Mississippi chamber issue: Bryant wants to divert $50 million from unemployment fund to workforce training; Chamber interest: Sheboygan employers make their pitch; Grand Rapids (Michigan) Chamber Announces Two Staff Promotions; Share Your Indiana Chamber Story; Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce: Sharing Success...a Conversation with Kevin Brown of Lettuce Entertain You; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Kentucky Chamber; Chamber donation: Tazewell students help visitors center; Magnolia-Columbia County (Arkansas) Chamber Business of the Week: Smiles of Arkansas Dental Center; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Attitude): Teresa Reed Bohnen, President, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota

Mississippi chamber issue: Bryant wants to divert $50 million from unemployment fund to workforce training

Call it the “Two-Cars-And-A-Boat” initiative.
Gov. Phil Bryant Friday morning briefed business leaders on a workforce development proposal that calls for pulling $25 million each of the next two years from the state’s unemployment compensation reserve fund. The money would be used to step-up the state’s efforts to train workers for advanced manufacturing jobs and to create a future generation of Mississippians with paychecks sufficient to afford “two cars and a boat,” Bryant said.
In a morning address of members of the Mississippi Economic Council, the state’s chamber of commerce, the governor said the unemployment compensation fund has built up the reserves as the jobless rate declined from 9.8 percent three years ago to today’s 7.2 percent. Read more: Mississippi Business Journal

Chamber interest: Sheboygan employers make their pitch

When Kohler Company and Lakeshore Technical College set up a job exploration fair recently at Sheboygan Falls High School, they modeled exactly what economic development leaders have been talking about for the last year — a carousel of jobs that were available to those who were interested.
Of course, with the target audience being freshmen, the students weren't always brimming with enthusiasm. Several students in one of the groups of 15 said they hadn't seen anything that piqued their interest and the one student who showed off his knowledge of certain Kohler equipment (he was the first student of the day to correctly identify a pneumatic piston) was fairly noncommittal to any of the various trades on display.
It's early for these students and they'll have plenty of time to sort out the options, but employers in Sheboygan are wrestling with similar issues — highlighting the number of open jobs and getting people to actually see the benefits and appeal of those jobs. Read more: Sheboygan Press

Grand Rapids (Michigan) Chamber Announces Two Staff Promotions

The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce two staff promotions. Kim McLaughlin has been promoted to Vice President of Member & Community Enrichment, a new role in which she will be responsible for developing and overseeing the Chamber’s numerous events and programs. McLaughlin will continue to provide executive supervision and strategic oversight of the Chamber’s Center for Community Leadership (CCL), a role she began nearly three years ago. In addition to CCL programs like Leadership Grand Rapids, Leadership Advantage, and the Emerging Leaders Series, she will now also lead the Chamber’s events team in delivering over 100 outstanding business, community, and membership-focused events, programming, and awards celebrations each year.Latricia Trice has also been promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Communications, where she will continue to expand the strategic direction of Chamber marketing and communications while managing the marketing department. A seven-year veteran of the Chamber, Trice has overseen and significantly grown the department since its inception five years ago. She currently directs the award-winning, day-to-day marketing and communications operations for the Chamber and supervises a Communications Specialist and Graphic Designer. Previously, Trice served on the Chamber staff as the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. Read more: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

Share Your Indiana Chamber Story

The Indiana Chamber partners with 17,000 members and investors – representing three million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.” Are you included? We want to hear your story. Maybe you’re reaping the rewards of sponsoring training seminars and major events. They boost your visibility by reaching thousands of potential customers statewide. Perhaps you are more productive than ever after attending a conference or reading a publication and applying the knowledge learned.
Maybe you saved time and money by calling the helplines or utilizing the Business Research Center. Or you’re a big fan of BizVoice magazine or the monthly Policy Issue Conference Calls.
We want to know how you’ve maximized your membership investment! Share your story by contacting Symone Skrzycki and providing a testimonial.

Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce: Sharing Success...a Conversation with Kevin Brown of Lettuce Entertain You

Name: Sharing Success...a Conversation with Kevin Brown

Date: February 10, 2015

Time: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM CST

Website: http://www.lincolnparkchamber.com

Register Now

Event Description:

Join us for “Sharing Success,” a new LPCC event. Lettuce Entertain You’s CEO Kevin Brown will share his advice and experience on staying fresh and true to your brand while planning for future growth. This breakfast event will provide LPCC members with access to the ideas and expertise of an established company both in Lincoln Park and across the country.

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Kentucky Chamber

Kentucky Chamber @KyChamber  ·  Jan 29 

 

Building support for #P3 jobs bill. Many thanks to @combsleslie for her leadership and support. #kyga15

Chamber donation: Tazewell students help visitors center

An observation concerning the need to make information easier to access, gave the students of the Tazewell Career and Technical Center an opportunity to demonstrate their skills.
“Some years ago when we built the Tazewell County Visitors Center in Bluefield, Va., the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce donated a card rack for us to display brochures concerning area attractions,” David Woodward, Tazewell County tourism coordinator said. “We appreciate the gift and were glad to have it.”
However, Woodward said that the office has a limited amount of display space, and as he was watching older people look for brochures, he observed that they were having trouble getting down to the slots holding the information. “We really needed to replace the card-holder, but one like the chamber gave us would probably cost us as much as $6,000 and we really needed two of them,” Woodward said. “One day, it dawned on me that I should go to the Tazewell Career and Technical Center and see what their carpentry and cabinetry class could do,” he said. Read more: Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Magnolia-Columbia County (Arkansas) Chamber Business of the Week: Smiles of Arkansas Dental Center

Smiles of Arkansas Dental Center, 301 E. Stadium, Magnolia, is the Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Week. The company was established in July 2010 and is owned by Robert Carter and Reese Shuffield. Smiles of Arkansas offers general dentistry for the entire family. The telephone number is 870-901-7645. CLICK THE LINK BELOW to see the website.http://www.smilesofarkansas.com

More information: MagnoliaReporter.com 


Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Attitude): Teresa Reed Bohnen, President, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota

Greatest Lesson Learned: "Optimism is a Super-Power."

Grand Rapids Chamber event: Team Rubicon's co-founder tells West Michigan about the importance of veteran volunteers; Illinois Chamber Goals Will Be Front and Center; Prince William Chamber Executive Forum: Kaine optimistic about federal budget, managing sequestration effects; Mississippi Chamber interest: Senate transportation chair seeks emergency money for roads, bridges; International veteran of entrepreneurship visits University of Arkansas-Little Rock campus; Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire chamber honors its best of the year; Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce announces 2015 board, officers; Chamber news: View of Kentucky economy varies among political leaders; Iowa economic development leader gets fifth bonus from state; U.S. Chamber initiative: Hiring Our Heroes job fair for military veterans, spouses set for Detroit with up to 75 employers; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

Grand Rapids Chamber event: Team Rubicon's co-founder tells West Michigan about the importance of veteran volunteers

Even before he spoke, Marine Sgt. Jake Wood drew a standing ovation Tuesday from hundreds of those in attendance at a Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Wood served two tours in Iraq as an infantry squad leader and sniper scout.
The 6'6" Wood charmed with his self-deprecating humor that downplayed both his college football and military careers.
Despite earning a full athletic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, Wood said the experience taught him he wasn’t meant for football. Still, the offensive lineman was twice selected to the Academic All-Big Ten football team. Read more: M LIVE

Illinois Chamber Goals Will Be Front and Center

Message From the President - January 12, 2015

Today marks the beginning of the Rauner Administration in Illinois state government. While the first day is mostly ceremonial, we will hear glimmers of what’s ahead as the week
progresses. The Illinois Chamber supported Bruce Rauner in his campaign, and now the
heart of this new era starts beating.
The bottom-line goal that the Chamber is pushing for is fiscal stability in the Land of
Lincoln. The days of overspending must end. We need a balanced budget that addresses the
growth issues that will help Illinois move forward: infrastructure, business-friendly policies,
and a close eye on ballooning programs.
It will be good to have an ally in the Governor’s mansion. Gov. Rauner knows what it’s like
to run a business in Illinois, and we are encouraged that his administration understands our initiatives. Read more: Illinois Chamber


Todd Maisch
President & CEO
Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Prince William Chamber Executive Forum: Kaine optimistic about federal budget, managing sequestration effects

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine said he is optimistic that Congress will pass a budget this year that reduces the effects of sequestration while containing the growth of the national debt.
Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, addressed about 50 local business leaders Thursday morning at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Forum, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville.
Kaine told the audience that when he was first appointed to the Senate Budget Committee, he wasn’t sure he wanted the assignment because, as he said, “why be on a committee that has one job and you’re not doing it?” Read more: InsideNoVA

Mississippi Chamber interest: Senate transportation chair seeks emergency money for roads, bridges

In a move he acknowledges is a long-shot, the chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee is asking legislators to approve $300 million for timely repairs on state highways and bridges and an additional $100 million for locally maintained roads and bridges.
Sen. Willie Simmons, a Cleveland Democrat, wants the money to be part of the state’s general obligation bonding.
His legislation, Senate Bill 2028, is in the Senate Finance Committee.
If allocated, around $40 million of the $300 million would go for replacing posted bridges on the Delta’s Highway 6 between Batesville and Clarksdale.
His bill limits draws on the $300 million for state roads and bridges to $150 million a year and to $50 million a year on the $100 million State Aid portion. Read more: Mississippi Business Journal

International veteran of entrepreneurship visits University of Arkansas-Little Rock campus

A veteran of national and international entrepreneurship programming recently spoke to a group of community leaders in research and innovation at the UALR Bailey Alumni Center about research opportunities in central Arkansas.

Judith Cone, of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill speaks at UALR. Judith Cone, special assistant to the chancellor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, led a discussion that included participation by UALR research faculty engaged in innovation and commercialization. UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson and Provost Dr. Zulma Toro also attended the presentation.

“Innovation is not a synonym for creativity,” Cone said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to use our money to better society.” Cone offered a definition of innovation focused on providing creativity, value, and execution. She said universities offered a great place to innovate because of their preponderance of faculty resources and research. Read more: UALR

Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire chamber honors its best of the year

The Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce honored its top directors, businesses and business leaders this week in the annual awards luncheon.

Held at the Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove, the event also served to introduce new Executive Director Roger Sosa, and bid farewell to the retiring Lynne Schneider, who led the organization for 25 years.

The 2014 award winners are:

• Director of the Year, Larry Wankovsky: Wankovsky, of Triple J Ventures, was a major force in the merger between the Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire chambers; a member since 1995 and on the board since 2003. He has been a chamber Ambassador, has served on the Golf Outing and Taste of Lincolnshire committees and volunteered at the Buffalo Grove Days Beer Garden. For the chamber, he has been a director, vice president, executive vice president and interim president.

• Member of the Year, Annette Brumby: Brumby, of Momentous Identity Solutions, joined the chamber only last year, but has become fully involved in a short time. She has been a member of the Business Advantage Network and the Marketing and Business Connection Expo committees, and assisted in the branding of the chamber with logos and the website. Read more: Daily Herald

Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce announces 2015 board, officers

The Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed new board members and elected officers for 2014.

Scott Mundell (Franciscan St. Anthony Health) was appointed chairman, William Kaminsky (Newby, Lewis, Kaminsky & Jones) as chair-elect, Cynthia Roberts (Purdue University North Central) as secretary and Kevin Mazur (Crowe Horwath LLP) as treasurer.

New board members for 2015 are Stephanie Oberlie (Harbour Trust & Investment Management), Rodney Bensz (B&E Marine), Leif Erickson (Blue Chip Casino), Charlie Keene (General Insurance Services) and Sean Mitchell (ServPro of La Porte County). Read more: Michigan City News-Dispatch

Chamber news: View of Kentucky economy varies among political leaders

The condition of Kentucky's economy depends largely on which political leader happens to offer the prognosis — and maybe which part of the state is being assessed.
A gloomy picture comes from incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who blames the Obama administration for hard times in his home state's eastern coal fields. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, meanwhile, trumpets a statewide economy in recovery, pointing to shrinking unemployment and growing business investments.
In a recent Associated Press interview, McConnell said the Environmental Protection Agency "has created a depression in my state and it's done a lot of damage to the country all across the country with these efforts to essentially eliminate coal-fired generation."
Other factors have staggered Appalachian coal businesses, including higher production costs and competition from other coal basins and sources of energy. U.S. utilities increasingly have switched from coal to natural gas to generate electricity.
Coal-mining employment in eastern Kentucky plunged by more than 7,000 jobs in 2012 and 2013 as production fell by nearly 50 percent, according to industry figures. Other businesses relying on the circulation of coal income were hurt. Employment and production were relatively flat in the past year. Read more: Kentucky.com

Iowa economic development leader gets fifth bonus from state

Iowa’s top economic development officer has received more than $150,000 in bonuses over the past four years, with the latest bonus requiring her to stay through June.
Debi Durham has received five $30,700 bonuses since she took over leadership of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in November 2010. The pay pushed Durham’s fiscal 2014 compensation to $185,096. The state-mandated salary range for her position is $100,840 to $154,300.
“Your strengths as director, including a broad knowledge of business and community development, government, marketing and communications, help us to keep our leadership agenda moving forward,” Matt Hinch, Gov. Terry Branstad’s chief of staff, wrote in a June 2 letter approving the bonus.
Hinch’s letter gives Durham credit for Microsoft expanding its West Des Moines data center and WebFilings, an Ames company now called Workiva, adding more employees.
Private companies have guaranteed $9.5 billion in capital investments in Iowa since January 2011, according to an IEDA report. The state has provided firms $411 million in incentives during the same period. Local governments sweeten the pot with local tax breaks and perks. Read more: KCRG.com

U.S. Chamber initiative: Hiring Our Heroes job fair for military veterans, spouses set for Detroit with up to 75 employers

Up to 75 employers, ranging from Quicken Loans and Sears to Verizon Wireless and DTE Energy, will be on a mission Feb. 7 in Detroit to hire as many military veterans and their spouses as they can.
Companies will take part in a Hiring Our Heroes job far that, as of Wednesday afternoon, already had commitments from at least 42 companies ready to fill positions. The employers are expected to have jobs of all ranks and for various levels of experience.
The event, at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, will offer a free employment workshop at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7 focused on resume writing, interview skills, and job search techniques for all military members and their spouses.
The workshop will then be followed by a job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Dingell VA is located at 4646 John R. in Detroit.

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #46 - Never print or post a picture with a glass… of anything

Participate in Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Tax Survey TODAY; Best chamber practices: Mountain Home (Arkansas) event - Chamber The Art Odyssey artists' deadline approaches; Alexandria Chamber Event: Make Plans Now for 2015 Chairman's Community Reception; Batesville Chamber Partnership: Oldenburg Academy hosts Maverick Challenge; New spirit at Lodi/Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce; Grand Rapids Chamber Board Evaluating Position on Road Funding Proposal; State chamber event: Mississippi House leader urges defeat of education amendment; Chamber Partnership: Iowa City makes list of easiest cities to find a job; Chamber issue: South Dakota & Nebraska businesses preparing for minimum wage increase; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey RULE #40

Participate in Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Tax Survey TODAY
 
With the phase-down of Illinois' income tax rates effective January 1st of this year, the state is now facing a significant budgetary shortfall for FY 15. As a result, taxation of services continues to be a topic of discussion as a means to raise revenue to address Illinois' fiscal problems. The Illinois Chamber has historically opposed a sales tax on services as yet another tax increase for the already over-burdened Illinois business community. We are now seeking your opinion as to whether a sales tax on services would be acceptable to you if coupled with real reductions in state spending and other meaningful pro-business reforms.

Please complete this survey by EOB Friday, January 9. It should take about three minutes to complete. Thank you.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eadpfngri4mwegf8/start 

Thank you for your input. Your participation is valuable as we approach the new legislative session.

Best chamber practices: Mountain Home (Arkansas) event - Chamber The Art Odyssey artists' deadline approaches
The application deadline for anyone interested in being considered as a featured artist for The Art Odyssey 2015 is noon Jan. 12. Applications may be mailed to the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 488, Mountain Home, AR 72654, or delivered to the chamber office at 1023 U.S. Hwy. 62 E. Artists will be selected through a jurying process, and selected artists will be announced by Jan. 20.
The Art Odyssey, an annual self-guided tour of artists' studios in the area, is set for May 14-16. Artists in the Mountain Home area, including Baxter and surrounding counties, are encouraged to apply. Read more: Baxter Bulletin

Alexandria Chamber Event: Make Plans Now for 2015 Chairman's Community Reception

Get out your favorite bow tie or pearls, and join the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in supporting Walter Clarke and the Chamber at the 2015 Chairman’s Community Reception & Annual Meeting Presented by Burke & Herbert Bank.
The reception is set for Thursday, Jan. 22 from 6-9 p.m. at Ronald Reagan National Airport Historic Terminal A.
The event promises to be a lively evening of food, networking and excitement. Join the Chamber to wrap up 2014 and kick off an exciting new year as the Chamber welcomes Walter Clarke, vice president, Burke & Herbert Bank, taking the helm as the 2015 Board chairman. Read more: Old Towne Alexandria Patch

Batesville Chamber Partnership: Oldenburg Academy hosts Maverick Challenge

The Maverick Challenge, a business planning competition sponsored by Ripley County Economic Opportunities through Education by 2015, Franklin County Community Foundation, Ripley County Community Foundation, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and Oldenburg Academy, was hosted at OA Dec. 12, according to OA business teacher Jonathon Maple.
Community judges adjudicated the 11 students based on the business plans and products they created for the competition. OA was the only school to participate in the program from Ripley and Franklin counties.
The Maverick Challenge was started in 2008 by the Columbus Indiana Chamber of Commerce and has been a growing program since.Read more: Batesville Herald-Tribune

New spirit at Lodi/Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

Sunshine pours in through the windows of an office overlooking one of the busiest intersections in the city. The blinking neon “open” sign for the Main Streets Fun Express, a new business in Lodi, can be seen from the corner office.
Surrounding a tidy desk are likenesses of Susie the Duck and framed posters of past Lodi events like the Brew-B-Que. Working diligently behind the desk is the new Lodi/Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Mandy Sitzman.

Sitzman started in November and has worked hard to build relationships with the people and businesses in the community. Read more: Lodi Enterprise


Grand Rapids Chamber Board Evaluating Position on Road Funding Proposal
On the final morning of Lame Duck 2014, the legislature passed a compromise road funding package. It is complex and includes a number of components.

Revenue to fix the roads will come from shifting the sales tax on motor fuels from its current purpose to roads. The sales tax and the current 19-cents-per-gallon tax on motor fuels (the taxes paid at the gas pump) will be eliminated and replaced with a near-equivalent wholesale, percentage-based tax.

This will ensure ALL taxes paid at the pump will go to transportation. Estimates show that gas prices will increase about 3 cents.

Another $100 million will be raised from phasing out depreciation on vehicle registration fees and raising fee/fines on heavy trucks. In total, about $1.3 billion new revenue will be spent on roads each year.

The most visible component is the public will vote to raise the state sales tax from 6 to 7% on May 5.

This increase will replace (and add to) lost revenue from eliminating the sales tax on motor fuels that currently goes to schools and local governments. It will raise an additional $300 million for the schools, $130 million for public transit and $95 million for local governments. Read more: Grand Rapids Chamber

State chamber event: Mississippi House leader urges defeat of education amendment

The second-highest leader of the Mississippi House says legislators have fulfilled their promises to improve public schools. And, he's urging voters to defeat an education funding proposal in November.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden said Thursday if people don't like the Legislature's record, they should elect new lawmakers rather than amend the state constitution.
Snowden, a Republican from Meridian, spoke to business people who were at the Capitol for a state chamber of commerce event. Read more: MSnewsnow.com

Chamber Partnership: Iowa City makes list of easiest cities to find a job

Iowa City ranks No. 6 on the list of Top 20 "Easiest Cities to Find a Job" recently published by the website ZipRecruiter.com.
In a statement released Wednesday by the Iowa City Area Development Group, Christian Neeser, ZipRecruiter's outreach manager, said it is easier to find a job now than at any other time in the last six years.
ZipRecruiter works with employers to post to 50-plus job boards with one click while managing all of their job candidates in one place, according to the statement. To compile this list, ZipRecruiter looked at anonymized application actions from within its database of millions of job postings, calculated the ratio of job applicants to open positions, and ranked them according to the level of competition.
Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls were also listed in the Top 20.
DaLayne Williamson, workforce business services director for ICAD, said the group has invested in improving and introducing new career resources throughout last year to help job seekers and interstate commerce companies in the Iowa City area.
"We partnered with the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce and Diversity Focus to launch the new Corridor Connector program in November to better connect our employers with talent," Williamson said in the statement. "And, we continue to work with more than twenty regional employers on improving their workplace culture through our TEAM Centered Workplaces initiative as a means to become an employer of choice." Read more: Iowa City Press-Citizen

Chamber issue: South Dakota & Nebraska businesses preparing for minimum wage increase

As 2014 comes to an end, the new year will ring in a big budget change for businesses in Siouxland states that have minimum wage workers.

There are two different wage laws taking effect as of January 1, 2015. One will affect Nebraska employees, and a different one will affect South Dakota employees, but both are wage increases. Back in November, voters in South Dakota and Nebraska opted to raise the minimum wage for workers across the two respective states.

In South Dakota, the wage will raise from $7.25 to $8.50. In Nebraska, it's a two year shift. It will go up to eight dollars in 2015, and in January 2016 it will go up to nine dollars. Minimum wage workers in Nebraska say they're looking forward to the extra cash.

"I am excited. If it's going up, then our paychecks will be a lot more bigger, so we can actually buy things we want and need instead of struggling about it," Jerry Lu, Chinese Chef Employee said. However, South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce officials say that in their discussions with area businesses, small business owners are very concerned about being able to pay their staff and maintain a profit. Read more: KTIV 4

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #40      Know why the grass looks greener