Happy Monday, Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT week!
Kenosha Chamber entrepeneur of the year: Good move for Good Foods
Good Foods Group LLC, a producer of natural ingredient and organic food products, relocated from Chicago to Pleasant Prairie’s LakeView Corporate Park three years ago.
It was a move company officials said allows them to expand their product line and build the company brand.
A producer of branded foods and private label guacamole, dips, salads and cold-pressed juices, Good Foods joins a growing fraternity of food industry firms that have established operations in Kenosha County.
It has done so partly through the efforts of a partnership that includes the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, the industry trade group Food and Beverage-Wisconsin and other economic development organizations.
KABA said at least 21 food manufacturers, distributors and related suppliers are located in Kenosha County.
Invested in local plant
Good Foods founder and CEO Kurt Penn, said the company has invested more than $25 million in physical plant and equipment improvements that included doubling its production space.
Located at 10100 88th Ave., Good Foods has more than tripled the number of employees it had before the relocation. It now employs 200 and has other supplemental employees who work when production needs call for it.
In an endeavor to keep his hourly and salaried employee team together, the company provided mortgage assistance and no-interest car loans to some to help them make the transition to Wisconsin.
“Our culture and providing a great workplace is important to us,” Penn said. “When we moved from Chicago to Pleasant Prairie, we knew employees needed to (live) closer to their jobs.”
Proprietary system
Good Foods utilizes a proprietary high-pressure cold-pressed juice processing system that uses a hydraulic press to extract juice from from fresh produce without adding heat. The company also touts how it processes foods with no preservatives, chemicals and additives.
While officials have said the they want to continue double-digit growth, the company is privately held and has chosen to not to release its financial results.
While the cold-pressed juice industry is not independently tracked, industry experts note its popularity has made it a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Last year, founder and CEO Kurt Penn was selected as the KABA and Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year. Having worked in the food processing industry “all my adult life,” Penn said he wanted to form a company to make natural and organic foods using the cold-pressed process. Read more: Kenoska News
Kentucky Chamber-backed Workers’ Compensation Task Force bill gets final passage
The Kentucky state Senate gave final passage to House Concurrent Resolution 185 Friday on consent. The resolution, cosponsored by Chairman Rick Nelson (D) Middlesboro, and Rep. Adam Koenig (R) Erlanger, would establish a task force made up of equal parts labor and business to look at the workers’ compensation system.
The Kentucky Chamber has worked alongside the Kentucky League of Cities, the AFL-CIO and others to craft the legislation to examine the workers’ compensation system and make recommendations to the General Assembly. For many years various business and labor groups have been trying to reach agreements on aspects of the workers’ compensation system but little progress has been made. This task force would bring the groups together in a formal setting to take a serious look at the system and make suggestions to the legislature. Read more: Kentucky Chamber
FACEBOOK posting of the week: Pike County Chamber: Mississippi Scholars' Banquet will be presenting over 45 scholarships this week
The Pike County MS Scholars' Banquet will be held on Friday, April 24th in the SMCC Horace Holmes' Student Union cafeteria! We are currently scoring the qualifying seniors' applications and will be presenting over 45 scholarships this year! This would not be possible without the financial support of the following donors! Thank you to each and every one!! Read more: Facebook
Falls Church Chamber of Commerce Hosts Annual Awards Gala
Local business leaders, Shelia Newman, president of New Editions Consulting, Jeff and Jane Bulman of the Original Pancake House, Andrew Painter of Walsh Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, and Brian Creswick, founding partner of Chartis Consulting, along with The Arc of Northern Virginia and the Falls Church News-Press were recognized on Saturday, April 2 by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce at its annual awards gala, The Art of Business.
Newman received the Chamber’s highest honor, the Pillar of the Community Award in honor of her personal and professional dedication to creating social change, improving the quality of life for those with disabilities and her focus on creating an inclusive workplace focused on life balance. The Arc of Northern Virginia was presented the Carroll V. Shreve Award for Meritorious Human Service for its efforts to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The Bulmans, although unable to attend the fete, were acknowledged as recipients of the James S. Elkin Award for Humanitarianism for their support of the nonprofit community through their monthly Dine-Out Days and their annual Christmas breakfast for homeless families. Painter and Creswick both received the Commander Hap Day Chamber Appreciation Award; Painter for his creation of the Chamber’s soon to be released Resource Guide for Displaced Businesses, and Creswick for his stewardship of the Chamber’s young professionals group, ’47, Inc.
Nick Benton and the News-Press were also recognized by the Chamber and Falls Church City acknowledging the 25th anniversary of the newspaper of record for the City of Falls Church which received support early on from the Chamber and which continues to provide advertising opportunities to local businesses. Read more: Falls Church News Press
New Arrival: New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map
The New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map is available at the New Castle-Henry County Chamber today! Thanks to Missy Modesitt, Mary Campbell 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 guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
#BestChamber Practices: Valparaiso Chamber Business Resources on website at Valpo Chamber
Business Organizations
Better Business Bureau Northwest Indiana
Of the nearly 32,000 businesses in Lake County and 4,800 in Porter County, about 4,200 businesses are listed in the bureau's database for Northwest Indiana. The Merrillville office is part of the Fort Wayne-based Northeastern Indiana Better Business Bureau.
Northwest Indiana Forum
A privately-funded economic development corporation for Northwest Indiana. Property search, state and local incentives, maps, regional profiles and more.
6100 Southport Rd, Portage, Indiana 46368
(219) 763-6303
(219) 763-6303
Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority
Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission
NIRPC is designated the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Northwest Indiana. As the MPO, NIRPC is responsible for coordinating the urban transportation planning process for the region. This NIRPC function is conducted in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation and other regional transportation interests.
6100 Southport Rd, Portage, Indiana 46368
(219) 763-6060
(219) 763-6060
Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center
The SBDC is the product of a unique partnership between the Regional Development Company and the US Small Business Administration. Its mission is to create, or keep, jobs in Northwest Indiana. Small business resources, training, and consulting. SBDC representatives also meet clients at the Valpo Chamber office. Call (219) 462-1105 for details.
Northwest Indiana SCORE - Buidling your business with experience advisors
SCORE's expert mentors provide effective business advice on everything from how to write a business plan, to cash flow management, to growing an existing business. Chamber members can access SCORE's free and confidential mentoring services face-to-face at the Chamber office, on the phone, or online. All SCORE mentors are volunteers with specialized training that increases the quiality and effectiveness of their mentoring. SCORE is a branch of the Small Business Administration with access to inforiaiton and materials, free of charge. Workshps, roundtable discussions and on-site visits provide personalized and customized solutions for growing business. Call the Chamber office or go online:www.northwestindiana.score.org to arrange a meeting, to participate in one of the workshops, or to volunteer.
Valparaiso Economic Development Corp.
Workforce/Career Assistance
The Center for Workforce Innovations
The Center of Workforce Innovations Workforce Investment Board (WIB) brings private sector leaders together with policy makers from government, education, economic development, labor, and community-based organizations to analyze regional labor market trends, needs, and issues, in order to develop strategic workforce solutions for the system in Jasper, La Porte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke counties.
2804 Boilermaker Court, Suite E, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
Phone: (219) 462-2940
www.innovativeworkforce.com
Phone: (219) 462-2940
www.innovativeworkforce.com
Porter County Career and Technical Center (workforce assistance)
Offers career and technical classes and programs: Manufacturing, Health Services, Personal and Commercial Service, Engineering and Computer Technology, Construction, Mechanical Repair, and School-to-Work.
More Information: Valpo Chamber
Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Celebration of Local Businesses
A celebration of local business with the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce took place Tuesday morning.
The 2016 Meet the Top Ten Breakfast highlighted the work of outstanding businesses.
The top ten businesses shared their history, goals and community involvement as the judges narrow down their final selection.
One thing every business agreed on was they are happy to serve the communities of Northern Michigan.
“When you listen to the quality of the businesses in our community that make up the life blood of our community you really have no idea what's going on behind the scene, sometimes their community involvement or their internal structures and how they put their businesses together.” Says Dr. David Swan of Traverse Dental Associates. Read more: 9 & 10 NEWS
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce and 25 Geneva merchants are giving you the chance to play and win bingo this month. Visit our Facebook page (Geneva, IL – Chamber of Commerce & Tourism) for a list of merchants where you can pick up a bingo card. Then check our Facebook page each day, through April 25, for the daily three numbers. Mark your card for bingo diagonally, horizontally, vertically or four corners.
Bring your winning card(s) into the chamber office, 8 S. Third St., during business hours by April 29. All winning cards will be put into a drawing for a grand prize of gift certificates valued at $1,250 from the participating merchants. Only one card can be picked up per visit; however, participants can return to any of the listed merchants for a second, or third, or fourth, etc. The more you visit those shops, the better chance to get bingo.
For two long weekends, beginning tonight, April 14 to 17 and April 21 to 24, Windy City Amusements is bringing all your favorite rides and games to Randall Road. The Cabin Fever Carnival will be in the Gander Mountain parking lot from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 1 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Unlimited rides for $25 will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cure your indoor cabin fever with the outdoor Cabin Fever Carnival.
At Geneva Chamber of Commerce, we are in a non-festival time, but we are always in the midst of planning. Swedish Days, scheduled June 21 to 26, is the first festival we produce each year and it is only 10 short weeks away. Planning for an event that draws more than 200,000 people is intense and we need your help.
Consider volunteering this year (email kandersen@genevachamber.com). Read more: Kane County Chronicle
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.
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
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
Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce 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.
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
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
