Michigan Chamber of Commerce Announces New Executive Leadership Team; Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory; New Petersburg Chamber of Commerce President Thaddeus Huff talks about his goals; Tomah Chamber receives top honor at Wisconsin Main Street Awards; Ivy Tech Partners With Indiana Chamber For Workforce Development; Community Development Foundation meeting: Airport plan looks to expand, improve service; 5 Star Chamber: Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory; #BestChamber practices: Oregon Chamber of Commerce to launch a new Welcome Program; Kyndle Participating in National Economic Development Week; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Good morning #ChamberWorld! It's going to be a GREAT day!

Michigan Chamber of Commerce Announces New Executive Leadership Team
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today announced a new four-member executive leadership team. In 2019, the Michigan Chamber will celebrate 60 years of helping Chamber members solve their business problems and prosper.

To continue the Michigan Chamber's tradition of leadership and accomplishment, we must constantly strive to be an efficient, high-performing business organization that encourages professional development of Chamber staff," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. To prepare for the next decade of challenges and opportunities facing Michigan's business community, I am pleased to announce the following, well-deserved promotions.

Jim Holcomb is promoted to Executive Vice President of the Chamber. Holcomb joined the Chamber staff in 2008. Holcomb most recently served as Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel. Jim will continue to serve as General Counsel and will continue to be engaged in legislative, legal and political action on behalf of the Chamber while becoming increasingly involved in executive management of the organization.

Bob Thomas is promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Thomas joined the Chamber staff in 1997. He most recently served as Vice President of Operations and Executive Director of the Michigan Chamber Foundation. In his new role, Bob will lead the Chamber's membership development team and continue to supervise daily operations for the Chamber.

Rounding out the Chamber's new executive leadership team is Wendy Block, who is promoted to Vice President of Business Advocacy. Block joined the Chamber staff in 2004. Wendy most recently served as Senior Director of Health Policy, Human Resources & Business Advocacy. She will continue to be engaged on health policy and human resources while guiding the Chamber's lobby team on a wide range of economic and business issues.

Rich Studley, who is now one of the longest serving state chamber executives in the country, will continue to lead the Michigan Chamber as President & CEO.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing over 6,000 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Chamber represents employers of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. Chamber members employ over one million Michigan residents. The Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process.

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce


Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory

The Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Crossroads Regional Chamber today! Thanks to Sue Reed and the 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.

New Petersburg Chamber of  Commerce President Thaddeus Huff talks about his goals

The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce officially introduced Thaddeus N. Huff as the business group’s new president last week. Huff will take over from former president Danielle Fitz-Hugh, who left last October to become the president of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce.

“This was a really great opportunity to be a part of the building of a city,” said Huff. “I’m really excited about the opportunities with economic development and how it can impact the community.”

Huff attended college at the University of Michigan, and completed his master’s degree in public policy at Western Carolina University. He spent several years with AmeriCorps, where he says he realized he “wanted to community build.” Before coming to the Richmond area in 2011, Huff worked with the United Way in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Huff’s most recent position was as the executive director of BizWorks, a Chesterfield-based business incubator focused primarily on assisting small businesses.

Drawing from his experience with BizWorks, Huff is hoping to make the city an easier place for businesses, specifically small businesses, to open up shop and flourish.

“From what I’ve seen, the city itself is on a rebound,” he said. “Now we need to focus on how we can make it a better place to do business, because when our businesses prosper, they’re able to grow and invest more back into the city.”

Part of making the city an easier place to do business is educating the chamber members. Huff envisions chamber members being able to take better advantage of luncheons or gatherings where speakers can instruct about making their businesses successful.

“We have to do a lot to protect [small businesses] so they can prosper and continue to provide good jobs,” he said.

Huff also hopes to encourage residents to start “micro-businesses,” meaning small companies that only have 1-5 employees – small operations where owners might not have had access to formal business education. Huff said he envisions equipping more people to become micro-business owners, giving them more resources that are normally only available to larger businesses. Read more: Mineral Daily News Tribune

Tomah Chamber receives top honor at Wisconsin Main Street Awards

The Tomah Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitor’s Bureau’s remodel of the 1930s Department of Natural Resources ranger station into the new Chamber building has won a statewide award.

The organization took top honors at the April 27 Wisconsin Main Street Awards Ceremony in Ripon in the Connect Communities: Population over 5,500 category, hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Mark Hogan, secretary and CEO of WEDC, congratulated the Tomah Chamber for its work with the remodel and efforts to revitalize the downtown.

“A vibrant downtown is critical to a community’s overall economic development as well as the quality of life for its residents,” Hogabn said. “We commend Tomah Chamber and Visitors Center for being among the best in the state when it comes to strengthening its downtown.”

The award recognizes efforts made by volunteers and staff of the Wisconsin Main Street program for historic preservation and downtown economic development efforts of Wisconsin communities in 2017.

Wisconsin Main Street is a community development program administered by WEDC that targets Wisconsin’s historic commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and training to the 33 Main Street communities to help them revitalize their business districts based on guidelines developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Chamber and CVB has been part of the program since 2015.

Tina Thompson, Tomah Chamber and CVB executive director, said it was a huge honor to be recognized at a state level. She said she was proud to be able to bring the award back to Tomah to show off all the work that was done.

“We had a lot of options when we considered where to develop our permanent location,” she said. “The preservation of this building and its proximity to Tomah’s downtown was an opportunity we couldn’t ignore. Despite numerous hurdles we would have to surmount, the investment was in our future and for the entire community of Tomah.” Read more: LaCrosse Tribune

Announcing the Frank J. Kenny

Chamber Pros Webinar Series

Through industry surveys and feedback from our recent free training on the Chamber Road Map to Social Media Success, you told us you wanted this training.

Check it out at https://chamber.frankjkenny.com/cpws

Enrollment is now open!

#ChamberProsWebinarSeries

Ivy Tech Partners With Indiana Chamber For Workforce Development

A new partnership between the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Ivy Tech Community College will make tuition discounts available to some Hoosier employees as part of an existing program at the 2-year college.

Ivy Tech’s Achieve Your Degree program connects Hoosiers with education programs – and financial aid options – to build their career credentials. The new partnership between Ivy Tech and the Indiana Chamber expands those efforts and includes a 5 percent discount on tuition costs not already covered by financial aid, for employees at the chamber’s member companies.

Ivy Tech’s Senior Vice President for Workforce Alignment, Chris Lowery, says, it’s a response to the state’s growing workforce needs.

“I think the way we’re looking at it is, the need is vast. I mean it is enormous, again, I hear from employers every day that they just don’t have all the talent they need,” he says.

Lowery says the new partnership is a key piece of the college’s goals to increase the median wage in Indiana, and the number of degrees and certificates awarded at Ivy Tech each year.

The chamber also sees it as a way to hit its own targets. The Chamber’s Vice President of Communication and Operations Tom Schuman says the group’s wide-reaching business connections make it easier to spread the word about the program.

“We have 45-50 events a year in which we do training, a lot of it’s HR and safety training, well we have the right people in the room to help make them aware of Achieve Your Degree,” he says.

Ivy Tech started Achieve Your Degree in 2015. Schuman says growing it will allow employers to do even more to skill up Indiana’s workforce, a key goal for the chamber by 2025. Read more: WFYI Indianapolis


Community Development Foundation meeting: Airport plan looks to expand, improve service

With commercial air service providing reliability and dependability once again, the Tupelo Regional Airport can focus more attention on the long-term viability of the airport.

In a meeting Friday at the Community Development Foundation, airport officials and consultant Allen & Hoshall, spoke to some city and business leaders about the airport’s strategic plan.

“The purpose of the meeting is to talk about what improvements in infrastructure, what services or amenities the airport can do to help each and everybody in the city, the county and the surrounding area to meet their needs or help accomplish their goals,” said Cliff Nash, the airport’s executive director.

“It’s not just about commercial service. It’s also the ability to land and take off aircraft for tenants like UAM, corporate clients and chartered flights; and it’s about different land uses near and around the airport”

Harry Pratt, the president of Allen & Hoshall, said there are opportunities the airport can address now and several long-term possibilities as well.

An urgent issue the airport is addressing now is the lighting on the taxiway, Pratt said.

The Federal Aviation Administration inspects airports yearly to ensure the lighting and signage on runways and taxiways meet certain standards, but the taxiway at Tupelo Regional are inadequate, Pratt said.

“The FAA had some issues in Tupelo, but it’s under design,” he said. “We actually bid it out last year, but the grant fell apart at the FAA level. Cliff got that back on track this year, and now we should be able to bid it this month and then have it done in about four months. That’s the most pressing issue.”

Pratt sees great opportunity for the fixed based operator, or FBO (in this case, Tupelo Aviation Unlimited) to improve services – and revenue – by moving from its current location on Lemons Drive to a spot next to Air Park Road.

Allen & Hoshall envision a modern executive terminal for the FBO, which provides maintenance, fuel, hangaring, flight instruction and other services. A large new hangar, up to 20,000 square feet, would accommodate all but the largest of planes. Read more: Daily Journal

5 Star Chamber: Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Lynn Kendall, Shiloh Francis and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Rapid City 2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory

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: Oregon Chamber of Commerce to launch a new Welcome Program

The Oregon Chamber of Commerce is renewing its’ efforts to welcome new home owners to the community.

“Our WELCOME! program is targeted to folks who have chosen to make their home in the 61061 zip code, Oregon, Illinois area,” said Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Dickson. “We hope this effort will help to introduce them to our local businesses and chamber members, a way to offer an easy opportunity for them step inside and experience the wide variety of shopping, dining, and services we have in our own back yard.

“We want these folks to know that we are excited to have them choose our community to raise a family, retire, recreate, and relax!,” she said.

The program allows new residents a friendly way to drop by the Chamber office and redeem a Welcome to Oregon postcard that they have received from one of our local realtors at their home sale closing, in exchange for a gift basket of goodies. Read more: OgleCountyNews.com

Kyndle Participating in National Economic Development Week

Kyndle is celebrating National Economic Development Week today-Saturday.

National Economic Development Week was created and coordinated by the International Economic Development Council, the largest professional membership organization for economic developers. It is being held during the week of the organization's 92nd anniversary as the largest professional membership organization for economic developers, Kyndle announced. 

Kyndle, the Kentucky Network for Development, Leadership and Engagement, provides economic development and industrial recruitment leadership in northwestern Kentucky. Its mission is to help business, large and small, by connecting people and communities through economic development and chamber activities. Kyndle is the resource for advancing economic prosperity in Henderson, McLean, Union and Webster counties.

Typically, economic development can be described in terms of objectives. These most commonly include the creation of new jobs and capital investments in our region. IEDC specifically defines economic development as "a set of programs and policies that aid in the creation, retention and expansion of jobs; the development of a stable tax base; and the enhancement of wealth."

Kyndle reported its economic development activities encompasses three initiatives: business retention and expansion, attraction and workforce development. Kyndle provides free and confidential services to companies in the site selection process. Our team works closely with state and local officials to help new and existing companies understand our regional assets. Read more: SurfKY.com

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

Naperville chamber: YEA! Provides Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs; Petersburg Chamber Annual Dinner: Governor McAuliffe announced Talent Solutions Grant Competition for economic development; Chamber Best Practices: For Michigan West Coast Chamber Members, Business is Good!; Chamber initiative: Indy and suburban cities may form regional group to fund transit route; Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Presents Boozman with 'Spirit of Enterprise' Award; Christian County Chamber collaboration: Hoppers playing for military at Fort Campbell; Chamber educational: Want to learn all about flesh eating bacteria? Forum set for June 19 in Gulfport; Sun Prairie Chamber sponsor: Arts in the park: Taste of the Arts scheduled for June 13 in Sheehan Park; Chamber news: Top Ten U.S. BEST Places to Start A Business - 6. Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude): Leonardo da Vinci

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Naperville chamber: YEA! Provides Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs

Wrapping up its second year at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) for middle and high school students recently held a Trade Show at Noah’s Event Venue to introduce their services and products to the community.
For the past school year, this hands-on program has focused on a broad definition of entrepreneurship—the transformation of an idea into an enterprise that creates value—in the spirit of Naperville’s history of both social and business entrepreneurs.

YEA! teaches students not only the importance and purpose of social and business entrepreneurship, but also the process by which one establishes a business enterprise or social movement.
Students were taught to write a business or social action plan, make a pitch to potential investors/ supporters, obtain funding, open bank accounts, file tax returns and launch their company/movement with marketing plans and business cards.
Visitors to the Trade Show had the opportunity to visit nine table top displays and meet with the young entrepreneurs, some in partnerships, to learn more about their ideas. Products included fishing lures, jewelry, “daily reminder” art and a handy drill that quickly unscrews lightbulbs. Services ranged from a car pooling app to tutoring to dress designing to investing. Read more: Positively Naperville

Petersburg Chamber Annual Dinner: Governor McAuliffe announced Talent Solutions Grant Competition for economic development

$900,000 in grants targeted to help close skills gap in key industry sectors.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced on Wednesday that the Governor’s Office, in partnership with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), will be offering the Commonwealth’s first competitive grants designed to help close the skills gap in key industry sectors of critical importance to the Virginia economy and reward and encourage employer-led talent development solutions. These state grants will be matched by private funds and used to provide job training and develop vital workplace skills for prospective and existing employees.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “I am pleased to launch this grant program as part of my ongoing efforts to prepare Virginia’s workforce to do the jobs of today and create the jobs of tomorrow. Creating and sustaining a world-class workforce is critical for building a new Virginia economy, and it will take commitment and investment from both the public and private sectors to achieve this goal. This grant competition is designed to encourage these partnerships.” Read more: Heraldcourier.com

Chamber Best Practices: For Michigan West Coast Chamber Members, Business is Good!

As a West Coast Chamber member you can reap unlimited returns on your investment with the Chamber's exclusive member time and money-saving benefits.

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan -The strength of the Chamber lies in its members, many of which are small businesses. Today, businesses need the value of "big company" benefits that are comprehensive and cost competitive. Coverage is available to groups with 1-99 employees. Call the Chamber or your local independent insurance agent for more details.
• SBA 504 Financing Program - We can help you with long-term fixed asset financing for your expanding small business through Lakeshore 504.
• Davenport University - Offers the Community Leader Scholarship, that is stackable with other scholarships and financial aid to their students.  The student must be employed by a West Coast Chamber business member and can receive up to $1500 per semester.
• Auto-Owners Insurance Group - Provides Chamber members discounts on business insurance, eligible to save up to 14%. To learn more about saving money for your business, click here or watch this short video and invitation. Read more: Michigan West Coast chamber

Chamber initiative: Indy and suburban cities may form regional group to fund transit route

Four cities are considering creating an economic development group to obtain state funding for the first phase of a regional rapid-transit route for electric buses.
Indy Chamber CEO Michael Huber on Monday night presented to the Westfield City Council the plan to create a “Regional Development Authority” involving Westfield, Carmel, Indianapolis and Greenwood.
Once established, the development authority could apply for state grants for the first of five lines in the proposed $1.2 billion electric bus rapid-transit system known as “IndyConnect” under Gov. Mike Pence’s “Regional Cities” initiative.
Legislators allocated $84 million for the Regional Cities program over the next two years in the state budget. The money for it will come from a new state tax-amnesty program.
The Central Indiana Regional Development Authority would include Westfield, Carmel, Indianapolis and Greenwood—the four cities the proposed 28-mile “Red Line” would travel through. Read more: Indianapolis Business Journal


Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Presents Boozman with 'Spirit of Enterprise' Award

 For his steadfast support of policies that create jobs and grow the economy, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) was presented with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Spirit of Enterprise’ award.

“I understand the role our businesses play in developing and growing our economy. That’s why I continue to promote policies that create an environment that provides certainty for businesses so they can expand and hire more employees. I appreciate this recognition by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and look forward to working together with members in Arkansas to advocate for measures that improve our economy,” Boozman said.

Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Fram presented Boozman with this honor. Read more: PoliticalNews.me

Christian County Chamber collaboration: Hoppers playing for military at Fort Campbell

With temperatures on the rise and children out of school, many families are looking to the outdoors for fun and entertainment. For generations, summer entertainment has included trips to the baseball field to see teams go head-to-head for nine innings of America’s

pastime.

To keep that tradition going, the Hoptown Hoppers will visit Fort Capbell tonight to play an Ohio Valley League game at 7 p.m. against the Madisonville Miners at Fort Campbell High School baseball’s Falcon Field.

“The Hoptown Hoppers had a military appreciation game last year at their home field,” said Dan Cain, community recreation officer for Fort Campbell Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. “From that they decided, why try to get military to come up to them — why not take the game to the military?”

From that idea came a phone call to the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, who then contacted Fort Campbell Garrison to get the event put into motion. After months of planning, the groups organized a day of events that will include a tour of the installation for team members and two free instructional youth camps, hosted by Hoppers coaches and

management. Read more: Kentucky New Era

Chamber educational: Want to learn all about flesh eating bacteria? Forum set for June 19 in Gulfport

Want to learn about vibrio, the flesh eating bacteria that's sometimes found in our Gulf Coast waters?
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Inc. is hosting an educational on vibrio called "The Truth About Flesh Eating Bacteria" on June 19 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Knight Nonprofit Center in Gulfport.
Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and networking, with the program beginning at 8 a.m.
Admission is $5 for Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Inc. members and $10 for general admission.
A panel featuring local industry experts will discuss the facts and truth behind the bacteria.  Read more: GulfLive.com


Sun Prairie Chamber sponsor: Arts in the Park: Taste of the Arts scheduled for June 13 in Sheehan Park

Stone engravings, gourds, doll clothes, hand-woven baskets, dog treats and Tupperware will be among the products of over 100 venders at the Taste of the Arts Fair June 13. For the 23rd year, the event will bring an “eclectic mix of fine arts and crafts” to Sheehan Park, said Ann Smith, executive director of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce, the fair’s sponsor. The day stretches from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and occurs rain or shine. Taste of the Arts is a mix of old and new and Smith said the number of venders has grown each year. The Chamber of Commerce accepts new vender applications until the fair begins. They are still adding new businesses, but Smith said there are close to 100 at the moment.
Venders come from across the Wisconsin – including 10 so far from Sun Prairie - as well as neighboring states like Illinois and Minnesota. Smith said the event aims to draw people to the city. Read more: The Star

 

Chamber news: Top Ten U.S. BEST Places to Start A Business - 6. Cedar Rapids, Iowa


Cedar Rapids has a low cost of living, a downtown district with local shops and restaurants and an economy driven by food processing, manufacturing, distribution, wind energy, electronics and financial services. Local businesses include Fix Salon, a hair and beauty salon, and Brewed Awakenings, a coffee shop. The unemployment rate of 3.8% is the lowest of our top 10. Businesses can join the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance to get listed in its annual business directory and to attend networking events. Read more: Nerd Wallet


Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

“As you cannot do what you want, want what you can do.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam; Petersburg (Virginia) hometown hero honored by Chamber of Commerce; Barrington (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce Map available today; March 2015 Indy Chamber Economic Briefing; Bryant Area (Arkansas) Chamber’s beauty pageant to aid scholarship program; Coldwater Chamber award: Newberry named Citizen of the Year; Biloxi Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to be a tourist at home; Wausau Chamber news: Greenheck, Wausau on the map for YPWeek; Colonial Heights Virginia chamber hosts 66th Annual Dinner Meeting; Kentucky Chamber seminar: Navigating Sales and Use Tax in Kentucky; Chamber interest: Creating opportunity- Sioux Falls - Running a Startup City; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam
 
(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000). In a groundbreaking book based on vast data, Putnam shows how we have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures– and how we may reconnect.
Putnam warns that our stock of social capital – the very fabric of our connections with each other, has plummeted, impoverishing our lives and communities.
Putnam draws on evidence including nearly 500,000 interviews over the last quarter century to show that we sign fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations that meet, know our neighbors less, meet with friends less frequently, and even socialize with our families less often. We’re even bowling alone. More Americans are bowling than ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues. Putnam shows how changes in work, family structure, age, suburban life, television, computers, women’s roles and other factors have contributed to this decline.

• Joining and participating in one group cuts in half your odds of dying next year.
• Every ten minutes of commuting reduces all forms of social capital by 10%
• Watching commercial entertainment TV is the only leisure activity where doing more of it is associated with lower social capital.
• Declining Social Capital: Trends over the last 25 years
• Attending Club Meetings - 58% drop
• Family dinners - 43% drop

Factoids from website: Bowling Alone

Petersburg (Virginia) hometown hero honored by Chamber of Commerce

Lt. Col. Mark McLain, Army Reserve officer with the Contingency Response Unit (CRU), 416th Theater Engineer Command, was honored by the Petersburg, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce as a hometown hero at the Chamber’s 134th Annual Dinner on Feb. 18 2015, along with five other honorees.

McLain recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan in support of United States Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division, Afghanistan District. During his deployment, McLain was wounded at Camp Qargha's Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan. Read more: DVIDShub.net

Barrington (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce Map available today

Our newest publication, the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce 2015 Map is available at the Barrington Area Chamber today! Thanks to Suzanne Corr and her chamber team for their work in putting this together!

For further information about how Town Square Publications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's map or gloss publication needs, please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.


March 2015 Indy Chamber Economic Briefing

A summary of the Indianapolis regional economy - Indy unemployment remains below state rates. The Indianapolis unemployment rate fell in February by 0.4 percent to 5.8 percent, and remains below state rates. Marion County fell a full percentage point in unemployment as compared to February 2014.
Indiana gained 1,700 private sector jobs in February and has experienced private sector job growth in 20 of the past 25 months. Gains in February were concentrated in the private, educational & health services (+2,500), leisure and hospitality (+2,200), and manufacturing (+600) sectors. Unemployment in the Hoosier State is now down by 2.4 percent over the past two years, and the labor force has grown by 82,000 individuals. Read more: Indy Chamber

Bryant Area (Arkansas) Chamber’s beauty pageant to aid scholarship program

As principal of Bethel Middle School, Todd Sellers knows the importance of education.
As chairman of the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, he stresses the importance of supporting education.
And as the father of a 7-year-old daughter who likes to participate in beauty pageants, Sellers believes he knows a good way to raise money for scholarships for local high school seniors who want to continue their education.
“[Members of] the Bryant Chamber of Commerce have long felt that we need to do anything we can to raise money for scholarships for seniors graduating from Bryant High School,” said Rae Ann Fields, executive director of the chamber.
“We have raised money for scholarships for many years, [annually] giving $500 scholarships to 25 students for the past several years. But we hope to increase the number of scholarships this year by sponsoring our first beauty pageant.
“Todd, a self-professed ‘pageant dad,’ brought this idea to us and is sure this is the way to raise money,” Fields said. “We hope to make the beauty pageant an annual event.”
Sellers said he hopes the beauty pageant will generate enough money to help fund 30 $500 scholarships this year. Read more: Arkansas Online


Coldwater Chamber award: Newberry named Citizen of the Year


The title of Citizen of the Year was bestowed upon John Newberry during the 62nd annual Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce awards dinner and meeting on Thursday, along with a handful of other awards commending notable residents.
Newberry, owner of Canopys R Us, was presented the award by John Castle of Southern Michigan Bank & Trust, who delivered a speech that hailed praise for Newberry’s work for the Quincy community. In his speech, Castle denoted the reason Newberry received the award, quoting recommendations regarding Newberry’s character as, “Never seen a more dedicated individual to the community.”
As the saying goes concerning Newberry, he has a hand in making nearly everything in Quincy what it is.
“In a time where small towns are losing recognition, people like John are making sure that they don’t,” said Castle. Read more: The Daily Reporter

Biloxi Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to be a tourist at home

The Biloxi-Bay Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to be tourists at home. The chamber is offering free tours to members so they can learn about all the attractions and enjoy the things South Mississippi has to offer.
The trolley tour stops at the visitor's center, lighthouse, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center and several other places before ending with a boat ride.
"You tend to forget, 'Hey, I can be a tourist right here,'" said Biloxi-Bay Chamber Executive Director Tina Ross. "People spend lots of money to come down here, to spend their vacation time, and I think it's important for locals to take that into consideration when they are planning their weekend or a staycation. Invite their family and friends down. They can be the tour guides for their company that's coming to town." Read more: WLOX 13

Wausau Chamber news: Greenheck, Wausau on the map for YPWeek

A few years ago Nick O'Brien, 25, moved to town from Missouri and fell for the state of Wisconsin and the city of Wausau. Now he's working to draw more young professionals like himself to the area with the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce and young professional groups across the state.
A state-wide YPWeek starts Saturday and will launch in Wausau with the 2015 Bubbler Awards ceremony at the Jefferson Street Inn. Greenheck Fan Corp. is among the 10 companies who will receive awards for creating great work environments for young people.
Young professional groups, including the Wausau chamber's E3YP, will have members at the awards dinner and the winning companies will send representatives as well.
Next week — YPWeek — those young professional organizations will hold events in Fond du Lac, Fox Cities, Kenosha, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Wausau chamber's E3YP. Read more: Wausau Daily Herald


Colonial Heights Virginia chamber hosts 66th Annual Dinner Meeting

The Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce is hosting its "66th Annual Dinner Meeting" on Thursday, March 19, at the Lee Club, Building 9009, Battle Drive, Fort Lee. The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Brett Leake, motivational comedian. Register now online at www.colonialheightschamber.com. Read more: Progress-Index




Kentucky Chamber seminar:  Navigating Sales and Use Tax in Kentucky



Sales and Use Tax Laws Getting the Best of You?
Sales and use taxes impacts all individuals and businesses. As technology and the internet are evolving, sales and use tax compliance is becoming more complex and challenging. Every year, state tax departments are deploying more and more auditors. Your best defense is a solid understanding of the law and current interpretations. At this seminar, you will gain a practical understanding of the sales and use tax rules and compliance requirements. View the agenda.

ESSENTIAL FOR:
• Business Owners
• Financial Officers
• Controllers (and/or anyone who deals with purchases and sales at your organization)

BENEFITS:
•  Determine what is taxable and exempt
•  Tackle multi-state issues and transactions, including nexus
•  Compliance guidance, including dealing with audits
•  Take advantage of exemptions and incentives available
•  Stay current with recent developments and interpretations

Take a look at the brochure for more information!
 

Chamber interest: Creating opportunity- Sioux Falls - Running a Startup City

As part of our Silicon Cities series, we recently wrote about why people should move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a city with a booming job market, a very low cost of living, and a high quality of life.
Yet we wanted to take a deeper dive into the city to discover what, exactly, it has done to become one of the hottest economies and most livable cities in the U.S. To gain a little more clarity, we sat down with Mike Huether, a native South Dakotan who was recently reelected  mayor of Sioux Falls.
Huether, who worked in corporate America after graduating from South Dakota State University in 1984, moved back to his home state to fulfill a childhood dream of holding public office. Since 2010, when he was first elected, Huether has helped reimagine how the city’s government functions and works with the business community, which has led to unprecedented cooperation between the public and private sectors.
But the mayor hasn’t stopped there, leading initiatives that have upgraded and replaced infrastructure, as well as inking deals to build a number of recreational facilities aimed at boosting the city’s quality of life. All told, these kinds of efforts have had a major impact on Sioux Falls, fueling economic growth and generating thousands of jobs. Read more: Free Enterprise

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

RULE #74      Look at the organization website every day.

What a 4 Star Chamber looks like: Paducah (Kentucky) Area Chamber; Chamber interest: Southaven Mississippi plans to become regional shopping destination; Dearborn Michigan chamber forum: Community conversations to focus on college affordability, job market challenges; Chamber interest: Latest trends offered at Northwest Arkansas Home Show this weekend; Rapid City Chamber: Civic Center Expansion - History Favors the Bold; West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry Champions of Business Leadership Awards Banquet; Chamber news: 170 Northwest WI residents swarm the state capitol for Superior Days; Chamber Tweet o the Day: Mississippi Economic Council; Petersburg (Virginia) Chamber honors Wayne Crocker for library contributions; In a recent national business survey, 69% said they prefer print magazines to learn about new products, equipment, services and suppliers.

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!


What a 4 Star Chamber looks like: Paducah (Kentucky) Area Chamber

The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is the region's largest business advocacy organization and the sixth largest Chamber in the state with more than 900 business members. The Chamber is proud to be a part of Paducah, McCracken County and the Purchase Region. The Chamber has a strong partnership base with local businesses - both small and large, manufacturers, industries, local governments, non-profit organizations and individuals. More than two-thirds of our members represent businesses with 15 employees or less. Our goal is to provide valuable services to our members of all sizes so we can help them to be successful.

In 2011 the Paducah Chamber was awarded the Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. The Paducah Chamber also is a 4-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This prestigious honor puts us among the top 10% of chambers nationwide.

Through the Chamber's busines advocacy efforts, more than 100 million dollars in state and federal funding has been appropriated to McCracken County by the Kentucky General Assembly and Congress since 1990.

The Chamber has numerous programs benefiting our members. While some programs assist and promote business, other programs help develop local business leaders into community leaders. More than 800 Chamber members have graduated from the Leadership Paducah Program since its inception in 1984. 

Bryan Carner chairs the Paducah chamber - A Caldwell County native is taking a lead role this year in the Chamber of Commerce in the largest city in the western tip of Kentucky. Bryan Carner was elected to serve as the 2015 chairman of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Mission Statement: The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization of diverse economic interests, unified to provide services to its members and leadership in promoting economic development in Paducah, McCracken County and the region.  Read more: Paducah Chamber
 

Chamber interest: Southaven Mississippi plans to become regional shopping destination

Tanger Factory Outlet opening in time for Christmas shopping

It may only be a 33-acre swath of Southaven mud right now, but Tanger Factory Outlet Centers is coming to town, just in time for the frenzied Christmas shopping season.
And Mississippi town's shopping will never be the same.
Carmen Kyle, executive director of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce, told The Commercial Appeal that the area will become a regional destination for shopping.
Tanger and local partner Poag Shopping Centers have begun building a 310,000-square-foot upscale outlet center. Read more:  16 WAPT News

Dearborn Michigan chamber forum: Community conversations to focus on college affordability, job market challenges

The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce will offer two free public forum for residents to engage in dialogue concerning college value and affordability and challenges faced by Michigan residents in the job market at its Community Conversations series from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 4 and March 25 at The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, located at the Bryant Branch Library, 22100 Michigan Ave.

The Community Conversations series is held in partnership with The Center for Michigan, a nonprofit, nonpartisan “think-and-do” tank, focused on framing strategies relating to solving public issues by engaging citizens and providing our elected leaders with public opinion. Read more: Press and Guide

 

Chamber interest: Latest trends offered at Northwest Arkansas Home Show this weekend

Building or remodeling a home will become easier for area residents this weekend (Feb. 13, 14, and 15) with the opening of the 25th annual Northwest Arkansas Home Show at the Springdale Convention Center.
Guests attending the show, which is presented by the NWA Home Builders Association, will be able to visit over 106 vendor booths offering the latest trends in home options, such as safe rooms, children’s playground equipment, outdoor fire pits and even the latest in kitchenware.
Erin Mains, 2015 Home Show chairman, Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse and the Springdale Chamber of Commerce kicked off the home show on Friday (Feb. 13). The home show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today (Feb. 13) and tomorrow (Feb.14); and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10 each for a three-day pass; $7 for a two-day pass and $5 for a one-day pass. Children get in for free.
The purpose of the show is to promote different suppliers in Northwest Arkansas, said Brenda Jones, executive officer for the NWA Home Builders Association. Read more: The City Wire

Rapid City Chamber: Civic Center Expansion - History Favors the Bold

by Benjamin Snow, President Rapid City Economic Development Partnership

On March 10, the citizens of Rapid City will have the opportunity to cast a simple ballot of enormous consequence. The results of this election will say a lot about how we feel about the future. We will decide to either 'Do Big Things', or we will not. The former would be bold and visionary. The latter would be timid and short sighted. We will make a decision to either believe in ourselves as a community with an abundant future or be governed by the fear of scarcity. It's really up to us - and that's exciting.

The time has come for us to reinvest in one of our community's signature economic engines. The proposal to expand the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center by building a new multi-use arena and highly functional convention space has been methodically vetted by a diverse cross-section of seasoned professionals and citizens over the past 3 years. Some of these folks have a lot of valuable history in Rapid City and others represent a new chapter in Rapid City's history, including today's young professionals and our youth population. That's really what this opportunity is all about. What we are being asked to do is not that much different than what leaders and citizens in the 1970's did for future generations, including many who will vote on March 10. We can best honor that vision by perpetuating it, not simply watching it die a slow death.

We need a new arena in order to compete with our peer cities over the next half century. Competing for people - people who will examine the civic infrastructure and lifestyle amenities of the community before deciding to call it home; people from the entire Rushmore Region who will choose to spend their time and money on entertainment, sporting events, conventions, trade shows and much more in Rapid City; and the millions of people from even further away who visit our community every year for special events, tourism-related activities and upon whom we will be making lasting impressions for years. All of these groups of people will continue to spend lots of money in our community, growing our sales tax base and effectively partnering with us in paying off the debt on the venues many of them are enjoying. So, the economics of this are also quite compelling and powerful.

Doing nothing is not an option. We now know what it will cost to produce a venue that is realistic and manageable for Rapid City today and over the next few decades. We understand the best public financial vehicles to use. We know we can afford this using existing designated tax revenue sources. There's no disputing that the $180 million limit the citizens are being asked to approve is a big, historically significant number for Rapid City, as any number for a project of this magnitude would be. We should embrace 'historical significance.' After all, history is made by the bold and visionary. As Virgil once wrote, "History favors the bold." 

West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry Champions of Business Leadership Awards Banquet

The (CBL) Champions of Business Leadership Awards Banquet returns on Wednesday, April 15th at the William Tell in Countryside. This is the Chamber’s annual event dedicated to recognizing community individuals, businesses and organizations that go above and beyond in the pursuit of the Chamber’s mission.

We hope you will join us in honoring the Chamber’s current and future leaders by nominating someone today! Click on the links below.

Guidelines:

Nominators must be current Chamber members
Nominees should reflect the Chamber values of Integrity, Innovation, Knowledge, Professionalism, Service to the Community & Performance Excellence
The definition of a “business” is that of either a nonprofit or for-profit entity.
Members currently serving on the Chamber board are not eligible for nomination.
No self-nominations
Deadline is Monday, March 16 by 5:00PM

Business of the Year Award:
The WSCCI Business of the Year Award is presented to the business that sets the standard for excellence and innovation with their business practices and social responsibility.  Nominees must have demonstrated good citizenship throughout our Chamber community, including actively supporting local charities and businesses as well as encouraging its employees to do the same.
Click here to make a nomination for Business of the Year.

Young Entrepreneur/Professional Award:
Since 1994, the Chamber has sponsored a Business Education Partnership aimed at fostering cooperation between educators and businesses, which is vital to ensure the development of a well-prepared workforce.  The WSCCI Young Entrepreneur Award raises awareness among the Chamber community’s youth and the critical role that they play in building private enterprise and entrepreneurship in our community.
Click here to make a nomination for The Young Professional Award.

Community Collaboration Award:
Since 2000, the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Foundation has worked to connect for-profit and non-profit businesses through events and partnerships that benefit the Chamber community. The WSCCI Community Collaboration Award recognizes successful collaboration between for-profit and non-profit businesses to help build a healthier Chamber community.
Click here to make a nomination for the Community Collaboration Award.

The Judy Baar Topinka Award (formerly the Public Servant Award):
Our communities thrive when local government, public entities and their employees take the interests of local businesses to heart. the Public Servant Award was renamed the Judy Baar Topinka Award in 2015 to memorialize an outstanding champion of the community and a true business advocate. This award will be presented for outstanding service in the year of consideration and/or for accumulated years of service.
Click here to make a nomination for the Judy Baar Topkina Award. 

Read more: WSCCI.com

Chamber news: 170 Northwest WI residents swarm the state capitol for Superior Days

Citizen lobbyists from Northwestern Wisconsin head to the Capitol this week to push for support for regional projects. They'll be taking part in the 30th Annual Superior Days event in Madison.
Nearly 170 Residents and students from Douglas, Ashland, Bayfield and Iron Counties will meet with lawmakers and other policy makers on their trip. The goal is to raise their region's concerns and ask for support.
"We're saying 'we've done this, we've put in as much as we possibly can do," said President of the Douglas Co. Chamber of Commerce Dave Minor. "Now we need the state to partner with us."
Among the projects they're pushing for is the expansion of Highway Two to four lanes.
"Now Highway 2 is another issue that is a travel way for commerce," said Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen. "So, that's one of our issues again." Finding new ways to fund the region's 911 call centers is another hot topic. Read more: NNCNOW.com


Chamber Tweet o the Day: Mississippi Economic Council



MS Economic Council ‏@MECStateChamber 

Interested in helping create the next generation of MS leaders? Get involved in the MS Scholars program today: http://atjo.es/2aTv

Petersburg (Virginia) Chamber honors Wayne Crocker for library contributions

Wayne Crocker, director of Library Services for the Petersburg Library System, was recognized yesterday by the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce for his commitment to the opening of a new state-of-the-art library. Crocker was presented with the Dr. F. Nathaniel Gatlin Award  during the Chamber's 134th Annual Dinner Gala at the Tabernacle Community Life Center.

The award honors those who “have demonstrated superior achievement for the betterment of the community,” according to a statement from the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.

Nick Walker, chairman, Petersburg Chamber Board of Directors, said that no one deserved the award more than Crocker. “There is no one more deserving at this moment in Petersburg’s history of such an honor better than Wayne,” Walker said. “The library has become the new cornerstone of the city and it was Wayne’s vision that saw it to fruition.”

- See more at: The Progress-Index

In a recent national business survey, 69% said they prefer print magazines to learn about new products, equipment, services and suppliers.



Advertising Value: In a recent national business survey, 69% said they prefer print magazines to learn about new products, equipment, services and suppliers. BizVoice® is Indiana’s leading statewide business magazine. Promote your company in BizVoice® to help build your business in 2015. Source: Indiana Chamber, http://www.bizvoicemagazine.com 


Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Innovation)

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein