamber helps both the community and its members.
Leadership Alumni
Leadership Alumni is a group of civic-minded Leadership graduates who continue to work to advance Hardin County through a number of projects and initiatives. The program provides continued opportunities to network, deepen your understanding of local issues and further develop as a community leader.
Hardin County Young Professionals
Hardin County Young Professionals provides networking and development opportunities especially for early- to mid-career members.
Chamber Councils
Opportunities are often available to members who wish to serve on a Chamber Council. Each Council helps guide the Chamber’s programming and activities to promote and improve the business and civic climates of Hardin County. Any member in good standing is eligible for membership in one or more Chamber Councils. And as a member of one of the Councils you have the opportunity to expand your network of fellow business people, stay on top of local business events and issues, increase leadership skills through participation, and positively impact your community.
Chamber Ambassador Program
An Ambassador is an official representative of the Chamber of Commerce, a front-line volunteer. Ambassadors attend ribbon cutting events, networking lunches and breakfasts, and other Chamber functions throughout the year. Serving as an Ambassador allows you to become more involved in your business community, resulting in increased networking opportunity, enhanced visibility of your business or organization, and greater opportunities to market and promote your products and services. Additionally, Chamber Ambassadors gain valuable experience, while developing professional skills through making new contacts, strengthening business relationships and accessing resources that will help further their own success.
Business at Breakfast
Members enjoy breakfast with their peers and an opportunity to hear from local experts regarding topics of interest to business growth and development. Through shared experiences and the exchange of ideas, participating members come away with tactics they can put to work in their own business.
Work Ethic Certification
We all know employees with professional manners who are reliable and loyal can be difficult to find. That’s why the Chamber partnered with Hardin County Schools on the district’s Work Ethic Certification. The program has evolved to provide Lead 100, a trimester class, to high school seniors, while the curriculum is embedded in the coursework of all students at the district’s new Early College and Career Center. Students cover everything from resume writing and workplace protocol to leadership and entrepreneurship in the class. Students who then have successful interviews with a panel of school personnel and members of the business community earn the certification. Also, Junior Achievement curriculum, taught by volunteers, gives eighth-graders earlier exposure to the importance of work ethic. Chamber members have a great opportunity to help develop these students, our future job applicants. Teaching the Junior Achievement curriculum, mentoring a high school student, visiting a classroom to talk about leadership and opening your business for a student tour are all ways you can take part in preparing students and developing a stronger talent pool from which our business community will recruit.
Youth Leadership Hardin County
The Youth Leadership program is another avenue for helping area teens build leadership skills. The program gives carefully selected high school juniors who show leadership potential an opportunity to learn about their community and local issues from local leaders.
Quad Cities Chamber shares legislative wish list
The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce has a Christmas list of gifts they'd like to see.
Among them is funding for a new six-lane I-80 bridge; Phase 3 of the Western Illinois University Quad-Cities campus; passenger rail through Iowa to Omaha; the creation of a regional zone for Illinois historic tax credits; and reform of Illinois workers' compensation and pensions, and Iowa's tax code.
The legislative priorities, announced Wednesday, will "facilitate job creation and strengthen the business environment in our bi-state region," chamber CEO Tara Barney said.
"Most important, we hope our legislators acknowledge that current public employee pension systems are unsustainable, and will pass strong pension reforms," Ms. Barney said.
Workers' comp also is "a huge issue in Illinois," said Pryce Boeye, chairman of the the chamber's Business Advocacy Council and CEO of Hungry Hobo.
"I can speak from personal experience," Mr. Boeye said. "I have stores on the Illinois and Iowa side of the river, and our workers' comp costs in Illinois are significantly higher to insure the same person in Illinois versus Iowa."
That's one of a number of challenges the chamber faces when trying to attract and keep jobs in the Illinois Quad-Cities, he said. Others are a responsible state budget and a capital improvement bill, given the importance of transportation and infrastructure to the region. Read more: Dispatch-Argus
Sterling Heights Chamber of Commerce: Why is it Good to be a Chamber Member?
The Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce is your local resource for business growth, marketing opportunities, advocacy and support. We’re committed to providing value to our members, connecting businesses together and creating long-lasting, profitable relationships among member businesses in our community.
Enjoy the full backing of our Chamber’s expertise. You’ll find that this isn't just a membership, but a true strategic alliance with your business. We help local businesses achieve important objectives through our many benefits, marketing, networking and advocacy programs. You’re only a few clicks away from being a part of one of Michigan's most successful business membership groups!
Joining the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce only takes a few minutes, but the benefits will last for many years to come.
For more information about becoming a member, fill out the form below or contact the Chamber office at 586.731.5400, x22.
Sterling Heights Chamber of Commerce: Why is it Good to be a Chamber Member?
The Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce is your local resource for business growth, marketing opportunities, advocacy and support. We’re committed to providing value to our members, connecting businesses together and creating long-lasting, profitable relationships among member businesses in our community.
Enjoy the full backing of our Chamber’s expertise. You’ll find that this isn't just a membership, but a true strategic alliance with your business. We help local businesses achieve important objectives through our many benefits, marketing, networking and advocacy programs. You’re only a few clicks away from being a part of one of Michigan's most successful business membership groups!
Joining the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce only takes a few minutes, but the benefits will last for many years to come.
For more information about becoming a member, fill out the form below or contact the Chamber office at 586.731.5400, x22.
Kenosha chamber partnership: Initiative seeks to lure talented workforce to Kenosha County
The Kenosha Area Business Alliance is working to get communities across the county to help with a talent retention project it hopes will address an anticipated future shortage of talent in the local workforce.
Pleasant Prairie on Monday agreed to commit $5,000 to the $80,000 project that would involve the development of a website designed to create a brand identity that would represent the entire county. The village unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with KABA for the effort.
The website is intended to help develop and promote the countywide brand in targeting those who may be considering living or working in the area. It would also act as a resource for information on education, neighborhoods, health care, cost of living and major employers.
Jean Werbie-Harris, Pleasant Prairie community development director, said the village has already budgeted the money for the project.
Earlier this month, the board also approved spending $8,000 for another KABA and county economic development project which would involve the hiring of a strategist for an initiative to attract new retail business.
The total cost of developing the website is about $80,000, with the county and KABA picking up 25 percent of the tab of construction and branding for the site.
Pleasant Prairie, the county, KABA, the city of Kenosha, Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce and Epic Real Estate are among the entities that have pledged $50,000 toward the website development. An additional $30,000 is being sought from other municipalities. Read more: Kenosha News
Jackson County Chamber: Grants Available for Storefronts
The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2017 Façade Grant Program. Façade Grants are due on April 7, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. for Chamber members with under 50 employees. There will be three grants available for $2,500 each. The fund allows businesses to apply for these grants through corporate contributions from companies that are interested in the growth and development of the business community in Jackson County. The Chamber is here to support community and business development throughout Jackson County.
Companies wishing to apply for upcoming grants from the Chamber must be active members of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Applications for these grants can be found on the Chamber website (www.jcchamber.com). The deadline to submit the grants electronically is April 7, 2017. Award recipients will be announced at the Grand Finale and Business After Hours for the 2017 Community Business-to-Business Membership Drive in April.
Anyone interested in learning more about this program or joining the Chamber to be able to apply should contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 228-762-3391 or newsletter@jcchamber.com. New members who join between January 1st and March 31st are also eligible to be in a drawing for a $1,250 Small Business Grant. New members can also apply for a free outdoor booth at the Jackson County Industrial Trade Show on March 21st. More information can be found online at www.jcchamber.com.
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the Midwest
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
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