Good morning #Chamber World! Have a GREAT weekend!
Michiana: 'Project Propel' Seeks to Raise Region Through Air
Business and community leaders throughout Michiana are joining forces to boost the regional economy through increasing the number of direct flights at South Bend International Airport. Project Propel focuses on policies that drive business travelers toward SBN first. Right now, organizers say, 60 percent of business flights go to other airports in cities like Chicago, Indianapolis or Fort Wayne. The greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area launched a similar effort that estimates suggest resulted in $100 million staying with the local economy in its first year.
During Wednesday's public unveiling, South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership Chief Executive Officer Regina Emberton said the combined efforts of nearly four dozen northern Indiana and southwest Michigan communities carry more weight. "In order grow prosperity, in order to make the region thrive as one offering great jobs, cool places to live and play, and diversity in our communities, we need to work together," she said. "Project Propel presents us with exactly that opportunity."
Emberton referenced the collaboration among stakeholders throughout Michiana generated through a successful Indiana Regional Cities bid that attracted $42 million in planned investmentfrom the state toward quality-of-life projects in St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall counties. "Since those initial conversations, working together has really become a part of how people are doing business in this region."
Emberton referenced the collaboration among stakeholders throughout Michiana generated through a successful Indiana Regional Cities bid that attracted $42 million in planned investmentfrom the state toward quality-of-life projects in St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall counties. "Since those initial conversations, working together has really become a part of how people are doing business in this region."
SBN Executive Director Mike Daigle said "by re-directing 10-20 percent of that leaking business travel (to other airports) back to our own airport, the national carriers will invest in new direct routes, higher frequency of service and larger aircraft for our region. The implications for getting business travelers in and out of our 47 cities and towns more efficiently are major."
In addition to municipalities backing Project Propel, supporters include: 1st Source Bank, Beacon Health System, Cornerstone Alliance, Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce, Hoosier Racing Tire, Inova Federal Credit Union, Kem Krest, Lippert Components, Moody on the Market (Pat Moody), Saint Joseph Health System, South Bend Medical Foundation, South Bend–Elkhart Regional Partnership, Springwise, Teacher's Credit Union, the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the Elkhart Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Elkhart County Economic Development Corp., the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, the Marshall County Economic Development Corp., the Renaissance District, the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, the St. Joseph County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the University of Notre Dame. Read more: Inside Indiana Business
Report: Poor roads cost Illinois drivers $16 billion per year
T. Ray McJunkins thought the tires on his car were prepared for whatever Springfield’s rugged roads had to offer. But one of his premium tires proved no match for two large potholes on 11th Street this week.
“The unfortunate thing is that I hit one of those potholes,” said McJunkins. “With 11th Street being such a busy street, I would think that more attention would be given to it. But I don’t hesitate to say the streets are terrible.”
McJunkins, pastor of Union Baptist Church in Springfield, said the price for his trouble was $361.30, the cost of a new tire. And he says he is lucky further damage was not incurred.
The Springfield resident is not alone. A report released Wednesday by a transportation research group concluded that deficient, congested roads are costing Illinois drivers $16.4 billion each year.
The report, conducted by national research group TRIP in conjunction with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, found that about one-third of the state’s roads were in poor or mediocre condition and about one-tenth of its bridges are structurally deficient.
Projects to address the deterioration cannot be undertaken “without a substantial boost in state or local transportation funding,” the report states.
“An increased investment in Illinois’ network of roads and bridges and transit is vital to boosting the state’s economy and enhancing quality of life and allowing the state to keep its competitive edge that it enjoys both nationally and internationally,” said report author Carolyn Kelly, the associate director of research and communications for TRIP.
According to the report, 51 percent of state-maintained roads in the Springfield area are poor or deficient, costing $1,439 per driver annually. TRIP came to its findings using data compiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and other organizations shown an increased repair, fuel and tire costs associated with deteriorated roads.
“I do believe that this report and the data that’s contained in it underscore for us what all of us already understood, that our infrastructure needs are becoming greater and greater, day by day, week by week, year by year,” said Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce President Chris Hembrough. Read more: Springfield Journal Register
2018 SBA KY Small Business Awards - Announcing the 2018 Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year
Lesme Romero, Owner of Lexington Pasta and Pasta Garage in Lexington, is the 2018 Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year. >Read more here.
Kentucky’s Other 2018 Small Business Week Award Winners:
Financial Services Advocate: Earl Twinam, First & Peoples Bank and Trust Co.
Small Business Advocate: Tom Underwood, NFIB – Kentucky
Minority Owned Small Business: Kathy Mills, Strategic Communications, LLC
Veteran Owned Small Business: Alejandro Ramirez, Universal Spartan, LLC
Woman Owned Small Business: Mavis Linneman-Clark, The Delish Dish, LLC
The SBA KY District Office and Kentucky SBDC will celebrate in Frankfort May 2nd. For more information, send an email to michael.ashcraft@sba.gov.
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.
Hampton Roads Chamber - State of the City 2018
The Hampton Roads Chamber means business and works to be an impactful advocate, powerful economic partner, and inspiring ignitor for the region. The State of the City Series is five luncheons designed for interaction among business, civic, and community leaders across Hampton Roads. It is an opportunity for city Mayors to reflect on the past year, while also sharing a plan for a successful future. These forums will provide members of the community with valuable information on community issues that affect local businesses, and insight on what to expect in the next year.
Portsmouth State of the City 2018
Date: April 6, 2018
Time: 11:30-2:00 pm
Where: Renaissance Portsmouth
Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center
425 Water Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
Suffolk State of the City 2018
Date: May 8, 2018
Time: 11:30-2:00 pm
Where: Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Waterfront Hotel
100 E Constance Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
CONTACT: Priscilla Monti 757-470-6805 pmonti@hrchamber.com
Birmingham Bloomfield 2017-2018 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide
The Birmingham-Bloomfield 2017-2018 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide is available at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Joe Bauman 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.
Chamber roundtable focuses on ways to improve the Sauk Prairie experience
Double Decker Spring Run keeping new route, registration now open
Chamber roundtable focuses on ways to improve the Sauk Prairie experience
For Bobbi Miller and her team at the Sauk City Cennex, making sure every single person who enters the store feels valued and welcomed is a priority.
“We make a point to greet every customer walking in and as they leave, thank them for their business,” said Miller, store manager. “We make it a point to partake in small talk. As a person you likely feel more valued if we are looking to converse. And that can go a long way in a small community.”
According to a recent three-part customer service and hospitality-themed roundtable held by the Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Cennex is doing it right: first impressions can mean the difference of gaining a repeat customer and even getting new customers based on word-of-mouth recommendations.
Born of out the 2017 Sauk Prairie Market Analysis, the Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce has been hosting a series of roundtable discussions with community stakeholders in an effort to learn about residents’, visitors’ and workers’ needs in the Sauk Prairie Area.
Tywana German, executive director of the chamber, said the March events were held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and was tailored to customer service, hospitality and first impressions.
“Both meetings were very well attended by a diverse business group,” German said. “In April, we will come back together and learn and discuss how to handle disgruntled customers, remain calm and diffuse a situation. It’s geared toward making people pause and think about the things they say and do.” Read more: The Sauk Prairie Eagle
Double Decker Spring Run keeping new route, registration now open
The Double Decker Spring Run returns this year seeking to set a record number of runners.
The Spring Run developed along side the Double Decker Arts Festival, making this the 23rd year for both events. Runners have the option of participating in a 5K, 10K or kids’ fun run on the morning of the festival. The race begins on North Lamar Boulevard near the YMCA and takes runners through different parts of town and the university.
Everything is organized by the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce. Last year, they updated the path of the race in order to better accommodate the growing numbers of people who fill the town at the end of every april for the competition.
In years past before the route change, the start times were staggered. One set of runners would begin at this time and another would start 15 minutes later. The change in the course allowed for them to begin both groups at the same time and have the same finish line. Before this change, organizers would only request for one lane of that portion of the road to be shut down. This didn’t give the runners a lot of room to spread out.
“I just wasn’t conducive to the amount of people who were in that area,’ said the Chamber’s Vice President, Pam Swain. “Last year, we had a new course that allowed us to start our 5K and 10K at the same time, where in the past, we were starting them 15 minutes apart. So we wouldn’t have those 1,500 people out on the road at one time like we have now. Having each race group on the road at one time was manageable, but not ideal. Last year when we decided to start them at the same time, because that would be the best situation for us, we realized we had to have a hard shutdown of the road from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. so that no traffic at all went through during the set up time and the race. By 10, we’re usually completely finished.” Read more: Oxford Citizen
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey (Chamber Mentor)
RULE #117 80%
of our income comes from less than 20% of our supporters
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.
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