Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!
Dubuque Area Chamber inspiration: Shooting for film dollars: New regional film office wants in on booming state industry
The film industry infused nearly a half-billion dollars into the state’s economy last year, and the Northwest Illinois region wants a piece of the action.
Whiteside County Economic Development Director Gary Camarano and Rock Falls Tourism Director Janell Loos have spearheaded efforts to set up the Northwest Illinois Film Office. The office has a physical presence in Loos’ tourism office, but the main emphasis is on making the website a virtual one-stop shop for television and film production teams.
“Scouts do a lot of their research before they visit a prospective site, and we want to make it easy for them,” Loos said. “We want them to come here by design, not by accident.”
Work on the website has started, but Camarano said it won’t be rushed because they want to get a lot of input and do it right.
The site will include thumbnails of prime film locations, downloadable permits, the Illinois Production Guide, and contact information for anyone or anything a production crew could need. Then the office will reach out to location managers to let them know they are film-friendly.
The best way to grab the industry’s attention is with incentives, and Illinois has consistently ranked in the top five nationally since the General Assembly passed the Illinois Film Services Tax Credit Act in 2008.
Illinois offers a 30 percent tax credit on all qualifying production expenses, plus an additional 15 percent credit for hiring residents in areas considered economically disadvantaged. In addition, the state requires that a minimum of $100,000 be spent on a project, a much lower ceiling that most states. The only state with a better tax credit deal is Oklahoma, which offers 35 percent.
“Hollywood is very conscious of the bottom line, so the incentives make a big difference,” Camarano said. Illinois has good incentives in addition to having beautiful locations, so it’s a great one-two punch.”
The idea of the region becoming film-friendly has been talked about before, but Camarano had set up a film office when he was the economic development director in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Now the idea is becoming a process.
“We started laying the groundwork for this at the beginning of the year, and it’s picked up speed,” Camarano said. “Tourism is an industry cluster, and we want this to truly be a regional office.”
The parameters will be even more expansive than most regional development projects, so as to incorporate scenic gems from the Rock to Mississippi rivers, and the Fulton windmills to the bluffs of Jo Daviess County.
Katy Williams of Sterling, an economics student at Northern Illinois University, is a summer intern in the tourism office. She has been tasked with reaching out to towns and organizations to bring them into the project.
The help of residents will be needed to put together the site catalog for the website. The office plans to have a contest for engaging residents’ help in finding the best locations.
“We need the help of people in the communities that participate because they know what’s unique in their area,” Loos said. “This is the kind of thing that is fun for communities, but it also drives the economy.”
Camarano is a big believer in the film component of tourism. Not only is it a unique opportunity to market a region, it creates jobs and puts people in hotels, restaurants and stores.
“Part of ‘Captain Fantastic’ was filmed in Las Cruces,” Camarano said. “They needed a Phoenix lookalike, and we got the project because Arizona really didn’t have any incentives. That project created 900 hotel nights.”
One of the Midwest’s better-known filming coups was the 1989 release, “Field of Dreams,” which brought an economic windfall to Dyersville, Iowa, that lasted for decades. A tiny two-person Iowa film office and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce rolled out the red carpet for Universal Studios, which spent more than $5 million in the town of about 4,000.
The film’s success brought tourists in droves, helped entice businesses to the area, and brought several other film projects to Iowa.
The office is initially funded by Camarano’s office and Rock Falls Tourism, but it’s hoped that other participants will make contributions that will elevate their status on the website.
“We’re working on a shoestring budget of about $10,000, but if this is successful, we will consider spending more,” Camarano said.
Other organizations involved in the project include Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Small Business Development Center at Sauk Valley Community College, Morrison Area Development Corporation and Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Source: Saukvalley.com
Festival of the Vine FUN is all over Geneva
September 8-10 marks the 36th year for Festival of the Vine. As is tradition, the Flavor Fare and Wine Tent are located on the corner of 4th & State streets in downtown Geneva.
Free entertainment is offered Friday, Saturday & Sunday, both on the Courthouse Lawn and on the main stage at S. Fourth & State streets. Favorites return and new acts are debuting at Festival of the Vine.
All around the old Courthouse, on Third, Campbell & James streets, will be the site for a flower market, art & craft show, weekend kids’ activities and complimentary carriage and trolley ride stops.
Special Festival of the Vine events will take place in the downtown area with All Chocolate Kitchen, Chez Moi Café & Catering, Fiora’s, Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery, Geneva Wine Cellars, Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream, SavWay Fine Wines & Spirits, The Little Traveler and Wildwood.
Business Booths will be set up on James Street and are ready to share information about their products.
Please check the schedule for specific dates and times. In addition to the listings in our program (available mid-August and at http://www.genevachamber.com/festival_of_vine.php), which includes the above events among others, businesses may also be hosting special happenings.
For complete details on everything festival related, please visit genevachamber.com or call 630.232.6060. Contact: Laura Rush, Communications Coordinator, lrush@genevachamber.com
The La Porte Chamber's Retention & Expansion Committee once again held a meeting on August 2 and had 9 members in attendance. The group had gone on 2 visits since the previous meeting. The committee had guest speaker Allison Bertl with WorkOne (NWI Business Services Representative) attend, and she discussed On-The-Job training (OJT) Programs. It was also discussed how WorkOne can help businesses through Employer Incentives, Recruitment (including the website IndianaCareerConnect.com), Hiring, Labor Market Info, work displacement assistance, and Veterans Services.
Interested in joining this committee? Call the Chamber 219.362.3178, email gesse@lpchamber.com, or Click Here to learn more and fill out the Committee Preference Form.
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.
Flint & Genesee Chamber: Coming home
Someone recently asked me where things stand with Flint. And given that this is something that I think about practically every day, I said what I’ve said many times this year – ‘Flint is at a tipping point’. What happens over the next three years could significantly increase or slow down our metro area’s growth trajectory. In addition to business investment, jobs and education, investing in our neighborhoods and shifting perceptions of Flint are also vitally important.
For as many people as we have who are working tirelessly on moving Flint forward, we need many more; those who will embrace the vision and master plan, are inspired by the region’s energy and undeniable progress, and choose to get involved. In fact, this is one of the major reasons the Flint & Genesee Chamber along with our partners will host the first-ever Flint Homecoming on Aug.16-17, recruiting Flint expatriates from across the country to come home to the invitation-only event.
We want Flint expats to return and fully participate in the 1-1/2 day Flint Homecoming and leave with a desire to invest. We want them to see what Flint’s resilience looks like. As I’ve said before, stroll the new Flint Farmers’ Market, where you might bump into a few of our 30,000 college students from all over the world. Young people from the University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, Mott Community College, Baker College and others, who are feeding millions of dollars into the local economy.
We want them to know that the Flint & Genesee economy is becoming more diversified, helping to create more jobs. That we are seeing an increase in personal wages and the region’s unemployment rate is steadily improving. And the housing market in Flint is showing signs of a comeback. Home values are increasing.
We also want the expats to know that Flint is a worthwhile investment. Our investors continue to show confidence in the Flint area bringing new businesses and expanding existing ones. Last year – during a very challenging time – the Flint & Genesee
Chamber supported projects that resulted in over $503 million in investments and government contracts, and tourism generated $131 million in economic impact.
There are so many bright spots – both economic and quality of life – which I could not begin to cover them in this column. But when our expats come to town. We plan to give them a great experience that inspires them to reconnect, rediscover and contribute to the city’s reinvention. Presentations and engagement activities will acquaint the expatriates with “Flint today” – the city’s strengths and assets, its challenges, what’s needed to change the narrative about Flint, and build on the progress that began prior to the water crisis.
On behalf of my Flint Homecoming Co-Chair Phil Hagerman and I, and the 30+ organizations that are represented on the Host Committee, we simply can’t wait to share the other side of the story. We’re providing a front-row seat to Flint’s revitalization. So, Flint expats, my message is simple: come on home. Tim Herman is the CEO of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce
Source:The Davidson Index
Northern Virginia Chamber to Host Discussion with Great American Restaurants and Founding Farmers
The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Northern Virginia Chamber) will host Up Close with Great American Restaurants and Founding Farmers on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Northern Virginia Chamber offices in Tysons.
The event will feature an intimate discussion and luncheon with two of the regions most highly regarded restauranteurs – Jon Norton, CEO of Great American Restaurants and Dan Simons, Owner and Principle of Founding Farmers. They will share the challenges of growing a successful brand, their thoughts on the direction of the restaurant industry, how they attract and retain top talent, and what keeps them up at night.
Registration is available online. Entry is $30 for Northern Virginia Chamber members, and $50 for non-members.
Members of the media who plan to cover the event should contact Northern Virginia Chamber Director, Communications and Marketing, Alex Thompson, athompson@novachamber.org, to register.
Kentucky Chamber Details Vision For The State
Four Pillars for Prosperity suggests a new emphasis on issues that influence the state’s economy and on the actions that will chart a path toward success. The report, released Tuesday (July 28, 2015) during the Chamber’s annual Business Summit in Louisville, details the state’s current and recent economic performance; the workforce, technological and economic trends affecting Kentucky; and the perspective of business leaders on issues that most affect their ability to succeed.
The Chamber’s vision rests on four pillars:
A healthy, skilled workforce to create a globally competitive talent development system
A sustainable state government that is financially stable and creates a competitive environment for economic growth
A 21st century infrastructure to capitalize on the state’s strategic advantages and to advance its energy agenda
Aggressive job creation through the implementation of an economic development program that recognizes the potential of Kentucky’s distinct regions and industry sectors and encourages entrepreneurship and innovation
Among the specific progress points Kentucky must achieve to realize the vision: investing in quality early education programs, conducting a comprehensive management review of state government operations, supporting public-private partnerships to develop capital projects, and supporting strategic industry sectors.
To gauge the state’s performance, the Chamber plans to monitor key indicators, make them available via an online dashboard, and report regularly on the findings. Signs of progress will include:
Increased employment growth at a rate higher than the national average
Increased education attainment levels
Improved state rankings for businesses and competitiveness
Per capita income growth higher than the national average
Improved health rankings
Gross State Product per capita growth at a rate higher than the national average
Increased state exports per capita relative to the national average
More postsecondary degrees and certificates
Lower state poverty rate
Decreased state debt per capita
Improved state pension funding position
Improved condition of state’s physical infrastructure
Increased availability of broadband
Sustained low energy costs
“Our hope is that someday soon leaders in Kentucky will value economic competitiveness that same way they value competitiveness in basketball,” the report noted. “We want our leaders to plan for future years of sustainability with the same enthusiasm as when we anticipate a young colt, an aged bourbon or spring. We want to change the culture and the opportunities for every citizen in our state.”
The report is available on the Kentucky Chamber’s website.
Leaders say Natchez needs development director, unified voice
— In anticipation of FOR Natchez’s final revitalization plan, most merchants and officials have said that the future of downtown Natchez looks promising. But what about the present?
As Rolling River Bistro owner René Adams puts it, the plans to reshape downtown are great, but other, short-term actions need to be taken in order to get downtown business on its feet. “I’m very happy about the FOR Natchez plan that (president) Chesney (Doyle) and them are doing, but we can’t wait five years,” Adams said. “We need to start working together to do something now.”
A catalyst for organizing and planning development could be the hiring of a downtown development director. Business owner John Grady Burns said hiring such a person could bene×t downtown’s growth in many facets. “My main thing is I really wish we could get that downtown development program going. I think that would be a huge help, because we have some very seasoned shop owners … who have a lot of knowledge, who could be extremely helpful to those of us who are newer.”
As owner of the Nest — a floral and decor shop located on Franklin Street — Burns has had a stake in downtown Natchez for the past year and a half. “Having the seasoned shop owners and the new shop owners … working together would really make (for a) bond downtown. I think that would be a huge help for downtown to really have a bond, and I think (a downtown development program) would be the best way to do that.”
The City of Natchez once helped fund such a program. Until 2009, the city committed $25,000 annually to the non-pro×t Natchez Downtown Development Association, which worked to preserve the historic downtown district and worked with local businesses to promote the city and attract consumers downtown. Eight years ago, the city cut the NDDA’s funding, which went towards the compensation of the group’s director. Though the association did not dissolve right after losing funding, the NDDA eventually fizzled out due to the lack of a director and time constraints of the volunteers who made up the group’s board.
The city’s designation as a Mississippi Main Street Association member was the next domino to fall. Members of the Main Street Association receive training, promotional and other benefits for an annual fee. Natchez had been a member up until 2016.
In lieu of an organized development association, downtown merchants have organized their own group that meets every Wednesday morning. Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Hudson said the group has been meeting since the third week of this past January.
“When I went around they said, ‘Debbie, we need help. We need coordination,’” Hudson said. But while Hudson said the meetings have been beneficial, a development director would give downtown merchants some muchneeded cohesion. “We’re trying to work on how to be a group, but to be honest, they need a (director),” Hudson said.
Hudson said the director could share space in the Chamber of Commerce’s Main Street ofice. “I’ve been able to help pull people together, but they need more.” Read more: Natchez Democrat
Beyond the Hodag: Forward Rhinelander looks to rebrand community
Forward Rhinelander member Dave Heck said the branding effort is key in developing a message that differentiates Rhinelander from other cities and towns in the area.
"This has been going on for three years. We interviewed over 40 people and literally every single person said the Rhinelander brand is lacking. What is the differentiation of Rhinelander?" Heck said. "In fact, Pat Marquardt of Printpack said he is tired of hearing how Wausau has this or Minocqua has that or Eagle River has this. Can we all sit in a room together and say why we love Rhinelander, this is the three reasons or 10 reasons?"
Since then, he said the group has been working with various stakeholders, the city and others in charting a course that will help Rhinelander prosper. Alison Schiek of Schiek Consulting took the information gathered at listening sessions and prepared a proposed brand guide, which she previewed for those in attendance.
Heck said the proposed branding guide is intended as a compliment to other promotional efforts, including the work of the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce.
As part of her research, Schiek said she studied other brand messaging and consulted with other branding professionals around the country.
"It helped sharpen our need for better positioning with the community as we look at Rhinelander and assess ourselves in how we are different from the surrounding communities," she said. "Then, going further, how are we different from some of the larger areas like Wausau."
At this point, the plan is for internal use by Forward Rhinelander and some of the photos included in the document are serving as placeholders.
Schiek said the purpose of the guide is to help move Rhinelander forward through strategic communications and brand management. Read more: River News Online
Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!
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