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Showing posts with label Three Rivers Area Chamber. Show all posts

Monday, June 10, 2019

Mclean County Chamber: State of the State - An in-depth look into the overall State of Illinois; #FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!); Greater Hattiesburg Mississippi Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019; Cabarrus Regional Chamber: Special AHP (Association Health Plan) Presentation at Chamber Advocacy Mtg Thursday; Three Rivers Area Chamber: ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP?; Officials break ground on Wisconsin Rapids aquatic facilities; Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Community Map; Northern Virginia Chamber Announces Officers and 2019-2020 Executive Committee and Board of Director Members; Indiana Chamber’s Vision 2025 Report Card Details Unhealthy Economic Threat; Ashley Butsch named marketing & communications director; 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!

Mclean County Chamber: State of the State - An in-depth look into the overall State of Illinois

Tuesday, June 18th at 7:00 AM
ISU Hancock Stadium Club

Graduated Income Tax, $15 Minimum Wage & Recreational Cannabis - the business community needs to be paying attention!The General Assembly's first Spring Session under Governor JB Pritzker has come to a close, and with it many issues the business community needs to be aware of. Don't miss out on this once a year opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with McLean County's Springfield delegation:

· Senator Bill Brady

· Senator Jason Barickman

· Senator Chapin Rose

· Representative Dan Brady

· Representative Keith Sommer

· Representative Dan Caulkins

The 2nd of a four-part advocacy series, the newly rebranded ‘State of the State’ will be an event not to miss. It is imperative that the business community in McLean County engages for action with the lawmakers who represent them.

Click here to register!

Tickets are $15 for Members and $25 for Non-Members. Light refreshments will be provided.

#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Greater Hattiesburg Mississippi Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019

The Greater Hattiesburg Mississippi Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019 is available at the Area Development Partnership in Hattiesburg! Thank you to Chad Newell, Valencia Williamson and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Hattiesburg Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019

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.

Cabarrus Regional Chamber: Special AHP (Association Health Plan) Presentation at Chamber Advocacy Mtg Thursday
Your Chamber works diligently on your behalf to monitor and advocate for pro-business legislation as outlined in our Legislative Agenda. One of our major initiatives is to help pass legislation to allow Association Health Plans that would enable our small business members to band together as a group for more favorable healthcare coverage rates and plans that larger companies are able to attain due to their size.

Our June Advocacy Committee Meeting is Thursday at 8:00 a.m. in the Executive Board Room. For those of you who don’t normally attend these meetings, I wanted to give you a heads up, as we have two special presentations that will be very informative. Roy Watson, Vice President – Local Group Segment, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina will be here to discuss the current state of association health plans and give us an insurer’s perspective. Roy is on the senior leadership team with BCBSNC and if very knowledgeable, so please come with questions! Also, Cabarrus County Finance Director Susan Fearrington will review the impact of sales tax on our county and how potential legislation could affect it. Brian Francis will also update us on the latest from NCGA.

If you are able to attend, please reply so we can plan accordingly.

Thank you for your membership and your support of our Chamber!

Best regards,
Barbi Jones
Executive Director
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce
704-490-4978

Three Rivers Area Chamber: ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP?

Membership Benefits:

• Chamber News – Chamber News, the Chamber’s weekly electronic newsletter, highlights community and activities and enables members to share news about their businesses – expansions, new products, personnel changes, etc.

• Early Bird Breakfasts – These early morning gatherings provide a tasty meal, valuable information on timely topics, and an excellent opportunity to interact with other members of the business community.

• Business After Hours – These events are a time for socializing, networking and refreshments. The event provides opportunity for a Chamber member business or organization to showcase their facility.

• Annual Dinner – Held in the fall, the Annual Dinner enables members to celebrate the accomplishments of the Chamber year, honor volunteers, mark the transition to new leadership, look forward to a new year.

• Annual Golf Outing – The Chamber’s Annual Golf Outing provides a fun, exciting way for business people to network in an atmosphere other than an office setting. Good food and a host of laughs are included.

• Membership Directory – Member businesses are listed in the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce Community Profile and Membership Directory, a professionally-produced, magazine-style publication

• Member Group Insurance Plans – The Chamber works with various agencies who provide: Auto, Health, Life and Business Insurance and offer a discount exclusive to Chamber members.
• Member to Member Discount Program – Chamber members and their employees receive discounts at fellow member businesses (restaurants, services, etc) by showing a discount card issued with your Chamber membership.

• Web Site – The Chamber provides worldwide exposure for its members by listing them on its Web site (www.trchamber.com). The site features information about the Chamber and the Three Rivers area & Calendar

• Business Referrals – Referrals are an important part of our member benefits. We receive many requests for information and refer them to Chamber member businesses.

• Seminars – The Chamber sponsors seminars on a variety of business-related topics. These seminars provide an affordable means for upgrading the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in business.
OTHER WAYS THE CHAMBER WORKS FOR YOU:
• Political Forums

• Economic Development

• Tourism

• Water Festival

• Small Business Growth

• Political Advocacy

Officials break ground on Wisconsin Rapids aquatic facilities
Wisconsin Rapids city and chamber officials gathered May 21 to officially kick off the construction of a city aquatic center, with a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Witter Field complex.
Alderman Tom Rayome spoke during the event, stating that he liked the location.
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce President Angel Whitehead called the project a “quality of life piece that makes it easy promote the community as some place that’s growing”.
Mayor Zach Vruwink said the $11 million project will become a year-round attraction for Wisconsin Rapids.
Vruwink also said the aquatic center is not just a pool with park-like amenities; he said “it’s a reinvestment in ourselves and our community”.
A $3 million community matching fundraising goal must still be met over the next year.
Construction on the facilities starts in two weeks, and should be open for the start of the summer swim season in 2020. Read More: Wisconsin Rapids City Times

Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Community Map

The Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Community Map is available at the Cary Grove Chamber today! Thanks to Lynn Caccavallo and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Cary Grove Area Chamber map

Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

Northern Virginia Chamber Announces Officers and 2019-2020 Executive Committee and Board of Director Members

Tysons, Virginia – Today, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Northern Virginia Chamber) announced its officers and 2019-2020 members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Todd Rowley, Market Executive, Capital Region, Old Dominion National Bank, will serve as the 2019-2020 Chairman of the Board; Kathryn Falk, Vice President and Market Leader, Cox, will serve as the 2019-2020 Vice Chair; and Luanne Gutermuth, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Washington Gas, will serve as the 2019-2020 Secretary.

A full list of members of the 2019-2020 Executive Committee and Board of Directors can be found online.

“We are thrilled to add these exceptional leaders to our Executive Committee and Board of Directors and are excited for their guidance in leading the Northern Virginia Chamber to success,” said Julie Coons, Northern Virginia Chamber President and CEO. “These regional leaders will be instrumental in meeting the strategic goals of our chamber – to position our chamber and the business community as a diverse, impactful driver of the region’s economic success. With our tremendous membership leading the way, I am excited for our chamber to continue its leadership position as The Voice of Business in Northern Virginia™.”

More information about the Northern Virginia Chamber Board of Directors can be found online.

CONTACT: Jamal Sealey, jsealey@novachamber.org, 703-752-7505

Indiana Chamber’s Vision 2025 Report Card Details Unhealthy Economic Threat

The advantages that currently help Indiana maintain a competitive economic climate may soon not be enough due to several challenges outlined in the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Indiana Vision 2025 Report Card.

While progress is taking place on some of the education statistical measures as part of the long-term approach to future workforce needs, the results are simply poor and getting worse when it comes to the health of our state’s citizens.

“Indiana’s tax, regulatory and legal environments – vastly improved over the past 15-plus years – have led to justly deserved high rankings in a number of national evaluations,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “But the health of our citizens, and the impact on communities and businesses, is negatively impacting the Attractive Business Climate driver of Indiana Vision 2025 and the state’s ability to compete.”

Indiana’s adult smoking rate of 21.8% (an increase from 20.6% in the most recent biennial comparison) is 44^th worst among the 50 states. Adult obesity levels escalated from just over 31% to 33.6% – 39^th worst. In the one new goal (to reduce drug-related deaths in the state) added to the plan since 2017, Indiana is 37^th worst.

The Indiana General Assembly has failed to take action in recent years to raise the cigarette tax or the legal age for smoking from 18 to 21. This comes despite a $6.2 billion annual business impact in health care costs and lost productivity, as well as more than 60% public support for taking both measures.

“The negative effects, of course, go well beyond the workplace,” Brinegar adds. “Individual illnesses and premature deaths are tragic outcomes for residents, their families and our communities.”

Postsecondary results continue to lag with Indiana rankings of 37^th or 38^th in the areas of associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees or training beyond high school that includes industry credentials. The good news, however, is there was significant improvement in each of those categories since the prior Report Card two years ago.

“The current workforce challenges have businesses engaged more than ever in helping craft solutions. Upskilling current members of the workforce and attracting more talented people to the state are also important parts of this equation,” Brinegar notes.

In the important Dynamic and Creative Culture driver, Indiana continues to struggle in the Kauffman Foundation Index measuring new entrepreneurs and in total employment at firms less than five years old. In a new metric, the state has a No. 5 five ranking in job creation for existing businesses (six years and older) and the same standing for employment at affiliates of foreign-owned companies.

The Indiana Vision 2025 Report Card compares the 50 states on 65 metrics related to 37 goals grouped by four drivers: Outstanding Talent, Attractive Business Climate, Superior Infrastructure, and Dynamic and Creative Culture.

Overall, Indiana ranks in the top 10 in 14 of the 65 metrics. It has six rankings of 40^th or worse. Compared to 2017, the state improved in 23 rankings and declined in 24. When looking at raw scores, 30 from the new Report Card are better than the previous version with only 20 declining.

“Those numbers reiterate that our state is not operating in a vacuum,” Brinegar offers. “While we improve in performance, other states are moving ahead at a faster rate and passing Indiana in the rankings.”

This is the fourth Indiana Vision 2025 Report Card; full results are available at www.indianachamber.com/2025.

Ashley Butsch named marketing & communications director

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has announced the promotion of Ashley Butsch to Marketing & Communications Director. In this role, she will oversee marketing and communications for the seven Chamber divisions. She has served as Programming Coordinator for almost two years, coordinating all events falling under the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s program of work.

Butsch received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from The University of Southern Mississippi. From her previous experience as the Event Sales Manager of Treasure Bay Casino & Hotel to the Director of Marketing for the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Butsch has 10 years of extensive experience in marketing, event planning, sales and public relations.

Butsch was in the 2013 Leadership Gulf Coast class and is also a 2015 graduate of Leadership Hancock County. In 2015, she was named a Young Careerist finalist by the Lighthouse Business and Professional Women organization.

Owensboro Set to Host Opportunity Zones Workshop

Attendees will have chance to hear detailed specifics, ask questions about initiative

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 5, 2019) – Interest in Kentucky’s Opportunity Zones continues to grow more than a year after the program’s announcement. In response, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development has scheduled its fourth Opportunity Zones Workshop to be held June 13 in Owensboro. The workshop will assist community and business leaders and others hoping to take advantage of this evolving economic development tool.

On the heels of successful workshops in Somerset, Bowling Green and Lexington, details continue to pour in on businesses that could benefit from potential investments within Kentucky Opportunity Zones. The work is not complete, however, and state officials encourage interested parties to continue to submit information for qualifying businesses at www.KYOZ.com.

Representatives from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Department for Local Government will be on hand to provide an update with the latest information regarding Opportunity Zones and to answer questions. Participants can submit questions in person or online.

The event is free and open to the public, though reservations are requested, as space is limited. Elected officials, community and economic development leaders, existing businesses within Opportunity Zones and those looking to develop projects in Opportunity Zones are highly encouraged to participate.

What: Opportunity Zones Workshop

When: Thursday, June 13, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT

Where: Greater Owensboro Commerce Center

Third Floor Conference Room

200 East Third Street

Owensboro, KY 42303

Along with the critical participation from local partners, the Cabinet oversees the Opportunity Zone initiative. The initiative aims to encourage and attract significant institutional, corporate and individual investment in Kentucky’s Opportunity Zones. The designation offers significant federal tax breaks and deferrals to entities and individuals investing in Opportunity Funds, which support development projects within one or more zones.

The Cabinet works with local partners to ensure the Commonwealth takes full advantage of the federal incentives and has established KYOZ.org, where interested parties can find all the information they need in one place. The site, which will be updated regularly with news, details, research tools and other useful amenities, demonstrates the advantages of Kentucky’s Opportunity Zones to potential investors.

For interactive maps, a full list of Kentucky Opportunity Zones, current corporate investment projects, data, opportunity funds info and more resources, visit www.KYOZ.com.

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

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

Monday, March 19, 2018

Multi-chamber Event: Feed Your Inner Foodie During Northern Virginia Restaurant Week: MARCH 19-26, 2018; Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber Real estate forecast event: Good demand, low supply; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations (from Chris Gardner, the author of "The Pursuit of HappYness"); Town Square Chamber Publications: Geneva Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!; Frankfort secures $8M federal grant for Second Street improvements; Kernersville Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide; Three Rivers Chamber: Strategic Marketing on a Budget; Marion Chamber of Commerce - IDES Director Jeff Mays presentation; Biloxi Bay Chamber takes home Altus Trophy; Donnelly Works Alongside Hoosiers at Kountry Kitchen for “Donnelly Day” and Discusses Benefits of SBA/Indy Chamber Microloan Program; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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

Multi-chamber Event: Feed Your Inner Foodie During Northern Virginia Restaurant Week: MARCH 19-26, 2018

In Partnership with the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association

Foodies rejoice! For the third consecutive year, five of Northern Virginia’s top business organizations – the Prince William, Greater Reston, Loudoun County, McLean and Arlington Chambers of Commerce – are collaborating to produce Northern Virginia Restaurant Week, which kicks off today March 19 and runs until March 26, 2018. The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association (VRLTA) once again joins them as a partner, making it one of the largest dining celebrations in the state. The goal of this event is to draw attention to Northern Virginia’s vibrant hospitality industry, encouraging residents and workers to explore new dining options close to home or work.

Mark Ingrao, President and CEO of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce stats “Northern Virginia Restaurant Week is a week-long, dining experience taking place at a variety of establishments from fine dining to fast casual. That means that everyone can take part. Speaking on behalf of the Chamber, it’s our privilege to shine the spotlight on the vibrant local hospitality industry. Speaking as a resident of Northern Virginia, I am looking forward to exploring new dining options throughout the region. This is fast becoming one of my favorite weeks of the year!”

This year over 60 restaurants have signed up to date with more added to the website daily. Participating restaurants can be found at novarestaurantweek.com/menus. Interested local gourmands are encouraged to visit NOVARestaurantWeek.com and/or to follow Northern Virginia Restaurant Week on Facebook.

The Northern Virginia Restaurant Week partnership is once again working with OpenTable.com to provide consumers a chance to make stress-free reservations. Restaurants who are already on Open Table will be featured on a special NOVA Restaurant Week page, making it simple for consumers to find convenient options throughout the seven-day event. During the week of March 19-26, consumers are encouraged to use #NOVARestaurantWeek when dining at participating restaurants.

Signature Sponsors of Northern Virginia Restaurant Week include, Saul Centers, Reston Town Center and Potomac Mills. Platinum Sponsors include Visit Fairfax, Sushi-Zen, KO Distilling, Village at Leesburg, Gregorio’s Trattoria, Coton & Rye, Magnolia’s at the Mill and Visit Loudoun.

For more information about Northern Virginia Restaurant Week, or the collaboration between the Prince William, Greater Reston, Loudoun County and Arlington Chambers, please contact Tonia Chagnon, Marketing & Communications for the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, 703-707-9045 or ToniaC@RestonChamber.org.

Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber Real estate forecast event: Good demand, low supply

The Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce hosted a real estate forecast Feb. 16 to share with local leaders, as well as members of the business and real estate communities, the state of the market in Oakland County.

Following a breakfast, chamber President Joe Bauman welcomed everyone to the event, thanked the breakfast’s sponsors and introduced the two speakers.

Dan Elsea, of Real Estate One, gave the first presentation, which focused on the housing market.

“The market was pretty good this year,” remarked Elsea. “It looked much the same in 2016 as it did in 2017. Coming out of the recession was like the water going back down after a dam breaks. The market has settled down a little. But housing responds to the economy — it doesn’t lead it — because people buy homes when they have jobs and are financially secure.”

He said that despite an improving housing market, some challenges remain.

“Right now people are staying put, and baby boomers are living in the same places longer,” said Elsea. “New construction has been too slow for demand. We expect fewer home purchases in 2018; it’s not that there’s a reduction in demand but that there’s a lack of supply. Student debt also is still a big issue when you’re looking at the whole picture of who is buying houses and applying for mortgages.” Read more: C & G Newspapers

#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations (from Chris Gardner, the author of "The Pursuit of HappYness")

"If you want to make the team, go to the gym. If you want to own the team, go to the library." Chris Gardner, author of "The Pursuit of HappYness".

Town Square Chamber Publications: Geneva Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce has worked with Town Square Publications on several publications. Chamber maps and community profiles are well done and we are especially pleased with the quality of the printing and the paper.

Production schedules were provided when we began the projects and the schedule did not waiver from our agreement. Most importantly we had editorial control over the copy and we were able to select the photos and the subjects that are featured. We were able to proof before going to print but we rarely found errors or concerns. Communications throughout the production period were excellent.

We work hard to provide quality and outstanding service to our members. We identify programs that will be good for the business community with an additional benefit – some non-dues income for the Chamber.

We appreciate our partnership with Town Square and will call on them again for the next project.

Jean Gaines
President
Geneva Chamber of Commerce

Frankfort secures $8M federal grant for Second Street improvements

Frankfort now has millions of dollars in federal grant money to fund major road infrastructure improvements.

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday the City of Frankfort was awarded a $7.99 million grant to fund the improvements along its Second Street corridor, which is part of U.S. 60.

"I heard from a number of constituents that this project will provide much-needed transportation improvements for residents in this South Frankfort neighborhood," Sen. McConnell said, "Local officials also informed me that these improvements will enhance safety for children who attend a local elementary school and cross the Second Street Corridor each morning.”

The Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce says the grant will help fund improved pedestrian and bicycle access with wider sidewalks, shorter crosswalks and bike lanes. It will also improve traffic by eliminating underused travel lanes, making it easier for motorists to turn. The grant will also improve stormwater drainage and improve the connection between the state capitol and downtown. Read more: WKYT Chamber of Commerce

Kernersville Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide

The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Community Guide is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Chris Comer and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

2017-2018 Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Community Guide

Three Rivers Area Chamber: Strategic Marketing on a Budget

By Sarah Flashing

Strategic marketing is key to running any business successfully. But strategic doesn’t have to mean pricey. There are lots of ways businesses of every size can experience growth while on a budget. Social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and others are resources to help build an audience and deliver your message. If you want more people to know more about your business, here are some basic strategies to get you started.

Publish great content. Every business has something to say about their product. Put information out on your website on a regular basis and see who is paying attention to your sales, events and other announcements. Blog is also a great way to keep the search engines crawling on your site searching for new, relevant content that can keep you higher in rankings!

Publish video content. Even with a basic device such as a smart phone, anyone can create video segments and upload them to Youtube, Facebook and/or a website. People want to know more about what you do – so show them!

Social Networking. Do you have a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Twitter? Are you wondering about Instagram, Snapchat, and Google+? No one can effectively engage followers on all of those channels, but you can find your niche audience on any of these and connect with them regularly.

Develop a customer referral program. Your best customers are probably already talking about you, but give all of your customers the opportunity to share about their great experience at your establishment. Offer current customers a free or discounted product or service for talking about you to their friends. This can work with business size referral cards or social media options. Let word of mouth work for you!

Host online contests. Keep people coming back to our Facebook page. Everyone wants to win something, so keep your followers engaged and coming back to your business.

Create eye-catching business cards and brochures. Print materials ordered over the internet have become a more affordable option for small to midsize businesses. Stop printing on your inkjet and get pro-quality materials that will knock the socks off your customers.

Engage with email marketing. Constant Contact and Mailchimp are email platform options that provide eye-catching templates and more customizable options. The big plus is that they are both free until you reach a couple thousand emails per month. Connect with your followers regularly with special deals and information from your business. Read more: Three Lakes Area Chamber

Marion Chamber of Commerce - IDES Director Jeff Mays presentation

04/05/18
03:45 PM - 05:00 PM (Central)
Location: Pavilion
1602 Sioux Drive, Marion, Il 62959

The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee is hosting Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Jeff Mays on Thursday, April 5 from 3:45 - 5 p.m. at The Pavilion. The presentation will include an interactive Q&A with the audience. RSVPs are required for this event by Tuesday, April 3 at noon. This event is open to members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Jeff Mays was appointed as Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) by Governor Bruce Rauner on January 12, 2015. Since joining, Director Mays immediately focused on enhancing the agency’s services for job seekers, claimants and employers, and on making IDES the pre-eminent employment agency in Illinois.

Whether it’s connecting employers to job-seekers, helping unemployed individuals find meaningful work, providing unemployment insurance to those who are eligible, producing labor market data or protecting taxpayers from unemployment insurance fraud -- IDES impacts thousands of people each day and helps them through their challenging times. With this in mind, IDES’ top goals are to:

Revamp Unemployment Insurance (UI) internet and phone customer services and work towards streamlining the overall claims system;
Improve the quality of internal processes to increase user-ability while reducing costs to tax-payers;
Implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to establish a unified planning process across core workforce programs and to better align and leverage various agencies’ federal funding streams;
Solidify the agency’s position as the go-to resource for wage, employer and workforce participation information based on customer-driven geographies;
Expand the agency’s automated integrity system to further reduce waste, fraud and UI abuse.

Under Director Mays’ leadership, IDES will continue to provide job services and career education to help build a stronger workforce, to underscore the benefits of the agency’s extensive wage and workforce-participation-rate database, and as Director Mays says, “do a lot of good for a lot of people.”

About the Director
Jeff Mays has extensive experience working in state and federal government and is an advocate of education and workforce development in Illinois. Mays is a former, five-term Illinois state legislator who represented West-Central Illinois (R-96th District; 1981-1990).

He served as Co-Chair of the Legislative Audit Commission, as Minority Spokesman on the House Appropriations Committee and on the House Labor and Commerce, Executive, and Financial Institutions Committees, as well as the Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Mays also served as Special Assistant to the Chicago Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

As President of the Illinois Business Roundtable, an association of corporate business leaders, Mays made recommendations on Illinois’ policy issues. Mays also served as Vice President of Human Resources and as Executive Vice President of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. Mays holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in History. He lives in Quincy and prior to his appointment as Director of IDES, served as the Vice President on the Quincy Public School Board. More information: Marion Chamber

Biloxi Bay Chamber takes home Altus Trophy

Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, commander of Air Education and Training Command, announced the community of Biloxi, Mississippi, as the winner of the 2017 Altus Trophy during a brief ceremony with AETC’s Civic Leader Group, March 8, here.

“We are all here to witness an AETC tradition, a tradition that is pretty special,” Kwast said. “This is our way of recognizing the community’s impact and relationship with our bases in AETC.”

The trophy, which is presented in partnership with the Altus Chamber of Commerce, is given to the AETC community that provides the best support to its local military installation.

Each year competitors are considered by members of the Altus Military Affairs Committee and the final decision was made by a panel of former AETC commanders.

Through its partnership and support of Keesler Air Force Base, the Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, made up of 1,000 plus members from every sector of the economy, was selected as this year’s trophy recipient.

“The trophy sits on a base that is a solid sheet of granite that is from the mountains just north of Altus Air Force Base,” Dr. Joe Leverett, Altus Trophy committee chairman, said moments before presenting the trophy. “And this granite symbolizes the rock-solid support the communities give to the bases they support.”

Some of the accomplishments that lead to Biloxi being selected are as follows:
In partnership with the city of Biloxi, the State of Mississippi and many other local partners, Keesler AFB reached an agreement and $37 million in funding was secured for the relocation of the main gate and additional infrastructure development. Construction will begin early this year and will be funded in part by a gift from the Mississippi Development Authority.
In 2017, Keesler AFB and stakeholders from every sector of the Mississippi Gulf Coast embarked on a yearlong planning initiative to uncover areas of Public-Public/Public-Private partnership opportunities that mutually benefit the local community.
In an effort to create a smoother hurricane evacuation plan, local school districts from Harrison County and other surrounding partners formed an agreement where Harrison County will lend the Air Force use of county Government-owned buses in the case of an evacuation order issued for Keesler AFB.
Partnering with several local colleges and universities, as well as Keesler AFB, the Air Force Association and the Civil Air Patrol, the community has implemented Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics events to local schools and universities through a variety of events hosted on- and off- base.
The Gulf Coast Centurions, Biloxi Parks and Recreation, and local businesses are in discussions with Keesler AFB to initiate a local Bike Share program on base. By providing Airmen with the availability of low-cost, environmentally friendly transportation, local businesses would see an increase in business as Airmen are able to more easily access off-base activities and businesses.
As part of a long-standing partnership that spans 30 years, Keesler AFB hosted the Special Olympics of Mississippi 2017 Summer Games. The event consisted of over 3,200 athletes, directors, coaches, families, and volunteers from across the state. Read more: Air Education and Training Command

Donnelly Works Alongside Hoosiers at Kountry Kitchen for “Donnelly Day” and Discusses Benefits of SBA/Indy Chamber Microloan Program

The minority-owned small business benefitted from the loan program, which the Senator helped the Chamber expand through access to federal funding

Indianapolis, Ind. – U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly worked alongside employees at Kountry Kitchen, a small business in Indianapolis, for his latest “Donnelly Day” yesterday. Donnelly helped greet and seat guests, take orders, and prepare orders.

Kountry Kitchen has benefitted from the Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative (BOI) loan program, which helped Kountry Kitchen purchase kitchen and restaurant equipment, and make cosmetic improvements. Donnelly discussed the benefits of the loan program with Kountry Kitchen’s owner Cynthia Wilson, the Chief Revenue Officer for Indy Chamber Julie Grice, and the President of the BOI Carrie Henderson.

In 2015, Donnelly helped BOI, the Indy Chamber’s non-profit intermediary lender, gain an official Microloan designation through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). That designation provides access to federal funds and has allowed BOI to expand its lending efforts to small businesses in the nine-county area.

Donnelly said, “Kountry Kitchen is a great example of the Small Business Administration’s microlending program, which enabled the Indy Chamber to work with Kountry Kitchen to receive a loan. The loan allowed the restaurant to purchase equipment and make upgrades. I was proud to help the Indy Chamber gain an official Microloan designation, so the Chamber can lend to more hard-working small businesses, like Kountry Kitchen.”

Julie Grice of the Indy Chamber said, “Senator Donnelly and his office were very hands on to help us become SBA microlending intermediaries, which allows the Indy Chamber to provide loans up to $50,000 at low interest rates to really viable, healthy businesses to help them grow and expand. Without Senator Donnelly working with us and the SBA, this would not have happened.” Read more: US Sen. Joe Donnelly

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Monday, April 17, 2017

From Jennifer Bishop, Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce: Ford Drive 4 UR School!; Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Directory and Resource Guide; Hampton Roads Chamber: The Future of Portsmouth With Mayor John Rowe; Volunteers welcome for downtown spring cleanup April 29: Meet at EMBDC office; Progress: Chamber of Manitowoc County celebrated 100 years in 2016; Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its fifth-annual “State of the Area Address” Thursday morning at Three Rivers Community Center.; Christian County Chamber news: HCR 90 Interstate Designation Signed by Governor Matt Bevin; The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce 4th Annual GPS 2 Success Career Expo; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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

From Jennifer Bishop, Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce: Ford Drive 4 UR School!

We are pleased to invite you to join your community in raising money for Marshall High School at an event that is sure to cause some excitement – Drive 4 UR School! On Saturday April 29, 2017 from 10am-2pm at the front of the High School by the First Christin Church parking lot Dorsett Ford will offer test drives in a 2017 F-150 (2) Base model and Loaded Model, 2017 F-250 (Popular Farm Truck), 2017 Edge, 2017 Explorer, 2017 Escape, 2017 Focus, or a 2017 Fusion.

For every person who takes a test-drive during the event, Ford Motor Company will donate $20 to Marshall High School and each driver will receive a free tshirt and other Ford merchandise. In total, as much as $6,000 can be raised in a single day; will donate $20 to Marshall High School, and an additional $10 for a second test drive. By taking a simple test-drive, you can help Marshall High school in a meaningful way!

Please mark your calendars and invite family, friends and neighbors to join in supporting Marshall High School and your local community!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you,
Coach Nathan Haines
For more information about Drive 4 UR School visit drive4urschool.com or Coach Nathan Haines at nhaines@marshall.k12.il.us.

Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Directory and Resource Guide

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Directory and Resource Guide is available at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber today! Thanks to Mike Kuhns, Suzy Johnson 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.

Hampton Roads Chamber: The Future of Portsmouth With Mayor John Rowe

Portsmouth,VA —“Our future is bright…on the right side of the river," said Portsmouth Mayor John L. Rowe, Jr. when asked about the future of the city. Find out what exactly makes that future so bright as you join the Hampton Roads Chamber in welcoming newly elected mayor John L. Rowe, Jr., at his first ever Portsmouth State of the City Address on Wednesday, April 19 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Conference Center. During his address, Mayor Rowe will provide business leaders, city employees, and citizens of Hampton Roads with a reflection on Portsmouth’s past year, and his insight and expectations for the city for the future.

Date: Wednesday, April 19
Time: 11:30am-12:00 Networking & Registration
12:00-2:00pm Lunch & Program

Cost: $50 (Members), $70 (Prospective-Members)
Where: Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Conference Center
425 Water Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704

Contact: Priscilla Monti, pmonti@hrchamber.com 757-470-6805 hamptonroadschamber.com

Volunteers welcome for downtown spring cleanup April 29: Meet at EMBDC office

Meridian Main Street and Keep Meridian/Lauderdale County Beautiful is planning a Spring Downtown Cleanup on April 29.

Everyone is welcome to meet at 8 a.m. at the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation office at 1901 Front St. The goal is to get rid of trash and litter from our downtown streets.

Trash bags, gloves and donuts and coffee will be provided to volunteers.

To learn more about Meridian Main Street, visit www.embdc.org, or call 601-693-1306.

Progress: Chamber of Manitowoc County celebrated 100 years in 2016

The Chamber of Manitowoc County proudly celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2016. The success of The Chamber of Manitowoc County can truly be attributed to the outstanding business community we represent and our very active membership.

Here are some new and exciting programs we introduced in 2016:

In partnership with Lakeshore Community Foundation, Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties, we were able to secure a grant from Kohler Co. to offer a Non-Profit Board Education Training Session, which assisted more than 30 non-profit agencies in Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Topics included Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Financial Health, Fundraising and a roundtable discussion among non-profit leaders. This event was monumental in crossing our county line and uniting the county organizations through education.

Our “Business Minute Video” has been a huge hit with our members and our social media network. Each month, we send our staff over to a member business and do a short “no pressure” interview. The business owner/managers highlight an upcoming event, products available, services offered or a general overview of their business. This is streamed live on Facebook and takes approximately 10 minutes from start to finish. The success of the videos can be measured by the 22,000 views they’ve had since the videos’ inception.

The first weekend in April turned out to be a great weekend for businesses participating in the first-ever “Restaurant weekEND.” Delicious specials were offered for lunch and dinner, giving both visitors and community members a reminder of the wonderful variety of restaurants we have right here in Manitowoc County. This event will definitely be repeated in 2017 as we continue to support the importance of “Keeping it Local.” Read more: Herald Times Reporter

Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its fifth-annual “State of the Area Address” Thursday morning at Three Rivers Community Center.

Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its fifth-annual “State of the Area Address” Thursday morning at Three Rivers Community Center.
Among presenters were Three Rivers city manager Joe Bippus, St. Joseph County H.R. director Teresa Doehring, Constantine village manager Mark Honeysett and Mendon village manager John Hyden.
Bippus spoke about the times leading up to the present in Three Rivers. He spoke of the late 1990s, when a new Three Rivers High School was built.
“It was really a sense of pride for our community,” he said. “It really gave us a sense of excellence.“
Projects and improvements followed in the early-to mid-2000s, including revamping the petting zoo, installing new playground equipment, construction of the east city parking lot, river walk trails and a new farmer’s market.
“We were on a roll,” Bippus said. “Then the recession hit and everything kind of came to a grinding halt ... I don’t think we’ve totally recovered from that, by any stretch.“
But, Bippus said, in the past couple of years, people in the community have started having some big ideas. The city had been saving money and had gotten some grants. The county had a delinquent tax fund.
“The board at that time was looking to try to make some improvements to the area,” he said. “In my mind, it was trying to draw the area back up to when we had that excellence.“
Bippus spoke of “big ideas” including the sports complex, trails to Meyer Broadway Park and elsewhere, the possibility of moving the library, and maintaining the housing stock.
“We want to be a community of choice,” he said.
Doehring highlighted a few St. Joseph County projects. A big one, she said, is parks.
“The last few years, we’ve seen significant activity within the parks department,” she said. “They’ve expanded and developed our park system into a showplace really for the entire state. It rivals the best in Michigan.“ Read more: Sturgis Journal

Christian County Chamber news: HCR 90 Interstate Designation Signed by Governor Matt Bevin

The last stretch of the Pennyrile Parkway is one step closer to becoming an interstate. The Governor signed HCR 90 on Tuesday which supports the designation of the Pennyrile Parkway in Christian County as interstate. HCR 90 was filed by Representative Walker Thomas and sponsored by many additional congressmen in our region. "We are thrilled to have Governor Bevin sign off on this legislation," said Kelli Pendleton, President of the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, "it is evidence that the state supports this project which is needed to get it through at the federal level".

Members of the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee met last year with the U.S. Department of Transportation where they were encouraged to continue to get state support for this project. "We met with Representative Thomas on this issue and asked for his help. He became a champion for this project and worked to get it through" said Pendleton, "we are thankful to all of our legislators who helped us with this".

Senator Rand Paul introduced legislation to designate the 34 miles of parkway as interstate last year and it passed the Senate but did not make it out of the House. Senator Paul has again introduced the legislation this year which is Senate Bill 531.

This issue is a priority for the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee as well as the Southern Pennyrile Chamber Alliance and the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance.

Sponsors of HCR 90 include:

Thomas , Walker
Dossett , Myron
Castlen , Matt
Gooch Jr. , Jim
Petrie , Jason
Prunty , Melinda Gibbons
Bechler , Lynn
Heath , Richard
Imes , Kenny
Mills , Robby

For more information contact the Christian County Chamber of Commerce at (270) 885-9096, or Kirstie Darnall, Director of Events & Marketing, kdarnall@christiancountychamber.com

The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce 4th Annual GPS 2 Success Career Expo

The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce held its 4th Annual GPS 2 Success Career Expo on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capitol Center. The Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors for making this event possible, Grace College, KGP Logistics, Kosciusko Cares, Flexaust, Rainbow Child Care, Old National Bank, Oakwood Resort, and Lake City Bank.

Over 50 businesses, colleges, and organizations participated in the event in order to showcase career opportunities to high school students from Warsaw, Wawasee, Whitko, Tippecanoe Valley, Lakeland Christian Academy, and Fairfield.

During the event, students had the opportunity to participate in an Instagram challenge for the chance to win an iPad Mini and other smaller prizes. The winner of the iPad Mini was Kourtney Combs who is a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School.

About: The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce is the voice of our members to stimulate healthy and diverse business growth in our community. For more information visit www.kchamber.com.

From Left to Right: Rob Parker, President & CEO, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, Kourtney Combs, Tippecanoe Valley Senior, John Hutton, Assistant Principal, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Brett Boggs, Tippecanoe Valley Superintendent.

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.