Chamber initiative: Bikes become works of art in Geneva
If visitors think they are seeing a lot of bikes in downtown Geneva, they are right.
But these aren't ordinary bicycles for getting around town. The Pedal Geneva project features 48 sometime elaborately-decorated bikes in front of businesses around the city.
The All Chocolate Kitchen at 33 S. Third St has a bike named Sweet Ride on display outside of its James Street entrance that is in the shop's signature orange color.
The bicycle has double-layered chocolate milk frosted cakes topped with red raspberries on the seat and front handle-bars that were specially made to be weather resistant.
"The cakes are weather proof," pastry chef Alain Roby said.
Tucked into the bike's frame and spokes are gelato waffle cones and chocolate drinks topped with whipped cream. Another larger-than-life vanilla gelato waffle cone is attached to the side of the two-wheeler.
Roby, known for his life-sized all chocolate sculptures inside his shop, said the bicycle is a potpourri of his wares, from chocolate truffles to cake.
"Chocolate always makes people happy," Roby said.
He said it took a couple of days to create Sweet Ride.
"Pedal Geneva is a nice promotion that encourages people to discover what each store has," he said.
Geneva's first bicycles on parade event held 17 years ago became an attraction during the reconstruction of South Third Street.
"We learned in 2000 that people really loved the bikes," said Jean Gaines, president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.
Gaines said the bicycles became an attraction and encouraged people to ride their bicycles to visit the downtown during the construction phase on Third Street.
A combination of retailers and commissioned artists back then decorated the bicycles for the 2000 bicycles on parade event. However, for this year's promotion the bikes were inspired by the owners of the businesses.
"The merchants were so creative that this time around we decided to ask the merchants to decorate the bikes," Gaines said. Read more: Chicago Tribune
IEDC to offer Economic Development Training Seminar in Oxford, MS June 8-9th
We are pleased to announce that the International Economic Development Council will be hosting Economically Competitive and Resilient Communities, a two-day free course for elected and appointed leaders in Oxford, Mississippi on June 8 and 9 and in Clarksdale, Mississippi on June 12 and 13. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn more about how you can be a champion for economic development. Effective local leadership is crucial to economic development, disaster resilience, and economic recovery activities in Delta communities. Elected and appointed officials play a unique and critical role in coordinating public resources and agencies in your community. You can make a difference in supporting job creation, acting as an effective bridge between the public and private sectors, responding to disasters, and helping businesses recover in the event of an economic or natural disaster.
Network with other leaders and explore how to support strategic and effective economic development for your community. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided.
With the generous support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration and in partnership with the Delta Regional Authority, IEDC is offering this course exclusively to city, county, and regional leaders, so be sure to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to learn more about the role you can play to promote a healthy economy for your constituents and community members.
Register now! To register for either of these courses, or to access the schedule for surrounding states, visit http://www.iedconline.org/web-pages/professional-development/training-courses-for-local-leaders/
Town Square Publications: Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber map: 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
U.S. Census: Chesapeake, Suffolk grew the most in 2016
Virginia’s third largest city is first place in regional population growth.
Virginia’s third largest city is first place in regional population growth.
From 2015 to 2016, Chesapeake gained 2,509 new residents, growing to a population of 237,940, according to recently released population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s a 1.06 percent increase.
Suffolk’s population saw the largest increase by percentage. The city grew by 1.3 percent or 1,157 people to 89,273, while Virginia Beach, the state’s largest city, saw 748 people join the community. With an estimated population of 452,602, Virginia Beach saw growth of less than 1 percent.
Four other cities in the region saw negligible population declines.
Portsmouth saw the largest decline, losing 1,104 residents, a 1.1 percent decrease; the city’s population was 95,252. Norfolk lost 1,015 people, which put the population of Virginia’s second largest city at 245,115 for a loss of less than 1 percent. Fairfax County is the state’s largest jurisdiction with a 2016 population of 1.13 million.
On the Peninsula, Hampton lost 944 people, resulting in a population of 135,410. And Newport News lost the fewest number of people, 160, resulting in an estimated 2016 population of 181,825. Those are declines of less than 1 percent.
Although the populations of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk have grown since the 2010 U.S. Census, overall, the metro region’s population grew less than 1 percent from 2015. An estimated 1,726,907 people lived in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metropolitan area in 2016, according to the Census Bureau.
Virginia Beach’s growth in the last five years is encouraging, Mayor Will Sessoms said.
“Compared to the explosive growth Virginia Beach experienced in the 1970s and 80s, the pace is steady and manageable — about 8 people per day,” Sessoms said in an email. “We have been focused on establishing new employment clusters like biomedical and cybersecurity to expand job opportunities that attract new residents, especially younger people.”
Sessoms said population trends and economic development “are inextricably linked.” Growth results in economic vitality, which supports economic prosperity, which increases a community’s attractiveness to people and business that are looking to relocate.
“Then, we have the resources we need to invest in our city’s services and infrastructure,” Sessoms said. “Keeping Virginia Beach competitive is probably the most important job we have, and the fact that we are growing supports our overall direction.”
Mike Kuhns, president and CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, echoed that sentiment, saying in an email “population growth can always be a selling point and hopefully, the demographics of the growth are a result or compliment strategic investment initiatives.”
Bryan Stephens, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber, said population growth is usually associated with a good quality of life. Growing communities are places where people want to work, live and raise families. He said in an email the region’s growth is not likely connected to any particular economic project or event but rather the community’s positive attributes taken as a whole.
“We are blessed with a premier mid-Atlantic location which provides a spectacular quality of life, a variety of natural resources and leisure activities, diverse communities, abundant educational opportunities, low cost of living, a tremendous military presence, amazing people and, of course, a pro-business environment,” Stephens said.
As Hampton Roads continues to grow, Stephens said the region will need to continue to aggressively address its transportation challenges, not just on the roads but on the rails, in the air and through public transportation.
“Transportation is either an enabler or an inhibitor of business and quality of life,” Stephens said. “We need to ensure it’s an enabler in Hampton Roads.”
Stephens also said workforce development and forecasting will ensure Hampton Roads workers have the skills to match available jobs.
Kuhns echoed that sentiment, saying the entire region is working to develop and attract higher paying positions, that will in turn, hopefully attract millennials and military service members who are transitioning to civilian life.
In a region rich with potential and diverse resources, such as scientific and intellectual property, higher education institutions, advanced manufacturing operations, maritime interests, history, tourism and military interests, “only our unwillingness to partner and collaborate keeps us from reaching our potential,” Kuhns said.
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce CEO resigns after two years on the job
Ryan Carley, a former banker who made bold, and sometimes controversial, decisions as the chief executive officer of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, has resigned from his post.
In an interview with The Bay City Times-MLive, Carley said he resigned to pursue other professional opportunities.
In a letter to chamber members Wednesday, May 17, Michael Stodolak, chairman of the chamber's Board of Directors, said Carley is no longer employed as president and CEO of the chamber effective immediately.
The letter didn't mention Carley resigning, but included a comment from Stodolak, saying, "We wish Ryan well in his future endeavors."
The chamber's board is going to immediately begin a search process to identify an interim and permanent CEO, Stodolak said in his letter. Until then, Stodolak is assuming the duties of CEO. Read more: M LIVE
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey (Chamber Mentor)
RULE
#60 Pre-select the executive review
committee.
kyndle: Local Industries Pay for Students to Earn While They Learn
There’s a new program in the region focused on providing education in the high-skill/high wage field of advanced manufacturing.
Regional industry is on board the Kyndle FAME Advanced Manufacturing Technology program, which educates technically skilled technicians while also providing paid on-the-job training.
The Kyndle FAME program is an opportunity for recent high school graduates or other individuals wanting an interesting, hands-on, and well-paying career to earn an associate’s degree in five semesters, work at a sponsoring company while they learn, and complete the program with little to no student debt.
Application deadline for the highly competitive program is June 16, 2017. Application information may be found online at https://henderson.kctcs.edu/workforce_solutions/ky_fame.aspx.
Plant Tour Opportunity: Interested individuals are welcome to tour Vibracoustic, an automotive industry supplier in Morganfield, Wednesday, June 7, at 9:30 or 11 a.m., and learn more about the Kyndle FAME Program. To register for the tour, learn more about the program, or get help with the application process, call Bekah Toney at (270) 831-9830 or email rebekah.toney@kctcs.edu. Read more: SurfKY.com
Wabash County Chamber, Economic Development Group to Merge
The chamber members voted 112-1 and the EDG members voted 64-0 to approve the merger. The new organization will be led by Keith Gillenwater, currently the president and chief executive officer of the EDG.
“I am excited to take the helm of the new Wabash County Business Alliance, Inc.," said Gillenwater. "Wabash County has a bright future ahead and our new organization is set to continue to build upon the legacy of the many great accomplishments EDG and Chamber have built over the previous years while being better positioned to tackle new challenges our community faces, like the threat of population decline, workforce development concerns, and embracing livability enhancements."
The new board of directors for the Wabash County Business Alliance will include:
Parker Beauchamp, INGUARD
Emily Boardman, Crossroads Bank
Jason Callahan, Wabash City Schools
Marilyn Custer-Mitchell, Parkview Wabash Hospital
Keith Gillenwater, Wabash County Business Alliance Inc.
Lisa Gilman, Redemption Development, LLC
Patty Grant, Wabash County Community Foundation
Brian Haupert, Wabash County Commissioner
Bob Krouse, Midwest Poultry Services
Clint Kugler, Wabash County YMCA
Gary Larson, The Ford Meter Box Co.
Scott Long, Wabash City Mayor
Paul McCann, Dawes & Pugh, CPA’s
Tod Minnich, Honeywell Foundation
Adam Penrod, Town of North Manchester
The organizations say the board and various committees will meet over the next several weeks to finalize operational plans for the Wabash County Business Alliance. Read more: Inside Indiana Business
Chamber Event Coordinator: Wally’s Music Fest returns
Cover bands will play music from Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Journey and Prince.
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday. The opening ceremony includes city administrator Al Hulick singing the National Anthem.
At 6 p.m., Janesville-based band 90 Proof will start things off with not only 1980s music, but newer country and pop hits.
At 7 p.m., LAVA Rock will take the stage to play hard rock from Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Van Halen and AC/DC.
From 9:30-11:30 p.m., award-winning Audio Drive takes center stage with hits by AC/DC, Journey, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Poison, Whitesnake and more.
Music will be played all day Saturday with Knapton Kids Band Camp from noon to 2 p.m., followed by performances by Dem Horny Funkers (nine-piece that includes four horns, bridging the gaps of funk, pop and rock), Denim N Leather (tribute to the classic "Headbanger’s Ball"), King Kong (Milwaukee-based band featuring Alice in Chains, Creed, BuckCherry, Cheap Trick, Fuel and more) and Almighty Vinyl (vocals, harmonies and instrumentation). Closing the event (9:30-11:30 p.m.) will be The Prince Experience with Gabriel Sanchez as Prince.
Returning bands include Audio Drive and The Prince Experience.
Entertainment coordinator Dann Walters, who has played in a lot of bands and has a lot of connections, describes all the bands as headliner bands.
Event coordinator Dani Stivarius, who is the Milton Area Chamber of Commerce director, said this year the main stage is bigger to allow for bigger and better shows.
Last year, about 3,500 people attended Wally’s Fest. Read more: HGN News
Town Square Publications Chamber Community Profiles and maps: 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
