Daily Herald's Town Square Publications buys Lawton Publishing; Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Indy Chamber Highlights Success of Female Entrepreneurs, Hispanic Business Leaders as Critical to a Stronger, More Inclusive Economy; Joshua Cline hired as new president and CEO of the Greater Bluefield Chamber; Tourism And Hospitality Growth Continues In Muskegon County; Leadership Paducah Class 30: Dueling Pianos Benefit; Chamber interest: Downtown Janesville water fountain to open in September; Petal Area Chamber Business seminar to help veterans; Bolingbrook Area Chamber event: Taste of Bolingbrook; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!

Daily Herald's Town Square Publications buys Lawton Publishing

Town Square Publications, a subsidiary of Paddock Publications, announced Wednesday that it has purchased the assets of Lawton Publishing, the chamber publishing division of Lawton Printing in Spokane, Washington.

The purchase broadens Town Square's national footprint in chamber of commerce publishing. Town Square, which already has strong chamber publishing relationships in Illinois, California and Texas, will now absorb Lawton Publishing's businesses in the West and Northwest U.S.

Daily Herald Chairman, Publisher and CEO Doug Ray said the purchase is in line with the company's strategic plan to grow Paddock Publications' business in new and different ways. The growing Town Square business contributes significantly to the company's revenue and profitability, he said.

"The decision to expand into the nondaily newspaper business nearly 10 years ago has proved to be an excellent one," Ray said. "Combined with the strength of the Daily Herald brand in print and digitally, events, other specialty products and commercial printing, Paddock continues to be a more diversified company, helping to sustain a brighter future for the company and its employees." Read more: Daily Herald

Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Lake County Chamber! Thanks to Stewart Kerr, Renee Coco 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.


Indy Chamber Highlights Success of Female Entrepreneurs, Hispanic Business Leaders as Critical to a Stronger, More Inclusive Economy


After several years of decline, the rate of new business creation in the United States may finally be moving into positive territory, according to the latest data from the Kauffman Foundation and U.S. Census. In particular, two groups of entrepreneurs are leading the charge: The percentage of women-owned businesses reached a 20-year high in 2016, while the five-year start-up rate for Hispanic-led firms is double the national average.


The Indy Chamber oversees initiatives aimed at helping local female and Latino entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies, and recently marked notable developments in each area. Last Wednesday (May 3rd), U.S. Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon joined Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch to present the ISBDC’s Economic Development and Growth through Entrepreneurship (EDGE) awards to local employers in Speedway.

At the event, the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC) – part of the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services Division and Business Ownership Initiative – earned a special SBA award as the Women’s Business Center of Excellence.

“The CIWBC is part of an outstanding ‘team effort’ with the Indy Chamber to advance entrepreneurship in the Indianapolis region, while keeping a special focus on the needs of women-owned businesses,” said Stacey Poynter, Indiana SBA District Director, who was on hand for the awards. “They’ve been great partners in our microlending program and have expanded their free one-on-one business coaching services across the metro area – it’s a one-stop resource for expert advice, business planning resources, and growth capital.”

Carrie Henderson, the Indy Chamber’s Vice-President of Entrepreneur Services, noted that national data shows that female entrepreneurs receive less than 10% of U.S. venture capital investment and struggle with business loan approval rates 20% lower than their male counterparts.

“To close these gaps and truly tap the full potential of women-owned enterprises in our economy, we’re working with these entrepreneurs to tighten up their balance sheets, become better loan applicants, or get connected to other sources of capital – including a direct microloan through BOI, if necessary,” she said. “We appreciate this recognition and the continued partnership of the SBA.”

The next day, the Indy Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council (HBC) held one of its regular ‘Conexion’ events, this one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and presented its annual Leadership Awards to significant contributors and role models for the success of local Hispanic-led ventures. This year’s recipients include:

Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority

Ricardo Juncos, Founder of Juncos Racing

Richard Miller, President and Owner of Fineline Printing Group

Margarita Hart, Founding Executive Director of Esperanza Ministries, Inc.

Marlene Dotson, President and CEO of the Indiana Latino Institute

The HBC supports the Hispanic business community through programs like Conexion that engage employers, civic partners and other decision-makers. By helping participants widen their networks, find mentors and strengthen business relationships, the HBC addresses a common challenge among Hispanic-owned enterprises: An analysis by Stanford University and the Latino Business Action Network says nearly 75% of Hispanic entrepreneurs start their businesses alone, without partners – 20% higher than the average of all firms.

“The HBC provides a forum for Hispanic business leaders to get better connected, explore opportunities and learn from one another,” said HBC Executive Director Gustavo Escalante. “Through the Leadership Awards, we also highlight those in our community who have blazed a trail and found success – by celebrating their achievements, we can help inspire even more success.”

According to Indy Chamber CEO Michael Huber, the efforts of the CIWBC and HBC address a broader need to sustain economic growth by expanding access to opportunity.

“A healthy economy is broad-based, diverse, and creates widespread opportunities for success for those who are willing to work harder and smarter,” said Huber. “We’re working on a more ambitious strategy around this idea of inclusive growth – our push for mass transit, for example, was based in part on the idea that people and neighborhoods shouldn’t be isolated from jobs because of inadequate transportation options.

“The CIWBC and HBC – along with new initiatives, like One Million Cups – address a similar issue: That anyone with a solid idea and a willingness to pursue it should be able to explore entrepreneurship, with access to good advice, the chance to make their pitch to investors or lenders, and a supportive community behind them.” More: Indy Chamber


Joshua Cline  hired as new president and CEO of the Greater Bluefield Chamber

- From Debbie Maynard, Executive Vice President, Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce

Marc Meachum retired as President and CEO from the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce on March 31, 2017 and the Search Committee/Executive  Committee has hired

Joshua D. Cline as the new President and CEO of the Chamber.  He is from Tazewell, Virginia, and most recently worked as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Bluefield, WV.  Josh and his wife Peyton have a newborn son Crawford. 

More information: www.bluefieldchamber.com

Tourism And Hospitality Growth Continues In Muskegon County

Visit Muskegon highlights positive tourism and hospitality growth during National Travel & Tourism Week

MUSKEGON, MI – The hospitality and tourism businesses of Muskegon County, Michigan continue to see growth in the industry as the county develops as a visitor and meeting/events destination.

Numbers released this week from Visit Muskegon, the county’s convention and visitors bureau (CVB), demonstrated that growth, showing a 4.7% increase in accommodations tax collections for Muskegon County, the third straight year in a row that the county has collected over $1 million in accommodations tax revenues. This number translates into $24,156,340 in revenues for owners of lodging facilities within Muskegon County.

“There are many factors that are helping our industry grow in Muskegon County,” said Bob Lukens, director of Visit Muskegon. “Festivals and events draw new and returning visitors, and Muskegon County’s festivals are growing bigger and better every year. Fishing, boating and other outdoor sports are seeing tremendous growth as visitors want to get out and enjoy Pure Michigan.”

“Additionally, our meetings and conventions, group tour, and sports and niche markets are also seeing considerable growth, thanks to the effort of our sales team and our expanded sales marketing outreach,” Lukens said, referring to Visit Muskegon’s industry trade show attendance and industry trade publications and websites.

Visit Muskegon also participates in Travel Michigan’s “Pure Michigan” marketing partnership programs, reaching potential visitors in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and is a member of Michigan Beachtowns, a consortium of 7 CVBs along the Lake Michigan shoreline, from the state line north to US 10. Visit Muskegon reaches potential leisure visitors via billboards, cable TV advertising, radio show sponsorships, leisure publication advertising, and of course, social media.

“We’re riding the social media wave, but continue encouraging people to put down their phones and tablets to really ride the waves at any one of our Lake Michigan beaches!” Lukens said.

He cited festivals as just one example of the kind of activities that are drawing new visitors to Muskegon County. “Our festivals and events are off the charts,” he said. “Every one of our annual festivals have shown visitor increases in 2016, with the Lakeshore Art Festival, Shoreline Jazz Festival, Unity Festival, and Michigan Irish Music Festival drawing bigger and bigger crowds every year. These annual events, combined with newer festivals like the upcoming Port City Crit (bicycle race) this Saturday, May 13, the Back to the Bricks car event on June 11, and the Burning Foot Beer Festival in August, demonstrate the explosive growth the tourism industry is having in Muskegon County.”

Another visitor driver is sports and fishing. “This summer, we are hosting 37 fishing tournaments on our inland lakes alone,” Lukens said, “and that’s not including the salmon tourneys out on Lake Michigan. We’re hosting a Michigan collegiate bass tourney, and many, many additional bass tournaments throughout the summer and into the fall.”

“Additionally, more and more cyclists are discovering Muskegon County as a place to begin, stop over, or end their cycling trips,” Lukens said. “Our large network of trails and scenic rides – plus Lake Express service to and from Milwaukee – makes Muskegon County an ideal cycling location.” Read more: Muskegon-Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

Leadership Paducah Class 30: Dueling Pianos Benefit


Leadership Paducah Class 30 will host “Back to Our Future” dueling piano fundraising event to benefit the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club on Saturday, June 10 at 6:00 pm at the Julian Carroll Convention Center. Ray Black & Sons, Inc. is the presenting sponsor.

The 80’s inspired evening will feature entertainment from The Big Bang Dueling Pianos, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a live and silent auction. Proceeds from the event will be used to create a new teen area and update technology at Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah. An existing area of the Oscar Cross facility will be transitioned into a teen room and will include a game area, updated electronics and televisions in an effort to make the space more accommodating for older children. A small portion of the proceeds will go toward training and developing leaders in Paducah through the Leadership Paducah Foundation.

Additional event sponsors include: Jigowatt Level; Bacon Farmer Workman and Fluor; McFly Level; Baptist Health, BB&T, CSI, Inc., George Wilson Foundation, Lourdes, Lundberg Imaging, Paducah Bank and Paducah Area Transit System.

Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club provides young people with opportunities to engage in programs that help them achieve academic success, take charge of their health by building healthy habits that will stick with them throughout their lives, and foster the skills they need to become leaders in their communities.

Leadership Paducah Class 30 is made up of 30 individuals representing various businesses and organizations in the Paducah - McCracken County area. The participants were chosen by a selection committee and began the program last August. The class will be recognized at the June 1 Power in Partnership Breakfast of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Leadership Paducah is a leadership development program coordinated by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: West Kentucky Star

Chamber interest: Downtown Janesville water fountain to open in September

Part of the city's town square will look much different come September, and at least one decorative addition will be the result of community donations.

Forward Janesville's charitable organization, Forward Foundation, has raised the $300,000 necessary to install an interactive water fountain in the town square's southwest quadrant.

The fountain will feature a steel sculpture with water jets, fog jets and lights inside. Surrounding the sculpture will be concrete and benches with more jets.

Not all the jets will shoot water and fog at all times, though. Residents will be able to use knobs to change the fountain's “scenes” and activate different jets.

The scenes could even be set to music. At night, color-changing lights will illuminate the area.

Forward Janesville stepped in when the city made it clear the feature would be possible only through a community partnership. Several businesses donated toward the fountain knowing it is an important draw to bring people downtown, said Forward Janesville President John Beckord.

“It's important to the long-term health of the business community because we need to attract labor," he said.

To the north of the fountain will be a retention basin that will catch fountain runoff and clean it before returning it to the fountain. The fountain also will have sensors to turn it off when it's too windy or raining, Beckord said.

Marathon runners could end a race by running through the fountain's water archways. Parents could take their children to splash in the water.

“And that will become a destination, I expect, for both residents and visitors alike,” Beckord said. Read more: Gazette Extra

Petal Area Chamber Business seminar to help veterans

The Petal Area Chamber of Commerce will join with the Small Business Administration, Mississippi State Veteran’s Outreach Center and Small Business Development Center to bring a free seminar to Petal to help area veterans.


The seminar is designed to help veterans and their spouses in creating, developing and retaining their businesses. The program is open to all U.S. military veterans, including active duty, guard, reserves, spouses and survivors.

Participants will learn the ins and outs of starting a business from industry experts. This course is open to veterans who have a basic business idea or have already launched a company and need a little help.

The seminar will be from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. June 3 at Petal Center for Seniors and Veterans, 425 Central Ave. in Petal. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. ​Lunch will be provided.

Register at petalchamber.com. Click on June 3 on the chamber's event calendar.

For more information, contact Petal chamber director Valerie Wilson at (601) 583-3306 or info@petalchamber.com. Read more: Hattiesburg American



Bolingbrook Area Chamber event: Taste of Bolingbrook



Get ready to experience the biggest FREE event of the summer. Taste of Bolingbrook is now less than a month away! Vendor and volunteer opportunities are also available!

Our countdown timer is ticking away the seconds to the 2017 Taste of Bolingbrook! We hope you're counting down with us to Bolingbrook's biggest event of the summer; complete with local cuisine, music, vendors, and a designated kids' corner. To top it all off, admission and parking is absolutely FREE!

If you're looking for a way to get involved in this event and promote your business, consider becoming a vendor! Spaces are available for food and non-food merchants alike, so contact the chamber today to reserve your spot. Looking for a different way to get involved? Become a volunteer and help make this event happen! Source: Bolingbrook Area Chamber



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