Local Chamber News
Local Chamber News Archive
January
1/3/2008 Chamber Announces Health Initiatives Committee
Ft. Mitchell, KY — The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is taking a healthy approach towards encouraging a healthy community, healthy citizens and healthy businesses with its recently formed Health Initiatives Council, announced today.
1/9/2008 Time To Try Tennessee?
Chattanooga, TN — For the newest crop of baby-boomer retirees, Florida may be a "been there, done that" proposition. Apparently, Tennessee is stealing some of the Sunshine State's thunder in that arena, with a 27 percent increase (since 1995) in out-of-staters moving in to retire.
1/9/2008 Right On Track in Norfolk
Norfolk, VA — In Norfolk, Virginia, where construction is about to begin on the new downtown light rail transit system, developers are already planning more than $220 million in office, retail, apartment and hotel development. How much more rail-related growth could downtown Norfolk see?
1/9/2008 Not Your Grandfather's Florida
Melbourne, FL — Florida is in transition from being a low-cost to a high-cost state. Find out why the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation thinks that may be a good thing.
1/9/2008 On Arizona Chamber's Agenda
Tucson, AZ — Arizona has a new employer-sanctions law that the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry says must either go or be changed.
1/24/2008 Getting it Together in Florida
Tallahassee, FL — Last week, the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce announced that the John L. and James S. Knight Foundation will provide $200,000 to help fund its regional planning initiative, Our Region Tomorrow .
1/24/2008 Middle Georgia Gets Ready
Macon, GA — Middle Georgia, one of the state's seven designated Work Ready Regions, received a $500,000 boost last week from Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.
1/24/2008 Signs of Unity in Northwest Arkansas
Northwest, AR — Community leaders in Northwest Arkansas are planning a coordinated "wayfinding" sign program to draw more visitors and to demonstrate that the region's individual towns are united in rolling out the welcome mat.
1/24/2008 Standing Tall in Texas
Waco, TX — The board of directors of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce met last week to discuss a rather large matter. How large? Seventy feet of concrete large, to be exact.
February
2/8/2008 Tuscaloosa Tackles 2008
Tuscaloosa, AL — This week, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama released its agenda for 2008. Read on for a more detailed look at the chamber's ambitious line-up.
2/8/2008 Studying Sonoma County
Santa Rosa, CA — As part of the ground-breaking project (currently underway), researchers are creating an economic model which will have the ability to be "tweaked" as figures (such as literacy rates) change. This ground-breaking model is intended to guide planning efforts for the next decade. Any results yet? Yes - and, apparently, they're none too reassuring to the business community.
2/8/2008 Outside the Box in Ohio
Akron, OH — What happens to a manufacturer when the market for its widgit dries up? Sadly, the answer for too many of these businesses is to close the door. Is there a practical way to prevent this unfortunate outcome before it occurs? Yes, say NorTech, and it's not rocket science either.
2/8/2008 Creatively Cool in Detroit
Detroit, MI — "The young professional generation can make many choices today," said Tammy Carnrike, COO of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, "They can go anywhere to work and live." So why stay in the Motor City?
2/8/2008 Smarter and Stronger in Florida
Manatee, FL — Florida Hometown Democracy, the ballot initiative that would have required voter approval for each new development project, fell 65,182 signatures short of the 611,009 needed to appear on the 2008 ballot. Score one for the Florida Chamber's Floridians For Smarter Growth campaign. End of story?
2/15/2008 Chamber, community establish Northern Illinois University memorial fund
DeKalb, IL — The DeKalb and Sycamore Chambers of Commerce in Illinois have established an Northern Illinois University (NIU) Memorial Fund through the DeKalb County Community Foundation following Thursday’s tragic shooting on campus.
2/25/2008 Promise in Detroit?
Detroit, MI — Earlier this month, the Detroit (MI) Regional Chamber hosted a conference (co-organized by the Brookings Institution) to explore "promising avenues for collaboration" among the economically-stressed Great Lakes States.
2/25/2008 Southeast Megaregion Update
Alexandria, VA — One of ten emerging megaregions in the United States, the Piedmont Atlantic megaregion (PAM), encompasses the Gulf Coast and stretches north to Tennessee and the Carolinas, and includes the cities of Houston, Mobile, Charlotte, Nashville, and Raleigh. Should this expansive and diverse collection of individual communities adopt a regional identity as opposed to working separately to advance their own agendas?
2/25/2008 Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio Recognize GreaterFindlayInc.'s Douglas Peters
Findlay, OH — Douglas S. Peters, IOM, CCEO-AP, President and CEO of GreaterFindlayInc. has been awarded the Michael A. Schultz Professional of the Year Award by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio (CCEO).
2/25/2008 Crossing the Indiana-Kentucky Border
Evansville, IN — What's the most recent development in the chamber regionalism movement?
2/25/2008 New Jersey Chamber Looking for Trade?
New Brunswick, NJ — The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of Gov. Corzine's "bold and aggressive" plan to reduce state debt and pay for massive infrastructure improvements, even if the proposal does rely on "sharp" toll hikes.
March
3/10/2008 Olathe Chamber of Commerce Earns U.S. Chamber Five-Star Accreditation
Olathe, KS — The United States Chamber of Commerce awarded the Olathe Chamber of Commerce a Five-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. Fewer than one percent of the nation's chambers have earned this highest level of designation from the organization.
3/10/2008 TriCounty (PA) Area Chamber of Commerce Names New President
Pottstown, PA — The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce (TCACC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mr. P. Timothy Phelps has been hired as the President of the Chamber and will begin in his new position on Monday, April 7.
3/13/2008 The Rockford Forty
Rockford, IL — In an effort to "honor and attract the next generation of talent to the area," the Rockford (IL) Chamber of Commerce is planning to recognize the accomplishments of forty of its forty-or-younger leaders.
3/13/2008 Site Selects Sioux City
Sioux City, IA — Site Selection Magazine , a well-regarded 54-year old national publication, just chose two communities west of the Mississippi for its 2007 Best Metros list. Which communities were honored with this distinction?
3/13/2008 Top Ten Tech Towns
Alexandria, VA — What do Columbus (OH), Houston (TX), Santa Fe (NM) and Palm Beach (FL) have in common?
3/13/2008 Workforce Windfall in Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK — The Tulsa (OK) Metro Chamber has something to smile about these days. HB 3114, a.k.a. the Oklahoma Workforce Incentives Act of 2008, just surmounted its first hurdle, winning approval from the state's house of representatives.
3/27/2008 South Carolina Chamber's S. Hunter Howard, Jr. Announces Retirement
Columbia, SC — After a long and successful career in leading the most powerful advocacy organization for business in the state, S. Hunter Howard, Jr. announced his retirement effective September 30, 2008. He has served as president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber since 1992.
3/27/2008 Find Me the Money
Providence, RI — The Greater Providence (RI) Chamber of Commerce is working to bridge the gap between local entrepreneurs and the capital they need to fund their businesses.
3/27/2008 Achievement Pays
Sioux Falls, SD — South Dakota is set to pay students when they take and pass Advanced Placement tests.
3/27/2008 Bragging Rights for Bellevue
Bellevue, WA — It's great to be in Bellevue, WA, says Fortune Small Business, which assigned the west coast city the No.1 spot on its Best Places to Live and Launch list. Why did Bellevue earn top honors?
3/27/2008 BRAC hires Adam Knapp as CEO
Alexandria, VA — Adam Knapp, a key state policy official, will be the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s next chief executive officer, chamber board members announced today.
3/27/2008 A Special Class
Tinton Falls, NJ — Do chamber execs belong to the "creative class?" Certainly - and we're sure you bring something special to the cadre of scientists, engineers, artists, designers, writers, innovators and musicians also included in this elite group. Just how special is the creative class?
3/27/2008 Hunter Howard To Step Down
Columbia, SC — Effective September 30th of this year, S. Hunter Howard, Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber, will step down.
3/27/2008 Bellevue Named No. 1 Place to Live and Launch a Business
Bellevue, WA — Fortune Small Business (FSB) has named Bellevue the best place (out of 100) in the nation to live and launch a business. FSB editors “scoured the country to find towns with the best mix of business advantages and lifestyle appeal.”
May
5/1/2008 National Site Selection Magazine Once Again Ranks RCGA Among Top 10
St Louis, MO — National Site Selection Magazine Once Again Ranks RCGA Among Top 10 Economic Development Organizations in North America, Top 4 of Major Metros
5/22/2008 Site Selection Releases Top 10 Economic Development Groups Article Today
Scranton, PA — Site Selection magazine has released its May 2008 issue which includes an article identifying the Top 10 U.S. Economic Development Groups in which The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce receives top honors. The issue is available both in hard copy and online.
June
6/2/2008 MACCE Awards 2008 Maryland Chamber Executive of the Year
Annapolis, MD — The Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) named St. Mary’s County Chamber President & CEO Bill Scarafia its 2008 Chamber Executive of the Year.
6/27/2008 St. Louis Region Wins 2008 All-America City Award
Tampa, FL — The St. Louis region, represented by a diverse contingent of 20 citizens and leaders, won the 2008 All-America City Award tonight, presented by the National Civic League in Tampa. St. Louis was the only "region" to make the finalist group from among the nominees, and is only metro region in the nation this year to be designated an All-America City.