Showing posts with label Ferndale Chamber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ferndale Chamber. Show all posts

Friday, May 13, 2016

Ferndale Chamber of Commerce selects new executive director; #BestChamber practices: The Resources page at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber; Greater Beloit Chamber Downtown Dash 5K run to be part of the fun Jasper Chamber Initiative: Women Empowering Women Leadership Group to Gather June 1; Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map; Greater Owensboro Chamber and partners: Listening Sessions with Regional Employers to address Area Workforce Needs; Greater Beloit Chamber Downtown Dash 5K run to be part of the fun; Brookhaven Lincoln County Chamber interest: Linbrook work progressing despite rain delays; Ribbon cutting: Oswego Chamber of Commerce at the Black Dog Distillery; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories 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 day!


Ferndale Chamber of Commerce selects new executive director




 The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce has hired a new executive director who hopes to reach out to the people and businesses of the city.
Kim Hart was appointed to the position on April 11, where she replaced Ashleigh Laabs, who left the position in October 2015, and Carol Jackson, who had served in the interim.
A University of Michigan-Dearborn graduate, Hart has worked at Detroit Country Day School and the Drayton Avenue Cooperative Preschool.
She has experience in fundraising and event planning.
“It’s been great,” she said of her job so far. “It’s just meeting a lot of people in the community, staying positive, listening to other people’s dreams.
“When I talk to new businesses that come, I really like listening to their stories and kind of going back and forth with ideas when they’re signing (up) for membership. I really like where they’re moving with their business and (what) their visions are.”
With her job, Hart said she wants to bring together the community and network so that the right people are talking to each other so all of their businesses can flourish.
“That’s what I like to do,” she said. “I’ve tried to make the atmosphere as comfortable for them as possible, and try to do what they want us to do. If they need any type of advertising, if they need any type of service, we’re here for them.”
Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Jay McMillan said the board loved how Hart was very involved with the community, as well as how she has lived in Ferndale since 2003. Read more: C and G Newspapers


Jasper Chamber Initiative: Women Empowering Women Leadership Group to Gather June 1



The Dubois County women’s leadership organization, Women Empowering Women (WEW), will hold an hour-long membership meeting on Wednesday, June 1, at the St. Joseph Church Parish Center, 1029 Kundek Street in Jasper beginning at 11:45 am. This event is open to all current WEW members. Members are encouraged to bring guests to participate in this month’s session and learn about membership.

Advanced reservations are required for members and guest and should be made by calling the Jasper Chamber of Commerce at 812-482-6866 or by emailing chamber@jasperin.org by May 25th. The cost for lunch is $5.00 per person and is payable at the door.

The featured program is entitled “Life Planning 101 for Today’s Women… Everything you need to know about managing your “Everyday Risks”...such as Home, Auto, Life and Liability Insurance, Investments and Savings, too!” and will be facilitated by WEW members Andrea Lichlyter and Sue Brames. Lichlyter, a financial advisor with Edward Jones for almost four years, has won numerous awards for outstanding performance and customer satisfaction. Since joining Farm Bureau as a multi-line insurance agent in 1999, Brames has been recognized as one of the company’s top life insurance producers and has qualified for numerous company-sponsored awards for sales and service. Both know how important it is for women to plan for their futures by developing strategies to protect investments, property, and loved ones.

The WEW organization meets six times a year. The additional programs for the 2016 meeting series include August 10: Let’s Connect…Everyone Communicates, Few Connect; October 12: Whole Person…body, mind, heart, soul and December 7: Year End Inspiration.
The mission of Women Empowering Women is to inspire women in business to reach their highest potential by instilling confidence, building networks, and promoting community in Dubois County. Membership is open to any woman in business who lives or works in Dubois County.

For more information about WEW and to access a membership application, visit the organizations’ Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Women-Empowering-Women-WEW/1585500421736209.  For more information – Nancy Eckerle – 812/482-6866



Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map

The Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map is available at the Green Lake County Chamber! Thanks to the Green Lake County 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.

Greater Owensboro Chamber and partners: Listening Sessions with Regional Employers to address Area Workforce Needs


The Greater Owensboro Chamber Commerce and Economic Development Corporation in partnership with Owensboro Community and Technical College and Western Kentucky University are hosting two days of listening sessions with regional employers in order to articulate a clear vision to address area workforce needs.

The organizations’ overarching goal is to articulate a clear plan to build a system that is responsive to employers and allows them the opportunity to thrive and expand their business in Greater Owensboro; as well as a plan to make the most for regional students and job seekers. 

The sessions were broken down for sector-specific areas:

·         Health Care/Medical (Direct Patient Care, Ancillary Services, Research and Development)  
·         Hospitality/Retail/Customer Service
·         Manufacturing/Skilled Trades
·         Professional (Finance, Banking, Legal, Accounting, Engineering etc.)

The sessions are being facilitated by Diana Taylor, a partner in Taylor-Gray Associates, a Frankfort, Kentucky-based public policy and communications consulting firm.

Taylor-Gray Associates works closely with the Kentucky State Chamber on the workforce needs of the state of Kentucky.

Before starting her business in 1993, Taylor was Chief of Staff for the Governor of Kentucky. She also served as issues and communications director for the gubernatorial campaign and co-chaired a successful statewide effort to amend Kentucky’s constitution to allow gubernatorial succession.

A writer, editor and policy analyst, Taylor is a former reporter and state news editor for The Associated Press in Kentucky and Tennessee, and Frankfort bureau chief and columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. She also has worked in marketing and legislative coverage for KET, Kentucky Educational Television. More Information: CONTACT PERSON: Candance Castlen Brake, President and CEO - Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce 270.691.0570  www.owensboro.com



Greater Beloit Chamber Downtown Dash 5K run to be part of the fun



The Third Annual Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Downtown Dash will help kick off the Farmers Market season on Saturday, May 7.
The 5K run and 1-mile walk will start and end at Irontek, 635 Third St. Runners and walkers will enjoy the route which starts in downtown Beloit and runs along the scenic riverfront.
The run will begin at 10 a.m. and race-day registration will be held from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
The registration fee is $25 for adults with a Downtown Dash T-shirt and $20 without the shirt. For students and children the fee will be $15 with a shirt and $10 without a shirt. For relay teams of four, the fee will be $100.

For those who register in advance, race packets can be picked up from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. May 6 at Irontek. Read more: Beloit Daily News

Brookhaven Lincoln County Chamber interest: Linbrook work progressing despite rain delays

If you build it, will they come? The Brookhaven ­Lincoln County Economic Development Alliance certainly hopes so.

Interest in the Linbrook Business Park continues to grow, according to Brookhaven­-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Garrick Combs. The Alliance and partner Agracel, an industrial development company, are moving forward on the construction of a spec facility in the vacant park. The plan that was approved last year stated that the Alliance would partner with Agracel, who would construct a building to house a potential business on 10 to 20 acres of the 400­acre business park.

Having a facility in place that a manufacturer or other industrial company could move into and quickly customize to their needs is huge, Combs said. “Since last summer, when the city and county approved our plan to construct the second speculative industrial building, all of the site preparation has been done,” Combs said. “There is a 100,000­square­foot pad that has been constructed.” “The worksite has been transferred from Oddee Smith Construction to Laws Construction,” Combs said. “Laws Construction is actually the one that has the contract with Agracel to construct the building. Now the actual building contractor has taken possession of the site from the dirt contractor.” Read more: Daily Leader



Ribbon cutting: Oswego Chamber of Commerce at the Black Dog Distillery

 Oswego Chamber




Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories 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.  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 #151    Attend institutes and educational conferences.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Chamber Executive Michigan Digest - September 2014



Chamber news: Detroit: America’s Emerging Market - How the city can teach us to reinvest the rest of the U.S. economy
In August, a year after I wrote a TIME cover story on Detroit’s bankruptcy, I visited Motown again. This time I found myself reporting on a remarkable economic resurgence that could become a model for other beleaguered American communities. Even as Detroit continues to struggle with blight and decline–more than 70,500 properties were foreclosed on in the past four years, and basic public services like streetlights and running water are still spotty in some areas–its downtown is booming, full of bustling restaurants, luxury lofts, edgy boutiques and newly renovated office buildings.
The city struck me as a template for much of the postcrisis U.S. economy–thriftier, more entrepreneurial and nimble. Many emerging-market cities, from Istanbul to Lagos to Mumbai, share similar characteristics, good and bad. The water might be off on Detroit’s perimeter, but migrants are flooding into its center, drawn by lower-cost housing and a creative-hive effect that’s spawned a host of new businesses. Read more: Time Magazine

Michigan Chamber of Commerce will be launching a statewide private health insurance marketplace
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce will be launching a statewide private health insurance marketplace – Michigan's Insurance Marketplace at www.MiChamberMarketplace.org – on September 1, 2014.  The marketplace was created to meet the growing needs of employers as they try to comply with health care reform and offer the best coverage available for their employees.
"Starting September 1st, individuals and employers across Michigan, who can work with their licensed insurance agent of choice, will have a single source, multi-carrier, insurance solution for comparing and accessing available medical, dental, vision and supplemental insurance plans, as well as a wide range of other non-insurance related products," said Barry Robinson, Vice President of Chamber Services & Membership Development for the Michigan Chamber. "Also available in the marketplace are calculators to help determine federal subsidy eligibility and potential tax consequences for failing to enroll in qualified health plans." For more information: Michigan's Insurance Marketplace

Ferndale Chamber of Commerce gets new executive director

Seven people interviewed to become the new executive director of the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce, but after Marina Glagolev showed up it was a done deal.
“She walked out of the room and we all said, She’s it,” said Carol Jackson, interim executive director. “She’s a very powerful yet genuine person. She can talk to anyone from a blue collar person up to a CEO.”
Glagolev, a Birmingham resident, steps into the job Monday. Read more: Oakland Daily Tribune

Tweet of the month: Michigan Chamber Rich Studley ‏@rstudley Sep 1
MI taxpayers have a lot to celebrate on Labor Day: state deficit eliminated, budget balanced, $500M rainy day fund. Detroit News


"Know Your Numbers" Workshop September 16, 2014 - Battle Creek, MI
Five Keys to Using Financial Statements to Maximize Cash Flow and Increase Access to Capital 
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Experienced business owners and key staff who want to have a better understanding of how to use their financial statements in business decisions.  
TOPICS INCLUDE: Identify opportunities and challenges with your balance sheet and income   statement Discuss the proven ways to increase your company’s cash flow Apply breakeven analysis to improve decision making Understand and plan the working capital to support your growth Strengthen the partnership with your lender  

Date/Time: September 16,  9:00 am to 12 noon.
Location:  Battle Creek Unlimited, 4950  West Dickman Rd.  Battle Creek, MI  49037
Cost: Free
Register online: Know Your Numbers  For more information call 269-387-6004 

 

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: "Worth Every Penny - Build a Business That Thrills Your Customers and Still Charge What You're Worth" by Erin Verbeck and Sarah Petty

A revelation for small business owners: creating a profitable business is possible without getting into a slash-and-burn price war with your competitors. Many small business owners feel pressure to discount their products and services, especially when times are tough. After all, how else will they keep up with the low prices offered by their discounting competitors? What they don't realize is that discounting is the last thing they should be doing if they want to win big. Sarah Petty and Erin Verbeck are here to show you that there's a radically different way to run a small business-- one in which the owners focus on creating specialized offerings and an over-the-top customer experience, not on matching the prices of their competition. Worth Every Penny encourages you to explore and use this model, which is designed to maximize your advantages over the big-box stores and other discounting competitors.

You'll learn how to:
--Build a brand that lays the foundation for you to charge what your offerings are worth.
--Create products, services and high-touch customer experiences to achieve healthy margins and an outspokenly happy and loyal client base.
--Understand how to use a pricing strategy that allows you to create demand and attract the right customers instead of discounting.
--Throw traditional advertising to the wind and implement a boutique way of marketing to excel in this competitive business environment.
--Learn the relationship-based sales skills needed to close every sale and have your clients clamoring for more.
The authors' strategies are enhanced by real-life business experiences and vivid anecdotes from all types of business owners--restaurateurs to contractors to professional service providers and photographers. With the advice in Worth Every Penny, you will be inspired to live your passion and pass your enthusiasm on to your customers. The result: a profitable business that avoids succumbing to the pressure to discount. Source: Barnes & Noble 

Michigan Chamber: Job Providers Win Big on Primary Election Day!

We started the election season by telling you, "It’s a New Day in Michigan." We're pleased to report Primary Election results that will continue to move Michigan forward. Tuesday’s Primary Election was a very good for job providers and the Michigan Chamber.  Across the state, voters cast ballots for common sense conservatives who are in favor of limited government and will be fighters for free enterprise. Michigan Chamber

Detroit Chamber Tweet Contest: "What are some of your favorite businesses in Detroit?"
Description: Starting Monday, August 4, the Chamber will begin accepting responses to the question: “What are some of your favorite businesses in Detroit? Why? Enter to win a $5 @GiftDetroit313 gift card.” How to Enter: Tweet at the Detroit Regional Chamber (@detroitchamber) the answer to the question in 140 characters or less.
For example, “@detroitchamber Lafayette Coney Island because they have the world’s best coney!”
On Friday, August 29, at 5 p.m., five tweets will be randomly chosen to receive $5 Gift Detroit certificates that can be redeemed at any of the 50 local businesses participating in the program. Winners will be direct messaged and will have 48 hours to respond. Prizes will be mailed to the lucky winners. Prizes: $5 Gift Detroit certificates to 5 winners - To learn more about Gift Detroit or to purchase Gift Detroit certificates, click here.

Michigan economic development group used 'secret shopper' and fake company to evaluate Michigan cities
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation used a professional site selector and a fake business for a "secret shopper" survey of Michigan cities this summer.
"In an effort to continuously improve service to our business clients, we engaged in a secret siting activity to objectively look at how well we navigate and respond to inquiries from clients looking to locate in Michigan," MEDC CEO Michael Finney said in a written statement Thursday, Aug. 28. Read more: M Live

South Lyon, Michigan Chamber best practices: Photographer keeps her eye, lens on community
Even if you don’t know Jane Purslow, you’ve probably seen her snapping pictures at a festival, parade, Kensington Metropark or any number of places in western Oakland County.
In all, the Lyon resident said she’s taken more than 1 million photos. At the Lyon Township Kite Festival this summer, she and her husband, Jack, shot more than 10,000 images. Read more: Hometown Life

157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce)

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Milwaukee Chamber goal: 20,000 high-performing students by 2020; Benton Arkansas development director to head county development group; Chamber Education: Apply Now for Leadership Missouri 2015!; New Ferndale, Michigan chamber director hoping to continue growth for local businesses; Champaign County Chamber of Commerce receives ACCE Award; Nebraska State Chamber makes a stop in North Platte; Tweet of the day: Michigan Chamber Rich Studley ‏@rstudley; Altus, Oklahoma Chamber President: $400 million ‘retail leakage’; Chamber Home Business Training/Education: Free IRS Webinar - Business Use of Your Home; Chamber Directory RFP; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Attitude) Bruce Lee


Milwaukee Chamber goal: 20,000 high-performing students by 2020 - it's enough to fill an arena

By MMAC President Tim Sheehy

Imagine 50 high-performing schools serving 20,000 low-income, minority students in the City of Milwaukee who are reading and doing math at or above their grade level. Students who are prepared to take on high school, who are prepared for two and four year colleges, or ready to start apprenticeship programs. It's enough students to fill an arena.
Today, fewer than a dozen schools are meeting these standards, with a student population that would fill less than half the lower bowl of the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Read more: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Benton Arkansas development director to head county development group

Lamont Cornwell has started to clean out his office at the Benton Municipal Complex on South Street, where he has worked for the past four years, but he will probably not throw a lot of stuff away.
On Sept. 5, Cornwell will no longer be the director of economic and community development for the city, but he will move to an office at the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce on Market Street and take on the new challenge as executive director of the Saline County Economic Development Corp., replacing Eddie Black, who recently retired from the post. Read more: Tri Lakes Edition


Chamber Education: Apply Now for Leadership Missouri 2015!

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is now taking applications for Leadership Missouri. Founded in 1990, Leadership Missouri aims to identify current and emerging leaders throughout the state, enhance their leadership skills, and deepen their knowledge of the state's opportunities and challenges. In April of each year, the selected participants begin a series of seven monthly, two-day sessions.

Through the sessions, participants will tour various businesses and hear from Missouri's leaders. They will explore the state's opportunities, needs and resources through these tours, panel discussions, presentations and relationship building. Leadership Missouri provides a thought-provoking experience focusing on the attributes of the state, and what it means to be a leader. By visiting various regions, participants develop an enhanced view and a new meaning to the word community that spans the entire state.

For an idea of what to expect in the program, take a look at the 2015 schedule. Scholarships are available through Leadership Missouri Alumni and Northeast Power Cooperative.

Leadership Missouri Alumni Scholarship 

Limited partial scholarships for candidates representing non-profit organizations or agencies. If your participation hinges on availability of such scholarships, please fill out this Leadership Missouri Scholarship application and submit with your Leadership Missouri application.

Northeast Missouri Power Cooperative Scholarship

Provides one matching scholarship.  To view the requirement and fill out the application click here.

Apply now online! Or, if you know someone who would be a candidate for the program, please invite them to apply. 


New Ferndale, Michigan chamber director hoping to continue growth for local businesses


In the past year, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce has grown its membership base, expanded services to Oak Park and been named Outstanding Chamber of the Year by Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals.
Heading into the next year, the chamber will look to continue to grow, albeit under new leadership. On Aug. 18, Marina Glagolev officially took over the executive director position.
“I am really excited, the board is very engaged and forward-thinking, and there is a huge, great vision for this chamber as it has grown,” Glagolev said. “I think this chamber could fill a niche, and as this city moves toward the future, so many Americans are becoming hopeful entrepreneurs, and that is a huge industry for this country. We will embrace new businesses and, hopefully, be able to provide networking and educational support.” Read more: candGnews.com

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce receives ACCE Award

Chamber receives awards. The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce won a grand award and "best of show" award in the American Chamber of Commerce Executives' 2014 Awards for Communications Excellence.
The awards were given for the chamber's Business Emergency Relief Campaign, launched in the wake of the Nov. 17 tornado that hit the Gifford area. Read more: News-Gazette


Nebraska State Chamber makes a stop in North Platte

North Platte was the first stop for representatives of the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce and Industry to begin the annual tour of the state for a look at community business, education, demographics and other trends.
One of the issues reported by North Platte and area businesses is a lack of available, qualified workers.
Jamie Karl, a state chamber lobbyist, said over 52 percent of the respondents to a chamber survey in 2013 reported they had difficulty finding employees. Karl gave several reasons for this: Low unemployment in Nebraska, a lack of skilled labor and out migration of college graduates to other areas over the last two years. Read more: Lexington Clipper Herald


MI taxpayers have a lot to celebrate on Labor Day: state deficit eliminated, budget balanced, $500M rainy day fund. Detroit News

 

Altus, Oklahoma Chamber President: $400 million ‘retail leakage’

Approximately $400 million dollars per year is “leaking” from local retailers and is being spent in other towns, Altus Chamber of Commerce President Brian Bush said as the guest speaker at the Southwest Oklahoma Republican Women meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28. That is potentially $14 million annual that could go to City services and infrastructure based on the city tax of 3.5 percent, he explained. Read more: AltusTimes.com

Chamber Home Business Training/Education: Free IRS Webinar - Business Use of Your Home


Date: September 10, 2014
Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET); 1:00 p.m. (CT); 12:00 p.m. (MT); 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Location: Your office or home
Contact: SB/SE Webinars; Email: sbse.webinars@irs.gov
Event Information: This FREE one-hour broadcast is for:
  • All Tax Professionals
  • Bookkeepers
  • Small Business Owners
  • Small Business and Industry Organizations
Topics include:
  • Simplified and regular option for claiming the home office deduction
  • Requirements for qualifying to deduct expenses
  • Types of expenses you can deduct and how to figure the deduction
  • ... and more
  • Plus a live Q&A session with a Subject Matter Expert
Certificates of completion are being offered. Earn 1 CE credit – Category: Federal Tax.

To register for the event, visit the Internal Revenue Service Webinar Registration website.

Chamber Directory RFP

Get a free estimate for a chamber map, community profile or membership directory, call John Dussman at (800)-600-0134 or email jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com. If your chamber has 500 members or more, please ask about our no-cost option.

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Attitude)



“If you want to learn to swim, you have to throw yourself in the water.”
 

Friday, August 29, 2014

Great legislative/chamber teamwork! Missouri Chamber priorities become law this week; Indiana Chamber Of Commerce Names Bloomington Community Of The Year; Chicagoland Chamber's "Small Business Chicago": A Hub For Entrepeneurs and Business Owners; Norman Chamber of Commerce announces Leadership Class; Tweet of the day: Rich Studley, Michigan Chamber; Chamber Event: Chiefs, KC business community celebrate new season; Chamber Testimony: SD lawmakers explore highway funding, user fees; Ferndale, Michigan Chamber of Commerce gets new executive director; Montevideo, Minnesota Area Chamber: Getting ready for a fantastic fall; New Iowa Lakes Corridor director focuses on growth; How-To Certify Your Small Business by Registering as a Government Contractor; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organzation Management (and your Chamber of Commerce); Chamber Directory

Great legislative/chamber teamwork! Missouri Chamber priorities become law this week


Each year in Missouri, on Aug. 28, the majority of bills passed by the general assembly become law. This year, several priorities of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry will become effective on Aug. 28, helping Missouri employers better compete.
“Each year, it seems like new challenges emerge that threaten our state’s businesses and their ability to grow and create jobs. If it’s not a national recession or the threat of increased federal regulations, it’s the many state issues we saw emerge recently including fraudulent unemployment claims, massive unemployment insurance debts and patent troll scams,” said Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber President/CEO. “We thank the leaders in our General Assembly for staying current and continuing to address these problems as they arise.” Read more: Missouri Chamber

Indiana Chamber Of Commerce Names Bloomington Community Of The Year

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has named Bloomington the 2014 Community of the Year.
Chamber officials point to Bloomington’s cultural, arts and recreational attractions, which they say are impressive for a city of its size, as reasons for choosing Bloomington out of a pool of 20 applicants.
“Bloomington really stood out for the educational activities, the development of technology, the development of medical bio-sciences cluster that is here that’s providing jobs and technology breakthroughs as well as the quality of life that you have here in Monroe County,” Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO and Bloomington native Kevin Brinegar says. Read more: Indiana Public Media


Chicagoland Chamber's "Small Business Chicago": A  Hub For Entrepeneurs and Business Owners

 
From Theresa E. Mintle, President & CEO - Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
 
I am excited to announce the launch of Small Business Chicago, a central hub providing resources and connections for small businesses.
The timing on this is no coincidence. We know this is important to our members, as 73 percent of the respondents in our recent Member Survey said small business development should be a priority of the Chamber and 60 percent said they want us involved in addressing obstacles to starting and running a business.
The program features new membership programs and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Chicagoland Chamber, which provides free, one-on-one business consulting for entrepreneurs and existing business owners.
More than 99 percent of businesses in Illinois are small businesses. Between our specialized programs and the SBDC, we are building a solid foundation for these businesses to equip themselves with the tools to grow and strengthen the local economy.
Whether you’re launching a new company, currently running a small business, or interested in getting involved with the program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Director of Small Business Katie Hamilton at 312.494.6734 or khamilton@chicagolandchamber.org. 
 

Norman (Oklahoma) Chamber of Commerce announces Leadership Class

Thirty Norman residents have been chosen to participate in the Chamber’s 34th Leadership Norman class. The program is designed to identify and motivate emerging leaders through development of their potential for community leadership. During the next several months, participants will attend 15 interactive sessions covering a variety of topics including communication, education, personal leadership, quality of life issues, city and state government, health care and economic development. Class members will also be given the opportunity to serve area nonprofits. Read more: Norman Transcript

Tweet of the day: Rich Studley, Michigan Chamber

More talk, no action. MIRS News reports: MI Senate "work group" on fixing the roads met Thurs. Boldly decided to meet again next month.

Chamber Event: Chiefs, KC business community celebrate new season

About 800 people showed up at this year's Kansas City Chiefs Kickoff Luncheon, hosted by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the biggest turnout ever.
The event is designed to give the local business community an opportunity to show appreciation for the Kansas City Chiefs, and for the team to thank the business community for its support over the past 50 years. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal


Chamber Testimony: SD lawmakers explore highway funding, user fees

Members of a legislative committee tasked with studying how to best fund state and local highways started gathering ideas Wednesday, including considering increasing some user fees as an option to help fund South Dakota's roads.
The Highway Needs and Financing Committee met Tuesday and Wednesday at the state Capitol. Republican Sen. Mike Vehle, chairman of the committee, said the state could look at a 10 percent increase to the license fee for drivers. He suggested such potential legislation as lowering the gas tax from 22 cents per gallon to 20 cents while adding a 3 percent excise tax on fuel over two years.
"I'm willing to look at a lot of other things, but we've got to get started somewhere," he said. Read more: Watertown Public Opinion

Ferndale, Michigan Chamber of Commerce gets new executive director

Seven people interviewed to become the new executive director of the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce, but after Marina Glagolev showed up it was a done deal.
“She walked out of the room and we all said, She’s it,” said Carol Jackson, interim executive director. “She’s a very powerful yet genuine person. She can talk to anyone from a blue collar person up to a CEO.”
Glagolev, a Birmingham resident, steps into the job Monday. Read more: Oakland Daily Tribune



Montevideo, Minnesota Area Chamber: Getting ready for a fantastic fall

In September we will be working diligently on our upcoming Annual Fundraiser scheduled for October 24, at The Hollywood on Main. This year’s focus is a beautiful, fun night of dining and entertainment featuring the ever exceptional silent auction, awards for upstanding businesses, committee and community leaders, and bringing back by popular demand Dueling Pianos! Please watch for the Chamber team to be visiting with you soon to hear and request your input for nominations, and contributions of advertising awareness for your local business gaining exposure through this night of community celebration! Read more: Montevideo American News

New Iowa Lakes Corridor director focuses on growth

He started in southeast Iowa spending time building up organizations and the chamber of commerce there, with no intentions of ever leaving his hometown, let alone moving to a place four hours away. "I really never had an intention to move outside of Mt. Pleasant, I was content there. However when I saw that the Iowa Lakes Corridor had an opening I started to look more into the area," the new director of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Kiley Miller said. "What I saw when I looked into the area were several things that attracted me to the position." Read more: Storm Lake Pilot

How-To Certify Your Small Business by Registering as a Government Contractor

Are you a small business owner interested in making the federal government one of your next customers?

Then you can benefit greatly from certifying your business first.
Many government agencies require that a certain percentage of its work is  set aside for small businesses (and woman-owned, veteran-owned and more), so certifying your business can help you successfully compete for government contracts. These resources can help:

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organzation Management (and your Chamber of Commerce)

RULE # 11 --- Never recruit board members to appease them - Patrick McGaughey   


Chamber Directory

For a free estimate regarding a chamber map, community profile or membership directory, call John Dussman at (800)-600-0134 or email jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com. If your chamber has 500 members or more, please ask about our no-cost option.