Monday, April 8, 2019

It’s time to tell the story of Cedarburg!; Health Insurance for Hundreds of Thousands of Americans is at Risk Because of a Disappointing Court Decision; Federal District Judge Rules Against U.S. Department of Labor AHPs; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation on Political Action (Justice Powell); Shenandoah Valley named among top emerging industrial markets in 2019; Accutech Systems Expanding its Headquarters to Downtown Muncie; Association of Chamber of Commerce executives select Gulf Coast Chamber's Hernandez; SBA Loans Available from Regions Bank in Mississippi; Grand Rapids Chamber: Creative Chambers - Where Independents Thrive; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Happy Monday #ChamberWorld! It's going to be a GREAT week!



It’s time to tell the story of Cedarburg!

Our strategy is to “celebrate what people love about Cedarburg in everything we do.” Telling our story consistently is the key and the reason for the initiative and the materials provided. Not only do you have a strong story and theme to use but also a new logo and tag line.

Below is the link to our Brand Navigator. In it, you will find a summary of the research, insights, and conclusions resulting in our brand story, tag line and logo as well as hundreds of creative ideas on how to incorporate these materials to help your business or organization. You may use the deliverables in advertising, on your website, in your social media platforms, or on products you sell, menu items, etc.
Be creative and have fun!

We look forward to your participation and use of the materials, email branding@ci.cedarburg.wi.us if you have any questions.

Cedarburg Brand Navigator



Health Insurance for Hundreds of Thousands of Americans is at Risk Because of a Disappointing Court Decision


The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is disappointed by the recent decision from the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia which found two core provisions of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Association Health Plan (AHP) Final Rule unlawful. Dozens of chambers of commerce across the country have launched, or are in the process of launching new Association Health Plans as permitted by the final rule, with over 20,000 individuals currently covered by robust and affordable plans. In addition to the individuals currently covered, dozens of other state and local chambers are in the process of launching a new AHP, and estimate that over 300,000 individuals will obtain coverage through this opportunity in the coming year.
These new AHPs provide robust coverage with a myriad of consumer protections including a ban on excluding individuals based on pre-existing conditions. The U.S. Chamber will continue to work to support this policy in the courts and believe that the decision should be stayed pending the completion of the litigation.

Association Health plans are helping small businesses

In alignment with the Trump administration’s goal to provide new pathways for affordable and comprehensive health coverage, the Department of Labor’s June 2018 final rule on AHPs has been a welcome first step for millions of small businesses and self-employed individuals across the country. This regulation will allow thousands of small businesses the opportunity to purchase and enroll in robust and affordable health care coverage.

Addressing the concerns of small businesses in rural and urban communities

Small businesses and entrepreneurs operating in rural communities across America create an estimated two-thirds of all new jobs annually, however they are more likely than their urban counterparts to experience higher out of pocket costs for health care due to lack of competition within the marketplace.
In addition, a February 2019 study conducted by Small Business Majority found that rising health care costs were among the top three concerns for rural small business owners. By leveraging this new AHP opportunity, chambers of commerce across the country have begun to shift power back to consumers and provide another choice to individuals who would otherwise struggle to afford coverage.
In urban metropolitan areas, the rising cost of health care further compounds the problem as small businesses are simply not able to keep pace when it comes to recruiting and retaining labor when compared to large employers. Unable to absorb the rising costs of providing health coverage to their employees on the small and individual group markets, AHPs have been a welcome opportunity to level the playing field.

Centralized database for businesses and local chambers of commerce

To assist businesses and local/state chambers of commerce, the U.S. Chamber has created an AHP Database that provides a comprehensive directory of available AHPs for businesses who are looking to join one in their area, as well as a centralized database for associations to list an AHP they offer. In addition, if associations are interested in setting up an AHP of their own, the database includes resources and contact information for legal and benefit experts.
There’s no reason that small businesses and their employees should have less access and choices in coverage options. Read more: U.S. Chamber


South Suburban  Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory  

The Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Business Directory   is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Barbara Wesener 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.


Federal District Judge Rules Against U.S. Department of Labor AHPs

A Federal District Judge late on March 28 found as unlawful two provisions of United States Department of Labor's June 2018 Association Health Plan rule—putting the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry's recently-announced intentions to participate in an Illinois Chamber of Commerce-sponsored AHP in limbo. The DOL's options are to seek a stay while appealing the decision or revisit their AHP rules.

The ruling by Judge John D. Bates from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia follwed suit by Attorneys General representing 11 states and the District of Columbia stated that the DOL's implementation of President Donald Trump's October 17 Executive Order 13813 (Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States) as "clearly an end run" around the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) "most stringent requirements."

The Judge found that the DOL's expanded definition of an "employer" did not fit within the Employeee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974, which the President cited in his Executive Order.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which strongly supported the DOL's AHP rule, is considering what actions it can take.

ECCI President and CEO John Quigley will return to Springfield on April 3 to discuss the matter with Illinois Chamber executives as part of a multi-chamber legislative trip that includes Chamber 630, Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce and Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce.


#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation on Political Action (Justice Powell)

“Business must learn the lesson long ago learned by labor and other self-interest groups. This lesson is that political power is necessary; that such power must be assiduously cultivated and that, when necessary, it must be used aggressively and with determination – without the reluctance which has been so characteristic of American business.”


-- Justice Lewis F. Powell, 1971, in a memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, prior to his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.


Shenandoah Valley named among top emerging industrial markets in 2019


The Shenandoah Valley was the only Virginia region to be listed in the “10 Emerging U.S. Industrial Markets to Watch in 2019” assessment produced by multibillion-dollar commercial real estate firm Colliers International.

“The fact that our market was the only one in Virginia is certainly a very positive sign for us, and we will certainly market that,” said Brian Shull, the director of economic development for Harrisonburg.

The Valley region is expected to rise from a secondary to a primary logistics market, according to a quote in the list from John Lesinski, the executive vice president of Colliers International’s Northern Virginia office.

Some of the Shenandoah Valley’s strengths listed by Colliers include growth potential, a large labor force and rail access to the Port of Baltimore and Port of Virginia.

The progress of local development is also discussed in Colliers’ assessment. Historically, new construction in the Shenandoah Valley has lingered around 1 million square feet. The area of new development in 2018 almost doubled to 1.8 million square feet.

If all 3.3 million square feet of 2019’s newly planned development is completed, it would be a record year, according to the assessment.

New businesses need a workforce to fill their staffing needs, and the educational institutions of the Valley help to provide a vast and educated pool of workers, Shull said.

“I think the fact that the I-81 corridor is really an education corridor as well plays into that,” he said. “You have an amazing pipeline for a future workforce.”

“When you combine that the great access that Interstate 81 provides, it’s easy to see why we were selected,” Shull added.

The proximity to the markets of the Baltimore, the Washington, D.C., metro area and the Ohio Valley is also highlighted in Colliers’ list.

“We provide quick and easy access to those markets, but the cost out here is significantly lower,” Shull said.

Annual asking rental rates in the Shenandoah Valley are $1 per square foot below the national average, according to Colliers. Although local prices have risen, as Colliers notes, 2018 finished with an average price of $4.27 per square foot per year.

“I have heard that our per square foot price is less than the national average,” said Casey Armstrong, director of community development for Rockingham County.

The costs may be lower because of the local government encouragement of industrial development, he said.

Frank Tamberrino, president and CEO of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, said Colliers International’s expertise and unbiased approach provide more legitimacy to the economic strength and potential of Shenandoah Valley. Read more: The Winchester Star


Accutech Systems Expanding its Headquarters to Downtown Muncie

At a news conference this morning, Accutech Systems, a leading software company for the trust and investment industry, announced plans to invest more than $5.5 million to purchase and redevelop a 40,000 SF building in downtown Muncie. Accutech currently employs 53 people locally and 25 additional remote workers. By 2023, the company intends to grow to at least 100 local employees.

“We were quickly outgrowing our current space and looked hard at multiple different options for our expansion. Ultimately, this is the community that I want to invest in and this project will allow us to continue our expansion in a space three times the size we have today. This project is going to allow us to retain our amazing workforce as well as attract more highly skilled talent to stay in, or relocate to, Muncie. We want to build on the groundwork that has been laid for Muncie’s revitalization and I am proud to have Accutech bring more density and energy in a commitment to being a long-standing anchor for our downtown’s current and future growth,” said Adam Unger, Accutech President.

Accutech’s new headquarters will bring renewed life into a former Sears Department Store building that has been underutilized for decades. The building is located in a premier location in the 100 block of Walnut Street, an area revitalized by a complete streetscape and utility reconstruction in 2017.

Mayor Dennis Tyler noted, “The City of Muncie, local foundations, private business owners, and so many others have demonstrated a long-term commitment to investing in our downtown. Accutech’s decision to choose our central city for their expansion is a testament to the work that has been done to make our city’s core an attractive and vibrant place that is poised for new investment. I am thrilled that we were able to efficiently mobilize and work collaboratively to give this 30-year family business an opportunity to retain and create high-quality job opportunities in our city’s core.”

Founded in 1987, Accutech provides innovative wealth management solutions through market-leading software and operations services, providing clients with operations specialists, software functionality, software support, daily processing, a hosted environment, data backup, disaster recovery, software upgrades, hardware upgrades and access to IT specialists.

The company plans to hire approximately 20 new employees this year in a variety of positions including trust operations assistants, IT specialists, software developers and software support. New positions are expected to offer salaries above both the state and Muncie-Delaware County average wage. Interested applicants may apply online at https://www.trustasc.com/forms/careers-at-accutech/.

Local elected officials and representatives of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and Delaware Advancement Corporation joined company president Adam Unger to share the news to a crowd of business and community leaders.

“Accutech is the type of high-value company that every community is seeking to attract. They will create a dynamic workplace that will draw talent from the technology sector to Muncie, thereby advancing our efforts toward talent attraction, increased investment, and population growth,” said Jay Julian, President & CEO, Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Alliance.

“Indiana's tech community is on a roll thanks to the spirit and commitment of Hoosier entrepreneurs and innovators across the state," said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. "Companies like Accutech are not only helping advance our economy by developing new solutions with 21st century technology, they're also propelling our communities forward. With this announcement, it is clear that Accutech will be a true partner in enhancing the quality of place in the Muncie area and in supporting the continued momentum of Indiana’s tech industry and workforce."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Accutech Systems up to $600,000 in conditional tax credits. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Muncie is also supporting the project and has executed an economic development agreement with the company. The public approval process for local assistance is underway. More: Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance


Happy 50th NKY Chamber!!!


Today April 1st, 2019 marks the 50th birthday of The NKY Chamber. To commemorate the occasion we have dug up an article from 1969... "At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, the Covington-Kenton-Boone Chamber of Commerce will meet at the Town and Country Restaurant, Park Hills. At the same time the Chamber of Commerce of Campbell County will meet at Glenn Schmidt’s Restaurant in Newport. Mark well that date; it must be a historic one.

On that auspicious evening the 700 members of the two chambers will vote on a plan of consolidation already worked out by a joint committee. If they ratify the merger, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will be born on the first day of April, 1969.

For the first time in a century and a half, business and industry in this three-county area will be able to speak with a single strong voice. The old factionalism that has divided the very sources of economic strength in this unique community then will be out of vogue. The Licking River, one a kind of mental hazard barring effective area-wide action, will cease to exist except as a communal waterway.

Already some leaders have hailed the new chamber as the first step toward a drawing together of public services and local governments in the area. There can be little doubt that the NKCC will quickly become a catalyst for further collaboration of groups and interests in such fields as transportation, river development, education, and industrial expansion.

With the separatism that has sapped the region’s strength left far behind, the prospect for all citizens of Northern Kentucky is exciting, inspiring, and challenging. We of The Kentucky Post expect great accomplishments under the new, upgraded leadership of the Northern Chamber.

The whole area owes a substantial debt of gratitude to Robert Shaffer, president of the Campbell Chamber; Gordon Martin, president of the Covington-Kenton-Boone Chamber, and to the joint committee members, Edwin Hengelbrook Jr., Henry Pogue, Howard Wendling, Walter Pieschel, Frank Middleberg, and Robert Tarwin. A hearty “Well done!” to these architects of consolidation."- The Kentucky Post, February 26th, 1969


Association of Chamber of Commerce executives select Gulf Coast Chamber's Hernandez

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has announced Membership Development Coordinator, Mei-Li Hernandez, has been selected to participate in the ACCE Membership Development Division Sales Mentorship Program for 2019.
ACCE and Membership Development Division volunteers match applicants to experienced sales professionals for monthly consultations and training throughout the calendar year. Both mentors and mentees are expected to work together to develop and track progress on the mentee goals for the year and must agree to communicate regularly.
Mentees will benefit from the advice of mentors on best practices and recommended resources for all aspects of the sales process, including goal setting, time management, sales style, and more. Mentors will also serve as sounding boards for typical sales challenges.
Hernandez will provide her mentor with her goals for the year, and a plan will be developed on how to achieve these goals and beyond efficiently and successfully. Mentors are encouraged to contact the supervisors of their mentees sometime during the program year, to get feedback and perspective on their training, skill-building, and other professional development needs. Mississippi Business Journal

SBA Loans Available from Regions Bank in Mississippi


Helping your business grow.
We’ve got big ideas on small business solutions.
A Small Business Administration (SBA) Banker can help you determine the best loan for your situation. Chris Wallace is a Vice President and SBA Banker for Regions. He partners with the bank’s commercial bankers across the state, helping facilitate SBA loans and other customer needs. A banking industry veteran with more than 17 years of experience, Chris has held a number of leadership positions within the bank and has served as an SBA Banker for more than two years.

So contact Chris today to learn how he can help move your business forward.

Christopher A. Wallace
Commercial Banking Vice President | SBA Banker
1020 Highland Colony W. Pkwy.
Suite 200 | Ridgeland, MS 39157
601.790.8161 | chris.wallace@regions.com






Grand Rapids Chamber: Creative Chambers - Where Independents Thrive

Creative Chambers
The Grand Rapids Chamber has long supported the creative community in Michigan. This was recognized when we were chosen as one of five chambers in the state of Michigan to partner with the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office on their Creative Chambers program. This program offers funding for chambers to further support the creative community in the regions they serve.
Read More About the Creative Chambers Program

Calling all Grand Rapids creatives in:

    • Advertising
    • Architecture
    • Arts Schools, Artists & Agents
    • Creative Technology
    • Culture & Heritage
    • Design
    • Fashion, Garment & Textile
    • Film, AV & Broadcasting
    • Literary, Publishing & Print
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts & Crafts


Sign Up Today to Work With Creative Chambers



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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