Chamber Blog

Two companies bloom in county commerce program

By the end of this month, two growing businesses will move into shared office space and accomplish what the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce hoped it could when it opened a downtown small- business incubator in summer 2006.

D.S. Capital Group and Apple Homes are the first two companies to grow out of their incubator space and achieve independence.

“We’ve stepped up from being a little home-based business,” said Paul Huff, one of the principals of home builder Apple Homes. “When we stepped into the incubator, suddenly the business took on a professional air.”

In its 18 months in the incubator, Apple expanded from three to six employees and outgrew its space.

D.S. Capital spent a year in the incubator and grew from two to five employees.

Adam Sullivan, a consultant with the business consulting service company, said that by sharing office space outside the incubator with Apple Homes, D.S. Capital thinks its transition to complete independence will be eased.

“It (office sharing) is a nice second step before going out into the world on your own,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan’s partner, Andy Donnelly, said one benefit of doing business in the incubator was that it allowed D.S. Capital access to other fledgling businesses in the same building at 809 Legion Way S.E.

“We have been able to do a lot of networking that would not as easily have been done if we were somewhere else,” Donnelly said.

Incubator clients pay a monthly service fee as part of a one-year renewable lease to hold down operating costs by sharing meeting rooms and office equipment. They also get access to legal advice and business seminars organized by the chamber.

Read full story [The Olympian]

Chamber of Commerce group established in Hammond, Roberts area

The Roberts and Hammond areas finally have their own Chamber of Commerce.

After about one year’s time, the Central St. Croix Chamber of Commerce has been born.

Deb Flettre, president of the Chamber, says that business leaders in the community recently voted in favor of creating the Chamber.

“We’re on our way to becoming (officially) a Chamber. The paperwork is in motion,” Flettre said.

Flettre, a personal banking officer at Citizen’s State Bank in Roberts, said the first goal in setting up a Chamber is the networking of all the businesses in the Hammond and Roberts areas.

Read full story [New Richmond News]

Chamber of Commerce plans trip to China

The Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, is offering a nine-day trip to China in November, according to a news release.

The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce is offering this deal to members of the Mohawk Valley Chamber and community in coordination with Citslinc International Inc., a company with 28 years experience in China travel, the release states.

For $1,725 per person, based on double-occupancy, travelers will receive round-trip transportation to and from JFK airport in New York City, round-trip airfare to China, four- or five-star hotel accommodations, deluxe tour buses with English-speaking tour guides, three meals per day, fees for any attractions and all applicable taxes, the release states.

Read full story [Observer-Dispatch]

McCain Addresses Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

A day before North Carolinians head to the polls, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) addressed Charlotte's Chamber of Commerce on slew of business-oriented issues.

Because McCain isn't worried about Tuesday's primary -- he has secured enough delegates for the GOP nomination and faces just one last opponent, Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) -- he focused on staking out his general election positions on immigration, health care and energy.

"I'm willing to put my knowledge and experience and judgment up against Senators Obama and Clinton's any day of the week," he told the group of roughly 150. "I look forward to that campaign, and I look forward to that discussion, and I'm confident I'll win it. I want to win it right here in North Carolina."

Unlike most of McCain's audiences, which are generally filled with supporters, this group was friendly but not explicitly partisan. Members of the crowd laughed at his jokes and most of them applauded when he declared his determination to win the election, but they did not hail all of his lines with acclaim.

When the senator trotted out his proposal to provide a federal gas tax holiday for the summer, saying the recent rise in gas prices "is hurting people on fixed income. Why not give them a little break for the summer?" the audience remained silent.

He spoke at length about energy and the environment, saying he was confident an investment in environmentally friendly technologies would both wean the U.S. off foreign oil and help improve the climate.

Read full story [Washington Post]

Dubai Chamber launches 18th issue of Industrial Directory 2007-2008

New directory a trustful reference and a gateway to services, products and companies in Dubai, says Director General The 18th issue of the Dubai Industrial Directory 2007-2008 is out. Launched by Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the bilingual directory in Arabic and English contains a listing of over 2,150 companies with 1,950 from the industrial sector and 200 from the services sector. Dubai’s increasing dependence on non-oil sector and the emirate’s unprecedented economic growth make the industrial sector a driving force and the directory is seen as a strong trading tool for all businesses and consumers.

Said HE Eng Hamad Bumaim, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, “The Dubai Industrial Directory is a trustful reference and a gateway to services, products and companies in Dubai therefore Dubai Chamber has worked very hard to present this directory as part of one of its value-added services to its members. As the new edition includes an up-to-date information of Dubai industrial sector I would urge the local business community to take advantage of the information and statistics published in the directory.”

Added Buamim, “Under our new strategy of serving the members better, Dubai Chamber is doing its best in coping with the latest economic changes and is working non-stop to provide and upgrade its services for its ever increasing list of members. Besides the listing of manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and companies in Dubai, the new directory also provides useful information about the infrastructure and related government bodies as well as names of companies operating and maintaining manufacturing plants and other factories.”

Read full story [albawaba.com]

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IT Marketing and Sales through Your Chamber of Commerce

An interesting video on how to market an IT company thru a Chamber of Commerce membership.

Maryland Chamber of Commerce supports slots

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is throwing its weight behind a November referendum to authorize slot machine gambling.

The business group announced its support at a press conference Tuesday, stressing that if the referendum fails, it will be a $700 million hit to the state budget. The General Assembly approved a plan in a special session last November to put 15,000 slot machines at five sites across the state, but left it up to voters to put it into place.

"If the state does not get this money, then the General Assembly has to come back in January and cut, which is unlikely, or make new taxes," said Kathy Snyder, chief executive of the chamber.

The chamber was joined by the Maryland Teachers' Association and Maryland Association of Counties, together emphasizing the importance of education spending. About half of the slots revenue is slated to go toward education, expected to total $660 million by fiscal year 2013, according to the chamber.

Read full story [Washington Biz Journal]