Michigan Chamber Announces Candidate Endorsements for State House and Michigan Senate in Open Seats and Contested Primaries; Franklin Indiana Chamber of Commerce names new Executive Director; Wisconsin Governor Walker speaks in support of the Confluence Project; Jenks Oklahoma Chamber President Anticipates Future; Argentine Neighborhood Development Association, businesses honored at Kansas City Kansas Area Chamber celebration; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership) - Margaret Wheatley

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today announced campaign endorsements for State House and Michigan Senate candidates in open seats and contested primaries. "It's a new day for Michigan and smart new business policies are attracting new investment and creating new opportunities for job providers and working families," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "Michigan is on the right track and the election of business-friendly, pro-jobs policymakers will help ensure further progress."

"The candidates we are endorsing today have the ability to win and the courage to govern," added Studley. 
 "Today, we are pleased to announce the Michigan Chamber's endorsement of 21 outstanding individuals for the State House and seven outstanding individuals for the Michigan Senate," said Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "All of these candidates have demonstrated a commitment to protecting the gains made during the last legislative session to keep Michigan moving forward through the pursuit of policies based on individual freedom, incentive and opportunity."  Read more: Digital Journal

Franklin Indiana Chamber of Commerce names new Executive Director

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of a new Executive Director. Janice A. Bullman, a Johnson County native, has accepted the position and will begin her new duties in July. Read more: WSCI Columbus

Wisconsin Governor Walker speaks in support of the Confluence Project

At a lunch event Monday afternoon with the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker made comments in support of the Confluence Project. On Twitter, WQOW reporter Aarik Woods quoted Gov. Walker, saying, "It's a great partnership with public, private sector, so I support going forward with this project," while WQOW's main Twitter feed quotes Walker as saying, "We think that's an important project not just for Eau Claire and not just for UW-EC, but for this entire region." Read more: Volume One Magazine

Jenks Oklahoma Chamber President Josh Driskell Anticipates Future

Jenks has a lot to look forward to this summer and beyond, says Jenks Chamber of Commerce President Josh Driskell, starting with the community’s July 4th celebrations.
“It’s a real Americana feel with a turn-of-the-century feeling to downtown,” he says, citing the Independence Day celebration as one of his most personally anticipated events.
Driskell became chamber president in 2010 after discovering Jenks a few years earlier.
“I fell in love with the community and wanted to live and work here,” he says. “Jenks has so much to offer, from the school system, to the aquarium, Village on Main and Riverwalk. The community wants to go the extra mile.” Read more: Greater Tulsa Reporter

Argentine Neighborhood Development Association, businesses honored at Kansas City Kansas Area Chamber celebration

The Kansas City Kansas Area Chamber of Commerce presented the following awards at the annual Small Business Awards Luncheon at Sporting Park on June 6:

• 2014 Small Business of the Year Award to Preferred Physical Therapy,

• 2014 New Small Business of the Year Award to Agua Fina Irrigation & Landscape, and

• 2014 Non-Profit of the Year Award to Argentine Neighborhood Development Association.

“The Small Business Awards Luncheon is all about honoring small business and the contributions they make throughout the community,” said Todd LaSala, KCK Chamber Chairman and Partner at Stinson Leonard Street. “They drive job creation, new business ventures and the products of tomorrow.” Read more: Kansas City Kansan


Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership) 

“Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for heroes.” ~ Margaret Wheatley


Forbes: 29/50

2014 Great Lakes Lenders Conference July 31 - August 1 - Detroit, Michigan; Kehoe stumps for transportation tax at Columbia, Missouri Chamber meeting; Kansas House Speaker Merrick appoints Kansas Chamber leader O'Neal, KPI president Trabert to school study commission; Former Crystal Lake Illinois Chamber President Gary Reece Named Independence Day Parade Grand Marshall; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Leadership): Brian Tracy

The Great Lakes Lenders Conference is the premier banking event in the Midwest, hosted by the SBA District offices of Cleveland, Columbus, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.  In its 16th year, this conference promises to be bigger and better with valuable workshops to keep you up to date on SBA lending programs and other banking topics. Who should attend?

• Commercial and Business Banking Lenders
• Credit Analysts and Underwriters
• Credit Administration, Documentation and Servicing Staff
• Loan Packagers
• Attorneys

2014 Workshop Descriptions

Lending in a Global Market
Presented by John O’Gara,SBA Trade Finance Specialist and US Commerce Dept.Exporting – The Final Frontier!  Take a proactive approach to growing your client’s business.  Did you know the Dept of Commerce can help you client expand into global markets by arranging face to face appointments with potential buyers?  Did you know these trade missions can be paid for by U.S. federal programs?  Did you know you can cover your lending risk with a 90% guarantee?

SBA Basics and Loan Packaging
Presented by SBA Lender Relations Staff (Loan Guaranty Processing Center invited)
An overview of SBA financing programs from start to finish, including eligibility, structure and application.  Perfect for lenders new to SBA or as a refresher for those experienced. SBA’s new application process will be discussed.

Alternatives to Traditional Lending
Presented by Matt Dekutoski, Crestmark Bank
What do you do when the deal does not fit your credit box? Alternative lending solutions to various asset categories and structure exist in the senior debt and junior debt world that had been previously unavailable to the small-to-medium (SME) business. These alternative solutions can lead to relationships for you today and loans outstanding in the future. What, who and where are these solutions will be part of this session.

Secondary Market
Increase profitability and liquidity for your bank!  Learn the basics of selling SBA guaranteed loans on the secondary market.  Session will cover pricing, mechanics, documentation, etc.

Other Sessions:

Recognizing & Preventing Loan Fraud.

1502 Reporting
Closing the SBA Loan
Lender Oversight and Audits

Lending to Franchises
Liquidation Part 1 and 2 

504 Lending Topics
SBA Environmental Policy  

Servicing the SBA Loan 

USDA Rural Development & MEDC Financing Programs
CAPLines
Origination FAQs
Construction Lending 

SBA File Organization. Why It’s Important 

Creating your SBA Department Panel – Best practices and lessons from successful lenders
Advanced Lender – Parts 1 and 2

For more information, please contact Romy Ancog at romualdo.ancog@sba.gov or 313-324-3604.

Kehoe stumps for transportation tax at Columbia, Missouri Chamber meeting

Missouri Senator Mike Kehoe continues to show his support for the Transportation Sales Tax initiative, that goes before voters in August. Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City,  spoke on the effort at The Columbia Chamber of Commerce meeting Monday afternoon. Voters will decide whether to increase the state sales tax rate by three quarters of a cent for a 10-year period to help fund MoDOT projects. The tax is expected to produce $480 million annually to the Transportation Safety and Job Creation Fund. Read more: KBIA 91.3

Kansas House Speaker Merrick appoints Kansas Chamber leader O'Neal, KPI president Trabert to school study commission
House Speaker Ray Merrick has appointed two vocal critics of the state public school system to a commission that will make recommendations to the Legislature on how to make schools more efficient. Merrick, R-Stilwell, appointed former House speaker Mike O'Neal, now president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. Read more: Lawrence Journal-World

Former Crystal Lake Illinois Chamber President Gary Reece Named Independence Day Parade Grand Marshall

Gary Reece has been named Grand Marshal for the 2014 Independence Day Parade. Gary is a lifelong resident of Crystal Lake with extensive leadership experience in both volunteer and business environments. Gary founded Heartland Cabinet Supply, Inc. in 1999 and led its growth from zero to a multi-million dollar entity in just over 7 years. In 2002, he purchased a failing countertop shop and brought it in house combining it with his existing cabinet business and set out to expand the total number of countertop products offered. In addition to overseeing Heartland Cabinet, from July 2007 through January 2014, Gary was President of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce growing the membership to over 960 members and is one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in the State of Illinois. Read more: TribLocal

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Leadership)

 
“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.” ~ Brian Tracy  

Forbes 20/50

Illinois State's Tax Incentive Overhaul Advances amid Chamber Criticism; Arkansas Venture Center Launches With $500K Grant From State; Compromise Would Keep Missouri In Common Core; Kansas has Low Cost of Living Overall, Salina Lowest; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Leadership): Winston Churchill

House Speaker Michael Madigan advanced a proposed overhaul of one of the state's special tax incentive programs Wednesday with an eye toward helping areas of high unemployment and poverty.
But Doug Whitley, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, contended the proposed changes are too complicated to work, although he said the state needs to focus on employment.

“I can't think of a more complicated way to engage in economic development,” he said, saying he was “beside myself” when he reviewed the bill. He doubted businesses would apply because the legislation appeared to be a “barrier” to business. Read More: Chicago Tribune

Arkansas Venture Center Launches With $500K Grant From State

The Arkansas Venture Center officially launched Tuesday morning in downtown Little Rock with a $500,000 matching grant from Gov. Mike Beebe.
The Venture Center is a membership-driven, nonprofit organization co-founded by local entrepreneurs Mike Steely and Lee Watson. It offers entrepreneurial services related to startup acceleration, corporate innovation and technical training. Memberships are $150 per year with student and veteran discounts available.
Since November, the AVC has been operating out of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, host of Tuesday's announcement and one of the center's founding sponsors. More than 750 people have attended AVC's 42 weekly and monthly programs and events -- more than 60 hours worth of programming -- since November. Read more: Arkansas Business

Compromise Would Keep Missouri In Common Core 

State lawmakers are close to a deal that would keep the Common Core education standards in Missouri schools until a panel of teachers can review the nationally-crafted expectations.
Missouri is one of 44 states that signed on to use the Common Core in 2010. But as schools have aligned their teaching and materials to the new expectations, parents have pushed back. They're concerned the standards, which have been endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, will mean a loss of local control for Missouri schools.
Earlier legislation would have repealed the Common Core and barred schools from continuing to implement the standards. A compromise would let Missouri schools keep the Common Core for now, but give the state an out if a panel of educators tasked with standards setting could recommend a better alternative.
Jay Atkins, a lobbyist for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, calls it "transparency" legislation. Read more: WCUR 89.3

Kansas has low cost of living overall, Salina lowest

Shawnee County has a cost of living about 8 percent lower than the country as a whole, according to a group that compiles economic data. The Council for Community and Economic Research estimated in the first quarter the Topeka metropolitan statistical area has a cost of living of about 92.4 on their scale, where 100 is the nationwide average of 288 urban areas.
The Topeka MSA includes Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage and Wabaunsee counties, but the prices for the area all were collected in Shawnee County, said Marsha Sheahan, spokeswoman for the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. Read More: The Topeka Capital-Journal

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Leadership):


“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” ~ Winston Churchill


 Forbes 13/50