Friday, January 4, 2019

Chamber issue in Illinois: U-Haul Names Top 50 Growth States for 2018; Valpo Chamber Legislative Hotline Friday, January 18, 2019; Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Meridian City Council reroutes Sweet Gum Bottom Road, despite opposition from residents; The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce wants to make sure that you are up to date on what will be NEW in 2019 here at the chamber; Participation Now Open for the Fox Cities Economic Outlook Survey; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: (Good advice); Virginia Peninsula Collaboration: the Youth Career Expo (YCE); Chamber Delight: Bowling Green aluminum plant to expand, add 90 jobs; Kernersville Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide; Suzy Merchant Receives Lansing Regional 2018 Athena Leadership Award; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Good morning, #ChamberWorld! Have a GREAT weekend!


Chamber issue in Illinois: U-Haul Names Top 50 Growth States for 2018

Illinois tops out-migration states; Texas, Florida rank 1-2 for the 3rd year in a row

Everything continued to be bigger in Texas last year, including the number of U-Haul trucks pulling into the state versus the volume leaving.
Texas registered as the U-Haul No. 1 Growth State in America for the third consecutive year, according to U-Haul® data analyzing U.S. migration trends for 2018.
Florida ranked second for a third year in row. South Carolina inched up one spot to No. 3, while fast-risers Utah and Idaho rounded out the top five states for growth.
Illinois was 50th on the list for the third time in four years, outpacing No. 48 California and No. 49 Michigan for net departures among out-migration states.
U-Haul Growth States are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck sharing transactions that occur annually.
While migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, U-Haul growth data is an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents. Read more: U-HAUL



Valpo Chamber Legislative Hotline
Friday, January 18, 2019

7:30 a.m.
162 W Lincolnway, 2nd Floor Board RoomAll Chamber members are invited to the
Friday, January 18 Legislative Hotline beginning at 7:30 a.m. held at the Valpo Chamber, 2nd Floor Board Room.

State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), and State Representative Ed Soliday (R- Valparaiso), have been invited to attend in person, or via conference call.

State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage), State Representative Chuck Moseley (D-Portage), and the Duneland and Portage Chambers of Commerce will also be invited via conference call.

This legislative briefing will give members an opportunity to hear firsthand about legislation being enacted in Indianapolis. This program is open to all Chamber Members at no cost.

Additional Legislative Hotline Events are scheduled for:

Friday, February 8
Friday, February 22
Friday, March 15
Friday, March 29



Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber today! Thanks to Jon MaynardPam Swain, Rosie Vassalo and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!




Oxford Mississippi 2017-2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory


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.

Meridian City Council reroutes Sweet Gum Bottom Road, despite opposition from residents
Despite opposition from residents who said they are being kept in the dark, The Meridian City Council on Friday approved the rerouting of a portion of Sweet Gum Bottom Road, clearing the way for economic development in the area’s industrial park.

Drivers will instead take West Malone Ranch Road, which will be paved, striped and lit, according to James Lloyd, director of operations for the city’s public works department. Work on the road is expected to start in February and be finished in April, with an estimated cost of $150,000. Long term, the city will pave the road with surface asphalt, Lloyd said.

Sweet Gum Bottom Road will remain open until the improvements are made to West Malone Ranch Road.

The council’s action came at the urging of the Bill Hannah, CEO of East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, who said rerouting the road would make the site more attractive to industry looking to relocate to Lauderdale County.

Hannah said the road splits the site into about 170 acres on each side, so rerouting it would increase the area to about 340 acres. A site that large would be more likely to draw a major company to the area, he said.

“It’s going to be our premier industrial park,” Hannah said of the site, which is owned by the Lauderdale County Economic Development Corporation. Read more: Meridian Star


The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce wants to make sure that you are up to date on what will be NEW in 2019 here at the chamber

With 2019 around the corner we wanted to make sure that all members are up to date on some new things that have been rolled out recently. We encourage you to contact us with any questions that you may have.

New Event for 2019 - Plainfield Giving Gala
· Save the Date: February 16th, 2019
· Buy Tickets and Sponsorships Here

Plainfield Business & Job EXPO

· Register for a booth & Pay Online
· Business to Business Networking from 9am – 10am

· You can now pay your Membership Dues ONLINE
· PAY DUES HERE· $25.00 LATE FEE for all membership dues that are 30 days past due (be sure to pay on time and use the online option)
· Invoices will still be sent out

 Put your Credit Card on file with us (auto renewal available) 
· Credit card information is kept on our secure Paytrace banking system for the payment of all services and fees. A new form must be completed for each card kept on file. The PACC accepts Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, and Discover

Be sure to stay up to date with our events calendar which you can access at our chamber website, 2019 calendar is up to date!


Participation Now Open for the Fox Cities Economic Outlook Survey 

Local survey participation open January 2 through January 11

APPLETON, Wis. (January 2, 2019) – The Fox Cities Regional Partnership, the economic development division of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, is preparing its annual Economic Outlook Report which will be unveiled at the upcoming Economic Outlook Lunch event on February 14. Your professional insight and expertise are critical as we formulate information regarding the local and regional (Fox Cities) economy. Please consider completing the brief economic outlook survey online to help us gain a greater understanding of the current local/regional economy. Additionally, this survey will capture a glimpse into 2019. The survey closes on January 11. 

All responses are confidential and only used to generate results for our Economic Outlook Report. Participation in the economic outlook survey can be accessed online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SQ6LTRM.
  
Responses will be tabulated and presented on Thursday, February 14 at our annual Economic Outlook Lunch event. Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D., president, chief economist and founder of Graphs and Laughs, LLC will be our keynote speaker featuring insight on national and global economic trends. Registration is available online for the Economic Outlook Lunch at http://bit.ly/2019EOL.

For any survey questions, please contact Jennifer Brown, Director of Existing Industry and Innovation at (920) 734-7101 or jennifer@foxcitiesregion.com.

2019 Fox Cities Economic Outlook Lunch
Presenting Sponsor: Investors Community Bank
Thursday, February 14, 2019
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley, 333 W. College Avenue, Appleton
Individual tickets - $45 Chamber members; $55 General admission
Tables of ten - $400 Chamber members; $500 General Admission
Register here: http://bit.ly/2019EOL


#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: (Good advice)

"If your business depends on youyou don't have a business, you have a job. And it's the worst job in the world because you're working for a lunatic." - Michael Gerber - author of "The E-myth Revisited"



Virginia Peninsula Chamber Collaboration: the Youth Career Expo (YCE)

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Peninsula Workforce Board and the Greater Virginia Peninsula School Divisions work together to produce the Youth Career Expo (YCE). It is our belief that by creating career ready graduates, we are paving the way for our youth to contribute to the economic sustainability of our region. The goal of the Expo is to educate students about the variety of career opportunities in the region and the skills needed to acquire those jobs.

YCE provides a balanced exhibition of the industries which make up our region, with a cross-section of over 60 exhibitors from nearly every business sector including Shipbuilding, Advanced Manufacturing, Government-Public Safety, Finance, Construction, Hospitality, STEM, Defense-Aerospace, Education, Automotive, Green Jobs, Healthcare and Transportation, have a presence at this event.

If you are a business owner, you understand the need to plan ahead, and to compete for the future workforce. The Youth Career Expo is a great opportunity for businesses, like yours, to connect with the future workforce and to encourage them now, to acquire the skills they will need to be successful in your industry, later. Working with high school students nearing graduation provides you an opportunity to help sustain future economic stability, while giving students the chance to explore career choices available in our region.


WHEN
Thursday, March 21, 2019 | 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

WHERE
Hampton Roads Convention Center | 1610 Coliseum Drive | Hampton, VA

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Presenting Sponsor (Exclusive) - Newport News Shipbuilding

Signature Sponsor -- $2,000
Includes two 6' skirted tables, four chairs, four lunch tickets, and one electrical outlet
Half Page Ad in printed program (Actual Size - 4.75 x 3.68)
Linked Company Logo on event webpage, and all electronic invitations sent by the VPCC

Corporate Sponsor -- $1,250
Includes one 6' skirted table, two chairs, and two lunch tickets
Third Page Ad in printed program (Actual Size - 4.75 x 2.33)
Linked Company Logo on event webpage

Expo Sponsor -- $750
Includes one 6' skirted table, two chairs, and two lunch tickets
Company Name in printed program, and on event webpage


EXHIBIT PRICING
All exhibits include one 6' skirted table, two chairs, and two lunch tickets.
Standard Booth -- $300
State and Government Booth -- $200
Non-Profit Booth 501(c3) -- $150
Electric (Per Outlet) -- $70

Additional Lunch Ticket -- $25
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you are interested in volunteering as a Mock Interviewer or a Guide for our 11th Annual Youth Career Expo 2019, please register through Eventbrite by using the links below:

Mock Interviewer:
https://annualyouthcareerexpo2019-mockinterviewers.eventbrite.com

Guide:
https://youthcareerexpo-2019-guides.eventbrite.com

Reality Fair Volunteer:
https://youthcareerexpo-2019-volunteers4realityfair.eventbrite.com

*Mock Interviewers, Guides, and Reality Fair Volunteers Needed! Contact Rita Bond at rbond@vcwpeninsula.com for more information

QUESTIONS?
Contact Suzy Johnson at sjohnson@vpcc.org or (757) 325-8160


Chamber Delight: Bowling Green aluminum plant to expand, add 90 jobs

Less than two years after opening its Bowling Green plant, automotive parts manufacturer Kobelco Aluminum Products & Extrusions Inc. will expand with a $42 million investment, bringing its total planned employment to 220 and overall Kentucky investment to $95 million, Gov. Matt Bevin announced today.
“This major expansion by Kobelco underscores that Kentucky is the nation’s leader in both aluminum and automotive-related production,” Gov. Bevin said. “As America’s engineering and manufacturing center of excellence, we will continue to support the growth and success of existing employers like Kobelco – through a strong business climate, low-cost energy rates, quick access to raw materials, proximity to key markets, and custom-designed workforce development programs.”
Kobelco executives plan to add a new melting furnace, extrusion press and fabrication equipment. Company leaders plan to start construction in January 2019 and start production in the expanded operation in the first half of 2020.
The plant manufactures aluminum bumper and sub-frame materials. Automakers increasingly want aluminum parts as they seek to lighten their vehicles to meet tightening federal fuel economy and emissions standards.
Kobe Steel, Kobelco’s corporate parent, initially announced the Warren County plant in mid-2016 and built it near an existing sister plant, Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products LLC (KAAP) on Central Avenue in the South Central Kentucky Industrial Park. The Kobelco facility opened in February 2017.
“Kobelco Aluminum Products & Extrusions Inc. was established in April 2016 using our technology from Japan, and with the cooperation of Kentucky officials, our customers, and all the employees working at Kobelco, we were able to successfully begin mass production here in the US,” said Hiroaki Matsubara, Kobe Steel senior managing executive officer. “And now, supported by even more robust demand for our products, we are proud to announce that we will be making our second major investment in our operations in less than two years. With that, our aim is to continue to make our contribution to the weight reduction of automobiles and to further develop our business footprint in the Bowling Green facility.”
Founded in 1905 and headquartered in Kobe and Tokyo, Kobe Steel operates worldwide under the KOBELCO brand. The company added aluminum and copper to its lineup of businesses in 1917. With numerous corporate subsidiaries, Kobe now offers a diverse range of products and services including steel, welding materials, industrial machinery, infrastructure and plant engineering services, construction equipment and electric power supply. Kobe employs over 37,000 people at more than 100 locations around the world.
KAAP, the sister facility in Bowling Green, opened in 2005 and produces forged suspension components for cars and SUVs. That plant employs about 500 people. In spring 2017 KAAP announced a $53 million expansion – the facility’s seventh – adding 129 jobs.
Sen. Mike Wilson, of Bowling Green, said continued growth will allow the region to remain a leader in the automotive industry. 
“I’m pleased to hear that Kobelco has decided to continue to invest and expand in Bowling Green,” Sen. Wilson said. “Adding to their existing facility will help ensure that West Kentucky continues to be a leader in aluminum and automotive parts manufacturing.”
Rep. Jim DeCesare, of Bowling Green, said pro-business legislation has begun to pay off across the commonwealth and locally.
“Kentucky continues to prove itself as the best place in the country for the manufacturing and aluminum industries to grow,” Rep. DeCesare said. “In the past two years, Kentucky has implemented pro-growth policies that are reaping huge rewards in the form of major jobs creation, particularly right here in Warren County. This expansion is great news for our entire region, and I look forward to more of the same success.”
Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon praised the company’s decision.
“We are very proud that Kobelco has chosen to expand their current operation at our South Central Kentucky Industrial Park,” Judge-Executive Buchanon said. “They are leading the growing industry of vehicle “light-weighting” and we are enthusiastic about their continued advancement here in Warren County.”
Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson said both the city and Kobelco will benefit from the company’s growth.
“Bowling Green’s aluminum industry is thriving and Kobelco has taken advantage of this growth, and has capitalized on the opportunities provided here,” Mayor Wilkerson said. “We are excited to see their continued success and appreciate their impact on our local economy here in South Central Kentucky.”
Ron Bunch, president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the expansion.
“It’s always exciting when a first-class company like Kobelco surpasses their initial investment and job creation here in Bowling Green,” Bunch said. “The impact 90 more full-time jobs will have on Warren County will improve the quality of life for many in our community.”
Kobelco currently has two performance-based incentive agreements from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, which are designed to encourage investment and job growth for the state.
In addition, Kobelco can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal year 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
Read more: Glascow Daily Times


Kernersville Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide 

The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Community Guide is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Chris Comer and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 



 Kernersville Chamber Community Guide



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.




Suzy Merchant Receives Lansing Regional 2018 Athena Leadership Award



Michigan State head women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant was honored and presented with the 2018 ATHENA Leadership Award by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon on Thursday at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.

WLNS-TV news anchor Sheri Jones, who herself was a 2006 ATHENA Award recipient, was the host of the luncheon, which began with a welcome from Tim Daman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Following sponsor remarks by Denise Droscha, Director of Operations for Two Men and a Truck, and a luncheon, Jones gave a history of the ATHENA Award and other recipients. She then presented the ATHENAPowerLink Award to Kellie Johnson of Kellie's Consignments, before the 2019 ATHENAPowerLink recipient, Leslie Auld of Therapy Today, was introduced.

Dr. MaryLee Davis, Secretary of the MSU Board of Trustees, Emerita, and the first recipient of the ATHENA Award back in 1982, introduced Merchant and presented her with the award.

Merchant, now in her 12th season as head coach of MSU women's basketball, gave an very moving and emotional speech, thanking her family, MSU Athletics staff, her coaching staff, and the empowHER Retreat staff. She also spoke about her professional development and progression, and how she strives to help young women and make a positive difference and influence in their lives. Merchant ended her speech by presenting her award to Amy and Tim Bocian, the parents of April Bocian, for whom the empowHER leadership retreat was created as a way to honor her.

The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive towards the highest levels of professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community, and who pave paths for other women to follow.

"I'm truly humbled to receive this recognition. When I saw some of the past recipients of the ATHENA Award, they're just such inspirational community leaders and women. I've known many of them and just never felt like I was quite up to their level of community involvement. But today, just validates even more that the impact of the empowHER event that we do really resonates with people and it's making a difference," Merchant said.

Overall, Merchant becomes the 37th recipient of the ATHENA Leadership Award.

In all her years in the Greater Lansing area, Merchant has gone to great lengths to become an integral part of the community. In her time off the court and out of the office, Merchant can be seen at many community service events in the Michigan State and greater Lansing area. She was Honorary Chair for the MSU Capital Campaign, "Empower Extraordinary," for faculty and staff and retirees. Merchant has also been an Honorary Chair for numerous Sparrow Hospital Foundation events, including Hike for Hospice, W3 5K/Ok and Dapper Dads Runway Show. In addition to the Sparrow events, Merchant has been the honorary chair for Ele's Place, MSU Children's Health Initiative, Women's Center of Lansing, Haven House, Ronald McDonald House, Advent House Ministries, Old Newsboys' Shoe and Coat Drive, and Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 2016, Merchant helped create the empowHER Retreat. Read more: Michigan State

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

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