Federal Health Care Reform: What Now?
This Friday on “Business Matters” we will feature the Chamber’s Andy Johnston and our Health Care Committee chair Hugh Hufnagel of Next Hill Consulting about the recently-passed health insurance reform legislation. They will also prep us for the May 25th healthcare and human resources committee meeting, to which all members are invited.
We will also be speaking with Mark Lemoine, Director, System Government Affairs for Spectrum Health, to get his perspective on this issue.
Tune in to WJRW 1340-AM 2-3 p.m. on FRIDAY, APRIL 9 to talk Healthcare Reform...call in with your questions! (Listen online at www.wjrwam.com.)
Top
The EPIC Awards are May 19 - Register Today!
Come celebrate innovative businesses and individuals that support the local community!
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 19 and plan to attend the inaugural EPIC Awards! EPIC stands for Entrepreneurial, Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative. Three existing events, Small Business Celebration, Minority Business Celebration and the Salute to West Michigan Business, have been combined into this one event.
Five Awards will be presented:
Excellence in Business
Small Business of the Year
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Minority-Owned Business of the Year
Woman-Owned Business of the Year
Date | Wednesday, May 19
Time | 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Place | JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Cost | $60/Chamber members, $85/future members, $750/Corporate Tables of 10
Visit www.grandrapids.org/epic-awards for more information or to register. Or call the RSVP hotline at 616.771.0303.
It’s not too late to get your company name in front of attendees and show your support by sponsoring this event! Contact Leslee Fritz at fritzl@grandrapids.org or 616.771.0357 to see how your company can get involved.
Top
New Leadership Program for Young Professionals: Emerging Leaders Series
The Center for Community Leadership is pleased to announce the addition of the Emerging Leaders Series (ELS) to its portfolio of programs. 25 young professionals will be selected to participate in the program that will offer leadership development, conversations with key community leaders, insights into innovative initiatives, and a complete board service training program over four half-day sessions. Young professionals are encouraged to apply for the program by May 28, 2010.
Program dates and more details can be found online at www.cclgr.org/programs/emergingleadersseries/.
Top
Travel to Tuscany with the Chamber: Info Session on April 13
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 | Tuesday, April 13
Time | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Location | Grand Rapids Chamber, 111 Pearl St. NW
Cost | No cost for this information session!
RSVP to attend by calling 616.771.0300 or e-mailing Kathy Nelson at nelsonk@grandrapids.org.
Top
Attention Home-based Business Owners: April 15 Business After Hours to Feature Home-based Business Expo!
Do you have a home-based business? Become an exhibitor at the April 15 Business After Hours Home-based Business Expo! Whether you are a home-based entrepreneur looking for to showcase your products and services, are looking for resources to jump-start your new business, or want to generate new customerd leads, this expo is for you.
Trainers, attorneys, accountants, human resources professionals, contractors, information technology gurus and marketing consultants…all are welcome! Visit www.grandrapids.org/business-after-hours for registration information.
Please contact Ashley Abbott at abbotta@grandrapids.org or call 616.771.0341 with additional questions.
Top
Join the Conversation: Register to Attend the April MAP Welcome Luncheon and Institute for Healing Racism!
MAP Welcome Luncheon
Are you new in town? Wondering where to find foods, services, and professionals that reflect your racial and ethnic heritage? Let the Multiracial Association of Professionals MAP assist you! Participate in the April 21, Welcome Luncheon and get connected to the diversity within the Grand Rapids Community.
Institute for Healing Racism
Why is race hard to talk about? What does being a racist mean? Who can be an anti-racist? Discuss this and more by participating in the April Institute for Healing Racism program. More than 1800 participants have joined the conversation and learned from one another. Have you?
Visit www.grandrapids.org/diversity for more information.
Top
Celebrate Community Leadership with CCL!
The Center for Community Leadership (CCL) will host its Annual Fundraiser on April 21, 2010, at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. The event will honor Distinguished Community Trustee Award winner Bob Israels and feature a silent auction to raise money for program scholarships and support. All community members are invited to participate in this celebration of community leadership; RSVPs are due Monday April 12!
Visit www.cclgr.org/events/ for more information.
Top
ImPACt 2010: Pro-business, Pro-Michigan
Top
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!
Top
ATHENA Scholarship Applications Available, Due May 3
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 been thrilled to award more than $30,000 in scholarships to women over 30 who are working toward their college degree.
These scholarships are unique in that they can be used for whatever helps a women achieve her academic goals, whether that’s tuition and books or childcare and 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 for an application or visit www.grandrapids.org/athena-award-program to download an application. Deadline to apply is May 3, 2010.
Top
Silent Observer to Roast David Van Andel at Annual Fundraising Event
Where can you have a great dinner and a fun night while keeping you, your family and your neighborhood safe? It’s this year’s Silent Observer Roast titled “The Research is Complete! We Have the Handle on Van Andel” featuring Van Andel Institute’s David Van Andel! This annual dinner roast will be held on Tuesday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. in the Ambassador Ballroom of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Tony Gates will emcee this event and roasters include Mike Jandernoa, Henry Emrich and Dan Gaydou. David Van Andel is known for his sense of humor so this should be an event you won’t want to miss!
Find out about tickets and sponsorship packages by contacting Chris Cameron at 616.454.9110 or cameronc@grandrapids.org.
Top
Donate Prize Items for Golfers at The Chamber Open!
Does your company have items that could be put in the golfer bags as raffle prizes or door prizes at the 2010 Chamber Open? If so, visit http://www.grandrapids.org/the-chamber-open and download the prize donation form.
Donations are good marketing tools! Your company will be mentioned in Chamber publications and your company name will be in front of the 300 attendees! Questions about the Chamber Open? Contact Bridget Meyers at 616.771.0342 or meyersb@grandrapids.org.
Top
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:
MDOT Website, The Fix on I-196: www.michigan.gov/i196
Frequently asked questions: www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_FAQ_Fix_I-196_302764_7.pdf
Detour Map: www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_I-196_Detour_Map_277361_7.pdf
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MDOT_I196
YouTube video of what the road will look like: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PstCprpQk
Top
Apply Today for Leadership Grand Rapids
Applications are now available for the Leadership Grand Rapids class of 2011, the signature program of the Center for Community Leadership. Leaders throughout the community are encouraged to apply for this nine-session community leadership development opportunity. The selected class will be announced in July, and will meet once a month from September 2010 – May 2011. Applications and more information are available online; applications are due on May 7.
Visit www.cclgr.org/programs/leadershipgr/ for more information.
Top