Chamber issue: Fuel Tax Changes Recommended To Help Indiana Department of Transportation Funding Needs; Arkansas Chamber issue: No More Stalling on Marketplace Fairness (Randy Zook Commentary); Chamber Tweet of the Day: @Detroit Chamber - Want to help build the @M1RAIL? News-Press opinion: Kansas City plan for growth should lift region - Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)

Chamber issue: Fuel Tax Changes Recommended To Help Indiana Department of Transportation Funding Needs

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce says the state faces a $750 million funding gap to maintain its roads. Changes to the state's fuel taxes could help. The Indiana Department of Transportation is in the middle of a comprehensive two-year study to determine its future infrastructure funding needs. 

But Chamber of Commerce CEO Kevin Brinegar says there are some changes the legislature can make right away that will help move the state in the right direction.
He says that includes some sort of assessment on alternative-fuel vehicles, whose drivers don’t pay as much in fuel taxes as most people.
“Like North Carolina does – North Carolina imposes a $50 fee on hybrid vehicles and a $100 fee on electric vehicles for the privilege of using the roads and to pay their fair share for the damage done,” Brinegar said. Read more: Indiana Public Media

 

Arkansas Chamber issue: No More Stalling on Marketplace Fairness (Randy Zook Commentary)

It has been widely reported that U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has promised that the Marketplace Fairness Act will not surface in 2014. Congress’ failure to act on this important measure is a huge setback for Arkansas’ businesses, for our retail and commercial industries, and is another blow by Washington to Arkansas’ economy.
The effort to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act has been led by our very own Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., a former mayor of Rogers who knows full well the negative impact on local communities caused by uncollected taxes on Internet sales.
Due in large part to Rep. Womack’s efforts, the measure has long received wide bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, a fact evidenced by the Senate’s approval of the measure by a 69-27 margin last year. The measure empowers states to collect sales taxes — currently owed, but widely unpaid — by residents who make purchases from out-of-state companies through online transactions. Read more: Arkansas Business

Chamber Tweet of the Day: @Detroit Chamber

Detroit Chamber ‏@DetroitChamber 35m35 minutes ago

Want to help build the @M1RAIL? The project is looking for subcontractors to help construct the Penske Tech Center: http://ow.ly/Fi8RQ 

0 replies 0 retweets 0 favorites

News-Press opinion: Kansas City plan for growth should lift region

More than a generation ago, builders and civic leaders in Johnson County, Kan., found well-timed development could pay big dividends for years into the future.
The story of the growth of Overland Park, Lenexa and points south is more complicated than that, but readiness to grow — on the part of both public and private entities — was a big part of that remarkable success story.
This is the mindset of our neighbors in the Kansas City Northland who are at work on planning the heavily residential development of 15,000 acres of land directly east of Kansas City International Airport. Over a period of perhaps 20 to 30 years, some involved think the Twin Creeks project in Platte and Clay counties could result in 20,000 new housing units and become home to 75,000 people.
Even though this vision is still in its infancy, the possible impact on the region immediately to the north should not be underestimated. How much our community and the rest of the Midland Empire might benefit should not be left solely to chance.
As Patt Lilly, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, has noted, there already is a great deal of business activity between the Kansas City metropolitan area and St. Joseph. The rush-hour traffic on Interstate 29 speaks to the comingling of interests, with people choosing to live in one urban area and commute to the other. Read more: News-PressNow

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)

 “The secret of leadership is simple: Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow.” ~ Seth Godin

 

Indiana Chamber Seeks 'Best Places to Work' Applications; Chamber event: Oklahoma Governor Visits Grove; Michigan state leaders, academics to speak on economy; Minocqua Wisconsin Chamber names new director; Danville Chamber EDP staff receives scholarships totaling more than $2,700; Kansas communities, Lucas Area Chamber, individuals honored at Day of PRIDE; Nebraska DOL, U.S. Chamber: Hiring Our Heroes Fair set for Aug. 5; AT&T Announces Upgrade To 4G LTE, Donates To Ste. Genevieve’s Banner Project; Forest City Tractor Ride Set; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership) Peter Drucker

Indiana Chamber Seeks 'Best Places to Work'

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the state’s annual competition naming the “Best Places to Work in Indiana.” In its 10th year, this program honors top companies in the state as determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys.

Companies need to have at least 15 Hoosier employees to be eligible. Out-of-state parent companies are also eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.

Winners are selected in four groups: small companies of between 15 and 74 U.S. employees; medium companies of between 75 and 249 U.S. employees; large companies of between 250 and 999 U.S. employees; and major companies with 1,000 or more U.S. employees.

The application deadline is Thursday, November 21. To apply, visit www.bestplacestoworkIN.com. 

Chamber event: Oklahoma Governor Visits Grove

The governor focused on how business is booming in the city. She says unemployment in Grove is only 4.5%. That's mainly because since 2011, 212 jobs have been added in the city and 5 billion in new investments have been added in the area. She says the growth is widely due to pro-growth and pro-business environment throughout the state. Read more: FourStatesHomePage.com

Michigan state leaders, academics to speak on economy

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner and Michigan Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Richard Studley will join Northwood University economics faculty member Timothy Nash this coming weekend at Bay Harbor for a panel presentation analyzing the state and national economies.

The panelists will speak as part of a Northwood University Bay Harbor Policy Forum, "The Michigan and U.S. Economies: The Road Ahead," from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club, 4300 Vista Drive. The event is open to the public, with free admission. Rea more: PetoskeyNews.com

Minocqua Wisconsin Chamber names new director

The Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new executive director later this month. Krystal Westfahl will start at the chamber August 21st. She'll replace Kim Baltus who left to join the Howard Young Foundation. More information: WJFW Newswatch 12

Danville/Boyle County Chamber, EDP staff receives scholarships totaling more than $2,700

Three Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership staff members have received scholarships to attend various professional development opportunities.

Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jennifer Kirchner, Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paula Fowler, and EDP Communications Director Kasey Hill received scholarships totaling more than $2,700. Read more: The Advocate Messenger

Kansas communities, Lucas Area Chamber, individuals honored at Day of PRIDE

Improving a school playground or updating an aging downtown can be expensive, daunting tasks, especially in small communities with limited resources. But some Kansas towns have completed such projects and more. For their efforts, several communities and individuals have been honored with 2014 PRIDE Capital, Community Partners or Communities of Excellence awards.

The awards, given by the Kansas PRIDE program, http://www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu, were presented during Day of PRIDE 2014 events, held June 14 in Larned and Humboldt. The program is a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Read More: High Plains - Midwest Ag Journal

Nebraska DOL, U.S. Chamber: Hiring Our Heroes Fair set for Aug. 5

The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska National Guard and other sponsors to offer a Hiring Our Heroes Fair for veterans and spouses Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the Sandhills Convention Center in North Platte, 2102 South Jeffers Street. The hiring fair will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an employment workshop at 8:30 a.m.

“All across the state, employers continue to present a wide range of career opportunities to Nebraska veterans,” said John H. Albin, Acting Commissioner of Labor. Read more: Syracuse Journal Democrat

AT&T Announces Upgrade To 4G LTE, Donates To Ste. Genevieve’s Banner Project

AT&T Missouri President John Sondag and Regional Director for External Affairs Craig Felzein last Friday announced the expansion of the 4G LTE network in Ste. Genevieve County. Sondag said the boost for 10 towers will offer faster service on those with LTE mobile devices in Ste. Genevieve, Coffman, Ozora, Lawrenceton, Bloomsdale, New Offenburg, McBride and Weingarten. By the end of 2014, every cell tower in Missouri is expected to be upgraded to 4G LTE. Read more: St. Genevieve Herald

Forest City Tractor Ride Set

The Forest City Chamber of Commerce and Heritage Park of North Iowa are sponsoring a tractor ride through North Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 9. The ride will start and end at Heritage Park in Forest City. The ride includes breakfast in Leland, a stop for a tour of Larson Manufacturing in Lake Mills, lunch in Scarville and an afternoon break at Winnebago Lutheran Church. The ride starts at 7:30 a.m. should end between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Read more: GlobeGazette.com

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” ~ Peter Drucker

- Forbes 50

John Dussman

Midwest Manager

www.villageprofile.com

800-600-0134 x239

Cell: (312)-320-8852

33 N. Geneva St.; Elgin, IL 60120

jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com

Midwest Chamber of Commerce Blog - News for Chamber Professionals Every Day 

 follow me for chamber news/events

state/national continuing education

Chamber Map - Chamber Directory Request For Proposal (RFP):

http://www.vp-mobile.com/form-joe/contact.html

Alliance CEO candidates coming to Arkadelphia Monday; Indiana Chamber: Hoosier Businesses Can Make Impact at 2014 D.C. Fly-in Event; Council Bluffs Chamber News - Creighton professor: Over next 2 years, Iowa will 'outgrow the nation'; 5 Reasons Your Business Credit Scores Don’t Get You the Credit You Need;Lee’s Summit High School students put leadership in practice during Missouri Chamber education program; Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Hering-Kent receives Governor's Volunteer Award; Chamber of Manitowoc Program: Leadership Manitowoc County is now accepting applications for 2014-2015!; View from Genoa, IL: Chamber benefits many; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)

Alliance CEO candidates coming to Arkadelphia, AR Monday

Three candidates for the position of president and CEO of the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce are expected to be in Arkadelphia Monday.

The candidates are:

• Stephen Bell currently serves as executive director/executive vice president of the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce and the Stuttgart Industrial Corporation.According to Bell's cover letter, Bell has 18 years experience in chamber of commerce and economic development work. Bell currently oversees a staff of two-full time employees and three part-time staff members who provide administrative support. Read more: Daily Siftings Herald

Indiana Chamber: Hoosier Businesses Can Make Impact at 2014 D.C. Fly-in Event

Washington may feel a world away sometimes, but policies and regulations made in our nation’s capital have a direct impact on Indiana’s economy. That’s makes it all the more important that business leaders have the opportunity to have their voices heard at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s annual D.C. Fly-in September 17-18.

The event features a roundtable discussion/dinner on September 17, where business and community leaders have the chance to meet and speak with the Indiana congressional delegation.

Council Bluffs Chamber News - Creighton professor: Over next 2 years, Iowa will 'outgrow the nation'

Iowa seems to be on fertile economic ground for the immediate future, according to a local economist.
“Over the next two years, Iowa will still (economically) outgrow the nation,” said Dr. Ernie Goss, a professor at Creighton University. His optimism is based in part on three industries – agriculture, energy and manufacturing, Goss said.
“Food and energy are going to be important in the long term. Agriculture in Iowa is international, and that is where the growth is,” he said. “Iowa and Nebraska have been doing wonderfully in exports.” Read more: Omaha.com

5 Reasons Your Business Credit Scores Don’t Get You the Credit You Need

When you apply for a new credit line or request a credit limit increase for your business, suppliers, creditors and lenders want to see how your company has handled its existing credit obligations in the past. This enables them to determine if they should approve your request and to help determine what terms they should offer.
Lenders often use business credit scores to help them assess the level of risk a company presents. Business credit scores are calculated based on the information in a company’s credit report. In most cases, higher business credit scores mean lower risk to a lender when extending credit to a business.
Your business credit scores are calculated by a statistically derived algorithm, designed to calculate risk based on a variety of factors. Although each business credit reporting agency has its own unique scoring models, scores and ratings, other types of information – such as financials, payment history and credit diversity – all play a role in the strength of your business credit reports and scores.
Here are five reasons that may prevent your business from getting the credit it needs:
1) A weak or incomplete business credit profile – The report and demographics of a company play an important role in how creditors assess creditworthiness. A business with issues such as poor financials, outdated registrations or high-risk industry classification codes can trigger a denial of credit or unfavorable credit terms. So it's vital that your company’s documents, financials, filings, and registrations are complete, accurate and up to date. Read More: SBA.GOV

Lee’s Summit High School students put leadership in practice during Missouri Chamber education program

There’s no better way to develop leadership skills than to practice, practice, practice. That is exactly what Conner Lovelace and Mikolas Melius, students at Lee’s Summit High School, did while attending the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Leadership in Practice program.
Lovelace and Melius joined more than 120 high school students who were selected as future leaders from schools across the state. Held on June 22-25 on the Westminster campus in Fulton, Leadership in Practice is designed to provide young Missourians with the opportunity to learn what it takes to be an effective leader in their schools and communities. Read more: Lee's Summit Journal

Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Hering-Kent receives Governor's Volunteer Award

Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Hering-Kent of Cherokee received a 2014 Governor's Volunteer Award from Governor Terry E. Branstad during a special recognition ceremony in June in Ottumwa. Hering-Kent was honored with an Individual Volunteer Award by the Iowa Tourism Office for serving as President of the Western Iowa Tourism Region.

"It's always a great pleasure for me to honor and recognize the volunteers who accomplish extraordinary things through service to help their communities, fellow citizens, and the great state of Iowa," said Governor Branstad. "These dedicated volunteers lead by example--not only encouraging the people they help, but motivating others to serve as well. I sincerely thank them all for their dedication and efforts." Read more: Cherokee Chronicle Times

Chamber of Manitowoc Program: Leadership Manitowoc County is now accepting applications for 2014-2015!  

Leadership Manitowoc County (LMC) is a community engagement program that brings together potential leaders from various segments of the community in a program that encourages, motivates and prepares participants for assuming leadership roles in their place of employment and in the Manitowoc County community.
For information on applying for the 2014-2015 Leadership Manitowoc County Program, the  Leadership Manitowoc County Information & Application 2014-2015 packet is available to download. More info: The Chamber of Manitowoc County

View from Genoa, IL: Chamber benefits many

Chambers of Commerce are meant to help the community that they are located in, but they do so much more. Even as a college student who attends school out of the area, I can reap benefits from the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce, which is exactly the point of it. I have been working as the summer intern for the Genoa Chamber and have seen all that goes into it and all that comes out of it.

I applied for the internship because I have lived in Genoa most of my life. My parents grew up here, my grandparents live here and it is my home. I’m majoring in communication studies at Monmouth College, a small liberal arts school near the Illinois-Iowa border. This internship has paired well with my major and allowed me to use my knowledge and skills in the professional world. It also has allowed me to network and learn so many new things about the community. Read more: Daily Chronicle

30 Years of Culver's, the Frozen Custard and ButterBurger Chain

Culver's, a chain known for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard, turns 30 years old today. While currently they have over five hundred locations in 22 (mostly Midwestern) states, Culver's is primarily associated with the state of Wisconsin. The first location opened in Sauk City in 1984 when Craig and Lea Culver renovated an old A&W restaurant; although the restaurant grew rapidly after that, the first location outside of Wisconsin didn't open until 1995.
The combination of frozen custard and butter burgers — what Culver's refers to as their "Signature Combination" — was not a new one for Wisconsin, even in 1984. In a 2013 speech to the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Craig Culver told the audience he got the idea from Culver's after going to college at UW Oshkosh. Drive-through frozen custard and butter burger shops are common in the eastern part of the state, where Oshkosh and, more prominently, Milwaukee are located. Custard stands including Gilles (opened in 1938) and Kopp's (opened in 1950) had been serving these two dairy-laden treats side by side for decades when the first Culver's opened. Read more: Eater.com

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)


“There are two kinds of stones, as everyone knows, one of which rolls.” ~ Amelia Earhart  

Forbes: 28/50

John Dussman

Midwest Manager

www.villageprofile.com

800-600-0134 x239

Cell: (312)-320-8852

33 N. Geneva St.; Elgin, IL 60120

jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com

Midwest Chamber of Commerce Blog - News for Chamber Professionals Every Day 

 follow me for chamber news/events

state/national continuing education

Chamber Map - Chamber Directory Request For Proposal (RFP):

http://www.vp-mobile.com/form-joe/contact.html

Five Madison start-ups will pitch to Silicon Valley investors; Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce - Collaboration with I-69 Trade Corridor partners due to success; Columbus, Indiana tops magazine's rankings of 'Leading Locations'; Free Export Webinar for Small to Medium Sized Businesses; From Usher and Justin Timberlake to Oil & Gas: The Royalty Exchange Lets You Buy—and Sell—it All; Are you an inventor or a manufacturer looking to expand? Try out these tools!; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Leadership) Gail Sheehy

Four young Madison companies have been chosen to join a Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce-sponsored trip to the San Francisco Bay area next week to make a pitch to potential investors.
They are:
Catalyze: Customized health care apps
EatStreet: Mobile restaurant ordering
Mdot Labs: Analysis of big data to detect and stop fraud
Propeller Health: Wireless sensors that monitor asthma attacks
The four will join Fishidy, a mobile, map-based social platform for fishing enthusiasts. Fishidy won the Pressure Chamber contest held at the Chamber’s neXXpo: Business in Fast Forward event in April.

Read more: Wisconsin State Journal

Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce - Collaboration with I-69 Trade Corridor partners due to success

At the end of May, Paul Brake, City Manager and Chairman of the I-69 international Trade Corridor announced that the collaboration of the trade corridor, the Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce and many other municipal and business partnerships, had resulted in the area receiving designation as a federal manufacturing zone.
The area is known as Advance Michigan, a 13-county Michigan region which will receive major federal investments aimed at revitalizing manufacturing through the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Program (IMCP). Read more: Grand Blanc View

Columbus, Indiana tops magazine's rankings of 'Leading Locations'

Columbus is the top metropolitan area in the Midwest and the second best in the nation according to Area Development magazine. The magazine chose Columbus as one of its "Leading Locations." The report ranks the Columbus and Bartholomew County area as scoring highest nationwide in economic strength, for one-year economic growth and for being a recession-busting city. It also ranked high for year-over-year growth, manufacturing growth and employment growth over three and five years. Read more:

WCSI - NewsTalk 1010


Free Export Webinar for Small to Medium Sized Businesses

Interested in exporting? This in-depth webinar will provide you with comprehensive information on SBA's export loan programs, including the Export Working Capital Program (EWCP), International Trade Loan (ITL), Export Express, and CAPLine.

> Register by emailing Robert.Elsas@SBA.gov with “Webinar RSVP – June 30th” in the subject line

From Usher and Justin Timberlake to Oil & Gas: The Royalty Exchange Lets You Buy—and Sell—it All

If you want to buy a car, simply head to your local dealership. Want a computer? There are lots of places that sell them. But what if you want to buy a piece of your favorite TLC song released 15 years ago?
For that, you can go to the Royalty Exchange.
Founded by Sean Peace in 2011, the Royalty Exchange connects royalty owners with potential buyers and investors. For those unacquainted with royalties, here’s what you need to know. Royalties are payments made from one person or entity to another for the right to use an asset. What is an asset, you might ask? Well, an asset can be just about anything. If you’re a musician who writes a hit song, for example, the song itself would be your asset. On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re looking to make money off of the solar panels affixed to your rooftop, the clean energy system would qualify as your asset. Read more: Free Enterprise

Are you an inventor or a manufacturer looking to expand? Try out these tools!

In honor of the "National Day of Making" last week, June 18, 2014, and the White House hosting its first-ever White House Maker Faire, we've assembled some federal tools and programs for all you U.S. "makers", inventors and manufacturers:  

• Are you an inventor? Take advantage of the USPTO's Inventor's Assistance Program (IAP) which engages in a range of educational and outreach services to help inventors understand the value of protecting their intellectual property and how to navigate the patent process. Learn more...

• Are you a manufacturer who wants to make new products? Contact NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network providing services from innovation strategies to process improvements to workforce development, with a focus on helping manufacturers develop new customers, expand into new markets and create new products. Learn more...

Are you a foreign manufacturer or U.S. manufacturer with offshore production who wants to make products in the United States? Try out our Invest in the U.S. wizard for government services and tools to help you make it in the USA and read about the Reshoring Initiative. 

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Leadership)


“The secret of a leader lies in the tests he has faced over the whole course of his life and the habit of action he develops in meeting those tests.” ~ Gail Sheehy