Chamber of Commerce Daily News

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Showing posts with label Eagle River Chamber. Show all posts

Friday, August 11, 2017

#BestChamber practices: ICEA iDea of the Week: Communications Excellence Award Winning iDea: Valpo Chamber - Video Highlights; Unlock the Leader in You: ACE Leadership Program --- Champaign County Chamber of Commerce; Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory; #FamousChamber Speaker: Benton Area (Arkansas) Chamber Of Commerce: Chad Pregracke; Arlington Chamber of Commerce: Connect with Arlington's Business Ombudsman at our August networking breakfast; Bowling Green Area Chamber interest: New scholarship program could help address workforce issues; Eagle River Area Chamber: 1,400 Anglers Expected For National Championship Musky Open; Appearance matters for Gulf Coast tourism; Madison Heights/Hazal Park Chamber of Commerce collects backpacks for school kids; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S. Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey (Chamber Mentor)

#BestChamber practices: ICEA iDea of the Week: Communications Excellence Award Winning iDea: Valpo Chamber - Video Highlights

Just last year, the Valpo Chamber began using video to enhance member services. The results have led to an open rate of more than 40% with each video receiving more than 1,000 organic views on social media. Kurt Gillins, Vice President Programs & Communications with the Valpo Chamber, has helped the Chamber receive national recognition for these videos. What makes these so successful? According to Michelle West of Chamber Speaks, "delivery is comfortable. Kurt is authentic. He's not taking it too seriously. He is staying true to his purpose of informing, engaging and entertaining. They use a microphone, a tripod and lighting for quality production. And Kurt delivers just the highlights so if viewers want more info, they can click on a link included in the e-mail."

To see specific samples, click on the links below:

Click here to see August highlight.

Click here to see July highlight.
Click here to see June highlight.

For more information, please contact

Kurt Gillins, IOM, CP

Vice President Programs & Communications - Valpo Chamber
kurt@valpochamber.org

(219) 462-1105

Rex Richards, CCE, IOM, AE
President & CEO - Valpo Chamber
rex@valpochamber.org

(219)462-1105

Unlock the Leader in You: ACE Leadership Program --- Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

The ACE Leadership Program aims to mold young professionals into strong local leaders.

Participants will gain confidence, knowledge, professionalism and strong leadership skills they can bring back to their place of employment. The program is a great way to connect young professionals with their peers and build strong business relationships.

OUR MISSION:

Attract and identify the next generation of community leaders in order to grow Champaign County.

Connect young professionals with the surrounding community through unique opportunities in the areas of service, leadership and advocacy.

Engage young professionals to have a vested interest in the success of our community.

"I really enjoyed being able to network - which is something I've always struggled to be comfortable with. I also really enjoyed the way that the courses were adapted to different leadership styles. I learned a lot and have been able to take a number of things back to work to improve how I lead my employees." - Breanna Durack, 2016 Graduate

CLICK HERE to view the full schedule of events and registration form.

Early registration ends August 11.

Have questions or need more information? Contact Ariel or call 217.359.1791.

Interested in sponsoring?

CLICK HERE to view available opportunities.

Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory

The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory is available at the Plainfield Area Chamber today! Thanks to Tasha Kitson, Mari Edmondson, Vitella Barnes, Kellie Wujek 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.

#FamousChamber Speaker: Benton Area (Arkansas) Chamber Of Commerce: Chad Pregracke

The Mississippi River was literally Chad Pregracke’s backyard while growing up near East Moline, IL. The son of educators and river enthusiasts, KeeKee and Gary Pregracke, Chad and his older brother, Brent, spent the majority of their time on, in, and around the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

During his summer breaks Chad worked on the river–primarily as a commercial shell diver for the cultured pearl industry, but also as a commercial fisherman and barge hand. Typically working miles away from home, he camped on the islands and shorelines of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to save money and fuel. It was during this time that Chad began to realize how neglected the rivers were, with the unsightly and toxic accumulation of trash along their banks.

One river, one piece of garbage at a time. At the age of 17, he started making calls to government agencies to notify them of the problem, assuming someone would take care of it. Year after year passed by and the problem only worsened. In 1997 Chad decided that, if no one else was going to clean up the river, he would.

In 1998 at the age of 23, Chad founded Living Lands & Waters. Today, the organization has grown to include a full staff and fleet of equipment. The crew averages nine states a year along the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio Rivers, as well as many of their tributaries. Most recently, Chad expanded the mission of the organization to include educational workshops, The MillionTrees Project, Adopt-a-River Mile, Invasive Species Removal, and The Great Mississippi River Cleanup.

Chad’s vision, charisma, non-stop work ethic and natural leadership have garnered him an abundance of awards and honors over the years. Most notably, Chad was the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service, America’s version of the Nobel Prize, in June 2002. Chad accepted this award in the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C. with other award recipients: Rudolph Giuliani, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Lilly Tartikoff. In 2013, he was named CNN Hero of the Year. Chad is also the author of “From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers.” To purchase a copy of the book, please call the office at (309) 496-9848.

Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!

Arlington Chamber of Commerce: Connect with Arlington's Business Ombudsman at our August networking breakfast

Join the Chamber next Thursday, August 17 for Breakfast Connection, featuring Shannon Flanagan-Watson, Arlington County's Business Ombudsman and Assistant County Manager. In this role, Shannon works each day in partnership with the business community, helping companies and organizations of all sizes, with a focus on resolving County challenges and making things better and easier for everyone doing business in Arlington.

Shannon is a key resource for the business community, especially small businesses and new companies seeking growth and development, and she wants to hear from you. This special Breakfast Connection will include an interactive dialogue with Shannon, during which she'll answer questions and explain more about her role and available County services and programs. Attendees will also have the chance to network, exchange business cards, and develop new prospects.

Bowling Green Area Chamber interest: New scholarship program could help address workforce issues

Such an impact is needed in a region that has reached a workforce shortage after years of employment growth. According to statistics provided by the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, the 10-county Barren River region has a collective unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.

Such low unemployment reduces the pool of trained workers available to fill local job openings. Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce President Ron Bunch points out that there are nearly 6,000 jobs currently available in the 10-county region. He believes the Work Ready Scholarship Program can help fill those spots.

“There’s no one silver bullet out there, but the Work Ready program is a great step,” Bunch said. “It will help create an inducement for people to go into high-demand fields and should help get people into better-paying jobs.”

Created by a Bevin executive order, the program provides scholarships to eligible Kentuckians for up to 32 credit hours in these five high-demand areas: advanced manufacturing, business/IT, construction, health care and transportation/logistics.

Bevin allocated $15.9 million for the scholarship program. People who meet the requirements and apply for a scholarship will only receive one after exhausting all other sources of federal or state student aid, excluding loans or work-study arrangements. The Work Ready program will help cover their remaining expenses but won’t provide awards that exceed the in-state tuition and fees required to enroll full-time in a Kentucky Community and Technical College System school.

Justice explains that the program will allow students to work toward a certificate or diploma in one of the five fields and won’t necessarily lead to an associate degree. Regardless, the scholarships should open doors for both traditional and non-traditional students. Read more: Bowling Green Daily News

Eagle River Area Chamber: 1,400 Anglers Expected For National Championship Musky Open

The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin will host the 32nd annual National Championship Musky Open.

This event is the single largest musky tournament anywhere. Last year, 1,296 anglers registered to fish it and as many as 1,400 are expected this year. Tournament anglers are spread out on waters throughout eastern Vilas County and northeastern Oneida County. Full Article

Appearance matters for Gulf Coast tourism

Appearance matters in any community. But, it is especially important in a tourist destination like the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Work crews mowing the medians along busy Highway 90, and Harrison County sand beach crews can be seen on just about any summer day.

“We've got to have our community be cut and landscaped, it's the front door. We've got to tell people 'You're welcome here,' and they feel comfortable here,” said Adele Lyons, executive director for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.

The tourism industry employs thousands and helps drive the Coast economy. Appearance is something leaders say everyone should be mindful of in the area. Read more: WLOX.com

Madison Heights/Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce collects backpacks for school kids

Tammy Harp is the general manager for the Madison Heights Wolverines, a football and cheer league comprising some 250 kids. Recently, she noticed that “so many” families are struggling financially, and the cost of back-to-school supplies adds to the strain. Backpacks alone can cost $25 or more.

So Harp, who also runs Mr. B’s Quikstop Marathon, a gas station in Madison Heights, approached the Madison Heights/Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce with an idea.

“I know book bags can be a bit expensive, so I said to Keri (Valmassei, executive director of the chamber), ‘Why not do a collection, with drop points throughout the city, to start collecting these, and then get ahold of the school districts (in Madison Heights and Hazel Park) to distribute to kids?’” Harp said. “Running a gas station and the Wolverines, I see it all the time — parents coming in and complaining about spending all this money to get school supplies to send their kids back to school. So we’ve decided to help them out, and I think we’ll do well.”

Brand-new backpacks, or money to purchase them, are being collected at the following sites during the month of August:

• Madison Heights City Hall, 300 W. 13 Mile Road.

• Mr. B’s Quikstop Marathon, corner of 12 Mile and John R roads.

• Tominello Chiropractic, 1821 N. Campbell Road (12 Mile).

• Team Rehab, 1433 E. 12 Mile Road, Building C.

• American Jewelry and Loan, 20804 John R Road.

• Anytime Fitness, 32340 Campbell Road (14 Mile).

• Solberg Tower, 27787 Dequindre Road.

• Northern TV and Vacuum, 27633 John R Road.

• The Joyful Jungle, 1529 E. 12 Mile Road.

• Chemical Bank, 1800 E. 12 Mile Road.

Certain chamber members, like OUR Credit Union, already do drives for school supplies, but this is the first chamber-wide drive for backpacks.

“Any kind of new, sturdy backpack will be accepted,” Valmassei said. “We will be dividing them equally between the Madison, Lamphere and Hazel Park school districts. The school social workers will determine the recipients based on need.” Read more: CandG News

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey (Chamber Mentor)

RULE #75 If a website doesn’t tell a story, nobody’s reading.

Friday, June 17, 2016

US Chamber: Does Your City Have What it Takes to Become the Next Silicon Valley; Chamber interest: Plan 2020: This is the key to Indy's future; Lansing Regional Chamber, MSU, Ingham, Eaton and Clinton county leaders expected to show commitment for a regional plan that will address financial issues, other topics; Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Membership Directory; 26th Annual Taste of Reston Voted Northern Virginia's Best Food Festival for the Fifth Year in a Row; #BestChamber practices: The 2nd annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit; Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber, County pursues infrastructure grant; Kyndle reflects on its past at centennial; Eagle River Chamber interest: Up North Beer Fest draws large crowd of beer lovers; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

Happy Friday, Chamber World. It's going to be a GREAT Weekend!

US Chamber: Does Your City Have What it Takes to Become the Next Silicon Valley?

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Chamber’s America’s Small Business Summit starts next week in Washington. Want to attend? Click here to register. Can't make it in person? Follow along on the ASBS homepage and on Twitter (hashtag #IAmSmallBiz) for updates and live-stream events.

Silicon Valley, some have pointed out, was once little more than orchards and farmland, while Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh have each had their eras at the forefront of American innovation. In other words, the national landscape of economic prosperity and technological prowess is ever changing. Today, on the cusp of another technological revolution, many have speculated over which American cities will emerge as the country’s premier innovation hubs in this new digital age.

More from America's Small Business Summit

The 2016 Innovation That Matters report – released last month by 1776, Free Enterprise and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – examined 25 major American cities and analyzed their readiness to thrive in a digital economy. What we learned through interviews with entrepreneurs in each city was that business leaders in every urban center are making concerted efforts to cultivate startup ecosystems and foster innovation. However, some have had more success than others, and every city still has ample room for improvement.

Some of the most interesting insights we gleaned from the study include:

Our country’s current technology hotbeds -- Silicon Valley, Boston and New York City -- are still leading the way in terms of overall startup activity, but they have mounting competition from some emerging cities. Denver, Nashville, San Diego and the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina, for instance, all ranked high on our list of the most well-positioned startup and innovation economies, and none of them are showing any signs of slowing down any time soon.
Being a tech town doesn’t inherently make you a pleasant town. Case in point, we discovered that Silicon Valley remains a draw for tech startups despite its poorly-rated quality of life for residents. Conversely, budding tech hubs like Denver and Raleigh-Durham climbed the rankings in large part because their high quality of life is attracting talented innovators.
One area where every city can evidently improve: Building relationships between local startups and established companies. In nearly every city the report examined, entrepreneurs lamented the support (or lack thereof) they receive from local companies and civic institutions. In fact, only 32 percent of those surveyed said that they receive support from established companies. Read more: US Chamber

Chamber interest: Plan 2020: This is the key to Indy's future

Turn the clock back 100 years, and more than half the population of the Indianapolis metro area lived within 5 miles of Monument Circle.

Today, Center Township represents less than 8 percent of that 11-county area's population, and its modest recent growth continues to be dwarfed by that of Hamilton County.

With Indianapolis' bicentennial approaching in 2020, area leaders believe the capital city's future increasingly depends on its ability to attract residents back to its urban core. And this week, the city and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee unveiled what they hope will become a road map to doing just that.

Known as Plan 2020, the city's bicentennial plan is an attempt to stitch together a slew of existing planning documents into a broad vision of the city's future.

It covers a wide variety of issues: transit, parks, economic development, housing and workforce training, to name just a few. But unlike your typical pie-in-the-sky planning effort, it also has real commitments from more than 30 partner organizations to implement a portion of the plan over the next few years. Read more: Indy Star

Lansing Regional Chamber, MSU, Ingham, Eaton and Clinton county leaders expected to show commitment for a regional plan that will address financial issues, other topics.

LANSING -- A regional partnership will be announced Wednesday morning that's expected to mark a first for Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.

Elected officials, business leaders and academic experts are prepared to team up so they can do a better job addressing priority issues in the Greater Lansing region. Those issues range from transportation and infrastructure improvements to joint purchasing agreements and personnel sharing.

Officials representing all three counties and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding to confirm the initiative and will explain details at a press conference at the chamber's office. An announcement from the chamber also says "the Ingham, Eaton and Clinton County Boards of Commissioners have all accepted a position on the City of Lansing’s Financial Health Team." That group is lead by former Mayor David Hollister.

Hollister told the Lansing State Journal this week the next financial health team meeting with tri-county input will be held 7:30 a.m. July 21 in the Gannon Building, Room 244, at Lansing Community College. The meeting will be open to the public. Lansing State Journal

Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Membership Directory

The Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Crossroads Regional Chamber today! Thanks to Sue Reed and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

26th Annual Taste of Reston Voted Northern Virginia's Best Food Festival for the Fifth Year in a Row

Taste of Reston, recently voted 2016 Best Food Festival of Northern Virginia by Virginia Living, is expected to draw record crowds to Reston Town Center. Produced by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, this event features the region’s best cuisine, family activities, live entertainment and a Wine ‘n Dine section with cooking demonstrations from local chefs and a Family Fun Zone!.

Beginning on Friday at 3:00 PM, restaurants and vendors will line the streets of the Reston Town Center. Live music will fill the air with favorites such as 3 Sense Shy, Laura Lea & Tripp Fabulous and Orlando Philips. On Saturday enjoy live performances from Darcy Dawn and Co, Delta Spur and The Reagan Years and that’s just naming a few. From 12 PM – 8 PM on Saturday, guests can sample their restaurant favorites as chefs from prepare food on our culinary stage in the Wine ‘n Dine section. Guest will also be able to learn more about wine and participate in tastings from Paradise Spring Winery and other local wineries. Also, from 12 PM – 8 PM ,YMCA Fairfax Reston will offer games and prizes, and entrainment from Adrenaline Studio Dance Performance and Bach to Rock Music School Performance at the Family Fun Zone! Stage.

Taste of Reston event admission is free. Food tickets are $1 per ticket or $20 for 24 tickets. Advance tickets are on sale online, at http://www.RestonTaste.com . Read more: PRWeb.com

#BestChamber practices: The 2nd annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit

The 2nd annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit will be held on Friday, August 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Kokopelli.

The event will include a buffet-style lunch (cost $15 to Kokopelli), updates by your Legislators, each followed by a Q&A session moderated by a member of your Legislative Affairs Committee, and networking.

Deadline to RSVP is August 19.

RSVPs are required.

The Legislative Affairs Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. at South Porte Bank in Marion. The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee serves as a research and advisory committee for the Chamber's Board of Directors. The goals of the Legislative Affairs Committee are to monitor governmental matters that could impact the community or local business, present recommendations to the Chamber's Board of Directors, and to assist in the initiation of the appropriate action. The Legislative Affairs Committee is a non-partisan organization and shall neither endorse candidates for public office nor political parties. More Information: Marion Chamber

Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber, County pursues infrastructure grant

Three roads in Industrial Park No. One that are in desperate need of repair may get that facelift if a grant comes through to pay for it. The Board of Supervisors discussed a grant opportunity that would provide the county with the funding during Monday’s board meeting.
Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce executive director Garrick Combs told the board that he and county engineer Ryan Holmes have diligently worked on a Delta Regional Authority grant application. Holmes received permission from the board to begin the process last month.

“Ryan and I are finished with that application,” Combs said. “We worked through it during a good bit of the month of May for transportation infrastructure. We’ve had a growing issue in industrial park No. One for several years — meaning specifically Manufacturers Boulevard east and west and Fender Trail.”
The grant application will target those three roads due to the amount of traffic they experience every day, Combs said. More than 1,500 direct jobs are serviced by those roads each day, along with 340 commercial truck loads a day. “We’ve had discussions about the deterioration of those three roads and it’s something that I think this board has targeted over multiple years with MDOT and trips to our congressional delegation,” Combs said.
“We’ve had an opportunity to put this application together in order to receive assistance for the community to try to make upgrades to those three roads, and to support that many jobs and those many commercial trucks a day.” The job will consist of 2.62 miles of road and Holmes estimates it will cost approximately $2.75 million, Combs said. Read more: Daily Leader

Kyndle reflects on its past at centennial

In order to celebrate its present, Kyndle took a long look at their past.

Honoring 100 years of Chamber of Commerce's time in the area, Kyndle had its centennial celebration dinner on Thursday night at Henderson Community College.

With Henderson County Attorney Steve Gold as master of ceremonies for the event, volunteers played the parts of influential members of Henderson's history. Adorned in period garb such as fedoras, the speakers spoke as past community leaders including educator Thelma B. Johnson, Audubon advocate Susan Towles and newspaper tycoon Leigh Harris. Each re-enactment outlined the figures' most important accomplishments and contributions to Henderson.

The featured speaker of the night was past Distinguished Citizen recipient and economic development specialist for Kyndle Chuck Stinnett, who has spent countless hours poring over the tomes of Henderson's past. In his speech, he highlighted the ups and downs of Henderson's economic history to the present.

"Leaders of the day felt that a new organization needed to be established to take charge of this (drop in population)," said Stinnett. "According to the Henderson Daily Gleaner in October 1916, the belief was that Henderson had all the pieces it needed to succeed, they just weren't organized quite right." Read more: The Gleaner

Eagle River Chamber interest: Up North Beer Fest draws large crowd of beer lovers

EAGLE RIVER - Wisconsinites love their beer.

And what better way to bring beer lovers together than to hold a beer fest.

People from all over Wisconsin sampled beer from more than 30 brewers at Up North Beer Fest in Eagle River Saturday.

And while they might disagree on which is beer is better, they can all agree on one thing.

"Beer is Wisconsin," said Eagle River Chamber of Commerce Director Kim Emerson.

The fest proved that beer has the ability to bring people together.

"Beer brings people together. It really does. I mean if you look at the crowd here everybody's having a good time, it's just a big party," said Tribute Brewing Owner Bill Summers.

More than 900 people came to sample beer at the Up North Beer Fest

"This event is a chance, again, to showcase the brewers, have people try the many different craft beers that are out there, and give people the opportunity to do something they've never tried before," said Emerson.

People could sample beer from more than 30 different breweries from Titletown brewery in Green Bay to Tribute Brewing right here in Eagle River.

"Tribute the local folks here, they make a great blueberry beer and it's wonderful," said Ted Gruhn. This was Gruhn's third year attending the beer fest. Read more: WJFW.com

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps

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 publication proposal, Click here

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #5 When people complain, it’s a compliment.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Fairfax Chamber Urges Congress to Avoid a “Government Shutdown”; Chamber excitment: Farmington Hills officials 'excited' about Daimler move; Belleville, St. Clair County leaders anticipate impact of NGA coming to county; EMBDC CEO presentation: Company seeks land purchase for warehouse; 20th Annual Kentucky Chamber Day; Eagle River Chamber partner: People travel from across the country to National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River; Chamber Best Practices: Greater Fort Wayne Inc.: CEO Roundtables; Town Square Publication - Chamber magazines

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Fairfax Chamber Urges Congress to Avoid a “Government Shutdown”

Tysons Corner, Va. – Today, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber), representing nearly 700 member companies with more than 500,000 employees across Northern Virginia, called on members of Congress to enact legislation to continue funding the federal government beyond September 30th without interruption.

Congress’ inability in the past to enact individual appropriations bills has caused significant uncertainty and greatly disrupted business planning by federal contractors in the region. Such practices, combined with annual threats of government shutdowns and, in 2013, an actual shutdown, have caused private sector businesses of all sizes throughout Northern Virginia serious economic harm and forced employee layoffs or furloughs.

“We are gravely concerned that such economic dislocation will again occur if the federal government shuts down on October 1^st,” said Jim Corcoran, president and CEO of the Fairfax Chamber. “The impact of a shutdown would not be limited to the federal government and federal contractor workers in Virginia. As has been shown in the past, the downstream effects of a shutdown will also be harmful to small businesses in Northern Virginia and across the Commonwealth. Accordingly, we urge Congress to work together to promptly enact legislation by October 1st to fund the operations of the federal government without interruption.”

To read the full letter, click here. To learn more about the Fairfax Chamber’s policy platform, please visit our website or contact Joe Vidulich, Vice President, Government Relations.

Chamber excitment: Farmington Hills officials 'excited' about Daimler move

While the number of new jobs Daimler AG is estimated to be bringing to Farmington Hills is a relatively small 30, local officials are still happy to hear the auto giant is bringing more work to the community.

Farmington Hills Acting City Manager Dave Boyer, while stressing any job growth is good, said he's "excited" about the news Daimler AG is adding to its presence in the Farmington community.

"Certainly, we'd like to see that (jobs) number grow, but any new job growth is great for the region," Boyer said. "We're excited they're coming here, because we can see what's going on in metro Detroit with the resurgence of the auto industry. They're all going to end up back here, where the work is being done."

According to a press release from Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Daimler AG is consolidating its North American financial services offices in Michigan.

“Michigan is the world’s automotive leader, and Daimler’s decision to increase its presence in state is another indication that we intend to hold that position for generations to come,” Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement.

The Michigan move for Daimler North America Corp., the holding company for all of the company’s business units in the U.S., is some 50 jobs, (including 20 workers already here). Michigan already has some 3,000 Daimler employees at Detroit Diesel, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America; Daimler's financial services; and the company’s research and development.

There were no state or local economic incentives offered for the move, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the state’s economic development arm. The move is expected to take place by the end of the year.

After meeting with Daimler executives at the 66th Frankfurt Auto Show, Snyder said the headquarters relocation will bring 30 jobs to Michigan in central office functions including treasury, legal, accounting and executive staff, according to the press release.

Snyder called Daimler “an historic automaker with roots tracing back to the very invention of the car.” Today it manufactures the premium Mercedes-Benz line of vehicles. Daimler’s Michigan operations currently include Mercedes-Benz Financial Services headquarters in Farmington Hills, Detroit Diesel in Redford Township, and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development in Redford and Ann Arbor.

Dan Irvin, the executive director of the Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce, also praised the deal and said it's the result of a "welcoming business climate." Read more: HometownLife.com

Belleville, St. Clair County leaders anticipate impact of NGA coming to county

What would it mean for St. Clair County if 3,100 highly stable jobs that pay an average annual salary of $75,000 were to materialize here one day?

And suppose those 3,100 jobs grew to 4,000 jobs? Then 5,000, and then still more jobs after that?

Those are the sorts of questions dancing through the minds of county elected leaders and economic development officials as they contemplate the county’s odds of landing the new headquarters for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

NGA plans to move out of its cramped and aging facility just south of downtown St. Louis and move into a new home, taking with it 3,100 workers, which the agency plans to house in an 800,000-square-foot building to be built at a cost of $1.6 billion. The NGA workforce could jump up to nearly 4,000 employees when the workers at its Arnold, Mo., facility are moved out when the lease on the building they are working in comes up.

Officially, four sites are still in the running for what is being called NGA West: two are located in St. Louis County, while the third is in North St. Louis. The fourth candidate site is a 192-acre patch of farmland and scattered trees owned by St. Clair County and located just west of Scott Air Force’s northwest boundary and south of Interstate 64.

NGA is scheduled to make the final decision in March, with the building scheduled for completion by 2021.

Politically, however, the race has come down to the North St. Louis site versus the St. Clair County site. The two St. Louis County sites — one in Fenton, Mo. and one in Mehlville, Mo. — have been rejected by Steve Stenger, the St. Louis County executive, who has thrown his support behind the North St. Louis site.

St. Clair County officials are feeling good about the county’s chances of luring NGA West.

In comparing the two contending two sites, they are coming to see that the St. Clair County location has huge advantages over the North St. Louis location, due to a list of factors that include the security that comes from being located adjacent to a major military installation such as Scott Air Force Base, enthusiastic local support, and the fact that — in contrast to North St. Louis — the St. Clair County site has virtually unlimited room for future growth.

What’s more, the North St. Louis site won’t come cheap. St. Louis officials have estimated it will cost that city and the state of Missouri $130 million to bring NGA to the North St. Louis site. This includes the cost of buying up the land from property owners who wish to sell, as well the cost of forcing out those who don’t wish to do so.

In contrast, St. Clair County has offered to turn over its site to NGA for no cost at all. Making the deal even sweeter, this land would be free of litigation and is already under government control.

John Lengerman, the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce executive director, has to tried to keep his confidence in check during the run-up to Oct. 9, when the Army Corps of Engineers, which is overseeing the site selection process, is scheduled to release the environmental impact statements on each site. The statements are expected to offer the strongest clues as to the identity of the eventual winner. Read more: Belleville News-Democrat

EMBDC CEO presentation: Company seeks land purchase for warehouse

Southern Cast Products wants to purchase 1.94 acres from the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors to build a 20,000 square foot warehouse behind its building located in the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Industrial Park.

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation President & CEO Bill Hannah made the presentation to the board at its Thursday work session at the Davis Annex Building. Southern Cast Products would buy the land at $1,000 an acre and would incur the costs of development of the property.

"We feel this will be a net gain for the county," Hannah told the supervisors. Board President Kyle Rutledge said Southern Cast Products was having to lease space in the city of Meridian in order to warehouse its products.

"They need another building to hold their molds," Rutledge said. Hannah said once operating, Southern Cast Products could look into expanding. Read more: Meridian Star

20th Annual Kentucky Chamber Day

JOIN US AT THE PREMIER KICK-OFF OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Where should you kick off the new year? At the state’s largest gathering of business and political leaders! Don’t miss your opportunity to network with the who’s who of Kentucky. You’ll get to hear the governor and the state’s top four legislative leaders (all invited) share their visions for Kentucky’s economy, government and politics in the year ahead.

Thursday, January 7, 2016
Heritage Hall (Downstairs)
The Lexington Convention Center
Lexington, Kentucky

Agenda
5 p.m. Registration and Reception
6:30 p.m. Dinner

Featured Guests
Governor of the Commonwealth
House and Senate leadership
(all invited)

More Info: Kentucky Chamber

Eagle River Chamber partner: People travel from across the country to National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River
More than 1,000 people will spend the weekend in the Northwoods fishing for musky.
This weekend is the 30th year of the National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River.
The tournament started Friday.
Paul Strelow has been going to the tournament for the past 29 years.
"They started this tournament, we missed the first year, we've been doing this for 29 years and it's just a great time," Strelow says. He caught a 39 inch musky on Lynx Lake on Friday.
"It was a lot of fun, it's always great when a musky hits a surface bait," says Strelow. Registering a musky is the goal for those competing, but whether you catch a fish or not, it's still fun.
"It's just fun, you know, plain and simple," Strelow says. The Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin and the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce organize the tournament. Read more: NewsWatch 12

Chamber Best Practices: Greater Fort Wayne Inc.: CEO Roundtables

CEO Roundtables offer a confidential forum of peers in non-competing businesses to regularly gather and share practical knowledge and best practices in today’s business environment. They are comprised of no more than 15 people of ownership or top management positions based on meeting time availability, business fit, and consent of existing group members.

CEO Roundtables are structured to help business leaders address a variety of important issues and to offer a springboard for solutions to help improve operations and profitability.

By one member’s description: “I couldn’t afford to hire advisors like these to help me once a year – and I get to meet with them every month!”

Each meeting is strictly confidential – what’s said within the group stays within the group. All members are expected to maintain complete confidentiality. Regular attendance, willing participation, and positive attitudes are required. Any member missing more than three meetings per year may be asked to step down from the group.

Members must be GFW Inc. Investors in good standing with annual investment dues. CEO Roundtable dues of $50 per member per year. Special registration fees may be charged for special programs, meetings, outings, etc. Guests or prospective members are allowed to attend by member invitation only.

Interested in being considered for a roundtable? Contact roundtable chairman Dave Kaverman or Investor Relations Director, Jami Thoma s.

Town Square Publication - Chamber magazines