Naperville Area Chamber Of Commerce Invites Consulate Generals and Business Leaders To Participate In USMCA Forum Event; Now Accepting Nominations For The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2020 First Citizen; #FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!); The 2019 Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide; Rochester Area Hometown Christmas Parade to draw tens of thousands downtown; Holiday Open House In Ocean Springs; Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce Community Profile & Directory; Indiana Chamber Reacts to Gov. Holcomb’s 2020 Legislative Agenda; Kentucky Chamber president visits Winchester; Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Directory; Duluth & Superior Will Host 2nd Small Business Saturday; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.; WELCOME HOME - The Nation's Premier New Resident Marketing Program for Your Chamber Members

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Chamber of Commerce Daily News

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Naperville Area Chamber Of Commerce Invites Consulate Generals and Business Leaders To Participate In USMCA Forum Event

Public event speaks to the impact of USMCA on Regional business, trade and economic growth

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) will be hosting the USMCA Forum: Connecting your Business to a Global Market on December 12^th, 2019 at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville, IL.  The program will cover key provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA), their implications on Regional business, as well the economic after-effects it may incite. 

“Information shared at the USMCA Forum will be valuable to our members and all to all businesses who are looking to expand their markets to our closest neighbors of Canada and Mexico,” said Kaylin Risvold, President and CEO of the NACC said. “This event will highlight the success of our Members who are currently major players in a global economy and give great information to businesses looking to expand beyond the US borders.”

The NACC has assembled a distinguished panel of presenters:  Reyna Torres Mendivil from the Mexican Consulate General in Chicago and John Cruickshank of the Canadian Consulate General of Chicago will provide a unique trade perspective from their respective country.  Cindy Tomei of the Illinois Manufacturers Association will share global trade data from our area, while Jeff Davis, Vice President of Sales Administration and Marketing for Phoenix Packaging who trades globally, can speak to the direct impact USMCA will have on us locally.  In addition, a representative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will provide an up to the minute update on the status of USMCA in Washington, D.C. 

Reba Osborne, Director of Government Affairs for the NACC notes, “I am thrilled to have such a dynamic panel presenting valuable information at the USMCA forum.  We are committed to providing relevant programming to keep our members abreast of legislation that will impact their business operations.  The USMCA will have a resounding impact on how our businesses operate in a global market."

As this agreement lingers on the cusp of being passed, the forum style event will allow guests to pose questions and discuss the aspects of the agreement that matter most to their business.  Presenting sponsor Spanesi knows the significance of the agreement.  Timothy Morgan, COO of Spanesi Americas stated, “Spanesi Americas, Inc is wholly owned by Spanesi S.p.A. in Italy and operates in over 100 countries globally today. Trade between the USA, Canada, and Mexico is a very important part of our business as we continue to grow our operation in North America. USMCA is very important to all parties in trade between these countries and offers protections for all involved.”

  

The USMCA Forum will be held on December 12^th, 2019 from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville, IL.  Cocktail reception to follow the presentation.  This event is open to the public.  For more information visit: https://naper.cc/USMCA

Now Accepting Nominations For The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2020 First Citizen

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce First Citizen Award is presented to an individual who is widely recognized as an influential leader and role model in the Peninsula business community.

The awardee must be a person of strong character and integrity who has leveraged his/her time, talents and resources toward the betterment of the Virginia Peninsula community.

To nominate an individual for the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce First Citizen Award, please complete the nomination form via the following link: bit.ly/2020FirstCitizenNominationForm.  Nominations will be collected until Friday, December 13, 2019.

#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Buddha

The 2019 Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide

The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Map is available at the chamber today ! Thanks to Maggie Dobson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

A Guide to Cedarburg

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.

Rochester Area Hometown Christmas Parade to draw tens of thousands downtown

The streets of Rochester will come alive with over 100 holiday-themed floats, community groups and marching bands this Sunday for the 68th annual Rochester Area Hometown Christmas Parade.

This year’s parade, which parade chairman Tim Crawford said is the largest Christmas parade in Michigan, will be held Sunday, Dec. 8.

“It’s truly our opportunity to showcase the community and its organizations,” he said.

Started by the Lions Club in the 1950s, the parade became the responsibility of the chamber in the early 1960s, according to Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce President Alaina Campbell.

It is now organized by the chamber’s foundation, which starts thinking about Christmas in July.

“The vast majority of the people on the parade committee have been part of the committee for 20 years or more. It’s a group of folks that enjoy bringing the Christmas spirit to the community,” Crawford said.

This year’s parade is sponsored by Chief Financial Credit Union and Rochester University, which Campbell said both made commitments to sponsor the parade for three years.

“This parade wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors. They are the ones that contribute the money to make this parade happen,” she said.

For the first time, this year’s parade won’t have a specific theme, allowing participants to reuse their past floats and marching attire.

“One of the things that we’ve found is that it’s a little restrictive, particularly for nonprofit organizations that have a float in the parade every year. For them to have to change their float every year can be costly — not only in dollars, but also in time. It puts an extra burden on those nonprofit organizations,” Campbell said.

The parade has become a tradition for many in the community. Over 75,000 people attend the event each year, setting up chairs and blankets along the route as early as 8 a.m.

“So many people have been coming for years and years and years,” Campbell said. “We hear from not only parents with small children today, but grandparents who brought their children when they were little and are now bringing their grandchildren to see the parade. It is just a wonderful family and community tradition.”

After securing a viewing spot, families are invited to the Older Persons’ Commission for a pancake breakfast sponsored by — and to benefit — the Kiwanis Club of Rochester Hills 8-10 a.m.

After bellies are full, children can visit the Santa Wonderland warming tent area — sponsored by Ascension Providence Rochester — at Fourth and Main streets in downtown Rochester to enjoy hot cocoa and participate in holiday-themed activities 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Children can get a quick picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus noon-1:45 p.m., sponsored by the Crawford Insurance Group.

The parade — led by grand marshals George and Betty Seifert — will roll down Main Street, starting at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads, beginning at 2 p.m. and will head south to Third Street. It will feature over 100 units, including floats, bands, dancers, horses, Scout groups, elected officials, churches, community organizations, businesses, nonprofits and more. It will wrap up with Santa and Mrs. Claus on the final float, donated by Bordine’s Nursery.

The parade will go on rain or shine, and free shuttles will run from the Chase Bank on Walton Boulevard in Rochester Hills to the Chase Bank in downtown Rochester 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Following the parade, the public is invited to a free community afterglow party with Santa and Mrs. Claus 4-5 p.m. at Bordine’s, 1835 S. Rochester Road in Rochester Hills. Read more: C & G Newspapers

Holiday Open House In Ocean Springs

‘By Golly, Be Jolly!’ That’s the motto for Downtown Ocean Springs as it prepares to welcome Coast residents to its annual ‘Holiday Open House.’

Friday and Saturday folks can experience deals, discounts, and giveaways from both downtown and uptown businesses.

This open house is to promote small business and shopping local.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cynthia Sutton says the city wants to say thank you in a huge way to those who participate. “If you come out and shop with us and spend $200 at our local boutiques, come to us at the Ocean Springs Visitors Center on Saturday, December 7th between 10 and 4, show us your receipts from the boutiques and we’re going to give you gift cards and other free items just for coming and shopping with us here in Ocean Springs.” Read more: WXXV 25 TV


Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce Community Profile & Directory

The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce Community Profile & Directory is available at the Plainfield Area Chamber today! Thanks to Tasha Kitson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Plainfield 2018 Community Profile and 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.

Indiana Chamber Reacts to Gov. Holcomb’s 2020 Legislative Agenda

Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kevin Brinegar comments on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2020 Next Level agenda for the state:

“The Governor is focused on the policies that will have the greatest impact on Hoosiers and their employers. You can’t ask for more than that.

“We are encouraged by the forward-looking approaches Gov. Holcomb has put forth to keep our economy strong and grow talent.

“We are especially pleased that the Governor has continued to make the health of Hoosiers a priority. Raising the smoking and vaping age to 21 is one important step we can do to combat the recent vaping illnesses and deaths, as well as the state’s high smoking rate. With the Governor championing this policy, in addition to all the other groups, it strengthens the effort and should move us across the finish line.

“The Governor’s push for better broadband connectivity statewide is critical; this is a big issue for businesses and communities wanting to attract talent. We’ve made strides in getting broadband to all corners but in many places the speed of use still needs to greatly improve. The infrastructure focus from Governor Holcomb is a welcome sign that this, as well as our highways, will get more attention.” 

Kentucky Chamber president visits Winchester

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce made a pit stop in Winchester Friday as part of a 2020 legislative preview tour.

Ashli Watts, the new president and chief executive officer of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, visited Winchester to meet community leaders. She also discussed the business community’s priorities ahead of the 2020 legislative session.

According to a news release, the 2020 legislative preview tour aims to familiarize members of local chambers of commerce with the priorities of the Kentucky Chamber.

There was a full house at the Winchester-Clark County Bluegrass Community and Technical College campus. Community members listened to Watts’ hour-long presentation before asking questions.

Watts presented on several issues facing the business community, which the Kentucky Chamber’s 2020 Legislative Agenda and 2019 Four Pillars for Prosperity report include, according to the release.

The business community’s top priorities for the 2020 session include: investing in Kentucky’s infrastructure, continuing pension reform, enacting sports wagering, curbing tobacco use, preparing the workforce, pro-growth tax reform, reforming the criminal justice system, ensuring patient protection, allowing principal selection, improving early childhood education and improving legal liability climate.

“We survey our membership on their thoughts on all of these issues happening in Frankfort,” Watts said.

Watts said there is a representation of small businesses on the Kentucky Chamber’s board, so the board always tries to keep small businesses in mind.

“I think it’s important to reemphasize one of my goals is to engage our small businesses,” Watts said.

With over 2,000 pieces of legislation being filed every single year, and with having a part-time legislature, Watts said it’s essential for the chamber also to educate policymakers.

“They cannot be expected to know every single thing about every single bill that comes before their desk,” Watts said.” These are complicated issues dealing with taxes and the judicial code and education and energy and environment. So that’s our job.

“That’s our job as chambers, as the business community, as community leaders, to be educators to them, to educate them on why certain things are important to us, our business and our community. That’s why we exist. That’s what we’re here to do. So we have to be a lot very loud and unified voice because there’s a lot of other voices in the room too.” Read more: Winchester Sun

Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Directory

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Directory is available at the Pekin Area Chamber today! Thanks to Bill Fleming, Renna Hadsall, Manda Brown and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Pekin Illinois Community Guide and 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.

Duluth & Superior Will Host 2nd Small Business Saturday

It is called Small Business Saturday, but it serves as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Yet, this year’s Small Business Saturday was interrupted by not one, but two blizzards. As a result, both Duluth and Superior have decided to host a second Small Business Saturday this Saturday, December 7th.

“The idea behind it is to get people out and shopping at our small businesses here—right here in our local area. We really like to promote ‘shop local’ at the Superior Chamber of Commerce so the idea is to get you into these businesses that you might not have been before that are right here in your back door,” Nikky Farmakes, Director of Marketing for the Superior Chamber of Commerce said.

Following Black Friday and preceding Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday has become a staple of one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year.

“It’s a way for our businesses to really celebrate local businesses and a way for people to really show their support. For us, typically, small business Saturday is one of the busiest shopping days for our businesses so to give them a bonus is really going to be beneficial,” Kristi Stokes, President of the Greater Downtown Council said.

Organizers hope that better weather will result in better shopping for customers and businesses alike. A full list of businesses that will participate in Duluth can be found here and a full list of businesses that will participate in Superior can be found here. Read more:WDIO ABC

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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