David Gregory to keynote Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Business Summit and Annual Meeting; Michigan Chamber CEO tells Saginaw business crowd about jobs, education; Page County Chamber (Virginia) Plans to Use New Grant to Bring in Tourists; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce to hold job expo; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce-SBA Small Business Week 2015: Building Your Brand; EMBDC chamber excitement: Algix, 3D Fuel announce joint venture on Earth Day; New Castle-Henry County chamber initiative: Get Involved Block Party; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Inspiration)

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

David Gregory to keynote Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Business Summit and Annual Meeting

David Gregory, renowned journalist and former moderator of NBC's Meet the Press; will present the keynote address at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Business Summit and Annual Meeting, presented by Bingham Greenebaum Doll, on July 27.
David Gregory's career in journalism began when he was 18. Over the last 25 years, his work has taken him across the country and around the world. Most recently, he served as the moderator of Meet the Press at NBC News, the capstone to a long career at NBC. He contributed anchoring duties to all the network's major programs including Today and Nightly News. He also anchored a politics program on MSNBC called "Race for the White House" during the historic 2008 campaign. 
In addition, Gregory served as the network's chief White House correspondent during the Presidency of George W. Bush. He traveled with the President Bush on Sept. 11, 2001 and during Bush's first visit to Ground Zero after the attacks. From the White House, he covered the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and earned a reputation as the toughest questioner in the press corps.

Michigan Chamber CEO tells Saginaw business crowd about jobs, education

Things are looking up for the Great Lakes State, and business and government leaders need to keep that momentum going, according to Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. 
With the state and national economies improving, one of the greatest challenges Michigan faces is "the temptation to become complacent," Studley told a crowd of hundreds of businesswomen and men gathered at Apple Mountain on Friday, April 17, for the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce 152nd Annual Meeting.
Creating jobs and expanding opportunities for all Americans should be everyone's goal, he said.
"There are few social welfare challenges facing our great cities or our state that wouldn't be made better if more people had good jobs," Studley said. Read more: M Live

Page County Chamber (Virginia) Plans to Use New Grant to Bring in Tourists

The Page County Chamber of Commerce just received a grant from the Virginia Tourism Council worth $25,000.
The plan is to use that money to bring in vacationers. With seven trails in the county being named some of the best hiking sites in Virginia, new employees being hired to market the area and businesses coming in from Washington, D.C., people think the town filling up with tourism is a good thing.
"Oh yeah, every year I've been here it's just gotten bigger and bigger and more people. And we've also grown as a business," said Deanne Good, who works at a cafe. "We're actually changing locations. I mean, it's fantastic." Read more: 3 WHSV.com


Chamber Tweet of the Day: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

5. MMAC ‏@MMAC_Chamber 18m18 minutes ago

   See how Milwaukee celebrated Earth Week and continues to improve sustainability measures throughout the city http://bit.ly/1bw6kco 

   
   

    
   

Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce to hold job expo

The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Fayetteville High School, will hold its sixth annual job expo Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 N. Palak Drive.

Chamber officials plan to have up to 50 employers at the expo, including Braum's, Central EMS, CH2M Hill, Fayetteville Auto Park, Fayetteville Police Department, Karcher North America, Marshalltown, Northwest Arkansas Community College, PRN Medical Services, University of Arkansas and Whataburger.

Fayetteville High School students will meet with employers from 9:45 to 11 a.m.

The expo is open to the public from noon to 3:30 p.m. Read more: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

SBA Small Business Week 2015:
Building Your Brand

Branding is especially important for small businesses trying to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. As we celebrate SBA Small Business Week, learn from industry experts about strategies for success and how to answer these questions:

• What exactly is branding?
• How do you effectively brand yourself – and your employees - as ambassadors for your company?

What is the long-term effect of re-branding?

REGISTER NOW 
May 7, 2015 | 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
University of Phoenix| 203 North LaSalle Street

Member Price: $15 | Non-Member Price: $30

EMBDC chamber excitement: Algix, 3D Fuel announce joint venture on Earth Day

Wednesday April 22 was Earth Day and to celebrate being "green," local startup company Algix announced a joint venture with 3D Fuel that will bring new manufacturing and jobs to the Meridian and Lauderdale County.
    The announcement detailed the installation of two – soon-to-be four – manufacturing lines for the "ink" of 3D printers – a plastic filament (much like a very thick version of a fishing line) that is heated and used to print anything from automotive parts to prosthetic limbs. A major growth industry, the technology is expected to grow to a $16.8 billion market by 2018, according to independent research company Canalys. The predicted growth rate of this market is 45.7 percent year after year.
    "At Innovate Mississippi, we work with a lot of early stage companies. Any company that makes it to fruition – in terms of the production of materials – is always exciting. But particularly in an industry like this, where it's in the supply chain for 3D printing – an amazingly fast-expanding industry," said Tony Jeff, CEO of Innovate Mississippi, who was part of a speakers' panel at the announcement event.     "It's really exciting so see someone in that area and with a material that's a green that gives more flexibility on how products can be made and used," Jeff said.     Asked about how important "made in America" is as a differentiator, Jeff said, "I think it is and more importantly; I think their customers will see that as a differentiator across a wide variety of channels. Price and quality are still going to be critical, but we work a lot on a making it in America program. A program where we work with a lot of companies to try to understand their supply chain. Understand the disruptions that can happen over long distances. Anyone who is really taking a look at that will see having a domestic supplier is an important piece of that equation as well.'     Meredith Rea, Chamber of Commerce manager at the East Mississippi Business Development Cooperation (EMBDC), expressed excitement at having a 3D printer filament manufacturer in Meridian. Read more: Meridian Star

New Castle-Henry County chamber initiative: Get Involved Block Party

Who:  Non-profits, clubs, Community Organizations
Why:  To assist these groups in getting the word out about their purpose in an effort to increase participation and volunteerism in our community.
How:  Participating organizations will set up a booth, FREE of charge, and interact with community members who seek more information about each group.  This is a time for organizations to "sell" themselves to potential members.

Information will be collected from each attendee and shared with those organizations of interest to that attendee.

Click the link below to register for this FREE event!!

Block Party Registration

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Inspiration)

“Everyone who is successful must have dreamed of something.” 

- Native American Proverb

 

Kentucky chamber: Top businesses say Best Places award helps recruit and retain top workers in the state; U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga talks roads at Michigan West Coast chamber breakfast; Chamber collaboration: Loudoun Small Business Week Offers Networking, Learning Opportunities; Leadership Lafayette event: Yokna Sculpture Trail Unveiled Thursday at Lamar Park; West Allis West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce 2015 Business Directory; Phillips County Chamber of Commerce Banquet keynote speaker announced; Beloit Chamber readies for Downtown Dash; Chamber Celebrates Michigan City and Hears ‘State of the City’ From Mayor Ron Meer; Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce hosts annual dinner; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

Happy Friday Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Kentucky chamber: Top businesses say Best Places award helps recruit and retain top workers in the state

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (KYSHRM) proudly honored businesses from across the state as Best Places to Work in Kentucky because of their commitment to move the state forward.
More than 1,200 attendees joined in celebrating the 90 Kentucky companies who were recognized for their commitment to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence during the Eleventh Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky awards ceremony this month.
Winners were selected from three categories – small companies of 15-149 employees, medium companies of 150-499 employees and large companies consisting of more than 500 employees (categories based on number of U.S. employees, only Kentucky employees surveyed). The selection process is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey, administrated by Best Companies Group.
See video from this year’s event and interviews with employers about what the honor means for their business:

Edward Jones, Your Community Bank and River Road Asset Management were ranked the 2015 Best Places to Work in Kentucky.
River Road Asset Management, the number one small company, is located in Louisville and is an institutional investment management firm founded in April 2005 that manages more than $8 billion in assets. This is the fifth year River Road has been named to the Best Places to Work in Kentucky list and a second-time winner in the small company category.
Your Community Bank, the top winner in the medium company category, is a banking organization that provides loans, deposit accounts, treasury management, and other financial products to both businesses and consumers. This is the third year that Your Community Bank has made the list. Read more: kychamberblog

U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga talks roads at Michigan West Coast chamber breakfast

Rep. Bill Huizenga dropped in on the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast Monday morning at AlpenRose restaurant in downtown Holland.

The Republican congressman from Zeeland was not exempt from road funding questions that dominated the rest of the event. Federal surface transportation authorization expires at the end of May, and it looks like for the time being it will be replaced by “shorter term fixes and patches,” he said, in response to one question. The 2016 presidential election campaign is likely to “add as many question marks as anything,” he said.

Huizenga also talked about annual funding for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and attempting to renegotiate regulations on Great Lakes harbors. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both Michigan Democrats, are also among those working on the issue.

Huizenga and Peters are also working together on a pair of bills that would lift restrictions on certain government agencies that bar them from using re-manufactured equipment and parts. Read more: Holland Sentinel

Chamber collaboration: Loudoun Small Business Week Offers Networking, Learning Opportunities

Events on May 11-17 include presentations, farm and winery tours.

Who will you meet, and what will you learn? That’s what entrepreneurs are invited to find out during Loudoun Small Business Week, May 11-17. There will be nearly two dozen events where you can network with industry leaders and learn essential strategies for business growth.
“Talk to almost anyone who started a small company and made it big, and the two things that took them from idea to IPO are the personal connections they made, and the information they put to use,” said Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer. The business community will get to do both during Loudoun Small Business Week 2015.
The week kicks off with a special presentation by international medical device company K2M CEO Eric Major on Monday, May 11. The week ends with farm and winery tours Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17.
Other highlights include a screening of the documentary “StartupLand” and a Tap Takeover by Loudoun craft brewers; both will be held at the Alamo Drafthouse in Ashburn on May 12. Print out this poster of the week’s activities for easy reference.
“More than 80 percent of all Loudoun businesses have less than 20 employees,” Rizer explained. “We’ve worked hard to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Loudoun that helps companies start and thrive.”
That ecosystem includes Loudoun Small Business Week cosponsors CIT, the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, the Mason Enterprise Center-Leesburg, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Small Business Development Center and the Town of Leesburg. Read more: Ashburn Patch

Leadership Lafayette event: Yokna Sculpture Trail Unveiled Thursday at Lamar Park

Featuring a rotating exhibit of 18 large-scale sculptures by locally, regionally and nationally renowned exhibiting artists, The Yokna Sculpture Trail is the first outdoor sculpture program of its kind in North Mississippi. Nine sculptures are located at Lamar Park on Country Club Drive; four pieces are featured at the Powerhouse Sculpture Garden on University Avenue; and five sculptures are located at Rebel Sculpture Park in front of Meek Hall on The University of Mississippi campus, home to the department of art and art history.

Photo by Amelia Camurati

On Thursday, April 23, the Yokna Sculpture Trail will be unveiled with a ribbon cutting and reception at Lamar Park. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with light refreshments, followed by an optional guided tour of the trail aboard the Double Decker bus.
The trail is a collaboration between the city of Oxford, The University of Mississippi and The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.
“By working together, the city, the university and the Arts Council have helped make this dream a reality for the people of Oxford and Lafayette County,” says Earl Dismuke, a local sculptor who worked closely with Durant Thompson, associate professor of art at The University of Mississippi, and Wayne Andrews, executive director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, to create the trail.
“The trail will add to the quality of life in our community,” Dismuke says. “Public art like this levels the viewing field of art. Someone who would not feel comfortable going to an art gallery or a museum can view art in a location where they do feel comfortable.” Read more: hottytoddy.com




West Allis West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce 2015 Business Directory

The West Allis West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce 2015 Business Directory is available at the West Allis West Milwaukee Chamber today! Thanks to Diane Brandt and her chamber team for their work in putting this together!

For further information about how Town Square Publications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's map or gloss publication goals, please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

Phillips County Chamber of Commerce Banquet keynote speaker announced

Phillips County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Doug Friedlander has announced that Clarksdale, Miss. Mayor Bill Luckett will be the keynote speaker for the annual banquet scheduled for Thursday, April 30.

Phillips County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Doug Friedlander has announced that Clarksdale, Miss. Mayor Bill Luckett will be the keynote speaker for the annual banquet scheduled for Thursday, April 30.

Luckett took office as mayor of Clarksdale on July 1, 2013. According to Friedlander, Luckett has played a pivotal role in revitalization efforts in the Mississippi community.

“Along with his business partner, Mayor Luckett helped spark a retail, restaurant and tourism renaissance in Clarksdale by opening the Ground Zero Blues Club and the upscale Madidi restaurant,” commented Friedlander. “Through these experiences and through his experience as mayor of Helena’s ‘sister city’ he has learned many lessons – some for better, some for worse – along the way about what it takes to revitalize a community much like our own.”

During his speech, Luckett will look back on best practices and lessons learned over his many years of involvement with the revitalization of Clarksdale. Friedlander added that Luckett will advise Helena-West Helena on just how to put those lessons to use to revitalize every corner of Phillips County. Read more: Helena-Arkansas.com

Beloit Chamber readies for Downtown Dash

The Second Annual Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) Downtown Dash 5K run/walk is coming back to Beloit.
The Dash will be held Saturday, May 2 and will coincide with the launch of the first day of the Beloit Farmers Market. The title sponsor of the Dash is Kerry Inc. The race will begin at 9 a.m. Tickets are $25 or $15 for students.
Last year the event attracted 130 walkers and runners.
"It was very successful. We are doing it again and hoping for 200 people," Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Director of Operations Aimee Thurner said. "We are really excited to bring this to the Greater Beloit area again. Our amazing committee members for this event have planned a fun and healthy community event for all ages.” Read more: Beloit Daily News

 

Chamber Celebrates Michigan City and Hears ‘State of the City’ From Mayor Ron Meer

On Friday night the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated Michigan City with its members and guests at the Annual Membership Dinner. The event, held at the Blue Chip Casino’s Stardust Event Center, featured the State of the City address given by Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer and a dinner consisting of Hoosier favorites prepared by the Chefs at the Blue Chip Casino.
Click here to see more photos from the State of the City Address!
The Chamber has been actively making connections and establishing partnerships throughout the city to develop a quality workforce. They have been involved in the revitalization work on the North End and South Gateway Corridor sections of town. Trips to Italy and China have also expanded the Chambers International Awareness program.
Ann Dahm, Chamber of Commerce President, shared some of the highlights of the Chambers activity. Read more: La Porte County Life

Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce hosts annual dinner

The Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce Saturday honored one of the most respected music educators in all of Illinois during its annual banquet held at the Pinckneyville Inn.

PCHS director of music Stephen Cannedy and wife Tricia shared the night with two other honorees. The Person of the Year was Rhonda Shubert. The Business of the Year was the weekly hometown Pinckneyville Press newspaper.

For three decades, Mr. Cannedy has been the face and conscience of music at Pinckneyville Community High School. Mr. Cannedy attended Lincolnwood High School in Raymond, Illinois. He received his Bachelorand Masters degrees in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University. Mr. Cannedy has been a guest director for festival bands, IMEA Chairman, and hosted Marching Contest and other musical events. Mr. Cannedy directs the concert band, pep band, marching band, Music Makers, poms, and is the Fine Arts Department Chair. Mr. Cannedy resides in Pinckneyville with his wife Tricia and daughter Ali. In his brief remarks he gave a great deal of credit to principal Dustin Foutch and Supt. Keith Hagene for the success of the program. Read more: Duquoin Evening Call

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #79      Post pictures of members in action on line

 

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education weekly new idea: Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When It Matters Most by Hendrie Weisinger; Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce C.O.R.E.; Voting underway for Richmond chamber's startup contest; Workforce, Transportation Key Issues at Mississippi Economic Council Regional Round-Ups; Bentonville Chamber breakfast focuses on technology; Chamber assistance: 'American Pickers' return to Wisconsin; From the community: Evanston Chamber of Commerce Presents Annual Legislative Breakfast, May 11; La Porte chamber: 2015 is Looking to be a Good Year as Projected in Economic Briefing; Michigan chamber concern: Nine things voters should consider before voting May 5;

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


Chamber Executive Ongoing Education weekly new idea: Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When It Matters Most - by Hendrie Weisinger

Nobody performs better under pressure. Regardless of the task, pressure ruthlessly diminishes our judgment, decision-making, attention, dexterity, and performance in every professional and personal arena. In Performing Under Pressure, Drs. Hendrie Weisinger and J.P. Pawliw-Fry introduce us to the concept of pressure management, offering empirically tested short term and long term solutions to help us overcome the debilitating effects of pressure.

Performing Under Pressure tackles the greatest obstacle to personal success, whether in a sales presentation, at home, on the golf course, interviewing for a job, or performing onstage at Carnegie Hall. Despite sports mythology, no one "rises to the occasion" under pressure and does better than they do in practice. The reality is pressure makes us do worse, and sometimes leads us to fail utterly. But there are things we can do to diminish its effects on our performance.

Performing Under Pressure draws on research from over 12,000 people, and features the latest research from neuroscience and from the frontline experiences of Fortune 500 employees and managers, Navy SEALS, Olympic and other elite athletes, and others. It offers 22 specific strategies each of us can use to reduce pressure in our personal and professional lives and allow us to better excel in whatever we do.

Whether you’re a corporate manager, a basketball player, or a student preparing for the SAT, Performing Under Pressure will help you to do your best when it matters most. More information: Barnes & Noble


Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce C.O.R.E.


Community OutREach

An initiative introduced by the Jessamine County Chamber in January 2013.

To support, catalyze, involve and promote the business community and the citizens to do things For the Greater Good.

Three types of Programs:
1. Community Program already in existence. Developed by a business or organization that the Chamber supports through involvement and marketing of said project.
2. Community Program developed and implemented by the Chamber of Commerce.
3. Community Program designed as a partnership between a business or organization and the Chamber of Commerce.

Current Programs that are a part of C.O.R.E.:
Creative Art League of Jessamine County - Ongoing support including partnership for annual Chamber Christmas Card Contest.
Taste of Jessamine - An existing program that the Chamber markets and participates in.
Living Treasures - This program was developed to recognize community members who have significantly affected the footprint of Jessamine County. A program developed with the Jessamine County Historical Society, the Jessamine County Public Library, the Jessamine Journal, Bridgepoint Senior Living and the Chamber. Learn more: Jessamine Chamber

Voting underway for Richmond chamber's startup contest

Public voting is underway and continues through Thursday night to select finalists in the Greater Richmond Chamber’s i.e.startup competition.
This year’s contest will hand out $22,500 in cash as well as free office space, technical support and mentoring.

Ten to 15 finalists will be announced on Monday. The chamber said this year’s competition drew 54 entries.

The fourth annual competition again will give $10,000 to a business — selected by judges who are local entrepreneurs and venture capitalists — that is determined to be the region’s best startup.

Another $10,000 prize will be given to the best social innovation startup, which the chamber said is designed to recognize a business such as a B corporation that supports charitable organizations. Richmond Times-Dispatch

 Workforce, Transportation Key Issues at Mississippi Economic Council Regional Round-Ups

MEC recently traveled to 27 communities throughout the state, discussing opportunities for those communities and regions to help grow Mississippi’s economic competitiveness. During the Regional Round-Up meetings, which were sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, MEC focused on how the 9 regions across the state can work together to build on their strengths and how each region is vital in helping Mississippi grow and prosper.
“MEC’s mission has long been to build a sense of statewide business community,” MEC President and CEO Blake Wilson said. “There is no better way to do this than to work with regions throughout the state to identify the opportunities that exist and look for ways to take advantage of those opportunities.”
MEC’s Regional Round-Up looked at region-specific economic drivers, as well as state-wide issues like transportation, healthcare, workforce, education and healthy communities. This regional approach to economic development is based on the four major goals of the Blueprint Mississippi initiative, which are:

• Economic Competitiveness
• Education Achievement & Workforce Development 
• Resource Management
• Technology Commercialization

 More Information: Mississippi Economic Council

 

Bentonville Chamber breakfast focuses on technology

The city's educational systems and businesses need to work together to strengthen the future work force's skill sets, Michael Poore, Bentonville Public Schools superintendent, said Friday morning.
Poore was one of three speakers at the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce Business Matters Breakfast held at Avondale Chapel.
"We're trying to change the tide of how we work within the schools," Poore said. "It's not that we're giving up on core information, knowledge and skills in math, reading and writing, but we have to add a whole other layer to better prepare our kids for the future."
Poore spoke about the skills gap that industry leaders have voiced regarding workers who lack science, technology, engineering and math literacy. He told business leaders that their companies need to be part of course development.
The district will launch a similar program to Kansas City's Blue Valley School District's Career and Professional Studies program next school year. The model gives students opportunities to engage in real, relevant learning through relationships with businesses, according to Poore's presentation. Read more: Arkansas Online

Chamber assistance: 'American Pickers' return to Wisconsin

The tweets and Facebook posts have been flying for the past two weeks.
"American Pickers" Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are coming back to Wisconsin in the first two weeks of June, and word is circulating now that they're looking for interesting collections of junk throughout the state.
The Iowa-based duo scours the countryside in search of "rusty gold," the antiques and memorabilia they purchase and resell in Wolfe's American Archeology shops.
They document the process on their popular "American Pickers" cable TV show on the History channel. The show airs new episodes at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.
Cineflix Production crews contacted Algoma and Eagle River chambers of commerce to get the word out and track down leads. Read more: PostCrescent.com

From the community: Evanston Chamber of Commerce Presents Annual Legislative Breakfast, May 11

The Evanston Chamber of Commerce will present the Annual Legislative Breakfast on Monday, May 11, 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m., featuring several local political leaders. The speakers include County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, State Senator Daniel Biss and State Representatives Robyn Gabel and Laura Fine. U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky also hopes to attend, pending the upcoming Congressional schedule.
Presenting sponsor AT&T's Vice President, External Affairs, Eileen Mitchell, will open the program. The breakfast, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1818 Maple Ave., Evanston, is open to Chamber members, non-members and the general public. Doors open at 7 a.m. Cost of the breakfast is $20 for Chamber members, $30 for City of Evanston officials and $40 for non-members.
"This is an opportunity to question our leaders and also receive some perspective on issues that are important to the citizens of Illinois in general and Evanston in particular," said Elaine Kemna-Irish, Executive Director of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. "Our speakers offer insights into current and future legislation which will affect us all," she added, "and they also welcome questions from the public." Read more: Chicago Tribune

La Porte chamber: 2015 is Looking to be a Good Year as Projected in Economic Briefing

The power of knowing; when we are aware of what is happening around us we are able to use the knowledge that we obtain as a tool to better our communities and ourselves.
The Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce, The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, and Purdue University North Central recognized this notion and put bi-annual Economic Briefing Sessions together that have been taking place at PNC for about 13 years. On a cool April morning the PNC College of Business and the Center for Economic Development and Research (CEDaR) presented the current trends in La Porte County’s economy.
“We wanted a connection between the community and the university, especially the business school,” Mike Seitz, President of the La Porte Chamber said. “Looking at the turnout today we have a lot of business leaders here and they will be able to pick up the trends and implement them in their businesses.” Read more: La Porte County Life

Michigan chamber concern: Nine things voters should consider before voting May 5

Voters go to the polls May 5 to decide a statewide ballot proposal to raise the state sales tax from 6 cents on the dollar to 7 cents. Here are nine things voters should consider before casting their ballots:

What It Is

The sales tax increase is part of a larger legislative package of 10 bills designed to pump an extra $1.2 billion into repairing Michigan’s crumbling roads and bridges. Some of the legislation is reflected in the ballot proposal, some of it isn’t. Voters have to approve the ballot proposal for all of the legislation to take effect.

How It Came To Be

Michigan lawmakers cobbled together the 10-bill package along with a resolution for a ballot proposal to raise the state sales tax in the lame-duck session in December before adjourning for the year and closing out the two-year session.

What It Does

In general, the package boosts the sales tax a penny through the ballot proposal, raising $1.4 billion. Legislation tied to its passage eliminates the sales tax on fuel and replaces it with a wholesale fuel tax, eliminates some discounts for automobile registrations and boosts truck registration fees, raising another $463 million. Read more: Grand Traverse Insider


#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations:  (Attitude)

“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.”

~Sara Teasdale