Small Business Tour – sign up for this business development opportunity today!
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Small Business Tour that will bring resources right to the doorsteps of members with 5-25 employees. Participants will meet with a team of local small business development professionals to focus on business issues important to their success. The meeting is at the participant’s place of business and lasts for about one hour.
There is no cost to participate, but you must apply to secure a visit to your business. To sign-up for the Tour complete the Request for Participation which can be found here.
Sponsored by:
Date | Thursday, Feb. 25
Time | Between the hours of 9:00 a.m.and 1:00 p.m.
Location | Your place of business
Cost | No cost to members with 5-25 employees
Click here for the registration form.
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2010 Chamber Business Directories are on the way
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce 2010 Business Directories should be in your mailboxes soon! Inside you will find a complete alphabetical listing of Chamber members, the Who’s Who and Buyer’s Guide listings, and your 2010 membership window cling sticker.
Thank you all for your continued membership and support of the Chamber, our programs and events. We are looking forward to working with you throughout the year!
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Member-to-Member coupons are a great way to market your business
Did you know that you and your employees can save money through your Chamber membership? That’s right, using Member-to-Member Coupons is a great way to do business with and support other Chamber members while saving money at the same time! Click here to view all of the current member coupon offerings.
For additional information on this member benefit or to find out how to post your coupon or special offering, contact Mark Allen at 616.771.0348.
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Partnership for a Sustainable Community launched: Join the effort today!
On Wednesday, January 6 the Chamber launched the Partnership for a Sustainable Community, a new benefit offered to members free-of-charge aimed at helping local companies, large and small, “green” their operations and reduce costs.
Members joining the Partnership for a Sustainable Community (PSC) will receive an innovative, easy-to-use carbon footprint calculator designed to guide any business through a sweeping review of current energy consumption practices while offering dozens of suggestions for steps to improve energy efficiency and the bottom line.
30-Day Challenge
The Chamber is issuing a "30-Day Challenge" to urge businesses that join the PSC before February 8th. If you join, you will receive discounts from Office Depot on recycled paper orders and will be entered to win a "green" office printer from Hewlett-Packard.
For more information about the Partnership, or to sign up as a participant, please visit www.grandrapids.org/sustainability or email sustainability@grandrapids.org.
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Attend your next Chamber event for free!
Do you know of an organization that is missing out on the great benefits associated with a Chamber membership? What about your favorite restaurant, accountant, banker, attorney, dentist, retail shop, car wash, or salon? For each new member you refer that joins the Chamber, you will receive a $50.00 credit toward any of our programs or events throughout 2010.
Visit www.grandrapids.org/referral to complete your referral form and start earning credits today. We look forward to welcoming all of your referrals into the Chamber!
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Announcing a Special Microsoft launch event
Chamber member NEXT I.T. is eager to show you how Windows 7 Professional and Microsoft Office 2007 can help you make your business smarter, leaner and safer. Attend this no-cost session!
Date | Tuesday, February 9
Time | 8 - 10 a.m.
Place | Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 111 Pearl Street
Cost | None. Breakfast included.
Please pre-register by calling 616.771.0303. View more information at www.grandrapids.org/chamber-university.
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Travel to Tuscany with the Chamber: Info session on Feb. 15
Say “Arrivederci!” to Grand Rapids and travel to Tuscany for a 10-day Tour in November! The trip includes round-trip air fare from Grand Rapids, all hotel stays, 13 meals, stops in Rome, Assisi, Florence, Siena and more, and is $2999/person. You can learn all about this great trip online or at a Discover Tuscany information session:
Date | Monday, Feb. 15
Time | 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Location | Country Inn & Suites, 3251 Deposit Dr. NE (I-96 & East Beltline)
Cost | No cost for this information session!
RSVP to attend by calling 616.771.0300 or e-mailing Kathy Nelson.
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ATHENA Scholarship applications available February 15!
2010 Marks the 10th Year of the ATHENA Scholarship program in Grand Rapids! Over the past ten years the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce has awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships to deserving women.
The ATHENA Scholarship program supports women over 30 who are working toward their college degree. These scholarships are unique because they can be used for whatever helps a woman achieve her academic goals, whether that’s tuition and books or child care or transportation expenses.
If you know an area woman over 30 who may benefit from this scholarship, encourage her to visit her college or university’s financial aid office after February 15 or visit www.grandrapids.org/athena-award-program for application and information. Deadline to apply is May 1, 2010.
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Chamber University: Author, Panels & the Chance for YOU to be a Presenter
Chamber University 2010 kicks off on February 16 with Jeff Beals, author of Self Marketing Power. He will talk about the three philosophies of personal branding, eight rules of self marketing success, how to develop your own self marketing expertise and how to get better results from your networking efforts.
Date | Tuesday, February 16
Time | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location | Thousand Oaks Golf Club, 4100 Thousand Oaks NE
Cost | $30/members, $45/future members, continental breakfast included
The next Chamber U class features a panel of Chamber member experts sharing tips on how to market yourself and your business effectively.
Date | Wednesday, February 24
Time | 8 – 10 a.m.
Location | The Rapid Central Station, 2nd floor Multipurpose Room, 300 Ellsworth Ave. SE
Cost | $20/members, $35/future members, continental breakfast included
Register for either of these events online at www.grandrapids.org/events or by calling the RSVP hotline 616.771.0303.
Want to get involved? Visit www.grandrapids.org/chamber-university for the Request for Proposal to be a presenter this summer!
Questions about the Chamber University can be directed to Bridget Meyers at meyersb@grandrapids.org or 616.771.0342.
Chamber University is underwritten by Huntington Bank. Other levels of sponsorship are available. To see how your company can get involved, contact Leslee Fritz at fritzl@grandrapids.org or 616.771.0357
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2010 Candidate School
The Chamber, in partnership with the Commercial Alliance of REALTORS® and the Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS®, will host a day-long Candidate School for individuals interested in running for public office.
Whether you are a serious candidate, working on a campaign, or exploring your options, this event is for you! From school board to U.S. Senate, candidates for public office and campaign workers will learn what it takes to run for office and win.
Date | Wednesday, Feb. 17
Time | 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location | Grand Rapids Association of Realtors, 660 Kenmoor Ave SE
Cost | No cost for Chamber members
Click here to register!
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Nominations for the EPIC Awards are open until February 18!
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 19 for the inaugural EPIC Awards! Three existing events, the Small Business Celebration, Minority Business Celebration and Salute to West Michigan Business, will be combined into one event. EPIC stands for the Entrepreneurial, Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative.
Awards Include:
Excellence in Business - open to Non-profits & For-profits
Small Business of the Year - open to Non-Profits & For-profits
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – business owners under the age of 35
Minority-Owned Business of the Year - must be at least 51% minority-owned
Woman-Owned Business of the Year - must be at least 51% woman-owned
Anyone who has been a Chamber member in good standing for more than one year and fits the award criteria is eligible for nomination. Nomination forms are available at www.grandrapids.org/epic-awards.
Nominations will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on February 18. Questions about the event or the nomination process can be directed to Bridget Meyers at meyersb@grandrapids.org or 616.771.0342.
Sponsorships for the EPIC Awards are available for every budget. Contact Leslee Fritz at fritzl@grandrapids.org or 616.771.0357 to see how your company can get involved.
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2010 Public Policy Breakfasts: Sign up for the entire series today!
This is your opportunity to join the West Michigan business community in an open dialogue with lawmakers at various levels of government. Public Policy Breakfasts are some of the Chamber’s most anticipated events because of the direct access to elected officials and valuable networking opportunities.
For 2010, the Chamber is offering a “Buy 5, Get 1 Free” special. For just $75, you can represent the voice of your business face-to-face with legislators six times during the next year. Save the dates below. Click here to register and for more information.
February 22, 7:30 – 9 a.m., sponsored by Clark Hill
Western Michigan University, 200 Ionia Ave. SW
March 22, 7:30 – 9 a.m., sponsored by Davenport University
Davenport University W.A. Lettinga Campus, 6191 Kraft Ave. S.E. (We apologize for the sponsor misprint in the January 2010 issue of The Chamber News.)
April 26, 7:30 – 9 a.m., sponsored by WMCAT
Location: TBD
May 24, 7:30 – 9 a.m., sponsored by Amway
Location: TBD
August 23, 7:30 – 9 a.m.
Sponsorship available – call 616.771.0357 to sponsor!
Location: TBD
October 25, 7:30 – 9 a.m.
Location: TBD
Cost to attend: $15/Members; $20/Future members or late registration; $75/Series (Members Only)
Register online, call the RSVP Hotline at 616.771.0303, or download a fax-back form.
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Check out the PAC at Politics & Pints, March 1
Come see what the Chamber’s Political Action Committee, Friends of West Michigan Business, is all about! Join us for a happy hour networking opportunity and meet the young, rising stars in state and local government.
Last year, more than 200 people and 20 elected officials joined us for Politics & Pints. These events give professionals at all levels the ability to talk with key policy makers as we shape a better future for our community.
Date | Monday, March 1
Time | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location | The Monkey Bar, The B.O.B.
Cost | $25 (includes drinks and appetizers)
Contact Chris Glass at 616.771.0311 or glassc@grandrapids.org to register.
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CEO Roundtable Spring Enrollment Deadline is March 5
Since it began in 1987, the CEO Roundtable program has helped CEOs, presidents, business owners, and managing directors improve business performance by providing a forum for confidential peer-to-peer conversation. More than 300 CEO Roundtable participants invest their time in monthly two-hour meetings with a group of 10-13 other decision makers, becoming an informal board of directors. If you are the CEO, president or a leader in your company, then this program is for you.
Doreen Bolhuis, GYMCO Sports
“I have been a member of the CEO Roundtable program for over 10 years, and my business has been transformed through my participation. I attribute much of Gymco’s business success to the skills, strategies, challenges, and insights I have gained from my Roundtable colleagues. Each month I have gleaned at least one new ‘pearl,’ regardless of the industry hosting the meeting. I recommend this program to leaders who wish to learn, grow, and connect.”
Visit www.grandrapids.org/ceo-roundtable-program to download a brochure with registration information and return to the Chamber by Friday, March 5.
The spring session will begin with a mandatory orientation in late March and your first meeting with your roundtable will be in April. The CEO Roundtable Program requires a 1-year commitment with a cost of $60.
Contact Bridget Meyers at meyersb@grandrapids.org or 616.771.0342 for more information.
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Join MAP and be a part of making Grand Rapids welcoming to all!
The Multiracial Association of Professionals (MAP) is a group of professionals from a variety of backgrounds and races who come together to promote professional growth, foster diversity and provide community leadership. By creating a strong network of diverse professionals, MAP seeks to assist individuals and organizations to welcome and connect professionals of color and their families.
February MAP events include a Welcome Luncheon on February 17 for professionals of color new to the community, and an evening at “Symphony of Soul: Too Hot To Handle” for a jazzy and soulful interpretation of Handel’s Messiah, which promises to delight both classical and gospel music fans.
Click here for membership information, and to learn more about the individual and corporate benefits of being a MAP member.
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CCL presents a tour of Van Andel Institute Feb. 16
Collaborative partnerships among world-class health care, research, and educational organizations have led to dramatic growth in the life sciences sector in the region, making Grand Rapids a career destination choice in this area. Join Jeffrey Trent for a tour of the completed Van Andel Institute, and gain an inside perspective of the impact the research facility is making in Grand Rapids.
Date | Tuesday, Feb. 16
Time | 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Location | Van Andel Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave. NE
Cost | Based on yearly membership with the Center for Community Leadership.
Visit the Center for Community Leadership’s website to learn more and register.
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I-196 is closing, but downtown is still open for business
As you know, I-196 will be closed to through-traffic on April 12, 2010. However, downtown access will be maintained throughout the project, via College and Fuller Avenues for westbound I-196, and Ottawa and College Avenues for eastbound I-196.
The Downtown Alliance and the Chamber have met with MDOT to encourage communications that focus on the positive message – that the downtown is open and easily accessible. We encourage you to do the same whenever talking to customers or the media.
MDOT has established several methods of communications during the project, including the following:
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