Daman: Continued strength of Greater Lansing’s business climate a priority; Plainfield Area Chamber event: In their own words: Plainfield trustee hopefuls seek votes, state their positions; Senator Mark R. Warner to speak at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber; Jefferson County Chamber 2017 Community Guide; One Southern Indiana, Duke Energy among groups working to attract new economic partners; Christian County Chamber Salute to Agriculture Breakfast; #BestChamber Practices: Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce: THE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER @ MDA; Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association exploring building shelter at Lance Park; Town Square Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.A.

Daman: Continued strength of Greater Lansing’s business climate a priority


Our region has made great progress in becoming a competitive and attractive place for businesses to invest and grow jobs. Even more, our region has succeeded in diversifying its economic foundation.

The region’s transformation, while still evolving, has been no accident.

It was carefully planned by thoughtful business, community and elected leaders throughout who have worked closely to energize the local economy and set its future course.

This year’s City of Lansing elections matter because maintaining and building on this energy will require electing leaders who not only recognize the importance of Lansing’s financial health, but share the vision of the city as an anchor for the entire region’s economic strength.

The city of Lansing faces serious threats to its fiscal future as the result of retiree pension and health care obligations. This $600 million liability will be a top priority facing the new administration and council. It is one that the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce is watching closely.

Mayor Hollister and the Lansing Board of Water of Light many years ago had the foresight to address lead service lines to residents and businesses throughout the city. Mayor Bernero saw this visionary effort through to completion, making Lansing one of two cities in the country to have a lead-free water infrastructure. The leaders we elect this fall should follow this lead, and turn their attention to other infrastructure needs with a visionary approach to roads, sidewalks and additional assets that will serve residents and enhance business investment, growth and talent attraction for many years to come. Read more: Lansing State Journal




Plainfield Area Chamber event: In their own words: Plainfield trustee hopefuls seek votes, state their positions
When voters head to the polls on April 4, their decisions will help shape the future for Plainfield.

Four residents are vying for three open seats on the Village Board of Trustees.

The candidates came out to meet the public at an event on March 14, hosted by the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce. During the event, each candidate offered an opening statement, to introduce themselves and their plans to village residents.

Here, those opening statements in full:

Margie Bonuchi – 22-year resident of Plainfield, running for a third term as Village Trustee

“I’m really, really proud of this community. I’ve lived here 22 years, when I got here I was welcomed with open arms from so many wonderful people that I wanted to meet everyone, and I think I’ve almost done that. I try very hard to get out there and give back as much as I possibly can. I’ve been involved in many organizations and long term time in those organizations. Ten years with the Y advisory board, three years as the chair of the Foundation for Excellence, ten years helping out with the Harvest 5K, past president of the Rotary. And that’s not to tell you about all the things I’m doing, it’s to tell you about how much I truly love being part of all this. And I think that truly makes up a lot of who you really are.

“My background for the village is that I was appointed as a voting member of the Planning Commission for two years, then ran for two new terms as Trustee and as I said, I’m very proud of that time. In 2009 we inherited a budget in the red. But with the work that we did and the promised made in that 2009 election, my promise was to find an experienced Village Administrator. We did that and we were out of the red and into the black in pretty much record breaking time ahead of schedule in the 2011-2012 timeframe. And that speaks volumes, because laying off people is never fun. Read more: Bugle Newspapers

Senator Mark R. Warner to speak at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber

Senator Mark R. Warner is scheduled to speak at a Senatorial Leadership Forum on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber conference room located in Hampton, VA.  Check-in and breakfast will be from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM.  Senator Warner’s presentations on Capitalism 2.0 and a Washington Update will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.  Tickets to this event are $15.00.  Seats are limited!  Guest must pre-register for the event online at http://bit.ly/AprilSLF.

Senator Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008 and reelected to a second term in November 2014. He serves on the Senate Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules Committees as well as the Select Committee on Intelligence, where he is the Vice Chairman. During his time in the Senate, Senator Warner has established himself as a bipartisan leader who has worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to cut red tape, increase government performance and accountability, and promote private sector innovation and job creation. Senator Warner has been recognized as a national leader in fighting for our military men and women and veterans, and in working to find bipartisan, balanced solutions to address our country's debt and deficit.

From 2002 to 2006, he served as Governor of Virginia.  When he left office in 2006, Virginia was ranked as the best state for business, the best managed state, and the best state in which to receive a public education.

The first in his family to graduate from college, Mark Warner spent 20 years as a successful technology and business leader in Virginia before entering public office. An early investor in the cellular telephone business, he co-founded the company that became Nextel and invested in hundreds of start-up technology companies that created tens of thousands of jobs.

Senator Warner, his wife Lisa Collis, and their three daughters live in Alexandria, Virginia.  More info: Virginia Peninsula Chamber


Jefferson County Chamber 2017 Community Guide   

The Jefferson County Chamber 2017 Community Guide  is available at the chamber of commerce today! Thank you to Philip "Mike" Beard and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Town Square Publications  (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.



One Southern Indiana, Duke Energy among groups working to attract new economic partners

One Southern Indiana (1si), the chamber of commerce and lead economic development organization for Clark and Floyd counties, recently collaborated with Duke Energy Indiana, the Port of Indiana – Jeffersonville, and the River Ridge Commerce Center in hosting site selectors from the Site Consultants Advisory Group (SCAgroup.) The purpose of the event was to discover ways to improve coordinated economic development strategies for Southern Indiana, a 1si news release stated.

The SCAgroup is a collaborative effort developed between a select group of leading site selection consultants and Area Development Magazine. It consists of a network of active site consultants whose current project assignments and corporate advisory services include a broad spectrum of industries. By participating in an on-site visit, representatives of the SCAgroup offer their insights and expertise to select economic development teams whose locations offer a strong value proposition for corporate site selection.

“Duke Energy is implementing new strategies and tools to help the communities we serve as they compete to attract companies and jobs to their areas,” said Erin Schneider, Duke Energy Indiana director of economic development.

After meetings with local government and economic development officials, the SCAgroup identified several positive factors the two-county region can leverage to attract more business and industry to the area, including:

• Central location.
• Strong existing industry clusters and major corporate presence.
• Stable and diversified economy with capacity for additional growth.

“While Clark and Floyd counties have had great success in recent years with economic development, it behooves us not to rest on our laurels, but to strive towards continuous improvement in our presentation of the assets Southern Indiana can offer a potential new business,” said 1si President and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser. “We feel the insight we have gained will translate into a more powerful economic development message with better results and we thank Duke Energy Indiana for arranging this learning experience.” Read more: News and Tribune


Christian County Chamber Salute to Agriculture Breakfast

HOPKINSVILLE, KY- The 2017 Salute to Agriculture Breakfast, sponsored by Hopkinsville Elevator Company, FNB Bank and Hutson, Inc., took place Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 7:30 a.m. at The Silo. Total attendance numbered approximately 350 individuals from across Chamber and Agri-Business Association membership, as well as the Christian County farming community.

Guest Speaker Warren Beeler, Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy, spoke on the current trends, issues and successes in the agricultural industry. On behalf of Warren Beeler, the Christian County Agri-Business Association made a donation to both the Hopkinsville High School FFA and Christian County FFA chapters. In addition, there were three awards given out, Agriculture Business of the Year, Friend of Agriculture and Farmer of the Year. The winners are:

Agriculture Business of the Year
Planters Bank

Friend of Agriculture
Brian Lacefield

Farmer of the Year
Todd Harton

Concluding the breakfast, members of the Christian County 4-H Livestock Club presented a country ham basket to be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting the club. Mr. Wayne Hunt and H&R Agri-Power won the basket with a bid of $2,500.

Photos of the 2017 Salute to Agriculture Breakfast can be found on The Christian County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page linked here.

More information: Kirstie Darnall, Director of Events and Marketing,  kdarnall@christiancountychamber.com, (270) 885-9096


#BestChamber Practices: Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce: THE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER @ MDA

The Entrepreneur Center @ MDA, a bureau within the Existing Industry and Business Division, provides financial, marketing, management, and technical assistance to new and existing small businesses. Services are offered at no charge to individuals interested in starting a new business or expanding an existing firm.


General Business Assistance

• Assist in developing business plans
• Provide general start-up information
• Provide information on licenses and permits
• Counsel on business strategies
• Analyze management strengths and weaknesses

Finance and Accounting

• Recommend sources of capital for businesses
• Assist with loan applications
• Analyze financial statements
• Assist with financial projections
• Counsel on cash flow and working capital

Marketing

• Assist in identifying new markets
• Identify potential customers
• Assist in developing marketing plans
• Advise on marketing strategies
• Counsel on forecasting sales
• Provide input on new product ideas

Retail Assistance

• Assist retailers with store-specific issues including:
• Planning
• Store layout and design
• Operations
• Staffing and scheduling
• Marketing
• Counsel retailers on buying procedures, pricing, receivables/payables, management

Seminars

• “How to Start Your Own Small Business”
• “Marketing Your Small Business”
• “How to Design a Retail Store”
• “How to Prepare for Trade Shows”
• “Servicing Your Customers”

Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association exploring building shelter at Lance Park

Representatives of the Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association shared their vision for building a shelter within Lance Park with Twin Lakes Village Board members Monday night.

The chamber hosts the annual Libertyfest community festival in the park each year. To house concessions and entertainment the chamber rents a tent to keep the event weather proof.

Instead of continuing to rent tents, the chamber is proposing building a more permanent open sided structure in the park, said James Little, a member of the chamber board of directors.

Little and other chamber representatives were at the meeting to get the Village Board’s ideas about where would be a good location for the structure.

“Where does that go?” Little said. “What is a good spot that makes the park better, not just for Libertyfest.” Chamber officials believe the shelter could be used by other groups besides the chamber.

A preliminary sketch for the shelter submitted to the board called for dimensions of 60 feet wide by 90 feet long with 16 foot head room. Read more: West of the I

Town Square Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.A.

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.

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. More Information: John Dussman (847)-427-4633 jdussman@tspubs.com