Valparaiso chamber receives national recognition; Governor Northam, Mayor Bowser, and Governor Hogan to Speak at Annual Capital Region Business Forum on September 6; Lauren Sackett New Executive Director at Rhineland Area Chamber of Commerce; City of Flint awarded $30-million HUD grant to transform neighborhoods in south & north Flint; Portage County Business Council: Business Retention Expansion Initiative; East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recruits for the Leadership Lauderdale program; Sauk Valley Chamber news: Please join us in the branding of the City of Sterling… The Prairie du Chien Community Guide; From Michael Ashcraft, Ky SBA: 10 Things You Might Not Know About SBA; 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!

Valparaiso chamber receives national recognition


The Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce was named the No. 2 chamber in the country for a community of 100,000 people or less at the recent Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives convention in Des Moines, Iowa. Pictured, left to right, with the award are: David C. Adkisson, board chair, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives; Kurt Gillins, vice president, programs and communications, Valparaiso chamber; Christine Pazdur, CFO, Valparaiso chamber; Rex Richards, president, Valparaiso chamber; Danielle Oeding, vice president, sales and marketing, Valparaiso chamber; Sue Stymiest, resource director, Valparaiso chamber; Julie Gaskell, executive vice president, Valparaiso chamber and Sheree Anne Kelly, president & CEO of Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Read more and see picture: NWI Times


Governor Northam, Mayor Bowser, and Governor Hogan to Speak at Annual Capital Region Business Forum on September 6

On September 6th, Muriel Bowser (D), Mayor of the District of Columbia, Ralph Northam (D), Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Larry Hogan (R), Governor of the State of Maryland, will discuss their plans to work cooperatively to bolster the regional economy at the Annual Capital Region Business Forum.
This prestigious event will be held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner from 7:30 – 9:30 AM and will address the most critical, pressing issues and opportunities that affect the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Topics will include:
• Infrastructure and transportation initiatives,
• Outlook of federal presence and implications of change,
• Identifying ways to apply smart cities regionally,
• Collaborative opportunities for economic development and regional cooperation, and more.
This event, a joint initiative of the Northern Virginia Chamber, Board of Trade, and Prince George’s Chamber, will provide the leaders the opportunity to discuss their plans to work
cooperatively to bolster the regional economy in an ever-competitive global marketplace.
Registration is available on the Northern Virginia Chamber’s website. Individual tickets are $160, tables of 10 are $1,500. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Ryan Pitts, rpitts@novachamber.org
Media interested in attending the event should contact Elaine Gilligan, egilligan@novachamber.org, to register.
Follow the event on Twitter @NOVAChamber and #DMVBizForum.
Contact:
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Elaine Gilligan
Director, Marketing & Communications
egilligan@novachamber.org
703.752.7521

Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Chauka K. Reid
Business Development Manager
creid@pgcoc.org
301.731.5000


Lauren Sackett New Executive Director at Rhineland Area Chamber of Commerce

It took The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce just two days to replace its executive director. Lauren Sackett took over the position Monday.Maggie Steffen announced her resignation Saturday after less than two years on the job.

Sackett was the event coordinator at the chamber. She has worked under three different directors since 2014.

"I really look forward to filling those shoes and continuing projects that have been initiated over the last several years and maybe working on a few new ones," said Sackett.

Sackett's first big event as executive director will be the Hodag Musky Challenge in September. Steffen said she resigned for personal reasons. Read more: WJFW Newswatch 12



City of Flint awarded $30-million HUD grant to transform neighborhoods in south & north Flint

The City of Flint and the Flint Housing Commission have been awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to replace the obsolete Atherton East complex, the city's most isolated and distressed public housing property. HUD Secretary Ben Carson on July 19 to presented a check to Flint Mayor Karen Weaver before a standing-room only crowd at a news conference held in the lobby of City Hall.

READ MORE

Elsewhere, Genesee County Parks has been awarded a $315,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the Chevy Commons redevelopment project.



Portage County Business Council: Business Retention Expansion Initiative

The Portage County Business Council (PCBC) is continuing to lead the economic development effort with a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) initiative throughout our community.  PCBC is seeking perspectives from stakeholders that will assist policy makers and business advocates to determine priorities for our community.  The ultimate goal is to enhance the economic vitality of our region.

While there is no charge for these conversations, we ask that those who plan to attend to please register, but individuals may come at the last minute and/or invite others to participate based on the business sector. These are not networking or new business opportunities. Registration can be found at: http://business.portagecountybiz.com/events.

Businesses that participate in the focus group will:

·         Share what is working well in our current economy and within your business & sector

·         Acknowledge challenges to your business model, both short-term “red flags” and longer-term issues, that can be addressed individually or collectively in our community

·         Assist with mapping local, regional and state resources that support our economic vitality

The focus of the initiative is to gather qualitative data through face-to-face conversations with targeted businesses sectors and work with governmental units and other organizations to implement programs and services based on responses that best support economic growth. Previous conversations included agriculture, manufacturing, finance, insurance, professional services, and healthcare,

“While we certainly understand that talent attraction and retention is a key priority, we need to better understand and share best practices related to business success and challenges,”, according to Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director, Portage County Business Council. “With nearly eighty percent of our businesses with nine or fewer employees, we need to better understand how to help them grow their business and these conversations will help do just that. We want to do all we can to remove obstacles.”

BREs involve partnerships of government, business, education and community leadership that continuously assess the existing economic base and the physical, geographical, financial, technological, and human resource needs of individual businesses with the community.

The key areas to examine in assessing our communities’ strengths and weaknesses include (but are not limited to): access to markets, education, govt./policy/taxes/utilities, housing, quality of life, regional supply chain, site availability, talent/workforce/labor, and transportation.

All of the focus groups will take place at: Portage County Business Council; 5501 Vern Holmes Drive; 7:30-8:30 AM (days/dates/sectors below):

Date                                      Business Sector

Wed., Aug. 1                      Non-profit, Community Services

Thurs., Aug. 2                    Information Technology

Thurs., Aug. 16                 Retail, Restaurant, Hotel, Entertainment, Recreation

Wed., Aug. 29                    Construction, Real Estate

If any business would prefer a one-on-one confidential conversation, please contact Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director, Portage County Business Council; tkuckkahn@portagecountybiz.com; 715-344-1940.

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recruits for the Leadership Lauderdale program

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation every year holds business leadership program called Leadership Lauderdale. The program provides participants an opportunity to enhance their civic knowledge and network.

The program has helped participants better understand how our community works, build relationships with the area’s current and future leaders and become inspired to serve our community.

Today, the E-M-B-D-C is ramping up their recruiting period to work with a whole new batch of business professionals.

“This program is an opportunity for people in our community to be able to go through it, we do several different things, we go through the seven habits of highly effective people by Steven Cubby and then we also look at our community, and we break that down into building blocks. We talk about our military; we talk about our hospitals, we talk about education, our workforce, our existing industries and so we take the opportunity to really give people an insight into everything that Meridian and Lauderdale County has to offer.”

Casey Holaday says Leadership Lauderdale program has been in existence for many years now.

“Around 20 years is how long Leadership Lauderdale has been in existence.” Read more: WGBC TV


Sauk Valley Chamber news: Please join us in the branding of the City of Sterling…

The City of Sterling has engaged the firm of Arnett Muldrow to create a Brand Identity System for the City.  A strong “Brand” involves storytelling, community engagement, messaging, and marketing, to change perceptions, engage citizens, instill pride, and give a fresh outlook to a city.

As part of this process, an hour long public forum will be held that will allow a wide array of input on the marketing and image of the City of Sterling.

This public forum will take place on Wednesday, July 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

For additional questions on the branding process that will be taking place, please do not hesitate to contact City Manager Scott Shumard or Mayor Lee at the City of Sterling 815-632-6621

The Prairie du Chien Community Guide  

The Prairie du Chien Chamberr of Commerce Community Guide is available today at the Chamber of Commerce! Thank you to Bob Moses and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Prairie du Chien Community Guide

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.

From Michael Ashcraft, Ky SBA: 10 Things You Might Not Know About SBA

SBA Celebrates 65 Years

LOUISVILLE – On July 30, 2018, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrated 65 years of powering the American dream and helping entrepreneurs start, grow, expand and recover their small business. Following are 10 facts you might not know about the SBA:

1. The “grandparent” of the SBA is the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). The federal funding program was created by President Herbert Hoover in 1932 to alleviate the financial crisis of the Great Depression. Twenty years later, the SBA was officially founded July 30, 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower.
2. The SBA is a Cabinet-level federal agency, not an association. No membership is required.
3. The local SBA office in Louisville has experts in lending, government contracting, economic development and exporting that connect small businesses with the resources needed at various stages of the business lifecycle.
4. Following disasters, the SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to small businesses, nonprofits and home owners. For example, more than $5 billion in disaster assistance loans went to businesses and residents impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
5. The SBA has an independent Office of Advocacy that listens to small business and industry concerns regarding burdensome federal regulations. Regional advocates are a voice for small businesses and propose recommendations to the White House, Congress and federal agencies.
6. The SBA provides no-cost, confidential, high quality small business mentoring through a resource partner network of business experts and no- or low-cost trainings to help entrepreneurs with topics like finance, marketing, business certifications and taxes.
7. The SBA has a variety of loan programs ranging from $500 microloans to $5.5 million loans; and, can be used for startup costs, equipment, commercial real estate, lines of credit, refinancing and other uses.
8. Since the U.S. government is the world’s largest customer, purchasing billions of dollars in goods and services, the SBA helps small businesses win government contracts through a variety of small business certifications. In fact, the SBA publishes an annual scorecard that assesses how well federal agencies reach their small business contracting goals.
9. Two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power is in foreign countries, so the SBA provides a variety of resources and services to help businesses expand into international markets.
10. The SBA supports America’s innovators through various programs like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program which annually provides $2.5 billion in research and development funding to commercialize innovative technologies.
    
    ###
    About the U.S. Small Business Administration: The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow expand and recover their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. The SBA Kentucky District Office serves the entire state from its office in Louisville. Vist www.sba.gov/ky for details.

Contact: 

michael.ashcraft@sba.gov

Internet Address: 

SBA Kentucky District Office

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

Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO: Tax bill will usher in ‘new era of growth’; #Bestchamber practices: #Chambertechnology: Chicago Fed : Planning your next intercity visit?; Northern Wisconsin chambers report 'good' holiday tourism season; Michigan-based Dewpoint Hosts U.S. Sen. Gary Peters for Cybersecurity Panel; Chicago Southland Legislative Member Breakfast; Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory; #BestChamber practices: Legislators Provide Updates from 2018 Legislative Session; Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile Guide; Leadership Bowling Green Class Of 2017 Raises $11,500 For Scholarships Benefiting The Sophomore Class At Warren Central High School; Chamber delight: Mississippi less taxing for retirees; Valley lawmakers take concerns ahead of General Assembly session;

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

Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO: Tax bill will usher in ‘new era of growth’

Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, on Wednesday said the GOP’s recently passed $1.5 trillion tax-cut plan is poised to usher in a “new era of growth” for the U.S. economy, which he said is already feeling the effects.
“The final package wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty darn good, and achieved our priorities of lowering rates for all businesses, instituting an international competitive system of taxation … and allowing for full expensing of capital expenditures,” Mr. Donohue said at the chamber’s annual “State of American Business” address.
“Most important, it will usher in a new era of growth for the American economy,” he said.

He said upon passage, a number of businesses immediately announced plans to raise wages, give bonuses, and boost charitable giving.
“All thanks to the expected gains— not ones they’ve already received — from a more competitive and productive tax system,” he said. Read more: Washington Times


#Bestchamber practices: #Chambertechnology: Chicago Fed : Planning your next intercity visit?

Consider this: Peer Identification Tool
Thinking about where to go for your next intercity visit? Or looking for a new tool that identifies communities like yours? Check out the Chicago Fed’s Peer Identification Tool, which matches places based on categories like equity, resilience, outlook and housing.



Northern Wisconsin chambers report 'good' holiday tourism season

The 2017 holiday season provided a much-needed shot in the arm to the local economy, both in terms of retail sales and tourism-related activities, area chambers of commerce report.

The executive directors of the chambers of commerce in Rhinelander, Minocqua, Eagle River and Three Lakes told the River News their communities enjoyed a solid holiday period despite the extreme cold.

Maggie Steffen, executive director of the Rhinelander Area Chamber of commerce, noted the Rhinelander area is unique because its economy isn't as heavily dependent on tourism as some others, especially in the winter, 

"Rhinelander is kind of a different beast because we're not solely tourism-based, so it was really difficult for us to get a handle on how everything went," she said. "I can tell you how much we saw in the way of traffic through us and phone calls and a little bit about sales, but we don't have a good grasp of how tourism went for the holiday season."

The other chambers in the area have a majority of member businesses who are much more dependent on tourism, she added.

"That's their bread and butter, that's what they live on," Steffen said. "Ours is skewed much more by people coming here to shop, to do more of the economic part of it rather then the tourism part of it."

Steffen was on vacation for part of the holiday period and is still catching up with area merchants, she added.

"The ones I have spoken with did say that they had a good season, they did see a lot of traffic," she said. "I know that downtown specifically seemed like has come alive and they have done fairly well and are excited about what this year will bring."

Steffen said the chamber office didn't necessarily see an increase of foot traffic "but we certainly haven't been quiet." Read more: River News Online


Michigan-based Dewpoint Hosts U.S. Sen. Gary Peters for Cybersecurity Panel


Dewpoint, a leading Michigan Information Technology (IT) services and consulting firm, recently hosted U.S. Senator Gary Peters to participate in a cross-industry panel discussion focused on cybersecurity industry challenges and trends in relation to legislative policy and impact. The panel consisted of chief information security officers representing fields in health care, insurance, financial services and IT.

Prior to the panel discussion, Sen. Peters was given a tour of Dewpoint’s Network Operating Center (NOC), Dewpoint’s state-of-the art secure facility for monitoring and managing their clients’ IT and security operations. Dewpoint’s NOC is key to evaluating and preventing potential security threats to their clients.

After the tour, a panel discussion with the Senator convened to discuss various cybersecurity topics from the business and IT industry perspectives, including the volume of cybersecurity threats, the harmful effects when assets are breached and ways to hold hackers accountable through transparent deterrents.

“We live in an increasingly interconnected world that brings great opportunities, but also leaves us vulnerable to cyberattacks from bad actors who wish us harm,” said Sen. Peters. “As we work to address these ever-evolving cybersecurity challenges, we must ensure that everyone - from government to health care providers to small businesses - have the tools to prevent attacks and mitigate the damage from breaches.”

The meeting provided an opportunity for industry leaders to share some of their challenges and innovations with Sen. Peters. Discussions like these enable the Senator to continue developing supportive legislation, with a focus on achieving balance between market forces, regulatory protections, and voluntary, risk-based standards. This information exchange is essential to helping businesses address complex challenges across critical, information-sensitive environments, and tailoring cybersecurity best practices with the unique risks of smaller businesses.

“I was impressed at how well-versed in cybersecurity issues and challenges Senator Peters is—and his genuine interest in what the business and IT communities are experiencing,” Rob Kondoff, Senior Vice President at Dewpoint said. “We thank the Senator for turning to Dewpoint to host this discussion on the prominent cybersecurity issues and opportunities which challenge businesses of all sizes in all industries— we all need improved cybersecurity, and focused leaders like Senator Peters in Congress continue to play a vital role toward enabling that.” Read more: Lansing Regional Chamber Member News

Chicago Southland Legislative Member Breakfast

Wednesday, January 17th

* 2018 Legislative Agenda *

· Where did we end up in 2017? 
· What’s ahead for Springfield in 2018? 
· What is the state of play on the tax debate, and what will relief mean to businesses large and small? 
· What has changed and was is still on the docket for reform in 2018? 
· Where are we with the latest NAFTA negotiating rounds 
· What’s the status of DACA and immigration? 
· 2018 Chamber Day in Springfield 

Join us for an interactive discussion on these and other issues in January! 

Presenting Organizations: US Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Advocacy Council

Members $20
Non-Members $40

Wednesday, January 17, 2018; 8:00am - 10:00am

Chicago Gaelic Park
6119 147th St,
Oak Forest, IL

REGISTER HERE




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.


#BestChamber practices: Legislators Provide Updates from 2018 Legislative Session


With the 2018 state legislature in session, Indiana lawmakers are tackling issues that impact businesses and communities. The Hamilton County Legislative Breakfast, held on January 12 at Conner Prairie, welcomes a panel of local legislators to provide updates on the session and respond to questions from attendees.

What: Legislative Breakfast
Topic: Session Updates from Local Legislators
Date: Friday, January 12, 2018
Time: 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Location: Conner Prairie – 13400 Allisonville Road – Fishers
Cost: $20 for members of any Hamilton County chamber; $30 for non-members

Reservations: Required by noon on Wednesday, January 10 and can be made online at www.onezonecommerce.com or by calling 317.436.4653.

The Legislative Breakfast Series is presented by the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee and includes representation from the four chambers of commerce in Hamilton County. Breakfast events will also be held with local legislators on February 9 and March 9, with a session wrap-up on April 13.

Presenting sponsor of the Legislative Breakfast Series is Church Church Hittle + Antrim, with support from Charter Communications, Duke Energy, Hamilton County Farm Bureau and Martin Marietta.




Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile Guide

The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce 2017 Community Profile Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Greater Belleville Chamber! Thanks to Wendy Pfeil and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Belleville IL Community Profile Guide

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.







Leadership Bowling Green Class Of 2017 Raises $11,500 For Scholarships Benefiting The Sophomore Class At Warren Central High School

Bowling Green, Ky. (November 30, 2017) – Today, the Leadership Bowling Green (LBG) class of 2017 presented $11,500 to SKYCTC to support dual credit scholarships and career exploration for Warren Central High School students. The project is intended to complement and support the Chamber’s SCK LAUNCH talent development initiative. Previous LBG classes have supported various phases of this initiative as well, such as its foundational component The Leader in Me ®, assisting elementary schools with elements helping progress them to self-sustaining TLIM Lighthouse Status.  

The Leadership Bowling Green Class of 2017 is donating 100% of the funds raised, which will directly support dual credit scholarships for students in the sophomore class at Warren Central High School. Scholarships will cover expenses such as tuition and books for students participating in dual credit courses.
The Leadership Bowling Green class project is required to have the following components: fundraising, physical activity and full-class participation, and must be completed prior to their November graduation. On October 27, the LBG class facilitated the inaugural Career Exploration Day, hosted by Southcentral Kentucky and Community Technical College (SKYCTC) in Bowling Green. Prior to the event, students completed a career exploration survey designed by members of the LBG class. a survey was completed to help students determine which career pathway was most exciting to them. Based on their career selection, 260 students were divided into groups by sector for the event. Students had the opportunity to explore their chosen career field and gain hands on experience at the career fair during Career Exploration Day.
Today’s announcement is part of more than $1.8 million invested by the business community in recent years to grow talent in the region. Monetary investments include $1.4 million for The Leader In Me in all schools in Bowling Green and Warren County, $400,000 for the Machine Tool and Robotics Programs at the Warren County Area Technology Center, and $5,000 for the Warren Central High School Hospitality Courtyard. In addition to monetary donations, MedCenter Health and Tri-Star Greenview Regional Hospital donated equipment and supplies to the BGHS Medical Arts Academy.
SCK LAUNCH is a collective effort of the community intended to inspire the powerful education and business partnerships necessary to create the talent pipeline for high-demand sectors to grow the South Central Kentucky economy. The initiative builds on and enhances work already in progress in Bowling Green and Warren County high schools to offer career focused experiential models, career shadowing, educator externships, career academies, student-led leadership and employability skills training as a way to inspire students and provide valuable learning opportunities that engage their personal interest and career aspirations. SCK LAUNCH is a national model for best practices in comprehensive career immersion at all levels of education.
To learn more about the initiative and available volunteer opportunities, please contact Meredith Rozanski or Sandra Baker at the Chamber or visit the initiative website at SCKLAUNCH.com. Read more: Bowling Green Area Chamber

Chamber delight: Mississippi less taxing for retirees

Mississippi has been named the No. 4 most-friendly tax state for retirees by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in the recently released 2017 Retire Tax Map which looks at the most and least tax-friendly states for retirees across all 50 states.

Sandra Block, senior editor, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, said one reason Mississippi scores so high for being tax friendly for retirees is because the state exempts all qualified retirement income from state taxes.

“For that reason, it compares favorably with states that have no income tax (unless seniors have earned income from a part-time job, which would be taxable),” Block said.

On the local level, property taxes are more favorable in Mississippi than many states. Block said property taxes are below average for the U.S.—the median property tax on the state’s median home value is the 14th lowest in the U.S.

Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr. was not surprised at Mississippi’s high ranking for being tax friendly to retirees.

“Mississippi offers our residents an abundance of affordable, unique and authentic lifestyle offerings,” McCullough said. “Mississippi honors and recognizes the professional and civic contributions of retirees. The state’s generous exclusion of taxable Social Security benefits, retirement income such as pensions, IRAs and 401ks is attractive to retirees seeking to relocate. Mississippi’s high ranking for being tax-friendly to retirees serves as another competitive advantage found in the Magnolia State.”

MDA offers resources to communities in Mississippi which aspire to align themselves with other areas around the country as a retirement destination. MDA sponsors the Hometown Mississippi Retirement program which is designed to retain and attract retirees in the state. McCullough said the program is nearing 25 years of dedicated service in supporting MDA’s mission to strengthen communities.

McCullough said Mississippi’s tax structure serves as a catalyst to bolster services offered by the state. Retirees depend on adequate health care, available housing and retail services—these and many other industries are positively affected by retiree spending.

“Having a reasonable tax structure in place has substantial outcomes in terms of economic fluidness: the financial steadiness of retirees is often uncompromised and non- dependent on local economic factors,” McCullough said. “According to published reports, retirees spend up to 80 percent of their income locally. Data from the Federal Reserve shows retiree households (55+) have the largest net worth nearing $200,000.

McCullough said retirees relocating to Mississippi find their dollars go further in our state than anywhere else in the country. A report from The Tax Foundation states the value of $100 in Mississippi is 15 percent higher than the national average.

Retirees are a valuable asset to a community.

“The purchasing power of retirees in a tax-friendly climate like Mississippi allows for greater opportunities in entrepreneurship, where retirees may consider starting their own business, or acquiring assets such as homes or property,” McCullough said. “Mississippians are known for their charity, and there are a number of volunteer organizations which welcome the assistance of retirees. Many retirees move to the state equipped with professional background and experiences they share with up-and-coming professionals or a craft they have mastered. Leadership and mentorship platforms often benefit retirees as a way to connect with the community.”

Valencia Williamson, executive vice president of the Area Development Partnership (ADP) in Hattiesburg, which is one of the cities involved in the Hometown Retirement City program, agrees the value of retirees to the local area goes beyond economics.

“Retirees get involved,” she said. “At the ADP, we have a plethora of volunteers who’re retired. Retirees want to stay in tune with what’s happening around them; being a member of an organization such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) keeps them connected, and engaged.”

In Greater Hattiesburg, retirees (55+) make up 24 percent of the population. Williamson said in addition to this being an economic driver because these individuals are likely to bring expendable income into the community, they use fewer services than they pay through taxes.

Williamson said affordable living is one of the most important factors when choosing a retirement destination.

“With a vast array of affordable housing and low property taxes, coupled with tax exemptions on retirement income and superb quality of life, Mississippi is the premier retirement destination in the South,” Williamson said.

Williamson said Certified Retirement Cities focus not just on helping their own city, but also work diligently to promote the region on a national level, with help from local volunteers and organizations who recognize the importance of attracting retirees to live and play in their community. Read more: Mississippi Business

Valley lawmakers take concerns ahead of General Assembly session

The General Assembly session is set to begin on January 10th, and on Wednesday, some Valley state legislators talked with community members about their questions and concerns.

Senators Mark Obenshain and Emmett Hanger, along with Delegates Tony Wilt and Steve Landes, came together for a Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Breakfast in Harrisonburg Wednesday.

This coming year, Republicans are entering the General Assembly with a new Democrat governor and, in the House of Delegates, they have a small lead with just a 51-to-49 majority following the November election, gaining more seats than in decades.

Del. Landes says he doesn't think the small margin will make a big difference because many of the issues they work on are bipartisan, but he says there are some exceptions.

"One of the concerns I've got is lot of these new members of the House of Delegates, especially from Northern Virginia on the Democratic side, are not supportive of businesses or corporations, they seem to think they're the enemy," said Landes. "And it will be interesting to see because those are the folks that employ the citizens we represent."

Landes says a business-friendly environment is key to getting people in the workforce.

Interstate 81 has also become a major issue for many in the community, and Del. Landes says his legislative survey will ask folks if they might consider tolling on the interstate as a solution to the ongoing problems.

Del. Landes is also working on a pilot program to allow armed forces service members to vote electronically overseas. In previous elections, there have been issues with absentee ballots not getting to the registrar on time for the election.

"If someone is actually serving the country, protecting us, they of all people should be able to vote while they are overseas, so we're doing a pilot to see how that would work, if it can be implemented fairly and securely," said Landes.

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

Chamber hero: Ocean Springs' Miller retires with accolades, tears; State Of The Region Report: Metro Detroit Economic Growth Returning To Normal Levels As Resurgence Slows; South Bend region one of three chosen for $42 million Indiana Regional Cities grant; Best Chamber Practices: Geneva, IL Chamber: The 12 Days of Chamber Benefits (On the 9th Day of Benefits the chamber gave to me...); Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Brand Launch; Chamber recipient: Rhinelander Tourism & Marketing Committee allots $6,575 in grants; Get Into Business: Leadership Central Kentucky Visiting Tomorrow; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directory, Community Maps; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directory, Community Maps

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

Chamber hero: Ocean Springs' Miller retires with accolades, tears

There were tears and hugs and accolades and more tears, hugs, smiles and a toast to the woman whose name is synonymous with Ocean Springs.

Beyond all the awards and board memberships, she is best known for shepherding the Peter Anderson Festival.

Margaret Miller, retiring at the end of the month, was honored Friday afternoon for 28 years with the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce. She is the retiring executive director of not only the chamber but also Main Street and the Tourism Bureau. She wore three hats, and taking her place will be her second-in-command, Cynthia Sutton.

The reception was elegant at the city's Community Center next to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.

READ MARGARET MILLER'S BIOGRAPHY

City leaders gave her credit for the city's success on many levels, but she seemed especially proud of helping to grow the tax base and leading Ocean Springs from being a bedroom community relying heavily on homeowner property taxes to being a city known for its retail shops and restaurants.

Friday, she wore a purple orchid corsage with a sparkling No. 28. People stood in line to hug her.

With her husband, Greg, her children -- she raised five -- and her many grandchildren, she told the crowd theirs was "a love affair with a town that continues to be incredible."

There were proclamations. The mayor said Miller instilled in the city a vision of what it could be and it rose to that vision.

The festivals she started, the organizations she helped charter were too many to fit on the plaque.

Stacy Pair with Mississippi Main Street brought a letter from the governor. Pair commented on Miller's influence on beautification in the city, saying, "Walk downtown and you're seeing Margaret Miller, her style and class."

The governor's letter praised her work, calling Ocean Springs a city often seen as a model for others. Sun Herald

State Of The Region Report: Metro Detroit Economic Growth Returning To Normal Levels As Resurgence Slows

Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber released its second annual State of the Region report comparing metro Detroit’s economic performance to its peer regions. The report shows that while Southeast Michigan’s economy is stronger with growth rates that led the nation following the Great Recession, they have begun to return to normal levels and are comparable with current national averages.

“The Detroit region has roared back since 2009, leading our peers and outpacing the nation in so many key economic categories, from GDP to income and job growth,” said Chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah. “However, that momentum is starting to slow and we need to prepare as a region for what comes next. There’s a lot to celebrate, but given the region’s long-term deficit of economic growth, normal levels are not enough.”

The Chamber released the report to its membership at its annual meeting at The Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit. The report includes data on key economic indicators for the 11-county, 7,061-square mile region that is home to 5.4 million people and more than 300,000 businesses, including 13 Fortune 500 companies. Highlights of the report include:

• Between 2009 and 2014, Detroit’s gross domestic product growth outpaced the national average by 7 percentage points.
• Private sector job growth outpaced the national average by 4 percentage points since 2009.
• In 2013, the Detroit MSA was awarded 3,000 utility patents, the most ever in a single year for the region.
• The region’s industrial vacancy rates have declined by 9 percentage points since 2010 and are now on par with the national average.
• Detroit led its peer regions in median home value growth at 2%, between 2013 and 2014.
• In 2014, 109 foreign-held companies announced investment of nearly $3.9 billion in Michigan facilities, creating 15,000 jobs.
• Detroit leads its peer regions in STEM occupation growth at 8% since 2009. Read more: Detroit Chamber

South Bend region one of three chosen for $42 million Indiana Regional Cities grant

Money can’t buy love, but can it make the South Bend region a place more people would love to live?

Today in Indianapolis, big ideas earned big money in the hopes that big dreams would come true.

“This is big. This is a big deal in Indiana, and I believe it's part of a third century strategy for growth that will pay dividends for generations,” said Governor Mike Pence, (R) Indiana.

Indiana’s Regional Cities Initiative promises to pay $42 million to a multi-county consortium made up of St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Marshall (the North Central Region). As the winners were announced today, consortiums in the Fort Wayne and Evansville regions were also promised $42 million dollar grants of their own

Funding was denied to four other county consortiums that submitted applications.

The Regional Cities Initiative is aimed at the younger generation and giving those people more reasons to love—than leave the state.

“All the population estimates suggest our area is going to decline in population over time and what Indiana realizes is we need to do some things that attract young people and attract talent,” said St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Rea.

The money is geared toward quality of life projects ranging from economic development and job creation, to improved recreational and arts opportunities.

Every dollar of state funding will have to be met with four dollars of local in investment, meaning the North Central region could be in line for an investment of $200 million in about two years’ time. “So the Renaissance District in South Bend is a huge project renovating the former Studebaker factory and administration building into a technology park,” said Regina Emberton of Michiana Partnership. “Elkhart has a significant project with a natatorium and a wellness center along with multi-use housing and mixed use projects going on.”

Even Warsaw stands to get into the act as one of 12 counties in the Fort Wayne consortium. Plans call for an $11 million renovation and expansion of the Wagon Wheel Theatre. “It’s been a hallmark in this community for many years and the thought of taking it to the next level in this capital investment is really exciting,” said John Sampson with the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.

The Regional Cities Initiative was originally designed to fund just two winning consortiums. When three solid proposals came forward, officials decided they’d rather try to bend the rules than break one region’s heart. A motion was unanimously passed to ask the Indiana General Assembly to fund three instead of two winners. Read more: WNDU

Best Chamber Practices: Geneva, IL Chamber:  The 12 Days of Chamber Benefits (On the 9th Day of Benefits the chamber gave to me...)




Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Brand Launch


Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce brand launch and breakfast reception.

• · Meet staff and members of the board of directors. 
• · Hear plans for future collaboration.
• · Learn about upcoming meetings and events where businesses can get involved

Registration is available online. The event is free and open to all Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce staff, board of directors, and representatives from member companies

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Silverline Center Atrium
7900 Westpark Drive
Tysons, VA 22102

Members of the media who plan to attend should contact Alex Chagouris, Fairfax Chamber Director of Communications and Marketing, achagouris@fairfaxchamber.org to register by Monday, January 4.

Chamber recipient: Rhinelander Tourism & Marketing Committee allots $6,575 in grants

The Rhinelander Tourism & Marketing Committee on Wednesday approved allocating $6,575 in winter grants to 13 non-profit organizations in the community.

The grants support programs and projects that will bring overnight visitors to the area.

The grants appropriated were:

• $275 to Northwoods Nordic Ski Club for promoting winter sports at Heal Creek

• $300 to Leathernecks of the North for its Fourth of July parade

• $300 to Northwoods Nordic Ski Club for maintaining its website

• $300 to WXPR Public Radio for its 2015-16 concert series

• $400 to Oneida County ATV Association for printing membership and maps flyers and trail patrol cards

• $400 to the Oneida County Fair for a petting zoo

• $400 to W.I.L.D. Hodag Mini-Triathlon for advertising

• $500 to the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce for promoting Ho-Drags on Ice

• $500 to YMCA of the Northwoods for marketing the Hodag Run

• $600 to ArtStart Inc. for producing and distributing its annual exhibitions and events brochure and rack card advertisement

• $700 to Rhinelander Ice Arena for a new website to promote tournaments and other activities

• $900 to Hodag Sno-Trails Inc. for publishing the 2016 snowmobile trail map

• $1,000 to the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce for promoting the Boom Lake Log Jam

The community grant program is funded through room tax collected by the city and the town of Pelican.

Each year, the committee awards community grants in the summer and winter.

In other business

The committee also approved renewing a three-year contract between the chamber of commerce and the city of Rhinelander and a one-year contract between the chamber of commerce and Pelican Promotions.

The contracts are effective upon approval by the city and the town of Pelican. Read more: RiverNewsOnline.com

Get Into Business: Leadership Central Kentucky Visiting Tomorrow 

Regional leaders from Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Scott, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison and Woodford counties will be visiting Frankfort and Franklin County for a Leadership Central Kentucky community visit. The Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, 100 Capital Ave., will host the group of 30 for a day of community promotion from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. If you are a business leader or owner and would like to provide goody bag items to the 2016 LCK class members, contact the chamber at 502-223-8261. Thirty items will be needed (they do not have to be the same), and a chamber member may retrieve them in this opportunity to promote a brand or business regionally and support educating local regional leaders. Read more: State-Journal.com

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directory, Community 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 also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications

 To request your publication proposal, Click here

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article49377950.html#storylink=cpy