Win $25,000 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Enter to Win the Infrastructure Competition by Feb. 4th
The Chamber is offering cash prizes totaling $25,000 to those who can come up with the best, most viable ideas for a long-term sustainable funding source for infrastructure. We want to hear from everyone—students, academics, business leaders, the people out there doing the building—everyone. We’ll consolidate and publish all of the good ideas we receive—and we’ll have a big debate starting February 5th at our annual Infrastructure Summit.
It’s time to get America moving again.
America's infrastructure is crumbling but securing funds to rebuild America's Infrastructure is not so clear. That's why we want to hear from you. What's YOUR big idea to get America moving?
Send us your big idea by February 4th and you could win $25,000 and help get America moving again. Ideas will be up for discussion and debate at the Infrastructure Summit on Tuesday, February 5th. Winners will be announced on April 30, 2019.
Chamber Workforce Development: Champaign County Chamber: iRead iCount program
The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce iRead*iCount, an important new initiative to help build a better workforce, support economic development and to elevate our community and our children. This program is in partnership with the Community Coalition, United Way of Champaign County, the CU Schools Foundation, Parkland College and Unit 4 Schools.
In order for our community and our residents to achieve economic success, we must collectively lift the barriers that are causing children in our community to not achieve academic success.
With all the good things that happen in our schools, the 2018 Illinois State Report Card still marks Champaign Unit 4 schools with only 32 percent of the 3rd graders meeting or exceeding the standardized reading tests. Unit 4 teachers and district personnel are doing everything they can to change this. But unfortunately, they simply do not have the capacity to tackle this alone. As a community, we need to help build that capacity. We need people who are willing to step in and help students in our community to become proficient readers. We, the community, need to be the human resources in the classroom.
If I told you that you personally could help change the worlds of four children in our community in just 11 hours, would you do it?
Students who are reading 20 minutes a day (or being read to) will hear 1.8 million words a year. They will score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests. Up until third grade, students are learning to read. From 4th grade on, they are reading to learn.
We are seeking volunteers to give one hour a week for the next 11 weeks to help our kids master the basics -- so that by 4th grade, they are reading to learn. In that one hour with the students, using a specific curriculum (that you will be trained to use), which may seem very basic to you, will be world changing to a child once he or she has mastered it.
Volunteers will be in the classrooms starting mid-February. The deadline to sign up is January 31*. The volunteer application is on the chamber's website along with all of the information about the program. Once we work out the kinks in the pilot program, our hope is to expand to 1st and 2nd grade classrooms and we will also introduce math as part of the volunteer curriculum. But it will be the volunteers that will enable us to expand and reach the kids who are struggling.
Please volunteer or allow your employees to volunteer. Thank you for considering to be a volunteer for iRead*iCount program.
*Applications will still be accepted after this date, but late application volunteers may have a delayed start date.
We are better when we all work together.
CLICK HERE to volunteer.
Questions or need more information about this program? Email Mindy Cain or call 217.359.1791.
Two organizations merge to form new Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce that will partner with 5 star South Bend
In an effort to streamline missions and improve service to members, the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce and the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance have merged to form a new entity, the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce.
The combination, effective on Tuesday, brings together two organizations that advocate for business in Southwest Michigan.
But the merger also includes a new partnership with the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is being contracted to handle back-office functions ranging from human resources to marketing for the new chamber in Niles.
South Bend Regional Chamber President and CEO Jeff Rea is also taking on the role as president and CEO of the new Greater Niles Chamber. Rea previously oversaw the merging of economic development organization Project Future and the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce in 2012.
The move, Rea said, is part of strengthening the region and improving collaboration despite being on opposite sides of the state border, while taking on administrative functions so Greater Niles employees Barkley Garrett and Eileen Villanueva can focus on their primary roles.
Rea said the direction of the newly formed chamber will be driven by the board, which consists of six members from the SMEGA board, six members of the Four Flags Chamber board and two additional members.
“It’s not the big city coming in and taking over,” Rea said. “They’ll drive the strategic direction. In a sense, we’re kind of centralizing resources.”
The contract with the South Bend Regional Chamber, initially a six-month duration that bills for work on an hourly basis, will provide the Greater Niles Chamber access to the payroll systems, human resources, marketing, finance and other administrative functions. Economic development deals and leads will remain separate.
Barkley Garrett, the former executive director of SMEGA and now the director of economic development for the Greater Niles Chamber, said the merger and partnership fit with the new regional mindset being fostered in Michiana.
“Whenever we’re working with site selection consultants or working with companies about locating to new sites or buildings, they don’t care about arbitrary municipal boundaries or even state lines,” Garrett said. “They care about what the work force is going to look like within a 30-mile drive of this dot on the map.”
Eileen Villanueva, membership coordinator for the newly formed chamber, said the merger will help better serve members and play to the chamber’s strengths.
“In terms of SMEGA, we have been running parallel courses for a while now, we have very similar goals and dreams for the greater Niles area,” Villanueva said. “It made sense to merge and bring together our capabilities and talents, to make sure we’re serving the area to the best of our abilities.”
SMEGA was formed in 1982, as a part of a trend that saw the creation of economic development corporations separate from chambers of commerce.
The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1919, and currently has about 300 member businesses. The new Greater Niles Chamber will move into office space currently occupied by SMEGA inside Niles City Hall, and will inform members of upcoming changes through its website, emails and other contact information.
“I think we’re on the front end of a national trend to bring chambers and economic development organizations together again,” Rea said Wednesday. “I’d call this pretty unique. I’m not sure I’d know of anywhere that has a bi-state partnership like this.” South Bend Tribune
Geneva Chamber Selects Robyn Chione as Membership Director
Geneva Chamber of Commerce Member Services & Volunteer Coordinator Robyn Chione will be assuming the Membership Director position effective February 1, 2019.
Chione was hired in February 2016 as the Office Manager. In September 2017 she moved into the role of Member Services & Volunteer Coordinator.
“I look forward to introducing new businesses to what the Geneva Chamber has to offer and to building strong relationships with our current members. I want to educate our members on the many resources Geneva Chamber offers, so they can better utilize what will benefit them and help their business grow,” says Chione.
In her new role, she will continue to be the point of contact regarding billing and as the Geneva Women in Business liaison.
The current Membership/Sponsorship Director Judy Carroll, after 16 years at Geneva Chamber, will be retiring February 1, 2019.
Beginning as Volunteer Coordinator, she became Membership Director shortly after and 11 years ago added Sponsorship Director to her plate. Both positions allowed Judy to further promote Geneva businesses to the crowds that come to Geneva for festivals every year.
“It’s fun to watch the city pull together to welcome the tens of thousands of visitors,” says Carroll. “This position has brought countless committees and projects where I was lucky enough to meet and work with the many people that make Geneva so great. By far, the best part of my job is getting to know those people who give their time and resources to make Geneva better.”
“We are so excited that Robyn has accepted the position of Membership Director. Her excitement and enthusiasm for our membership is contagious. We look forward to her new ideas which will only help us to enhance the membership experience. While we will miss Judy’s expertise and knowledge, we congratulate her and wish her well in her next adventure,” says Geneva Chamber President Paula Schmidt.
Contact: Laura Rush, Communications Manager, 630-232 6060, lrush@genevachamber.com, www.genevachamber.com, www.visitgenevaillinois.com
Fredericksburg.com EDITORIAL: Tweaking Smart Scale's metrics
Fredericksburg.com EDITORIAL: Tweaking Smart Scale's metrics
IN AN effort to understand why the Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project did not score high enough to qualify for Smart Scale funding, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance asked researchers at the University of Mary Washington to analyze data from 404 Smart Scale Round 2 projects to see if they came up with similar results.
Christopher Garcia and Mukesh Srivastava at the university’s Center for Business Research ran the numbers and independently verified that “there was no discrepancy between the calculated scores and scores assigned by the state, indicating that the Smart Scale methodology was consistently applied across all projects.”
It’s good to know that Smart Scale, which was designed to take politics out of transportation funding decisions, is treating all proposed projects alike. However, that still doesn’t explain why the $132 million Northbound River Crossing project failed to make the cut. One of the main criticisms of Smart Scale at the time was that the Virginia Department of Transportation’s traffic count on the northbound span was only done on weekdays, not on weekends when traffic is also severely congested.
In one of his last official acts as governor, Terry McAuliffe brokered a deal with Transurban as a get-around to pay for the clearly needed northbound project using tolls collected on the extended Express Lanes. But there’s still a flaw in the system that needs to be corrected. Read more: Fredericksburg.com
Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory
The Front Royal Warren County Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Niki Foster and Pam Riffle and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town Square Publications (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.
#BestChamber practices: Rochester Regional Chamber: Opportunities to Showcase Your Business
Rochester College Spring Job & Internship Fair
Showcase your business at the Rochester College Spring Job & Internship Fair on Thursday, February 7 from 3-5:30 pm. Contact Teri Butcher at tbutcher@rc.edu by January 24 to participate. From 5:30-7 pm all are invited to join the Rochester College Alumni Association for a relaxed evening of networking with current students, alumni and community members. Read more
Presenters Needed for Rochester PTA Career Fair
The Rochester PTA Council is planning their 5th Annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Career Exploration Fair. Held on Saturday, March 2nd from 10am to 12pm at Rochester High School, this fair provides students with an opportunity to explore, discover and connect to their future careers. Read more
5 star Paducah Chamber and McCracken County Leaders Set Economic Goals for 2019
McCracken county and Paducah leaders said they want to continue to work together to expand the region’s economy this year but differed on goals they wanted to see, in speeches given at the Paducah Chamber of Commerce’s annual breakfast banquet Thursday morning.
McCracken County Judge Executive-Elect Craig Clymer gave his speech to regional business leaders first. He said he plans to collaborate with Paducah Mayor Brandi Harless on economic development.
“It’s imperative that the city and the county work together. [Exiting] Judge Leeper and Mayor Harless have done so. They’ve told me they meet routinely to discuss things, and I plan on she and I doing the same,” Clymer said.
But priorities varied for the projects each wanted to see. Harless wants to continue to work on bringing businesses to Paducah and support the arts scene in the city.
“We’re going to be narrowing in on a few activities that are not being done in our community elsewhere. For example, recruiting industry, recruiting big business,” Harless said.
Clymer said he isn’t sure if county residents outside of Paducah want more arts support. He instead wants to focus on expanding infrastructure like Barkley Regional Airport.
“I envision the airport expansion to include extended runways, more spec’ hangars to accommodate larger aircraft,” Clymer said. “And why can’t we have aeronautics, manufacturing and service here in McCracken County?”
Paducah Chamber of Commerce Chair Sandra Wilson said she is glad for the perspectives of both leaders and that the chamber plans to work with both levels of government to promote small business growth in particular.
“The Chamber has identified business advocacy as one of our top priorities. So that’s a lot of what we focus on. The priorities that would impact our business through legislation on a local, state and federal level," Wilson said. Read more: WKMS
5 Star Oshkosh Chamber has partnered with oGoLead® to offer the digital leadership program, Heartwiring and Hardwiring Your Leadership®.
The business world of today is facing a leadership gap that is reducing employee morale, engagement and the business bottom line. Enter David Novak. He has decades of experience in leading a multi-generational workforce and wants to help people take control of their careers and become stronger, more successful leaders. As CEO and Co-founder of Yum! Brands, he established the company as a global powerhouse with billions in revenue. He was also famous among his employees for making fun and recognition key aspects of the Yum! culture. He understands how today’s leaders learn and how to lead in a way that gets the most out of others. Want to drive results? Novak has the recipe.
Novak designed a course for first-time supervisors to mid-career professionals for his new online leadership platform,oGoLead® , and calls it, Heartwiring and Hardwiring Your Leadership®. He says that, “oGoLead’s proven approach teaches people how to Heartwire their leadership skills by building passionate commitment in the people they lead, and how to Hardwire their success with processes, procedures and discipline to get consistent results. The combination of Heartwiring leaders and Hardwiring success leads to the best results.”
The Oshkosh Chamber has partnered with oGoLead® to offer the digital leadership program. The roadmap below provides you with an overview of the powerful leadership topics and principles taught in the online program, which includes five interactive learning modules. Your employees will learn practical leadership skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace during the training. Oshkosh Chamber members will receive an exclusive rate on the purchase of the program.
WHY HEARTWIRING AND HARDWIRING IS DIFFERENT
Most leadership development programs today are built around outdated case studies and academic theory, taught by consultants who have never actually led organizations.
Heartwiring and Hardwiring Your Leadership® was founded on practice – not theory – and it has proven, real-world results from over 130 countries around the world. Taught by the CEOs and leaders who made it happen, oGoLead® is different from other leadership development programs.
The oGoLead difference:
•Developed and taught by C-Level leaders from global organizations
•Profound truths, with practical application – not just theory
•On-demand, interactive digital program for the way today’s leaders learn
•Leading by taking people with you, not the traditional top-down, hierarchical leadership style
•Premium program, at an affordable price
•A consistent experience for companies with geographically-dispersed footprints
•A turn-key, scalable leadership solution for companies of all sizes
Senior-level executives are struggling to address the leadership gap and develop cultures that deliver connection, meaning and trust. Heartwiring and Hardwiring Your Leadership® is a strategically-minded, turn-key solution to help leaders achieve sustainable results.
Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber map: Town Square Publications: Promises Made, Promises kept!
The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce recently worked with Town Square Publications on the production of a map. Town Square Publications provided all the map design and cartography for the product and sold the sponsorships, so there was no cost to the chamber. The chamber provided local content and photos that showed our organization’s focus on promoting our communities and helping our businesses to thrive. Town Square Publications provided the chamber a proof before going to print. The result was a top quality map. We were especially pleased with the quality of the printing and the paper.
The chamber works hard to identify programs that will be of benefit to our chamber members, such as the 28th Street Metro Cruise program that draws over 200,000 to our area and the annual Santa Parade. The Wyoming-Kentwood chamber map is another great example, and the chamber received the additional benefit of non-dues revenue.
Your company delivered on your promises. We appreciate our partnership with Town Square Publications and will call on them again for the next project.
Bob O’Callaghan
President
Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber
5 Star Mclean County Chamber: Member Education: Small Business Taxes: What you need to know
Thursday, January 31 |11:30-1pm| Chamber office
The McLean County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center are happy to present this seminar with Insight CPAs & Financial LLC. Lunch is included in your registration cost.
Topics of discussion include:
-Brief overview of income taxes, payroll taxes, sales taxes, etc.
-Tax Cuts & Jobs Act tax law changes and updates, including the new qualified business income deduction.
-Documentation needed to prepare your tax return and stay in compliance with the IRS-Discussion of deductions to reduce income taxes owed
Presenters will be:
Nicole Allen, CPA, CVA: a graduate of ISU with a Master's Degree in Professional Accountancy and she's been in the profession for 10 years, ICPAF for 9 years and an Adjunct Professor at Millikin University.
Anna Falkson, graduate student of ISU with Master's Degree in Professional Accountancy and she's been at ICPAF for 6 years.
Chamber collaboration: Support for Margaret Martin renovation gaining momentum
Chicago Southland Chamber: MICROFINANCE 101
Can a micro loan provide support for my start-up? How can the 504 Loan Program help me expand my business? What is the Advantage Illinois Program all about?
Join us for the January Business Breakfast in Park Forest as we learn all about these programs and the resources available to you as small business owner from our panel of specialists.
THE PANEL
- CNI Micro Finance GroupErica L. King, PresidentHunter Beck, Loan Officer
- Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic OpportunityMaria Colangelo, Program Manager, Advantage Illinois
- Regional Development CompanyTony Denovellis, Business Development Officer
Our session meets from 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. We offer a free breakfast buffet with informal networking starting at 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. The program starts at 8:20 a.m. and adjourns at 9:30 a.m.
Register today and bring a business associate! More information: Chicago Southland - Eventbrite Registration
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.
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 chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal
