Commerce Lexington Inc. Recognized Among Top Chambers for Second Consecutive Year
Commerce Lexington Inc. is proud to announce that it has been named among the finalists for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) 2015 Chamber of the Year Award. This marks the second consecutive year that Commerce Lexington Inc. has been recognized as a finalist for the honor.
Chamber of the Year is the nation’s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in leading businesses and communities. Chambers honored with this designation have not only demonstrated organizational strength, but also have made an impact on key community priorities such as education, transportation, business development, and quality of life.
Commerce Lexington Inc. President and CEO Bob Quick, CCE, said, “This honor not only recognizes our hardworking staff, but also the contributions of our members, the board of directors, and many community volunteers who work hard each day to help Commerce Lexington Inc. fulfill its mission. They are always thinking with the end goal in mind – to serve our members better, improve our quality of place, and create jobs.”
The Chamber of the Year process begins with the Annual Operations Survey. Applicants qualified to compete by completing the survey and meeting thresholds in at least four of six key performance areas including: net revenue, net assets, reserve funds, membership account retention, and membership dollar retention. Read more: Commmerce Lexington
Inaugural West Side Chamber of Commerce Job Fair-aganza
Job seekers can meet with more than 20 potential employers at the first West Side Chamber of Commerce Job Fair-aganza June 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pike Performing Arts Center, Pike High School, 6701 Zionsville Road.
The Job Fair-aganza is presented as a free public service for employers and job seekers by the West Side Chamber of Commerce.
“The West Side Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in our community and helping make west side businesses more successful. Helping people become employed does both,” said Will Lance, project manager, a Chamber board member and assistant general manager of the Wingate by Wyndham Northwest.
“We will have numerous jobs from management to call centers, package handling, installation to sales,” Lance said. “This gives job seekers many opportunities to find a new job, a new career and maybe a new life.” Read more: Indianapolis Recorder
Chamber partnership: TV show features Green Lake area this month
The Green Lake area is the focus of an upcoming episode of the tourism TV show “Discover Wisconsin.”
“Think Green: Green Lake Country” premieres Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, across the Midwest on the nation’s longest-running travelogue program.
The episode was produced in partnership with Green Lake Country Visitors Bureau, Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce, Berlin Chamber of Commerce, Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce, Markesan Chamber of Commerce and Discover Wisconsin.
The episode premieres Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. on Fox Sports North and 6:30 p.m. on WFRV channel 5. The public may attend a free premiere party Tuesday, June 16 at 6 p.m. at Thrasher Opera House in downtown Green Lake. A social hour will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. Read more: RiponPress.com
Chamber interest: Illinois halts economic incentives for businesses
Business advocates Tuesday said they weren't surprised by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's decision to suspend future economic incentives used to attract and retain businesses.
"It's part of the process," said Pam McDonough, CEO of the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing and a former director of the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which administers incentives programs. "We are playing power games."In a statement, Rauner's office said the move is part of a series of cuts aimed at narrowing a deficit of more than $3 billion in the state's fiscal 2016 budget. It's the latest attempt by the Republican governor to ratchet up pressure on lawmakers to agree to his pro-business, anti-union agenda. Democrats have passed a spending plan, but the budget has yet to reach Rauner's desk.
Programs affected in Tuesday's action include the Employer Training Investment Program, which is used to reimburse companies for up to 50 percent of the cost of training workers, and the Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit program, or EDGE.
Todd Maisch, chief executive of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, said the governor's move is prudent in the short term, given the budget battle ahead. Longer term, however, the lack of incentives would put Illinois in a competitive disadvantage because other states use incentives to lure companies. Read more: Chicago Tribune
Van Buren Chamber celebrates 60th Anniversary, awards Iverson Riggs honor to Lisa Huckelbury
Established in 1955, the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce was formed by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to promote progress in the business and overall community. According to the April 26, 1956 edition of the Van Buren Shopping News, the group "was formed from the framework and through the efforts of the old Business and Professional Association."
The B&PA had existed previously to serve in a similar capacity to a chamber, but was in need of more extensive support from the community. The effort was spearheaded by Tom Lightfoot, owner of the Jones Seed Company. During the organization's formation process, Lightfoot was hired by the original B&PA board to conduct a survey to gauge the level of interest in establishing a chamber. His findings proved "optimistic," with his final report revealing 153 pledges, totaling $7,190 in initial contributions. In April 1955, the group came together to sponsor the official organization of the Chamber. From there, a 24-man board was elected to govern the new organization and from thus, the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce was born. Read more: The City Wire
Ocean Springs chamber to hold 10th annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival
Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., blueberry vendors will join the Ocean Springs Fresh Market for the Annual Red, White & “Blueberry” Festival in the L&N Depot Plaza in downtown Ocean Springs.
The public is invited to enjoy free vanilla ice-cream topped with their choice of blueberries or strawberries provided by the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce – Main Street – Tourism Bureau, sample some great blueberry dishes, share blueberry recipes, purchase blueberry bushes, cooking demonstrations and more. The Ocean Springs Fresh Market vendors will be out in full force with great local items for purchase.
The First Saturday Bayhouse Market will join in the fun from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Robinson Street.
The event is free to the public. Read more: WLOX.com
Chamber news: Lynchburg Has Lowest Cost of Living According to Statewide Index
Living in Lynchburg is at the top of a very important list. According to the first quarter of a statewide cost of living index, this Hill City has the lowest cost of living in Virginia.
The Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce released the good news Tuesday, and they couldn't be happier.
The data was collected by the Council for Community and Economic Research - which measures regional differences between the cost of consumer goods and services.
For this index, the group factored in things like housing costs, health care, utilities, and transportation - which was one of Lynchburg's strongest categories.
The Chamber says this is a sign that Lynchburg is right on target for attracting new residents, businesses... and growing the economy. Read more: WSET TV Lynchburg
Yvette Keast hired as Executive Director of Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce
There’s a new Executive Director at the Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce! Yvette Keast of Beaverton has been hired to take on the role.
“I’m excited to work with all the businesses in the county,” she said.
In addition to her role at the
Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce, Keast teaches one class at Mid
Michigan Community College and serves as the Theatre Production
Coordinator.
In addition, she has been active
in various organizations around the county for many years, including
Gladwin Area Friends of the Theatre and Gladwin County Carriage
Festival.
Keast will be holding office
hours in both Gladwin and Beaverton. One of the things she stresses is
that she plans to have staffing in the Chamber office whenever she can
so they can better serve the needs of the businesses. Read more: Record & Clarion
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Courage) - Mark Twain
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. – Mark Twain
