New strategic objectives to carry Chamber to next level

Every successful business has a strategic set of goals that it hopes to achieve which in turn will help that business to be productive and survive in the market place. Recently, Microsoft made one such strategic move by acquiring Skype to further its competitive advantage in its industry.

The Valpo Chamber is no different in that it has a set of strategic objectives and goals to improve its member services. Four years ago, the Valpo Chamber adopted two important strategic objectives to help build a stronger organization.

The first objective was to undertake a major renovation of the second level in the Chamber building creating a first-rate conference facility for use by the Chamber as well as its members. The second objective included upgrading the Chamber web site, www.valparaisochamber.org, to better serve the members, provide a communication tool, to have a dynamic presence on the internet. Both objectives were accomplished.

In May, the Valpo Chamber Executive Committee hammered out a new set of strategic objectives that has since been approved by the Board of Directors. When accomplished, over the next several years, these strategic objectives will make the Valpo Chamber a stronger and more dynamic membership-based business organization.

Valpo Chamber Strategic Objectives:

1. Improve communication by surveying the membership to find out what our members feel is important.
2. Engage the Valparaiso City Council on Chamber programs and initiatives.
3. Advocate priority in spending proceeds of $185 million resulting from the sale of Porter Hospital.
4. Inform the membership of the importance of Porter County Regional Airport and its impact on industrial expansion and job growth.
5. Expand advocacy on state legislative issues impacting Valparaiso businesses.
6. Increase dialogue with federal elected officials for business, city, and regional projects.
7. Use 100-year Chamber Anniversary, in 2012, to build new resources and membership numbers.
8. Engage Valparaiso School system on capital expenditures for needs of K-12 schools. 

Some of these strategic objectives will take more than one year to accomplish. To accomplish these goals, the Chamber will continue to utilize its committed Board of Directors, knowledgeable and professional staff, and dedicated, active members.

Rex G. Richards
President

rrichards@valparaisochamber.org

Got meeting space? No? Well the Valpo Chamber has exactly what you’re looking for!

In 2010, a major renovation was undertaken on the second floor of the Valpo Chamber building. New conference rooms with state-of-the-art technology, comfortable accommodations, and room to host groups of 6 to 60 participants were the result of the extensive renovation – all in a professional atmosphere.

Conveniently located in beautiful downtown Valparaiso, the Valpo Chamber has three room sizes available exclusively to our members. Our small meeting room can accommodate 6-8 people, the Board Room will accommodate up to 28 people, and the large meeting room can fit up to 60 people.

In addition, a full kitchen is available. We’ll even provide you with a list of Chamber member caterers to fulfill your needs. Our Wifi enabled conference rooms are a great solution for conducting frequent meetings with your staff, clients, and business associates.

Meetings can be held any time during office hours which are Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm.

Conference rooms include:
• Comfortable chairs designed for extended periods of sitting
• 6 foot tables equipped with modesty panels
• Wall Mounted 60 inch LCD TV equipped with computer for online and power point presentations
• an Easel with Paper
• Completely equipped kitchen

Room Rental Rate (for Chamber members) details, as follows:

• $50 for two (2) hours

• A minimum of two hours is required

• Each subsequent hour (or portion) is $10

• Maximum daily rate of $100

Feel free to contact me at 219-462-1105 or gaskell@valparaisochamber.org if you’re interested in renting one of our rooms or if you have any questions.

Julie Gaskell, Vice President of Operations

gaskell@valparaisochamber.org

Newsflash! College students spend money!

Really, that’s not news, is it?

The 10th annual "College Explorer Study" indicates close to 16 million students (ages 18-34) entered college classes in the Fall of 2010, an all-time record and up 6% from about 15 million the year before. Their collective $306 billion in buying power is 13% more than roughly $270 billion the previous year.

That’s a lot of zeros.

And, that’s a lot of spending!

A student spends more than $13,000 per year on average, 19% of which is discretionary. That adds up to a substantial $211 per month of discretionary spending.* So, besides books and tuition, they spend on electronics, cosmetics, automotive needs, food, clothing, shoes, apartments, haircuts, carry-out, personal care products… it’s not just about Ramen noodles and energy drinks anymore (although they still like those).

I should know. I have one of those college students living under my roof this summer. She will return to Ball State University next fall as a senior. I like to think I’ve done my part for the economy of Muncie, Indiana these past three years!

But, guess who’s doing “student spending” in greater Valparaiso? Nearly 3500 undergraduate students of Valparaiso University…460 VU law students…250 graduate and international students…4000 Ivy Tech students…4500 Purdue North Central students…not to mention their parents and relatives, the faculty & staff at those schools, and the occasional visiting boyfriend/girlfriend.

Over ten years ago, the Valpo Chamber began publishing the student resource guide or, The U-Guide, as we now call it. This glossy, four-color, 50+ page publication was designed specificially to capture the attention of the student market and make them aware of the goods and services available to them from our chamber member businesses. These guides are placed in student mailboxes or meeting venues at area universities. The U-Guide is also available at www.valpo.edu and www.valparaisochamber.org, so it can be viewed by anyone checking out those websites. Over 4000 are printed, but many more are accessible online.

Check out our 2010 U-Guide!

If you want to cash in on $306 billion in buying power, why not consider reserving advertising space in the chamber’s U-Guide? Chamber members receive discounts and ads begin at just $175. Sales close July 18.

I know it seems like summer vacation just started, but the Fall 2011 semester begins again in just two months!

Danielle Oeding
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Oeding@valparaisochamber.org

*Other college student spending stats, per www.stateuniversity.com: The typical college student is in their mid-twenties, either lives at home or on campus, and has a job. Students no longer expect to complete college in 4 consecutive years, and many fluctuate between full-time and part-time study over a period of 5 to 7 years. The older the student, the more money he or she generally has.

Most money comes from work. 75% of students maintain jobs while attending school, earning $645 per month on average. 20% have secured an on-campus job and 42% are spending school breaks working. Parents contribute too, contributing an average of $154 to a student’s monthly income.

Members Helping Members program offers discounts on goods and services

One of the programs the Valpo Chamber offers you may have overlooked is Members Helping Members. For many years the chamber has encouraged members to offer other members discounts on goods and services. This program have been around for many years and gone through many different approaches, and recently it has transformed again.

Back in April, Members Helping Members went completely to email and the website. On the second Friday of each week, the chamber will be sending you a list of the current discounts for you and your employees (remember…everyone that works for you is eligible for these discounts, so pass them along).

When you read this blog, take a couple of minutes to look it over and see what is new.

You can find current offers at: http://www.valparaisochamber.org/services/members-helping-members.php

If you would like to offer your fellow Valpo Chamber members a discount it is easy to sign up. Just email me your offer and I will get it on the next email. Once you sign up to participate in the program, you won’t have to renew. If you decide you want to change your offer or remove your offer, you can simply email me once again. The Valpo Chamber has tried to make it as simple as possible to offer and receive these great discounts.

I hope you take advantage of these great offers! I have been able to use many of them including the free chips and queso at Chili’s....mmmmm….FREE!

Kurt Gillins
Programs Director
kgillins@valparaisochamber.org

When you get an opportunity for leadership, will you be ready?

Apply for the 2011 Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy Today!

The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy is a four-month community leadership program that prepares, challenges, and engages emerging and existing leaders to strengthen the community. Participants are exposed to the larger community, exploring the public/city government sector, private business sectors, and not-for-profit organizations that play a role in building a strong community.

The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy creates a space both to learn and to make a commitment to developing the community through service.

Benefits of Leadership Academy
Whether you are new to the area or not, Leadership Academy participants build a better understanding of the nature of community leadership and open new doors to opportunities within our community.

Know the perfect candidate?
The Leadership Academy seeks candidates who represent a cross-section of the community and its institutions, including business, education, and community-based organizations.

The Academy is open to all members of the Valpo Chamber. Application deadline: Friday, June 24.Click here to learn more or to apply today

Susan Antoszewski
Marketing & Communications Specialist
Leadership Academy Staff Liaison

santoszewski@valparaisochamber.org

Shovel Ready Sites: A Key Component for Expanding the Local Economy

A Key Component for Expanding the Local Economy
Every growing and expanding community needs one really important element to foster expanded job opportunities: Shovel Ready Sites.

A shovel ready site is a piece of land that has been designated in advance with the proper zoning and has the entire infrastructure needed such as roads, water, sewer, electrical and gas utilities located on the site. All a prospective industry needs to do is purchase the land and build the building.

Recently, at the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting, over 100 civic leaders and business professionals attended to hear Kevin Tobin of Tobin Development, Pete Peuquet of Chester, Inc., and Stu Summers of the Redevelopment Commission speak about the need for shovel ready sites. These three experts explained that when a firm is looking to expand or relocate to an area they are usually working on a very tight and stringent time frame. If the proposed plant cannot receive the necessary infrastructure, then the company cannot deliver on its contracts to its customers.

To eliminate any possible glitches to a proposed new factory or business location, most firms only desire to look at sites which have all they need already at the proposed site in advance of purchasing the land.

Valparaiso has a shortage of shovel ready sites. The Valpo Chamber and the City of Valparaiso are working hard to identify sites which can become shovel ready. The Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission has been working diligently to get utilities and proper zoning in the south east area of the community along the US 30 and IN 49 highways.
Maintaining the momentum for attracting and retaining high paying jobs and quality companies takes good planning, extension of utilities, and assembling land parcels to make an attractive and inviting package for companies desiring to invest in a community.

Keeping a community competitive for high-paying jobs is not an easy or inexpensive process. Having shovel ready sites is paramount in attracting good industry and high-paying jobs.

Rex G. Richards
President
richards@valparaisochamber.org

Looking for more visibility?

Looking for more visibility?

Okay, that’s a weak pun, but hey, it’s spring break week, and I’m sitting in 35 degree weather in Valpo. I think I deserve a little slack.

How many times a day do you visit a website? To check out the weather? To plan a trip? Or, to look up more information about a business you know or need to know? In my business, I often review a business’ website to learn more about them -- many times, before I even meet them. I think websites are very valuable, and they’re available 24/7.

So, if you haven’t already, I invite you to check out http://www.valparaisochamber.org/.
According to Google Analytics, the chamber has had nearly 6,000 visits to our site in the past month. What I find more significant is visitors are spending an average of 2.5 minutes with each visit. That is a considerable amount of time navigating our site.

Once they’ve landed on our site, what do they see? If you want to showcase your business in a unique way on our website, why not consider an enhanced business listing? While ALL our chamber members have the basic contact information included in our online member directory, some have an enhanced listing for just $50 annually. The listing includes a 100-word business description, map to your business and your company logo. These stand-out listings can be viewed on the home page of our website right now.

While you are “in the neighborhood,” you will also notice three display ad spots available on the home page – one at the top of the page (premium), and two at the bottom (banner). These slots are “move- in ready,” if you have the interest. You can choose the length of the time, the page to appear on, and/or the position of the ad. Fees begin at just $125 per month, which, if you think about it, is only .02 per visit.

For more info on any of these great website opportunities give me a call, or drop me an email.
I’m here. At my desk. No spring break for me. (sigh)

Danielle Oeding
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Oeding@valparaisochamber.org