Chamber
Executive Indiana Intelligence Report
April
21, 2020
Good morning #ChamberWorld! #Lookforthehelpers! Listen to the good
news! Start the Recovery! Make a small win today and huge wins tomorrow! Build
the future now! It's going to be a GREAT day!
What Every Chamber Executive and
Board Member Should Read First Today: The Path to Recovery: Via Kentucky
Chamber of Commerce Executives (KCCE): Bob Harris and Bill Pawlucy
|
Mo Merhoff Retires, OneZone to Seek New President
The
search has begun for the next president of OneZone Inc., following Friday’s
announcement that Mo Merhoff is retiring.
Merhoff
has led OneZone and its predecessor organization for two decades.
“Now
in my 20th year, it seems like a good time to end this significant chapter in
my life,” Merhoff said.
OneZone
serves as chamber of commerce for Carmel and Fishers, following its merger in
2015.
The
organization says OneZone’s Chief Operating Officer Jack Russell will serve as
interim president. The board of directors will launch a regional executive
search for a president in the next few weeks.
“Mo
has been instrumental in creating an environment in which businesses thrive,
that in turn has resulted in Carmel and Fishers being nationally recognized as
outstanding communities in which to live, work, and play,” said OneZone Board
President Kathy Krusie.
OneZone
represents more than 1,300 members. In 2015 it was recognized as the
Indiana Chamber Executives Association’s Chamber of the Year.
“These
are the people with vision, commitment and spirit who have been the main
ingredients in making our communities extraordinary, enviable places,” said
Merhoff.
County and city officials fill new
COVID-19 response coordinator position with CEO of South Bend Regional Chamber
Officials in St. Joseph County
and the City of South Bend announced Thursday the creation of a new role to aid
in intergovernmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeff Rea, president and CEO of
the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce and former Mayor of Mishawaka, will
take over the role as the COVID-19 Response Coordinator.
Rea will help connect and
coordinate relevant public and private sector entities in the community to
respond to the pandemic. He will also provide daily briefings to executives of
each local government regarding response efforts.
While he serves in the new
role, Rea will remain an employee of the South Bend Regional Chamber of
Commerce. Read more: ABC
57
U.S. Chamber Foundation Save Small Business Fund Grant
applications will go live Monday, April 20 at 2 pm
No business should have to
close their doors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why the U.S.
Chamber Foundation is teaming up with a coalition of companies to establish the
Save Small Business Fund and provide $5,000 grants to help employers get
through the days and weeks ahead.
Grant applications will go live
Monday, April 20 at 2 pm.
The Fund is providing $5,000 in
short-term relief to employers across the United States. These one-time supplemental
cash grants are for businesses that have between three and 20 employees and
operate in an economically vulnerable community. Check your businesses zip
code eligibility here.
Chamber Manager Liz Kerns Accepted
To National Fellowship
Liz Kerns, manager of the Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce, has
been selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for its leadership
program.
Kerns, who joined the Greater Kokomo Chamber as manager last year,
has been named to the Business Leads Fellowship Program’s fourth cohort. The
program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce
with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their
capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
“As we consider the future of Howard County, we understand the
critical need for a healthy workforce,” Kerns said.
The fellowship is especially important to the Greater Kokomo
Chamber at a time when it begins working more closely with regional partners to
focus on workforce development, Kerns added.
“Through the opportunity to participate in this national program,
I look forward to identifying forward-thinking and collaborative efforts that
we can pursue with our regional partners to positively impact north central
Indiana,” Kerns said.
Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the Center for Education
and Workforce, said the program was created to respond to the needs of state
and local chambers.
“They, better than anyone, see the critical link between education
and economic development, and we are glad to be able to support them as they
take on this critical leadership role in their community.”
Following a competitive application and selection process, Kerns
was selected along with 34 other state and local chamber executives and
association leaders to participate in the fourth class of this program. The
four-month program, which concludes in July 2020, will cover the entire talent
pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and
workforce development.
Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and
statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education
and workforce initiatives.
For a full list of participants in the Business Leads Fellowship
Program, visit the U.S. Chamber Foundation website.
From Deann Patena: Crossroads Regional Chamber: Indiana Hospitality Relief Funds
This fund was created by the Indiana Hospitality and Tourism Foundation, Inc. to give back to employees of the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to 109,000 Indiana hospitality workers face job loss by the end of the year and the Hospitality Relief Fund can help bartenders, servers, chefs and many more pay bills and help put food on the table. Click here
Important Indiana COVID 19 Resources
Business
State
Indiana Small Business
Development CenterLocations
The Indiana Small
Business Development Center Network is composed of 10 regional offices. No
matter your location, we have a regional office to serve your business needs!
Click on the map to access your county’s office.
Federal
U.S. Chamber Foundation -
Save Small Business Fund
Health
State
MCH Moms Helpline -
1-844-MCH-MOMS
Federal -
- Symptoms
- How to protect Yourself
& Others
- What to Do if You are
Sick
- People at Higher Risk
for Severe Illness
- Healthcare
Professionals
#FamousChamber of Commerce
Quotations: (via a recent Chamber member post)
Remain Strong, Take care of your
Family, Wash your hands, say your prayers, be kind, shop local, and we will be
Winners.
#ChamberSong ---A song to make you smile: "Good Day
Sunshine" by the Beatles
Daily Herald report
Updated3/24/2020
12:09 PM
We're going to
try to inject a little positivity in the paper (and on dailyherald.com) with a
daily "Song to Make You Smile." It's designed to help lift you out of
your coronavirus funk.
Faith Based Organizations May Apply for Assistance
Ashley D. Bell - SBA
Region IV Administrator
Entrepreneurship Policy Advisor
for the White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council
Faith is a pillar of hope, and
for many Americans it has been a powerful reason for their continued success
during these challenging times. The Administration, along with SBA
Administrator Jovita Carranza and other SBA leaders, recognized the need to
support faith-based organizations and have clarified their ability to
participate in the Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Programs.
Faith-based organizations may
apply regardless of their religious identity or activities, and will be
considered to the extent they are eligible as outlined in the CARES Act as
passed by Congress, signed into law by President Trump, and implemented by the
Paycheck Protection Act Interim Final Rule.
“During this global pandemic
the SBA stands behind every business, non-profit and faith-based organization,”
said SBA Regional Administrator Ashley D. Bell. “We recognize the importance of
keeping staff employed and keeping businesses and organizations operational as
we push through these difficult times."
The Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP) is designed to keep small business staff employed and provide small
businesses with capital through lending institutions, with support from the
SBA. The PPP’s maximum loan amount is $10 million with a fixed 1% interest rate
and maturity of two years. SBA will forgive the portion of loan proceeds used
for payroll costs and other designated operating expenses for up to eight weeks
provided at least 75% of loan proceeds are used for payroll costs.
Paycheck Protection Program Information: www.SBA.gov/paycheckprotection
To Find a PPP Lender: www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find
(or contact your local SBA
District Office for a current list of SBA lenders participating in the
program here)
The Economic Injury Disaster
Loan (EIDL) program provides qualifying small businesses and non-profits with
working capital up to $2 million with low interest rates and terms extending up
to 30 years and includes an advance payment portion.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Program Information is here.
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and
Community Profiles: The best Chamber Partner in Indiana!
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
Best,
John Dussman
John Dussman | Chamber Partner - Town Square Publications
PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS – 95 W. Algonquin Rd. Suite 300; Arlington
Heights, IL 60005
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
DailyHerald.com | Reflejos.com | BusinessLedger.com
Helping
chambers reach strategic goals through the development and execution of chamber
directories, maps, smart marketing and social media tools.
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