Chamber Blog

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Paperless 'Green Convention'

In Sacramento, California thousands of business owners, executives, and elected officials are gathered to celebrate and promote Hispanic owned businesses, and convention organizers have elected to highlight a pioneering green technology that promises to conserve energy, preserve natural resources, and eliminate tons of landfill waste.
IBM and the USHCC "Go Green"

The Director of Corporate Relations for the US Hispanic Chamber, Sylvia Perez, initiated a dialogue with chamber technology partner and Platinum Sponsor for the convention, IBM, and the company recommended John Cox, of Kinetic Businesses Applications to the chamber to provide an innovative way to help reduce the amount of paper that is ordinarily handed out at conventions.

Read full story [MarketWatch]

Austin Chamber of Commerce Launches Take On Traffic

Video from the launch event for "Take On Traffic," an initiative formed by the The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce to promote comprehensive regional transportation solutions.

St. Tammany chamber gets statewide honor

The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce has been named the 2008 Louisiana large chamber of the year.

The honor was bestowed last month by the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Executive Association in Bossier City.

The chamber received the same honor in 2005.

The 1,040-member chamber was evaluated on its responses to three questions:

-- How has the chamber spearheaded or played a key role in positive community changes?

-- What unique or highly successful programs make your chamber a stronger organization?

-- How has your chief executive officer distinguished herself as a leader in your community and your profession?

Read full story [Times-Picayune]

Promo Video - Edgewood Chamber of Commerce in Edgewood, New Mexico

Rochester ready to say hello to Hollywood

People who live in greater Rochester know what a scenic place it is with its rivers, trails, bluffs and historic buildings.

But film producers who have recently begun looking seriously at Michigan for locations, thanks to generous tax incentives, had no way of knowing - until now.

Last week, the cities of Rochester and Rochester Hills unveiled a new Web site - www.filmrochesterarea.org - that is their attempt to lure the film industry to town. Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett and Rochester City Manager Jaymes Vettraino said combining their efforts made all kinds of sense.

"We recognized right away we needed to partner with the city of Rochester because they have such a beautiful downtown," Barnett said. "Folks around the country don't care about municipal boundaries."

"Much of the filming I think is going to cross both communities," Vettraino said. "The assets Rochester has are very different from the assets Rochester Hills has."

The state film incentive, actually a film production credit, is a refundable tax credit of up to 42 percent of the amount of a production company's eligible expenditures incurred in producing a film in Michigan. It gives the highest incentive for the hiring of Michigan residents.

Read full story [Observer]

Chamber of Commerce leads Rowan delegation on trip to Washington

Several Rowan County business leaders traveled to the nation's capital for a three-day trip sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

The focal point for the annual excursion to Washington was to share with elected officials and regulatory agencies concerns of the local business community.

Duke Energy's Randy Welch, chairman-elect of the Chamber, said, "The trip this year was very productive. We had some positive discussions with our elected officials and feel they listened to our concerns."

Members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation organize the trip, which includes numerous Chambers from across the state. This year's trip included a group briefing with several members of Congress and a Capital Hill working session.

Read full story [SalisburyPost.com]

Hurricane Ike shakes Galveston's economic boom

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Long-time Galveston resident Sylvia Hernandez has survived several hurricanes in her 72 years. But after riding out Hurricane Ike's wall of water and wind in her tiny two-story island home, Hernandez has decided it's time to leave.

For her, Galveston is gone.

Before Ike crashed ashore early on Saturday, leaving a pile of wrecked homes and businesses in its wake, the coastal barrier island of Galveston was in the midst of what local officials called an economic "renaissance."

Now residents are wondering if they will return -- a sentiment they share with other storm-struck cities like New Orleans.

"I'm not staying," Hernandez said, standing under an avocado tree in her debris-strewn backyard. "I think this is the end of Galveston."

Four days after Ike crashed ashore in Galveston early Saturday, the city of 60,000 is on an emergency footing, with city officials warning of a health crisis and lack of basic necessities like clean water, power and flushing toilets.

Before Ike hit, Galveston's prospects were bright, with $2.6 billion in investment under way or in the pipeline, according to the city's Chamber of Commerce.

Read full story [Reuters]

Carlsbad Business Expo draws the crowds

CARLSBAD ---- About 100 exhibitors and some 1,000 guests saw, evaluated and even tasted the offerings of local businesses at the Carlsbad Business Expo on Wednesday afternoon.

Hospitals, contractors, restaurants, travel companies and dozens of other businesses greeted expo guests, while businesses learned more about technology at the Microsoft Across America truck.

The annual expo has the dual purpose of introducing local businesses to one another, and raising awareness among the public, said Angela Holman, spokeswoman for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. The chamber hosted the expo at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real shopping center.

Most of the companies exhibiting at the expo are based in Carlsbad, Holman said.

Read full story [North County Times]

Topeka Chamber of Commerce Promo Video

Chamber Plans Diversity Summit

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a diversity summit starting Thursday at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.

The event is part of the Chamber's Imagine a Greater Montgomery strategy for economic growth.

The event will kick off with the Diversity Summit Luncheon with keynote speaker Michael V. Roberts, CEO and founder of the Roberts Companies.

Friday, the "Networking on the Green" golf outing will be held at Lagoon Park.