Chamber's Blueprint Virginia 2025 has encouraged regional leaders to take long view of goals, instead of looking at short-term gains; Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce Community Resource Guide & Business Directory; Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Community Forum September 18; Community Development Foundation: BancorpSouth to add 100 jobs in new expansion; WELCOME HOME - The Nation's Premier New Resident Marketing Program for Your Chamber Members; BRIGHT Kentucky's first class includes five of Pulaski's brightest stars; Krystal Westfahl Named To Governor's Council On Tourism; Former coal dock certified as Traverse City's newest cruise port; Harrison County, Indiana: Historical and high tech; #FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!); 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!

Chamber's Blueprint Virginia 2025 has encouraged regional leaders to take long view of goals, instead of looking at short-term gains

For the first time since 2011, Virginia reclaimed its position in the CNBC annual rankings as the best state for business. The rankings are based on such metrics as the cost of doing business, education and cost of living.

At a breakfast event with the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning, Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, attributed much of that success to the state group’s initiatives and its impact on legislation. All of their efforts are informed by the Chamber’s Blueprint Virginia 2025, a strategic document for the direction of the chamber and the state.

The document provides specific goals that span nine major categories: workforce and education, business climate, transportation, health care, energy, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, the environment, and military and veterans affairs.

“If we get these areas right, every region will grow,” DuVal said.

Connie Nyholm, owner and CEO of Virginia International Raceway and member of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said the blueprint is playing differently in every community.

“Each area is invited to join in the way that they can,” she said.

Alexis Ehrhardt, president and CEO of the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce, said in the Dan River Region, the higher priority items are the two Virginia already leads in — workforce and education — as well as health care, entrepreneurship and manufacturing.

Ben Davenport, president of First Piedmont Corp. and Davenport Energy, said a great example of this is the partnership between Danville Community College and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to develop a machining workforce that attracts foreign companies to the region.

“We have a unique situation in our region,” he said.

Ehrhardt said part of her goal is to replicate the talent development for the machining workforce in other high demand areas.

“Ideally, we would have a more structured pipeline,” she said.

In terms of entrepreneurship, Ehrhardt said one of the keys to developing a culture that fosters entrepreneurship is expanding internet and broadband access throughout the region.

“Broadband infrastructure is going to be really important as we try to attract and retain entrepreneurs,” she said. Read more: GODANRIVER.com

Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce Community Resource Guide & Business Directory  

The Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce 2019 Community Guide is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Robert 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.

Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Community Forum September 18
For the last two years, the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) has hosted Community Forums that provide updates from the village, the township, local school districts, park districts and the chamber of commerce. These forums have grown in popularity and have served to encourage strong conversations and connectedness throughout the Palatine area community.
The next Community Forum will take place on September 18, 2019 at the Village of Palatine. Area residents and business community members are invited to attend.
The Community Forum will provide information and updates, such as news about new initiatives, developments projects and more from local public entities including the Village of Palatine, Palatine Township, District 15, District 211, Harper College, Palatine Public Library, Palatine Park District, Salt Creek Park District and the PACC.
"The Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce continually strives to find meaningful ways to connect residents directly with the leaders of our community who are making great things happen," said PACC President Shawn Jackson from local communications firm, Vicarious Multimedia. "This event helps to strengthen our community as a whole by keeping residents and businesses 'plugged in'."
The Community Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Palatine Village Hall, 200 E. Wood Street in the Village Council Chambers. It will begin with open networking and a greeting at 7:30 a.m., followed by presentations from each of the participating public entities, and a question and answer period from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.
For more information, please visit palatinechamber.com or call 847-359-7200. Read More: Daily Herald

Community Development Foundation: BancorpSouth to add 100 jobs in new expansion 

BancorpSouth is investing $15 million in an expansion project at its Jackson Street Operations Campus that will add at least 100 full-time jobs. The company is expected to release the full details of the expansion at a groundbreaking ceremony today.
The expansion will help the city help secure a Development Infrastructure Program grant from the Mississippi Development Authority to help offset costs associated with widening part of West Jackson Street.
David Rumbarger, the president and CEO of the Community Development Foundation, said in a statement to the Daily Journal that a growing number of BancorpSouth employees have relocated to Tupelo from around the country in order to help process more than $20 billion in loans.

“For these reasons, it is critical for BancorpSouth to expand this facility to accommodate the company’s rapid growth,” Rumbarger said in the written statement.
BancorpSouth employs more than 4,500 people in eight states. Approximately 1,000 of those are employed in Tupelo with 717 employed at the Jackson Street Campus.
Don Lewis, the city’s chief operating officer, told the Daily Journal that because of the bank’s expansion along the road, the city will receive grant funds worth approximately $750,000.
“The DIP grant is going to be used for improvements on West Jackson out by the airport,” Lewis told the Daily Journal. “That is one of our major connections.”
According to a memorandum of understanding adopted by the Tupelo City Council on Aug. 6, BancorpSouth must create 100 new full-time jobs and maintain these jobs for a full year.
“The Benefiting Business agrees to inject at least $750,000 into construction and related equipment,” the MOU reads. “The source of these funds will be BancorpSouth Bank’s internal funds.”
Melissa Scallan, the spokesperson for MDA, told the Daily Journal that the city applied for the grant and that grant is currently being reviewed by MDA officials.
The city’s Major Thoroughfare Committee voted at its latest meeting to make widening West Jackson Street into a three-lane road between Airpark Road and Coley Road a priority project for the remainder of the committee’s current phase.
BancorpSouth will now also qualify for the Advantage Jobs Rebate program, which will provide a rebate to eligible businesses that create jobs that meet or exceed the average annual wage of the state or county where the company operates. Read more: Daily Journal

WELCOME HOME - The Nation's Premier New Resident Marketing Program for Your Chamber Members 

Welcome Home, the nation's premier new resident marketing program,is a new mover marketing program designed to help get your chamber members' businesses  in front of the most valuable audiences - new residents.

Exclusive to chamber members, the WELCOME HOME program is a remarkable advertising tool, highly visible, targeted and delivered direct to new resident's mailboxes, catching them as they establish new buying habits.

In addition, WELCOME HOME is distributed to local libraries, park districts, municipalities and your local chamber office.

Get your members in front of one of the most valuable audiences: NEW RESIDENTS.

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Mailed monthly to new movers from the previous 30 days!

They are new to the neighborhood. They have money to spend. They need your member's businesses and services.

Palatine Area Chamber WELCOME HOME

Town Square Publications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's NEW MOVER publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.



BRIGHT Kentucky's first class includes five of Pulaski's brightest stars

Program emphasizes collaborating and idea-sharing to better region

Five of Pulaski County's best and brightest were selected to take part in the BRIGHT Kentucky program which is designed to build the capacity of young leaders -- average ages 20 to 40 -- in the Appalachian area of Kentucky.

The program offers non-partisan, ethical leadership training as well as expanded networks and mentoring tailored to the 54 Kentucky counties represented by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The program is made possible by a $500,000 ARC grant in addition to funding from sources such as the Whitaker Foundation and non-profit organization SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region).

"It's a collection of what I would call community leaders from eastern Kentucky," said Bobby Clue, Executive Director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce. "It's really impressive collection (of people)."

The inaugural BRIGHT Kentucky class was announced by Leadership Kentucky, a non-profit educational organization for 35 years now in the Commonwealth, and consists of 50 participants from 29 different ARC counties representing a variety of public and private sectors.

Five of them are from Pulaski County -- Clue, Kelli Chaney of United Cumberland Bank, JaKaye Garthe of Hampton Inn, Cody Gibson of Wright Medical Technologies, and Emily Conley, of the Barnes & Noble campus bookstore at Somerset Community College.

Clue said the group gets to know each other so that they can collaborate to improve the communities they live in. He called being selected a "tremendous honor."

"I have beem asked to participate in Leadership Kentucky for many years and I always brushed it off because of the the time commitment," he said, noting his own family and kids as a factor in that. "When I saw this program, I felt it was a good expenditure of my time. I believe in eastern Kentucky and I believe that we need to start sharing information and looking at things on a regional level and collaborating with each other, all the way from here to Pikeville. Read more: Commonwealth Journal

Krystal Westfahl Named To Governor's Council On Tourism

A Northwoods Chamber of Commerce leader has been named to the Governor's Council on Tourism.
Governor Tony Evers' office announced Executive Director of the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce, Krystal Westfahl, has been named to the council.
A 2015 recipient of the Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazer Award and a recent nominee for the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism Rising Star award, Westfahl previously served as Event and Fundraising Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Evers says there's $7 to $1 return on investment and Wisconsin’s $21 billion tourism industry is one of Wisconsin’s leading economic drivers. He says there's almost 200,000 individuals who rely on tourism for their livelihood. Read more: WXPR.org

Former coal dock certified as Traverse City's newest cruise port

Transformation of the former coal dock into the publicly accessible Discovery Pier is smoothing the way for more passenger-carrying cruise ships to visit Traverse City. The facility in December was certified as a cruise port by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Local officials who want to grab a piece of growing Great Lakes cruise ship activity have organized as the Traverse City Cruise Ship Consortium.

"We're just opening for business, so we won't see much business for two years," Mike Wills, the group's chairperson, told the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Consortium members include the Discovery Center — Great Lakes (on behalf of Discovery Pier), Traverse City Tourism, Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Traverse City Association, Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

Discover Pier's certification will allow smaller cruise ships to tie up to shore, making it easier for passengers to disembark for day activities. Cruise ship passengers traditionally have shuttled ashore to Traverse City from vessels anchored in deep water. Read more: Detroit Free Press

Harrison County, Indiana: Historical and high tech

Harrison County became a 1 Gigabyte Community in 2018 a year ahead of schedule, completing the high-speed internet fiber backbone project that features 550 miles of high-speed cable throughout the county.

Historic downtown Corydon has seen progress with Stellar Communities projects bringing in additional market-rate apartments, as well as businesses and dining options. Examples include the completion of the 45-unit Corydon School Senior Lofts and rehabilitation of the historic Emmett Beanblossom and JJ Bulleit buildings. At the Lanesville Business Park, eight miles east of Corydon, the J.C. Moag glass fabrication corporation will soon relocate there from Jeffersonville. New infrastructure will be in place with the Lanesville Connector Road project.

For outdoor adventurists, there’s the 3-mile Indian Creek Trail from downtown Corydon to the Hayswood Nature Reserve. For tourists who prefer virtual spelunking instead of visiting the 600 known caves in the county, the Harrison County Discover Center in Corydon offers cave-crawling simulations, along with other interactive galleries and exhibits.

County Seat: Corydon; Eva North, town council president; townofcorydon.com

Estimated 2019 population: 40,350

No. of households: 14,693

Median household income: $53,897

Harrison County Chamber of Commerce: Lisa Long, president; harrisonchamber.org

Harrison County Economic Development Corporation: Darrell Voelker, executive director; hcedcindiana.org

Harrison County CVB: Jeremy Yackle, executive director; thisisindiana.org

County Commissioners: Charlie Crawford, Kenny Saulman, Jim Heitkemper; harrisoncounty.in.gov

Source: Lane Report


#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things. Albert Einstein

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 Issue: $15 an Hour passes the Illinois Senate: Letter from the Illinois Chamber; #BestChamber practices: Ribbon cutting event: Make the most of it; New Richmond Chamber annual dinner and awards gala set; Newly merged Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias discusses future; Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2018-2019 Business Directory and Resource Guide; Whitney Waara: Small business is a big deal in northwest Michigan; Vicksburg Plant Food plans $20M expansion, 20 new jobs; ECDC and the Rushville County Chamber of Commerce to host workshop; NKY Chamber sets annual legislative ‘Day in Frankfort’ for March 5; sign up in advance; 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!

Chamber Issue: $15 an Hour passes the Illinois Senate: Letter from the Illinois Chamber

Dear Illinois Businesses,

First off, THANK YOU for contacting your state Senator and voicing your concern to the proposed minimum wage hike. We heard from Senators that the volume of constituent outreach from the business community was overwhelming.

However, the Illinois Senate just passed SB 1 (Lifghtford/Guzzardi), a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 and $13 for those under 18 by 2025. The bill passed today also includes a complex payroll deduction tax credit for employers of 50 or fewer employees and retains the tip credit for restaurants.

Unfortunately, the Senate did not grant the business community’s request of a proposed geographical minimum wage that would soften the blow to suburban and downstate communities.

Click here to see how your state Senator’s voted.

Next Steps: Given today’s action in the Senate, the bill now heads over to the House for their turn to vote or amend the bill. The House can vote as early as next week on this proposal. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FOCUS YOUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TODAY AND TELL THEM TO VOTE NO ON ANY MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE EMPLOYER PROTECTIONS. 

Our grassroots action letter now shifts the attention to members of the Illinois House of Representatives. You can send a quick letter here or by sharing this link: ilchamberaction.org/engage/15minimumwage . It is also important to follow up your letter with a call to their district or Springfield office.

We'll be in touch with any developments next week.

Thanks,

Tyler Diers

Director of Legislative Relations

Illinois Chamber of Commerce


#BestChamber practices: Ribbon cutting event: Make the most of it

Whenever you get information from your chamber customer for a ribbon cutting (name address, phone number, time of event, etc.), ask this GREAT question at the end:

Please recommend two businesses that you think would benefit from being in the chamber:

Very smart, and the chamber from Florida that came up with this idea said it accounts for 35 members a year.


New Richmond Chamber annual dinner and awards gala set

The New Richmond Citizen of the Year, along with a half dozen business and chamber awards, will be announced at the 2019 New Richmond Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards Gala at R and D Catering Wednesday, Jan. 30. The decorating theme this year is the Super Heroes.

The event, which annually draws more than 400 people, is the chamber's largest fundraising event of the year. In addition to a wine and spirits raffle, a silent auction, the legendary cake auction will again be part of the evening's festivities. As an added convenience for attendees, valet parking will be available.

New Richmond Chamber Executive Director Rob Kreibich said a major announcement will be made at the annual meeting about an upcoming spring event that could be "the largest ever" held in New Richmond and involves the state's most beloved sports team.

"The annual dinner is always a fun, festive event, but this year will be extra special with the big announcement pending and also the banner year the chamber enjoyed in 2018 that included 72 new members, record event attendance and WCCO TV coverage of New Richmond's favorable business climate," Kreibich said. "We are nearing our goal of 400 chamber members, a huge feat for a community under 10,000 residents."

Social hour, with complimentary hors d' oeuvres, takes place from 4:30-6 p.m., followed by dinner and a short program that will conclude by 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $45. A limited number of sponsorships remain. For more information or to get tickets or sponsorships, contact the NR Chamber at info@newrichmondchamber.com or call 715-246-2900. The event is open to the public. Read more: New Richmond News

Newly merged Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias discusses future

A newly-merged chamber of commerce’s members learned more Thursday about new programs and new committees that will be serving businesses in Mercer County and Tazewell County, Va.

In December 2018, the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce and the Greater-Bluefield Chamber of Commerce merged to become the new Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias. The new countywide chamber is keeping the former chambers’ Bluefield and Princeton offices. Members had the opportunity Thursday to visits the downtown Bluefield office and the offices in Princeton’s McNutt House to learn more about how the new chamber is being organized.

Joshua Cline, who is the merged chamber’s president and CEO, said the meetings were an open forum where members could relax and talk about the upcoming year and 2019 membership. The Chamber of the Two Virginias now has an information packet including a tentative calendar of events, new committees, and new offering to the chamber’s members.

For example, the new Ambassadors Club will allow the new chamber’s past chairs of the board of directors to continue working on its projects, Cline said. This organization will be under the Executive Division.

Another new division is the Community Engagement Division. Cline said this division was created by combining the Special Projects and Community Life Divisions of the former chambers. This division’s volunteers will focus on the community calendar, the Mountain Festival, Autumnfest, lemonade promotions, baseball nights, Shrimpfest and the the Chamber Classic Golf Tournament. The new Business & Professional Development Division will focus on the Bluefield Coal Show, business expositions, Women’s Extravaganza, technical events, and the Young Professionals Network.

Cline said there is also a subcommittee on education under the new chamber’s Education Division.

“We really want to connect with our education partners in K-12, technical education and higher education,” Cline stated. “We want to connect them to our businesses that are members of the chamber.”


Cline said the “biggest thing” for the West Virginia members is access to a health insurance plan that is being sold by local agents. Members can also now decide how much they want to invest in the chamber. In the past, what level of membership a business could have was based on the number of employees. Now members can select their level of participation. The levels range from Primary for $225 to Premier for $2,500. With each level comes more access to chamber services, according to the new chamber’s information packet. Read more: Bluefield Daily Telegraph


Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2018-2019 Business Directory and Resource Guide

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2018-2019 Business Directory and Resource Guide is available at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber today! Thanks to Bob McKenna, Suzy Johnson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Virginia Peninsula Chamber 2018/2019 Business Directory & Resource 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.


Whitney Waara: Small business is a big deal in northwest Michigan



Some things can’t be said or emphasized often enough. One of them is the importance of small business to Northwest Michigan’s economy.

The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce 15 years ago launched the annual Small Business Celebration to recognize, underscore and thank our small business sector for its role in powering our region’s economic engine. The events and resulting awards allow us to put our local entrepreneurs front and center as we celebrate their creativity, grit, dedication, and the enormous impact that thousands of small businesses play in growing business and building community.

Businesses like Superior Physical Therapy owned by Dr. Andrew Gorecki. Like many entrepreneurs, he forged the business based on his own life experiences, learning what did — and didn’t — work for him to heal from a back injury. His business is dedicated to meet a growing demand for natural solutions to pain without medications, injections or surgeries. The business was strong and had a great team. Then, in 2018, Superior Physical Therapy was honored with the Chamber’s Hagerty Small Business of the Year Award.


Dr. Gorecki cites the award as the driver to boosting his business by more than 30 percent in less than a year. It has opened new doors and opportunities for his company. “I think the biggest impact it’s had on our business is that it’s really boosted the culture and morale of our staff,” Gorecki said. “Everyone is really proud of it.”

Why does the Chamber invest so much time and effort in highlighting small business? The numbers tell the story. According to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than 9 in 10 businesses in Michigan are classified as small businesses, and they employ about half the state’s workforce, totaling some 1.8 million workers. In Grand Traverse County, almost 70 percent of the county’s workforce is employed by small business, and that number is even higher in Leelanau, Antrim and Kalkaska.

Over the years, the Chamber has honored a wide range of businesses with its Hagerty Small Business of the Year award — service providers, medical professionals, small manufacturers — even a member-owned cooperative. Last year we added two new categories to highlight a wider spectrum of participants, including an Emerging Business Award to recognize micro businesses and start-ups, and a Summit Award focused on stable, high-impact local companies of up to 75 employees. The original Hagerty Small Business of the Year Award is centered on businesses with strong revenue an employee growth and demonstrated community involvement.

The Small Business Celebration continues to gain momentum thanks to the strong support from our program and media sponsors. The three primary sponsors — Priority Health, Northwestern Michigan College and Hagerty — are too large to even qualify for these awards. But they all understand the importance of small businesses to our region’s economic health and quality of life, and they are eager to support the up-and-coming entrepreneurs who will help grow and build our region.

The SBC media sponsors at the Record-Eagle, NewsTalk 580 and 9&10 News also have strengthened the competition by contributing invaluable media access and advertising/marketing services to help these companies tell their story and continue to grow.


We encourage everyone to be part of this year’s Small Business Celebration. Anyone can nominate a business, and members of the public are welcome to join in the events that showcase these businesses in the coming months. Read more: Record-Eagle

Whitney Waara is Executive Director at the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at whitney@tcchamber.org.



Vicksburg Plant Food plans $20M expansion, 20 new jobs

Vicksburg Plant Food’s growth accommodates an increase in consumer demand, as well as a new contract.

“Our company is excited to grow in Mississippi and Vicksburg. We find in Vicksburg a set of unique location advantages that are of great importance as we continue to grow our market share and expand our business,” Smith said.

Vicksburg Plant Food has been in operation in Vicksburg since 1989. The company distributes its products across Mississippi, Louisiana and most states along the inland waterway systems of the United States.

“Vicksburg has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, and Vicksburg Plant Food’s expansion continues that momentum,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “I commend the company for choosing to grow in the River City and bring new job opportunities to the people of Warren County.”.

“The city stepped up to the plate early on and made sure that Vicksburg Plant Food could have predictability regarding timetables and permit procedures. I thank the MDA and Gov. Bryant for their continued confidence in our community and our economic development efforts.”

Smith said he and his staff worked with the Mississippi Development Authority, Warren County Economic Development Partnership and the city of Vicksburg, adding the agencies were “proactive and agile in helping us navigate state and local programs.” Read more: 

The MDA is providing assistance for site development. Read more: Vicksburg Post

ECDC and the Rush County Chamber of Commerce to host workshop

The Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation (ECDC) and Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a marketing workshop from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

“The purpose of these workshops is to help our small businesses become more attuned to marketing strategies and develop a stronger presence on social media,” Executive Director of the ECDC John McCane said. “We have great partners in the Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center. We will continue to hold workshops quarterly.”

The 2-hour Marketing: Basics for Your Business Success workshop will be held at the ECDC building, which is located at 210 U.S. 52 in Rushville.


The event is free and open to the general public. Those who want to attend should pre-register by Monday, Jan. 28, at www.ecisbdc.org.

The workshop is sponsored by the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and funded in part through an agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The meeting will help business owners get their marketing programs on track to increase sales and improve their bottom line. It will also help owners understand the benefits of creating a marketing plan for their business and define marketing goals.


The workshop will also help businesses create a marketing calendar for the 2019 and beyond.

NKY Chamber sets annual legislative ‘Day in Frankfort’ for March 5; sign up in advance

On Tuesday, March 5, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) will host “Day in Frankfort,” an annual event that brings constituents and elected officials together at the Capitol Annex (701 Capitol Ave., Frankfort) in Frankfort to discuss legislative priorities.

The daylong event will begin with light breakfast at the NKY Chamber offices, with bus departure at 8:15 a.m. Over the course of the day attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legislative leadership and members of the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus to advocate for issues critical to economic development and business growth in Northern Kentucky.

Attendees will return to the NKY Chamber around 5 p.m.

“Traveling to our state’s capital with business leaders is a critical component to our overall legislative strategy,” said NKY Chamber Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Kristin Baldwin.

“Advocating in person with top legislative leaders on our legislative priorities, including workforce, transportation, healthcare, and education, is something we look forward to doing every year during this event.”

Registration for “Day in Frankfort” is $55 for NKY Chamber members, $75 for future NKY Chamber members, $50 for NKYP Passport holders and includes transportation to and from Frankfort, light breakfast, and legislative luncheon with members of the General Assembly.

For additional information, and to register, visit this website. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.

Sponsors for “Day in Frankfort” include Title Sponsor Charter Communications, Premier Sponsors Delta and Duke Energy, and Supporting Sponsor First Financial Bank. Read more: Northern Kentucky Tribune

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

Arlington Chamber Celebrates 95th Annual Arlington Business Gala; The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide; West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance Holds First Meeting of 2019; Robert Moses Selected to serve another year as President of WCCE Board of Directors; WMC Wisconsin Student Resources Packet; Traverse City Area Chamber partnership: $10M aimed to promote sports and tourism; Romeoville Chamber of Commerce To Host "Planning Your Year Strategically" Business Lunch; Indiana Chamber concern: Governor is right to focus on workforce; How to Stay Safe During Record-Cold Weather; Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Community Map; Mississippi Economic Council Tour to Focus on Enhancing Mississippi's Opportunities - 12 locations still to go in 2019; 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!


Arlington Chamber Celebrates 95th Annual Arlington Business Gala

Sold-out event raises revenue to support Chamber's work to empower Arlington's business community

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosted its 95th Annual Arlington Business Gala on Saturday, January 26 at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. The sold-out gala, hosted by 2019 Chamber Chair Greg Hamilton of Arlington Magazine, was the Chamber's first major event of 2019 and entertained 370 guests, including members of the Virginia General Assembly, Arlington's Constitutional Officers, all five members of the Arlington County Board, and business leaders from across the area.

"This year's Arlington Business Gala was one of our most successful yet," said Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates. "Everyone in attendance had a terrific time and supported the Chamber's mission to strengthen Arlington's business environment. We are grateful for everyone who contributed to this event, and look forward to an exceptional 2019."

Attendees enjoyed a three-course dinner, mingling with fellow Arlington business leaders, dancing to music by the Bachelor Boys Band, and participating in the silent and live auctions. The silent auction featured items varying from all-inclusive tropical vacations and autographed sports memorabilia to fine jewelry, tickets to unique experiences around town, and more.

During the live auction, attendees had the chance to bid on high-demand items like 8 hours of transportation for a wine tour; a Washington Capitals package with an autographed goalie stick, a puck, and lower level tickets; a catered dinner for 50; and a luxurious two-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park. Guests also had the opportunity to win a catered meal for 10 and to enter a raffle drawing to win accommodations to the award winning, five-star Establos Boutique Inn in Panama. VIPs in attendance included Senator Barbara Favola (D-Arlington); Delegate Patrick Hope (D-Arlington); Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, Vice Chair Libby Garvey, and members Katie Cristol, Matt de Ferranti, and Erik Gutshall; Sheriff Beth Arthur; Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy; Treasurer Carla de la Pava; and Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos. This year's Arlington Business Gala was made possible thanks to our many sponsors, including Grand Sponsor Classic Cottages. The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Map is available at the chamber today ! Thanks to the Maggie Dobson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! Cedarburg 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. West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance Holds First Meeting of 2019 The West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance (WKRCA) Board of Directors recently met for a planning session for the upcoming year. Leading the meeting was Board Chair Matt Snow with Baptist Health Paducah. Snow said “I am excited to serve this year as Chair of the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance. We serve as an alliance of Chambers in fourteen western Kentucky counties from Fulton County to Christian County. By working together with a common voice, there is no doubt we can make a major impact. We can assure that our concerns in western Kentucky regarding legislation, education, infrastructure and economic development are heard at the state and federal levels.” Serving with Snow on the Executive Committee are: Chair – Elect: Mike Radcliffe, Community Financial Services Bank (Marshall County) Treasurer: Mike Karnes, Williams, Williams & Lentz (McCracken County) Immediate Past Chair / Advocacy Chair: John Mahre, John C. Mahre, AIA, NCARB, Architect (Christian County) At Large Member: Lance Allison, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing (Calloway County) At Large Member: Bruce Akin, First Kentucky Bank (Livingston County) At Large Member: Denise Thompson, Marketing / Social Media Chair, Mayfield – Graves County Chamber of Commerce At Large Member: Wendy Baxter, Website Chair, Sullivan University (Graves County) In addition, the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance recently went through an organizational rebranding and is debuting its new logo (pictured above). Marketing / Social Media Chair Thompson said “Our new logo better communicates our organization’s identity and purpose. We also plan to increase our presence on social media to help keep the many communities we serve better informed about the work we do on their behalf.” The goal of the WKRCA is to be a catalyst for uniting regional leadership and resources and to advocate with one voice, to improve economic opportunities, to create a climate of sustainable growth and success and to build a stronger community. The organization has been a champion for the completion of Interstate 69, which is now in its final stages, and has advocated for the completion of Olmsted Lock and Dam, which opened last year, and the Kentucky Lock. For the 2019 Legislative Session, the WKRCA has supported the repeal of the bank franchise tax and the sales tax on nonprofits and has communicated its positions to the local legislators. It is also a member of the Kentucky Infrastructure Coalition, which strongly supports a long-term, sustainable funding approach that provides adequate revenues for all modes of transportation. On the federal level, the WKRCA voiced its support of the Hemp Farming Act to its Congressional delegation. Counties included in the WKRCA are Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg. For more information about WKRCA, please contact Coordinator Fran Johnson at fjohnson@paducahchamber.org Contact: Denise Thompson, Marketing Committee Chair West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance 270-247-6101 office denise@mayfieldgraveschamber.com Robert Moses Selected to serve another year as President of WCCE Board of Directors Robert Moses, president/CEO of the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, has been selected by his peers to serve another year as President of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors. Moses served as president in 2018, has been a board officer since 2014 and a member of the board serving as director since 2011. WMC Wisconsin Student Resources Packet View this brochure to read more about Wisconsin. To receive a Student Resources Packet via mail, contact Shelly Millar, 608.258.3400. Traverse City Area Chamber partnership: $10M aimed to promote sports and tourism State lawmakers approved a budget bill in late December that could provide up to $10 million dollars to create a Northern Michigan Sports Commission that would direct state dollars to sports and recreational-related facilities in northern Michigan. The fund — Northern Michigan Regional Tourism and Sports Fund — is a result of a proposal made by state Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), which will focus on improving or creating top-level athletic and recreational facilities and events in the region. The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce has been a partner in pushing for the proposal to pass for more than a year. “I am so grateful that through the hard work of many, including the Traverse City Area Chamber and other Northern Michigan chambers, that we were able to secure significant funding for this strategic, transformative opportunity for Northern Michigan’s dynamic and diverse sports, entertainment and recreation events and infrastructure,” Sen. Casperson said in a TC Chamber release. “I’m excited to see what the future brings through this funding and convinced it will leverage even more significant resources that will permit us to showcase Northern Michigan far beyond our region and continue to build our area economy.” Read more: Record-Eagle Romeoville Chamber of Commerce To Host "Planning Your Year Strategically" Business Lunch January 31st  11:00-1:00 Joliet Junior College Romeoville Campus Collaboration Room 1125 W. Romeo Rd, Romeoville Fees/Admission: $30 for participant and guest The Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce with Joliet Junior College present "2019 Planning Your Year Strategically" with Michelle Smith Hosted by Joliet Junior College in their Innovative Collaboration Space, this planning session, led by Michelle Smith, will take participants through a strategic framework that will build a plan focused on the goals of your organization. You and your guest will enjoy a full and exciting two-hour afternoon of strategic planning. Michelle Smith is the Founder and President of Z&B Consulting, Inc. She is a business consultant, trainer and public speaker who empowers small businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs to “Be Strategic” and “Be Intentional” so that they can “Be Successful” in their business and in life. This session will be co-led by Lenny Criddle, MBA (Executive Director of the Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce) and Margie Cepon, MA (Associate Professor at Joliet Junior College Business Department). What’s included: 2-hour strategy session Lunch Strategy Worksheets Strategy Workbook ($20 Value) $30 for participant and guest. To sign up, email info@romeovillechamber.org or call the chamber office at 815-886-2076. Indiana Chamber concern: Governor is right to focus on workforce In his State of the State address, Gov. Eric Holcomb rightly concentrated his focus on workforce development. Educating and training Hoosier workers and attracting top talent to Indiana must be priorities to achieve long-term success for our state. Indiana’s economy is strong. At 3.6 percent, our unemployment rate is lower than all of our neighboring states. We’re consistently ranked among the best states in the nation for business climate, and we continue to attract record investment and jobs. In 2018, nearly 300 companies committed to creating more than 30,000 new jobs and investing more than $7 billion in our state. These jobs are not just in traditional Hoosier industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and logistics; they’re increasingly in technology. In fact, a quarter of these new jobs are in the tech industry. Indiana is quickly gaining a reputation as the tech hub of the Midwest. Indianapolis ranked fourth in the nation for technology job growth last year, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. This is all good news for Indiana’s future growth potential. But as our workforce needs change, our worker training and talent pipeline must too. According to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Workforce Trends Survey, more than half of employers said they left jobs unfilled because they couldn’t find qualified candidates, and one-third cited this as their biggest challenge as a company. A recent tech industry study by Indianapolis-based Powderkeg underscores the issue, citing talent recruitment as the most significant and costly challenge facing the industry. Ensuring Indiana’s workforce can meet the demands of our modern economy is critical. To do so will require not only changing how we train our workers, but also increasing our ability to attract out-of-state talent. During his State of the State address, the governor announced plans to address both. Read more: Indianapolis Business Journal  How to Stay Safe During Record-Cold Weather Wisconsin Safety Council – the state’s leading provider of safety training and products – reminds all Wisconsinites to take extra precautions during this week’s record-cold temperatures. While Midwest winters can lead to a variety of dangerous situations, it is important to be prepared for both snowy conditions and low temperatures. Temperatures throughout Wisconsin will fall below -20 degrees on Wednesday, with wind chills as low as -60 degrees. As the temperatures plummet far below zero, Wisconsin Safety Council urges everyone to take the necessary steps to stay safe this week and throughout winter. Tips to Stay Safe During Cold Weather: Check the temperature and limit your time outdoors if it’s very cold, wet or windy Bundle up in several layers of loose clothing Wear mittens rather than gloves Cover your ears with a warm hat (Up to 40 percent of body heat can be lost through the head) Wear socks that will keep your feet warm and dry, and wear insulated boots Keep a change of dry clothing with you in case your clothes become wet Driving Tips for Cold Weather: Keep your gas tank filled and ensure your vehicle has fresh antifreeze Ensure your spare tire is inflated and your vehicle has a wheel wrench and tripod jack Travel with a shovel in your vehicle Have an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes: jumper cables, a tool kit, flashlight with extra batteries, reflective triangle, first aid kit, nonperishable foods, matches in a waterproof container, blankets, mittens, socks and hats Ensure all ice is scraped off your vehicle’s windows before traveling Keep your windshield washer fluid filled Common Cold Weather Dangers: Frostbite Even skin that is protected can be subject to frostbite. It’s the most common injury resulting from exposure to severe cold, and it usually occurs on fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. If caught early, it is possible to prevent permanent damage. If not, frostbite can lead to amputation. Superficial frostbite affects the skin surface, while the underlying tissue remains soft. The skin appears white, waxy or grayish-yellow and is cold and numb. If the condition is allowed to progress to deep frostbite, all layers of the skin are affected and the outcome likely will be more serious. The skin will become completely numb, blisters may form and eventually the skin tissue dies and turns black. If you suspect frostbite: Get indoors immediately Seek medical attention Remove constrictive clothing and jewelry that could impair circulation Place dry, sterile gauze between toes and fingers to absorb moisture and keep them from sticking together Elevate the affected area to reduce pain and swelling For superficial frostbite, you may also place the affected area in water that is 100 to 105 degrees until the tissue softens Hypothermia Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below 95 degrees. Severe shivering, one of the first signs of hypothermia, is beneficial in keeping the body warm. But as hypothermia progresses, shivering gives way to drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, shallow breathing, irregular heartbeat, slurred speech, loss of coordination and, eventually, unconsciousness and even death. If you suspect someone is suffering from hypothermia: Move the victim inside and remove any wet clothing Call for medical attention Add blankets, pillows, towels or newspapers beneath and around the victim Cover the victim’s head Handle the victim gently to avoid cardiac arrest Keep the victim in a horizontal position If necessary, give CPR For employers who want their teams to be more prepared for emergency situations that can occur in cold weather – and throughout the year – Wisconsin Safety Council offers training courses on Emergency Preparedness and First Aid. Click the link below for a full calendar of safety training courses: Wisconsin Safety Council Training Calendar For more information about staying safe during cold weather, please visit the following links: OSHA – Preventing Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities During Winter Storms National Safety Council – Be Prepared for Winter Driving National Safety Council – Frostbite and Hypothermia For more information, please contact: Nick Novak, 608.258.3400 Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Community Map Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber map The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Community Map is available at the New Castle-Henry County Chamber today! Thanks to Jeff Emsweller 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 guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.  Mississippi Economic Council Tour to Focus on Enhancing Mississippi's Opportunities - 12 locations still to go in 2019 Click Here to Register MEC's mission is to build a sense of statewide community - and we'll be coming your way very soon! This year, the MEC Tour will visit 20 locations around Mississippi, helping connect business leaders, community advocates, and elected officials at both the state and local level - and working together to make Mississippi a great place to live and do business. MEC needs YOUR input, feedback, and insight into how we can make Mississippi a great place to live and grow! The MEC Tour will focus on Enhancing Mississippi's Opportunities. We'll Also Discuss: Economic Competitiveness and Job Creation Workforce and Educational Achievement Business Climate Enhancement Workplace Wellness And More! Either breakfast or lunch will be provided at each MEC Tour event, and each session will last approximately 90 minutes. There is no cost to attend thanks to a generous sponsorship from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi; however, pre-registration is required. The MEC Tour is Generously Sponsored by: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Click Here to Register 2019 MEC Tour Schedule Lincoln County - Tuesday, January 15 - 11:30am-1:00pm Mitchell's Special Events & Catering - 1203 Hampton Dr., Brookhaven, MS 39601 80 Attendees Lauderdale County - Tuesday, January 22 - 7:30am-9:00am MSU Riley Center - 2200 5th Street, Meridian, MS 39301 80 Attendees Washington County - Thursday, January 24 - 11:30am-1:00pm Greenville Country Club - 2476 Highway 1 South, Greenville, MS 38701 115 Attendees Pearl River County - Tuesday, January 29 - 11:30am-1:00pm Senior Center of South Pearl River County - 45 El Patch Parkway, Picayune, MS 39466 45 Attendees Forrest County - Friday, February 1 - 7:00am-8:00am Southern Oaks House and Gardens - 1246 Richburg Rd, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Alcorn County - Tuesday, February 5 - 11:30am-1:00pm The Franklin Courtyard - 201 Franklin Courtyard, Corinth, MS 38834 Neshoba County - Monday, February 11 - 11:30am-1:00pm Ronnie's Steak & Grill - 734 Pecan Ave., Philadelphia, MS 39350 Rankin County - Tuesday, February 19 - 11:30am-1:00pm The Clyde Muse Center - 515 Country Place Parkway, Pearl, MS 39208 Hancock County - Wednesday, February 27 - 11:30am-1:00pm Bay Waveland Yacht Club - #1 Yacht Club Dr. Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 Lee County - Friday, March 8 - 7:00am-8:30am Elvis Birthplace - 306 Elvis Presley Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801 Coahoma County - Tuesday, March 19 - 11:30am-1:00pm Stone Pony Pizza - 226 Delta Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614 DeSoto County - Thursday, March 28 - 11:30am-1:00pm Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center - 700 Hacks Cross Rd, Olive Branch, MS 38654

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