New Castle-Henry County 2016 Chamber Business Expo - Information for Vendors; Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Chamber collaboration: Event honoring female leaders gives top honors to high school principal; Frankfort Area Chamber event: Frankfort City commission, mayoral candidates go head-to-head at fall forum; Hampton Roads Chamber: Military Citizen of the Year; Mississippi chamber of commerce gets economic improvement input from Philadelphia, MS; Glenview Chamber Surpasses 500 Members; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: Warren Buffett; Wanted: The right workers for today's jobs; Town Square Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-lo Guides and Maps

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

New Castle-Henry County 2016 Chamber Business Expo - Information for Vendors

EXPO TIME:

Special Business to Business Hour 9am-10am, Open to the public: 10am—3 pm,

Set Up: November 2 from 1-4 PM November 3 from 8-9:00 AM- all vendors must be set up by 9:00am

EXHIBIT INFO:

We have a limit of 50 spaces available and we sell out each year. Booth space may not be used by more than one business without prior permission from the Chamber office.

There are 2 Size Choices and a NEW Non-Profit Member Option:

8’X10’ Premium Booths (1-22): For those companies needing more room to display products. These booths are located on the room perimeter with electricity available. 8 ft X 30 inch tables, 2 chairs, table skirt provided. $225 for Chamber Members, $350 for Non-Members

4’X10’ Display Table Booths (23-50): For those companies primarily making contacts and distributing information. 8 ft X 30 inch tables, 2 chairs, table cloth and skirt provided. No electricity available. $150 for Chamber Members, $350 for Non-Members

NEW THIS YEAR! Non-profit Display Table: For our non-profit members only, non-profits may choose one of the larger booths at regular rates. 4 foot by 30 inch table (half of a display table), 2 chairs , table cloth and skirt provided. No electricity available. $100 for non-profit Chamber members.

All exhibitors (BOTH EXPO AND TASTE) are to provide a door prize ($25+ Value): Please bring your door prize with you to the Expo. You may display it in your booth and Chamber staff will collect it at the end of the day. Attendees are entered into the drawing by filling out a card with their contact information and having that card signed at each booth. The Chamber will draw for and contact all winners and have them collect their prize at the Chamber office. All exhibitors will receive a spreadsheet listing of all attendee information based on all of the cards put in the drawing. If you are participating in both the Taste and the Expo as a vendor, you need only provide 1 door prize.

EXPO ADMISSION: FREE! Attendees will be given a door prize registration card that must be validated at each booth before being eligible for door prize drawing. We expect about 300 attendees. More information: New Castle - Henry County Chamber



Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Lake County Chamber today! Thanks to Stewart Kerr, Renee Coco 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.

Chamber collaboration: Event honoring female leaders gives top honors to high school principal

 Tracy L.N. Wilson, Grand Haven High School principal, became the 12th recipient of the Lakeshore ATHENA award on Tuesday, Oct. 4. 

The leadership award is presented annually to a woman, or man, for their professional excellence, community service and who actively assists women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.  

"I'm completely overwhelmed with this honor; so humbled to be among some extremely incredible women and will continue to #PayItForward as I work with the students of Grand Haven High School," Wilson said. We have a fabulous staff and work extremely hard to support all kids and their needs. I'm grateful to be part of these efforts each and every day."

Wilson started working for Grand Haven Area Public Schools 28 years ago, and became the first female high school principal in the district's history in 2011. She spent 10 years teaching and coaching, and 12 years as assistant athletic director and assistant principal. 

Wilson has advocated for all students and is a role model and mentor for young women, according to a release from the Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg.  

Wilson said she plans to continue to be a role model for young women by "modeling strength through adversity, confidence to stretch beyond my means along with a drive to never, ever give up."

She was involved in the development of several programs including: Capturing Kids' Hearts; Bucs Above Bullying; TEAM GH...One Family, One Team, One Grand Haven; Cystic Fibrosis 5K; Love a Buc, Help a Buc Program; and is co-founder of the Mental Health Awareness Advisory Council.  

As an advocate for suicide prevention training, Wilson completed a program to be a trainer along with other GHAPS staff.

Wilson received the Excellence in Service Award from GHAPS in 2015, and is president of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.   

The recipient is chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from the participating chambers of commerce and community business leaders. Nine ATHENA nominee finalists were recognized on Oct. 4, which was attended by over 360 regional community and business leaders.   

ATHENA has honored women every year since its inception in 2005. 

The program is a collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg; the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce; and the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.  Read more: M LIVE

Frankfort Area Chamber event: Frankfort City commission, mayoral candidates go head-to-head at fall forum

Frankfort residents had their first opportunity to see all seven city commission candidates and both mayoral candidates against the same backdrop at a candidate forum Tuesday evening.

With a moderate turnout and broadcast on Channel 10, the candidates were mostly agreeable addressing the issues, even in the cases of disagreements. The event, hosted by the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Frankfort Plant Board, was segmented, with commission candidates answering questions for around 90 minutes and the mayoral candidates for a half hour.

Asked by broadcaster and radio station owner and manager Kristin Cantrell what they perceive as the three biggest issues facing the city, the candidates gave a variety of answers, some less specific than others. In response, candidate David Fields brought up a topic that was the subject of another question later in the evening from State Journal reporter Gayle Deaton, referring to the recent conflict between the plant board and the Tanglewood Neighborhood association as “the elephant in the room.”

The situation was described variously as “not acceptable” by Fields and “a mess” by incumbent Robert Roach and “reactive” by Joe Fiala. Donna Hecker said “any way you slice the pie, money got wasted.” Read more: State Journal

Hampton Roads Chamber: Military Citizen of the Year

Norfolk, VA –Held in conjunction with Fleet Week and the Navy’s Annual Birthday Celebration, at the Military Citizen of the Year (MCOY) luncheon, honors the Samuel T. Northern Military Citizen of the Year. This award is presented to the enlisted military individual who’s personal and public contributions have had the most positive effect on the Hampton Roads community. The luncheon also gives the business community the opportunity to show its appreciation for the military presence here in Hampton Roads.

Date: October 7, 2016

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Location: Norfolk Waterside Marriott

235 E Main St.

Norfolk VA 235101668

Keynote Speaker: Virginia State Senator Frank Wagner (7th District)

Day of contact: Priscilla Monti (757)-470-6805 - Visit hamptonroadschamber.com

Mississippi chamber of commerce gets economic improvement input from Philadelphia, MS

Transportation infrastructure was one of the many topics discussed at the Depot during the Mississippi Economic Council's Connection Tour.

President of the state chamber of commerce, Blake Wilson is traveling to 22 communities to talk about issues that are important to Mississippians.

"We make it a real point to go to rural communities because Mississippi is a state in fact of rural communities and if we're not reflecting the views of folks who live in rural Mississippi, we're missing the boat," says Wilson.

Business leaders in the community were surveyed on a series of questions and those results will go to the legislature for input on what measures should be taken to help grow not only the states economy but the local economy as well.

"This has been very informative for me," says Sen. Jenifer Branning. "I do plan to take it back and study it and I expect to be making a decision in the 2017 session about how to improve our infrastructure."

For years there's been talk of putting in a 4-lane bypass that officials say would encourage economic development. While that's still in the beginning stages, a few bridge projects in the city are being completed. Read more: WTOK TV

Glenview Chamber Surpasses 500 Members

The Glenview Chamber of Commerce surpassed 500 members this month.

The chamber has grown 58 percent over the last five years, Executive Director Betsy Baer said this week.

“Glenview is a great hometown, with multi-generational family-owned businesses, strong commercial and service sectors, and outstanding institutions. Our new and revamped programs gave us the chance to celebrate and support our customers and neighbors,” Baer said. 

Photo: Longtime Chamber members Maria and Matthew Doetsch with Doetsch Realty in 1948 (seated: Agent Les Hilbrick ). Third generation family Member Jerry Doetsch, (Berkshire Hathaway) is Glenview Chamber’s immediate past president. Courtesy of Glenview Chamber of Commerce Source: Patch

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: Warren Buffett

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

Wanted: The right workers for today's jobs

Wisconsin needs to import people to fill job needs, WMC chief tells Eau Claire chamber event

“Help wanted” signs have become as much a part of Wisconsin’s landscape as farms and fall colors.

For several years, politicians and business leaders have blamed the so-called skills gap for the difficulty many employers have finding people with the necessary skills to fill jobs. 

But on Friday, the head of the state’s largest business trade group told Chippewa Valley leaders it’s time to change that narrative. 

“It’s not a skills gap anymore,” said Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of Madison-based Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. “It’s an enthusiasm gap and a population gap.” 

Translation: Wisconsin doesn’t have enough people to fill all its jobs, and residents looking for jobs don’t want the positions that are available.  

“The biggest problem we have in this state is not job creation. It’s finding people for the jobs we have, with the retiring baby boom generation,” Bauer said during an “Eggs & Issues” presentation at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

Birth rates are not at population replacement level, he said, and it’s a problem around the world — and getting worse. 

Already, more companies are delaying expansions and offering incentives such as higher salaries and bonuses, flexible hours, telecommuting and even casual dress codes to attract workers, he said.

“If you don’t have people, you don’t have workers, you don’t have consumers and you don’t have tax base, then bad, bad, bad things happen.” Bauer warned. “That’s economic contraction.”

Bruce Barker, president of Chippewa Valley Technical College, agreed the growing worker shortage is a huge issue for west-central Wisconsin employers. Read more: Leader Telegram

Town Square Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-lo Guides and Maps

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 Here

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul to speak at Paducah chamber breakfast; Crossroads Regional Ribbon-cutting: Urgent Care Center opens in Crown Point; Chamber event: Naperville launches home discount program for 'heroes'; Midland Tomorrow hosts familiarization tour of Coleman businesses for legislators; Madison Chamber Business Expo: Polco's pitch wins Pressure Chamber and trip to Silicon Valley; Town Square Publications: Mount Pleasant, WI: Promises made, Promises kept!; Applications available for Leadership Neshoba; Study: Return on Virginia investment in land conservation; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories and Community Profiles;

Happy Monday, Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT week!

U.S. Senator Rand Paul to speak at Paducah chamber breakfast

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will be in Paducah next week, speaking at the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce's Power in Partnership Breakfast. 

The chamber says Paul will be the featured speaker at the Sept. 1 breakfast. The event is scheduled to start 7:30 a.m. and will be held at the Julian Carroll Convention Center's Ohio room. 

The cost of attendance is $15. The chamber says if you don't have a Power Card, you are asked to make reservations for the breakfast by 5 p.m. on Aug. 30. You can make reservations through the chamber website, by calling 270-443-1746 or by emailing info@paducahchamber.org.

Crossroads Regional Ribbon-cutting: Urgent Care Center opens in Crown Point

Athletes who put a little too much into the game have access to immediate medical care on the Crown Point Sportsplex campus with the opening of Methodist Hospitals' first urgent care center.

City officials and members of the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce joined officials with the Methodist Hospitals for a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at Methodist CareFirst at 1275 E. North Ave., on the 95-acre Sportsplex campus.

Mamon Powers Jr., chair of the Methodist Hospitals board of directors, said the new facility adds another dimension of care to the Methodist network in Northwest Indiana. Locating the healthcare provider's first urgent care center on the city's Sportsplex complex taps into a need created by the growing sports tourism industry.

"To remain a successful hospital in today's environment you have to keep growing," Powers said. Read more: Post Tribune

Chamber event: Naperville launches home discount program for 'heroes'

Homes for Heroes involves a local mortgage company and a real estate brokerage partnering to offer discounts on lending fees, title closing fees and commission to police officers, firefighters, military members, reservists or veterans, health care workers, emergency medical professionals and teachers.

The Naperville location of First Centennial Mortgage and Inspire Realty Partners of Aurora are the leading businesses that recently became affiliates of Homes for Heroes, a Minnesota-based real estate company that formed to give back to first responders after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks nearly 15 years ago.

"What we have here is a big 'thank you' program," said Glen Marino, branch manager of First Centennial in Naperville. "It's not about us, it's about them."

The program thanks those it considers heroes by offering them an average of $3,000 worth of discounts on the various steps of buying, selling or refinancing a home, Marino said.

The mortgage and real estate professionals involved say they want to offer these perks -- even if many "hero" workers already could afford to buy a home without the discounts -- because they've all experienced help from one or more of the heroic workers.

Inspire Realty broker Erik Ramirez has a 7-year-old daughter with special needs who was born prematurely, so he wants to honor the doctors and nurses at Loyola University Medical Center who saved her life, and others like them. Read more: Daily Herald

Midland Tomorrow hosts familiarization tour of Coleman businesses for legislators

Midland Tomorrow, Midland County’s economic development agency, recently hosted a Familiarization Tour for Midland County’s local, state and national legislators, which focused on businesses in Coleman.

Attending the tour were U.S. Congressman John Moolenaar, State Senator Jim Stamas, Midland County Commissioners Jim Geisler and Alan Kloha, as well as Midland Tomorrow Board President Pete Milojevic, and Midland Tomorrow, Midland Chamber and Michigan Economic Development Corporation staff.

The group toured Robinson Industries, CM Rubber Technologies, Inc., and Huhtamaki, Inc., and met with Coleman small business owners Jerry and Yulia Coon of Coon’s Berry Farm, Coleman Mayor Steve Miller and several city council members. They also toured Coleman Industrial Park, which has 65 acres available for light industrial development and is located next to the U.S.-10 exit at Coleman.

“FAM tours in the economic development arena are used as a way to introduce site selectors to a particular location. Midland Tomorrow decided to use the concept as a way for legislators to become informed about the businesses in our community, how they operate, and their successes and challenges,” said Becky Church, vice president of operations for Midland Tomorrow. “It’s a win for the businesses as well, since they had a captive audience with their representatives, and were able to let those representatives and local economic development staff know what they need in order to accomplish their business goals and create jobs.”

Robinson Industries, founded in 1947, is a family-owned business that manufactures custom-designed thermoformed and injection-molded plastic pallets and packaging. The company offers clients in the automotive, agriculture, retail, etc., sectors a full range of services, from determining needs, designing and prototyping to testing and manufacturing the products.

CM Rubber Technologies was founded in 2004 by spouses Dan and Rebecca Mullins. They recycle thousands of scrap tires each year and shred and refine them, then use the material to make mats, landscape mulch, playground surfaces, drain field aggregate and equestrian footing.

Huhtamaki, Inc., is a worldwide company based in Finland that makes custom paper and plastic food packaging. Their plant in Coleman thermoforms plates, bowls, cups and lids for the retail, food service and consumer markets.

Coon’s Berry Farm was opened in 2014 by husband and wife, Jerry and Yulia Coon, and grows red and black currants and gooseberries from which they make vinegars and syrups. Their products are currently sold at local farmers’ markets and they have plans to expand into wine-making.

“We were thrilled to see the support from the City of Coleman, Midland Tomorrow, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and especially Congressman Moolenaar and Senator Stamas,” said the Coons. “It is comforting for us to know that we have the backing we need to succeed from both the public and private sectors.” Read more: Midland Daily News

Madison Chamber Business Expo: Polco's pitch wins Pressure Chamber and trip to Silicon Valley

Polco, a Madison online platform for citizens to vote and comment on public policy issues, will take its case to Silicon Valley investors.

Its suitcase, that is — a golden one.

Polco won the Pressure Chamber pitch competition Tuesday night at Monona Terrace. The prizes: An all-expenses-paid trip to California to meet with representatives of Silicon Valley venture capital firms, and a consulting package with the Lindsay, Stone & Briggs advertising agency in Madison.

They will be a big boost for Polco, said Nick Mastronardi, founder and CEO. “We live and die with getting the word out to citizens,” Mastronardi said. “This (means) the world to us to continue to grow.”

Polco was one of five young companies that put on their best faces before about 250 people, including four out-of-state investors who served as judges.

Mastronardi said he wants to see more citizen participation on important issues so public policy decisions are not left up to “those four squeaky wheels” who show up at government meetings.

“We empower citizens; we help government get the data they need to enact public policy,” he told the crowd. Read more: Wisconsin State Journal

Pressure Chamber is part of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce’s neXXpo business expo that was held in conjunction with Forward Festival.

Town Square Publications: Mount Pleasant, WI: Promises made, Promises kept!

Mount Pleasant WI Community Development 

Mount Pleasant e-book

Mount Pleasant is a growing and vibrant community with much to offer its residents, businesses, and guests.  The Village prides itself in one of its greatest assets – our location.  Comprising of 34 square miles in Eastern Racine County, Mount Pleasant is one of the fastest growing communities in the State of Wisconsin.  Stretching from Lake Michigan to Interstate 94, our location provides easy access to metropolitan Milwaukee and Chicago.

Recently, our village teamed with Town Square for the production of our 2016 Community Guide. They exceeded our expectations in customer service and professionalism, and the final product was exceptional. We had editorial control over the copy and were able to choose all the photos used in the publication. For Mount Pleasant, the result was a win-win situation. We have a beautiful Community Guide to showcase our village, and the cost for the village was a no-brainer.

We are happy to have chosen Town Square to put together a turn-key gloss magazine that conveys the pride we have in our community.

We appreciate our partnership and intend to use their services in the future.

Logan Martin
Community Development Director
Mount Pleasant, WI

Applications available for Leadership Neshoba

Applications for the 2016-2017 session of Leadership Neshoba are available now at area schools. Students may pick up applications in the counselor’s office at their respective school, the 4-H office, located at the Neshoba County Coliseum or at the Community Development Partnership office, located in the historic train depot at 256 W. Beacon St. The deadline for returning the application is August 26. Leadership Neshoba is open to all high school juniors that reside in Neshoba County.

These students should have proven leadership skills or have potential leadership skills. Leadership Neshoba is a program of the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose is to develop youth leadership in Neshoba County by providing structured opportunities for interaction with other youth and community leaders and for growth in understanding of character development issues, personal leadership styles and community responsibility opportunities. This program brings together a diverse group of students to participate in a program focused on developing an understanding of personal leadership styles, learning personal and community responsibilities and reviewing character development.

“We want to provide each student with the basic tools, resources and action plans on how to respond to a leadership role now and in the future,” said Tim Moore, executive director.

Objectives of Leadership Neshoba are:

• To acquaint students with community needs, resources, and other factors that influence the future development of Neshoba County

• To encourage students to recognize their own potential and develop their leadership skills

• To foster the students’ interest in voluntary community involvement

• To inspire students to encourage the leadership potential of their peers by becoming ambassadors of their schools and community

• To expand the students’ understanding of service learning.

The year will begin with a one day Retreat and Team Building on Oct. 24. Students then meet monthly from October-April. Please contact Tim Moore at 601-656-1000 for more information. - See more at: Neshoba Democrat

Study: Return on Virginia investment in land conservation

An economic analysis conducted by The Trust for Public Land found that for every $1 invested by the state in land conservation, $4 in natural goods and services is returned to Virginia’s economy.

The study, conducted in partnership with VIRGINIAforever, The Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy, quantifies and summarizes the significant economic benefits resulting from investments in state parks, natural areas, forests and working lands.

Land conserved in Virginia provides a host of benefits that have a measurable economic value to the Commonwealth and its communities. These benefits include generating jobs and growing local economies through support of outdoor recreation, tourism, forestry, farming and commercial fishing operations; improving quality of life and enhancing economic development through Virginia’s scenic beauty; promoting fiscal health on land under conservation by avoiding costs of expensive infrastructure and other municipal services associated with residential property; and improving human health through physical activity of residents and workers who use parks and conserved lands.

A fact sheet highlighting the results of study is attached to this news release. The full study can be found at www.tpl.org/va-roi-report.

Kent Whitehead, director of The Trust for Public Land’s Chesapeake Bay Field Office, stated: “In addition to Virginia’s strong outdoor recreation economy, natural goods and services like water quality protection, air pollution removal, preservation of wildlife habitats and carbon sequestration are all direct results of land conservation. The results of this new study demonstrate that land conservation is incredibly valuable to the Virginia economy.”

According to Nikki Rovner, vice chair of VIRGINIAforever and associate state director for external affairs of The Nature Conservancy, “Land conservation is critical for Virginia residents, our economy and for our future. VIRGINIAforeveradvocates for increased state funding for land conservation, and this study clearly shows that state appropriations made by the General Assembly each year benefit all Virginians and are truly providing a significant return on investment.”

Virginia’s business community is encouraged by the study’s findings. Virginia Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Barry DuVal stated: “Protecting and conserving Virginia’s natural, historic and recreational resources are key to the long-term goals for sustainable economic growth in Blueprint Virginia. This study supports the wisdom of that approach to making Virginia a terrific place to not only work, but also to live and visit.” Read more: Augusta Free Press

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories and Community Profiles

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. 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 Here