Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!
Todd Maisch: Five state reforms that can reinvigorate the Illinois economy
Setting public policy for Illinois should not be a zero-sum game where one side wins everything and the other gets nothing. That approach is destined for failure, and, clearly, it is failing the people and employers of Illinois today.
The people and employers in Illinois want change. Now.
As Illinois lawmakers return to the state Capitol this week to address the state's crumbling fiscal house, Illinois has an opportunity to rebalance that equation. It is important that both parties work together on a path to progress.
That is why 2017 brings opportunity for a fresh start to reinvigorate the Illinois economy. If lawmakers take meaningful state policy steps to strengthen the state's economy, employers could again view Illinois as a more attractive state for jobs and investment. This, in turn, can generate more tax revenue for Illinois state government to help address its seemingly unending financial crises.
In 2017, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce is calling on state lawmakers to address five key state policy areas that can help accelerate the Illinois economy. They are:
1. Enacting pro-growth economic reforms. Illinois tax policy cannot be developed without regard to its effect on Illinois businesses, workers and our economy. Instead, any revenue discussions must be balanced by including corresponding pro-economic growth reforms to help employers and workers. For example, the state could establish tax credits to help small businesses shoulder the cost of bringing on new employees. In addition, the state must immediately restore the Illinois Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Program (the EDGE tax credit) that helps attract investment and job creation and retention in the state.
2. Reforming Illinois' unfair workers' compensation system. The current workers' compensation system in Illinois is tilted far out of balance. Employers throughout the state continue to call for reform because it hurts the ability of Illinois employers to create -- and even maintain -- jobs here. Reforming the system can restore balance, reduce employers' costs for insurance and no longer allow workers' compensation costs to be an obstacle to growing a business in Illinois.
3. Rejecting anti-competitive proposals. Lawmakers should do no further harm to our state's jobs climate. Proposals that pile more requirements on employers in our state adversely affect Illinois businesses and make our state less competitive with others. These shortsighted proposals would only move Illinois in the wrong direction and lawmakers must reject them.
4. Working together on common sense regulatory issues. When state Democrats and Republicans have worked together, they enacted important regulatory reforms for the state. In fact, the Illinois Chamber has led initiatives that reduce costs and make government more responsive. In 2017, legislators can finally modernize the state's outdated telecommunications law to drive more investment in modern technologies and networks to benefit those who rely on them: Illinois businesses, consumers and public safety officials.
5. Focusing on education outcomes and workforce preparation. While K-12 education funding gets most of the headlines out of Springfield, Illinois must avoid being dragged into an education debate that strictly focuses on who pays more, who pays less, whose communities receive more and whose receive less. Illinois must ask tougher questions if we are to improve our economy, respect taxpayers and live up to our obligations to the next generation. State policymakers must be focused on improving educational outcomes and supporting students interested in careers that do not require a four-year college degree. Those goals must be in sight before we begin a new discussion about education funding, not the other way around.
These reforms re-establish balance and help Illinois become more competitive. They are not owned by a political party. Rather, they are supported by many members of both parties who are advocates for a stronger economy to help attract investment, jobs and revenue to help the state pay for the services it provides its citizens.
The Illinois Chamber believes in the greatness of our state. By enacting these policies in 2017, we believe Illinois can begin living up to its full economic potential. It's time to get the job done.
Todd Maisch is president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Daily Herald
Kyle Hannon: A prediction: ‘South Bend-Elkhart Region’ will provide a boost
A Happy New Year to you. When we transfer from Dec. 31, 2016, to Jan. 1, 2017, we don’t change seasonally. It was cold for weeks before and will be cold for weeks after. The days continue to get longer, but they already started that about a week and a half ago. The gift-giving was last week, and most returns have been made.
So, what do we get to do on Jan. 1, other than change our calendars? And maybe watch football.
We get to make predictions for what is going to happen in our new year. And we get to make resolutions about how we plan to behave.
I have two major predictions for our region in the coming year. First, we are going to change what we call ourselves. Second, we are going to grow.
I may be cheating with the prediction of our changed names, because it has already begun. For several months now, you may have noticed that “Michiana” is being replaced with “South Bend-Elkhart region.”
Michiana has worked for many years, right. Why change it? In many conversations, influential people tell me it is hard to attract people or businesses to Michiana when you can’t find Michiana on a map. I point out that you can’t find the Research Triangle, or Tri-State Area on a map either, and those places seem to do fine.
But I’ve noticed, when I am out of town and people ask where I am from, I say “Elkhart.” If they have a puzzled look, I never clarify by saying “in Michiana.” I explain that I am about 15 miles east of Notre Dame, which is tied to South Bend thanks to all the national sports coverage.
Goshen, Mishawaka, Plymouth, Osceola and other important communities are kind of left hanging out there. Believe me, I understand. I grew up in Beech Grove, Ind. Let me save you the trouble of looking it up. It’s in Indianapolis.
Recently a co-worker told me she was visiting friends in Indianapolis. I asked where. She said, Brownsburg, which is not Indianapolis. It is a small town in a different county. In little Beech Grove, we could make fun of Brownsburg because it was so small and “country.” Well, it’s not like that now. Brownsburg is a proud, growing community that is benefiting from its proximity to Indy.
My colleagues at the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County recently made a bold move. They will now be called the South Bend Regional Chamber. This wasn’t a casual change. They spent time studying Google analytics to see what people search for and what they want.
So, in 2017, we will accept the South Bend-Elkhart region as our identifier. It’s not for us. It’s for the people who are coming here to live and do business.
And they will be coming in larger numbers. Have you noticed all the housing and apartments being built? Elkhart has a promising proposal downtown in the former foundry property. The proposals in Elkhart and St. Joseph County are not to shuffle our current residents. There is confidence by builders and community leaders that the efforts of the Regional Cities Initiative and Vibrant Communities projects are going to bring people to town. The fact that most employers are looking for workers tends to attract people who are looking for a better life.
Four years ago, the Greater Elkhart Chamber launched a vision to attract 500 families of professionals to move to Elkhart to combat shrinking population. Well, they are here and they are looking for a place to live. Read more: South Bend Tribune
Chamber of Commerce Making Plans for 2017 Junior Leadership Program
----Deadline for Applications is this Friday, January 13th
Oxford, Miss. – Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 2017 Junior Leadership Program. All 10th grade students who live in Oxford and Lafayette County are encouraged to apply.
Junior Leadership is a program designed to help high school students develop the essential leadership skills to be successful in the future. Over 450 students have graduated from the program since its inception in 1998.
The sessions are developed to introduce the students to team building techniques, goal setting strategies and are required to complete a community project prior to graduation.
Through dynamic community speakers and onsite tours of local facilities such as Baptist Memorial Hospital, Caterpillar, Chancery Building and various facilities at the University, the students are able to get a unique view of what goes on in their community.
Junior Leadership Chair Lolita Gregory said, “Through these sessions they see the variety of professions and services offered here in Oxford. Going through this course may give them a better understanding of various jobs and help in making career decisions.”
The participants will work together in a program that combines nine group sessions plus time invested in actual community projects that require them to use and develop leadership skills. Training sessions include leadership, team building, medicine, education, legal field and law enforcement, government, career development, and the arts, among other topics. Each session students get an opportunity to meet top government officials, university professionals, medical specialists and local business leaders. The program runs from late January through the mid April and meets on Monday afternoons after school from 4:15 till 6:15 p.m.
The program is restricted to 10th grade students from within Oxford and Lafayette County. Acceptance is based on completion of the required forms and documents by the deadline of this Friday, January 13, 2016 and the payment of $50 tuition fee. The class is limited to 25 participants. Preference will be given to applicants who, in addition to their potential for leadership, would contribute to the overall diversity and strength of the class and have available time to commit to the program.
Notification of acceptance into the program will be made by phone on or before January 17th. Orientation will be held on January 23rd and the program will conclude with a graduation ceremony on April 18th.
Junior Leadership is sponsored by Your Extra Closet, Oxford's Clean, safe and simple choice for self storage.
Applications and a full schedule of sessions are available in the school counselor’s offices, online at www.oxfordms.com or can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce at 299 Jackson Avenue West. For questions and further information please call Pam Swain, Senior Vice President, at the Chamber office at 662-234-4651.
Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory
The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory is available at the Plainfield Area Chamber today! Thanks to Tasha Kitson, Mari Edmondson, Vitella Barnes, Kellie Wujek 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 profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Fox Cities Chamber begins search for new CEO
The Fox Cities Chamber is beginning a search to fill its CEO/President position. Recruitment efforts are underway with the goal of hiring a new leader by the end of the first quarter of 2017.
The search for qualified candidates is taking place on a local and national scale. A search committee comprised of board members is being led by Employment Resource Group Inc., a job search and recruitment company.
“This position serves an incredibly important role in the continued prosperity of the Fox Cities,” said Sharon Hulce, president of Employment Resource Group Inc. “The Fox Cities Chamber is an outstanding organization that provides the area with a number of valuable resources and the CEO/President position is key to its future endeavors.”
“We are seeking highly qualified candidates who will build upon our success by working with multiple stakeholders, businesses and community leaders,” said Dan Ferris, Fox Cities Chamber board president. Read more: Post Crescent
The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director. Jill Sluss will succeed Caroline Goode.
Officials say Sluss has 25 years of experience in marketing and communications and has worked in television, radio, education, international customer service, and non-profit organizational development and management.
Sluss graduated from Roanoke College with a bachelor's degree in Sociology with a Concentration in Communications. Officials say she's volunteered in the community for a long time and has served on several boards throughout her career.
“I am honored that I was chosen by the board of directors to lead the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce,” said Sluss. “I have a passion for building relationships and organizing community events and look forward to representing the business communities of both Salem and Roanoke County. I truly believe that the Chamber is the backbone that links local businesses to the public.” Read more: WSET 13
Atwell installed as Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber president
A local certified public accountant (CPA) was installed Tuesday as 2017 president of Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.
Seth F. Atwell, partner with Evans, Harville, Atwell & Company, CPAs, accepted a large gavel, symbolic of chamber leadership, from outgoing president Mark Brenzel.
The presidential installation and State of the Chamber Address at the chamber’s January membership meeting are a format change from the installation ceremony at the Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony scheduled January 19 at the Center for Rural Development.
Installing the 2017 president and review of chamber activities in 2016 were done earlier to shave time off the Awards Banquet that sometimes stretches nearly three hours, noted Bobby Clue, executive director of the chamber.
The Awards Banquet, beginning at 6 p.m., will recognize numerous local businesses and individuals for accomplishments, and present a Distinguished Community Service Award among other individual honors.
Atwell, in accepting the chamber’s top position, said his main goal would be to challenge the chamber board and staff to develop a vibrant plan for 2017.
“It’s an honor and privilege for me to serve as president of the chamber during 2017,” Atwell remarked. He stressed the importance of small businesses’ contributions in jobs and services.
Clue, in his State of the Chamber Address, pointed out Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1925 (as the Somerset Chamber of Commerce) and with more than 675 current members is the eighth largest chamber organization in Kentucky. Among important speakers at the chamber’s monthly membership meetings last year were Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Hal Rogers and Gov. Matt Bevin. Read more: Commonwealth Journal
Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber to hold annual end-of-year meeting
The Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual end-of-the-year meeting Jan. 27.
The 36th annual meeting features a dinner and silent auction. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Crossroads Conference Center, 6569 Clay Ave. SW.
Sponsorship and silent auction opportunities are still available.
For more information about the meeting and to register, visit www.southkent.org. Read more: M LIVE
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.
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 Chamber Proposal
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.