St. Croix River Crossing Turning New Richmond Into ‘Boomtown’; Town Square Chamber Publications: Geneva Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!; GLMV Chamber to host seminar on keeping communities safe; Frank J. Kenny - Announcing the Chamber Pros Webinar Series Chamber Pros Webinar Series; Lt. Governor tells Goshen crowd that attracting workers is priority; Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Northern Michigan Leaders React to Senate Advancing Medicaid Work-Requirement Bill; Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. James Comer celebrate I-169 designation; Hosemann focused on education and economic development at Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber luncheon; Prince William Chamber Hires Ross Snare as Director of Government Relations; 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!

St. Croix River Crossing Turning New Richmond Into ‘Boomtown’
A small town just outside the Twin Cities is busting at the seams.
New Richmond is one of the fastest growing communities in the entire state of Wisconsin.
A big reason why is the new St. Croix River Crossing, which opened last summer, creating a direct path from the Twin Cities to western Wisconsin.
According to Rob Kreibich, with the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the town is Wisconsin’s new hot attraction.
“Welcome to Boomtown USA, I guess it’s the new boomtown,” he said.
That’s not an exaggeration.
The town is full of new storefronts and businesses, including a chiropractor, insurance agency and a steakhouse. There’s also an Aldi, Wal-Mart and a long list of chains, including a new 60-room hotel.
“May and October are very busy,” said the hotel’s general manager, Samantha Collins. “I’ve had to turn people away for those dates, we have weekends where we have three or four weddings. Maybe we should have built another floor on the building.”
Another happy newcomer is the owner of Vudu Street Food, which is set to open Friday. Read more: CBS Minnesota WCCO 4

Town Square Chamber Publications: Geneva Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce has worked with Town Square Publications on several publications. Chamber maps and community profiles are well done and we are especially pleased with the quality of the printing and the paper.

Production schedules were provided when we began the projects and the schedule did not waiver from our agreement. Most importantly we had editorial control over the copy and we were able to select the photos and the subjects that are featured. We were able to proof before going to print but we rarely found errors or concerns. Communications throughout the production period were excellent.

We work hard to provide quality and outstanding service to our members. We identify programs that will be good for the business community with an additional benefit – some non-dues income for the Chamber.

We appreciate our partnership with Town Square and will call on them again for the next project.

Jean Gaines
President 
Geneva Chamber of Commerce

GLMV Chamber to host seminar on keeping communities safe

The Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills Chamber of Commerce will host the "Keep Our Communities Safe" luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Austins Fuel Room, 1060 E. Peterson Road in Libertyville.

The keynote speaker is Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, who will be joined by Undersheriff David Hare, Chief Jonathan Petrillo and Lt. Andrea Usry.

The discussion will focus on keeping schools, houses of worship and businesses safe. Curran will discuss crisis intervention training that helps first responders identify people in crisis and collaborative relationships with the schools.

The cost of the event is $17 for members who pay in advance, and $20 for nonmembers and those paying at the door. Read more: Daily Herald

Frank J. Kenny - Announcing the Chamber Pros Webinar Series
Chamber Pros Webinar Series


Through industry surveys and feedback from our recent free training on the Chamber Road Map to Social Media Success, you told us you wanted this training.

Check it out at https://chamber.frankjkenny.com/cpws

Enrollment is now open!

#ChamberProsWebinarSeries




Lt. Governor tells Goshen crowd that attracting workers is priority

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch tried to buy a cup of coffee in downtown Thursday. She went away empty handed and laughed about the experience later.

Crouch used the story during her speech to Goshen Chamber of Commerce members Thursday to illustrate how Goshen’s retail and other economic segments are booming.

Crouch said she and Mayor Jeremy Stutsman went to The Electric Brew coffee shop as they toured the city, only to find themselves at the end of a very long line of customers.

“That speaks to how vibrant the downtown community is,” she said.

She also drew laughs and applause when she said, “I can’t tell you how impressed I am with everything that is going on. If I didn’t live in Evansville I would live in Goshen.” Read more: Kokomo Tribune

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, Julieth 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.

Northern Michigan Leaders React to Senate Advancing Medicaid Work-Requirement Bill

The state senate passing a bill on Thursday that would require some people on Medicaid to either work or lose their coverage.

If it becomes law, the bill would require able-bodied people between the age of 19 and 64 to work at least 29 hours a week.

According to Senate Bill 897, an “able-bodied” individual is someone between 19 and 64, who doesn’t have a disability, isn’t pregnant, isn’t caring for a child under six, and isn’t a full-time student.

If you check all those boxes and are on Medicaid, but you don’t have job, you’d have to find work, if this bill becomes law.

“Generally I support some sort of productivity and some sort of give-back if you will to the community that folks live in, if they are receiving some sort of assistance and that’s on a case by case basis,” 105thDistrict Representative Triston Cole, said.

The bill is now off to the House, where some Northern Michigan lawmakers say, they’re on board with the concept.

“We are a long ways from something happening on this as far as becoming law, but I generally support the concept of what’s being worked on,” Rep. Cole, added.

Supporters of the bill argue it would get many off of government assistance and could even help with a workforce shortage.

“There are workforce issues here in Cheboygan County and in Northern Michigan,” Scott Herceg, said.

Scott Herceg is the executive director of the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce, he says they haven’t taken a stance on the bill yet, but can see both good and bad.

“The economy is dramatically coming back, especially here in Cheboygan and the gap right now is a lot of the workforce, so on that side of things I could see how this bill might help,” Herceg, said.

“It’s going to help some people but there could be an adverse effect on others too,” Herceg, added. Read more: 9 and 10 News

Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. James Comer celebrate I-169 designation

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. James Comer (KY-1) attended an unveiling ceremony Monday to designate Pennyrile Parkway as an interstate.

Hosted by the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, the event unveiled one of four signs to be installed along Pennyrile Parkway through Christian and Hopkins Counties to designate the road as I-169.

“Today, Hopkinsville can check that not only do they have an interstate that goes right through their community, but they’re also a major corridor between Evansville and Nashville and linking I-24 and I-69, so this is a big day for the future of economic development in Hopkinsville,” said Comer.

The designation means that 30-plus miles of Pennyrile Parkway will be upgraded. The project is estimated to cost $161 million. Read more: WPSD Local 6

Hosemann focused on education and economic development at Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber luncheon

Delbert Hosemann didn’t have any big announcement to make, but the Mississippi Secretary of State did have a plethora of information to share with those attending the monthly Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday.

The Vicksburg native, who has been rumored to be making a run for the office of lieutenant governor, said education and economic development should be the focus and priority of improving the lives of Mississippians.

“We need to nurture business, small business in particular,” Hosemann said. “And we don’t have to give away Mississippi with incentives.”

He said the idea of offering incentives to attract major manufacturers needs to change and the focus turn to developing trades and a skilled labor force for those 70 percent of graduates who do not plan to attend college.

Hosemann showed charts from a survey of 2,000 businesses indicating the top priorities of existing business is an educated workforce and community support.

“Not all businesses want a tax break,” Hosemann said. “Half of the 2,000 businesses would expand their business today if they had an educated workforce.”

An educated workforce is the key, said Hosemann.

Half of those businesses that answered the survey also indicated it takes them up to three months to find a qualified employee. Read more: Vicksburg Post

Prince William Chamber Hires Ross Snare as Director of Government Relations

Ross Snare is the new Director of Government Relations for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. He started in his new role on April 23.

A graduate of Christopher Newport University (CNU), Snare comes to the Chamber from Chairman Corey Stewart’s office, where he served as the Chairman’s Legislative Aide.  As Chairman Stewart’s Aide, Snare was the liaison to the business community and assisted with budget, legislative, business and economic development issues.  He previously served as the Legislative Aide to the Springfield District Supervisor in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and as an Aide in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“Business isn’t a single party issue, it’s a bi-partisan one” Snare said.  He looks forward to advancing business issues and interests in his role at the Chamber.  “Working with Chairman Stewart, I got to see businesses as they work, and to be part of making connections from the government point of view,” Snare said, “and now, I get to work directly with them and help promote a business friendly environment.”

Snare’s passion for government and politics began before college, but took off when he arrived at CNU in 2009.  Jumping in head first, he ran for class president and won.  A few weeks later, he became the youngest student body president at CNU.  Later, he was the youngest person elected to the CNU Alumni Society Board of Directors, and in 2016–2017, he served as President of the Alumni Society.  “I like to be involved, see where things can be improved, and take the lead to make the changes needed to be more successful.”

Snare’s first order of business is to “dive head first” and reach out to Chamber members and elected officials and re-introduce himself.   “I like to solve problems and get things done,” Snare said.  “There are a lot of people who want to help and it’s a matter of bringing people together to do that.”

Snare is the son of a military family and comes from Fairfax.  An Eagle Scout, he enjoys spending time outdoors and spending time with family and friends. read more: Prince William Living

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