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2011 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
 The Valpo Chamber Leadership Academy is looking for the next group to lead the community to greatness.
Since 2006, the Leadership Academy has led participants through a four-month community leadership program designed to prepare, challenge, and engage emerging and existing leaders to strengthen the community.
During the focused seven-session program, participants will be infused in the community, exploring the public/city government sector, private business sector, and non-profit organizations that currently benefit from local leaders.
Upon completion, students are expected to take the insights, skills, and contacts gained and apply them to community organizations.
To date, over 50 local organizations have benefited from volunteer time from Leadership Academy participants.
The 2011 Leadership Academy is sponsored in part through Silver Partnerships with 1st Source Bank; Citizens Financial Bank; Comcast Business Services; Harris, N.A.; Laciak Accountacy Group PC; REGIONAL federal credit union; The Times Media Company; and Uzelac & Associates, Inc.
For additional information or to download the application, click here. Applications are due June 24.
CHAMBER TAKES POSITION ON HOUSING FEE WAIVER AND INDIANA CORPORATE INCOME TAX
Valparaiso Chamber Board votes to support City Council initiative to waive fees for new home construction.
The Board of Directors of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to support the initiative recently before City Council which would waive all municipal fees to the homebuilding industry for the next two building seasons in Valparaiso. Rex Richards, Chamber President attended and spoke at the April 25 City Council meeting asking for approval.
"There are nearly 1,100 buildable lots in Valparaiso. This is a very important symbolic effort to encourage the residential construction industry that has been severely pounded by the economy. This initiative encourages this important economic sector to keep looking at Valparaiso as a City that desires new residential construction," stated Richards.
"The Valpo Chamber Board of Directors applauds Mayor Costas for proposing this initiative. We have some of the finest parcels for residential home development in Northwest Indiana. Besides the new assessed valuation that can come from new homes built, there is also the added benefit of regaining the construction jobs for the hard hit industry," explained the Chamber President.
Valpo Chamber Board of Directors endorses the reduction of the Indiana Corporate Income Tax
At its April 19 Board of Directors meeting, the Valpo Chamber Board members endorsed the legislative effort to reduce the Indiana Corporate Income Tax from 8.5 percent to 6.55 percent. "The current legislative effort to reduce the Indiana Corporate Income Tax would be a tremendous incentive to encourage both expansion of existing industry and the recruitment of Illinois industry to Indiana," states Chamber President Rex Richards.
"Currently, in the final days of the legislature, this tax reduction is being considered in conference committee," explains Richards. Two specific bills have passed, one in each house of the legislature, which calls for the reduction. The bills are being considered as part of the HB 1007 Budget Bill.
"The Valpo Chamber has forwarded its position to Valparaiso representative Indiana State Senator Ed Charbonneau, a member of the Conference Committee considering not only this tax legislation but the entire state budget bill," says Richards.
PORTER COUNTY COALITION LUNCHEON MAY 19
 Join the Porter County Chamber Coalition for a presentation entitled "Homelessness in Porter County: What Does It Cost Our Community?" on Thursday, May 19, at 12:00 p.m. at Strongbow Inn.
An important part of understanding homelessness and housing issues in Porter County and gathering innovative ideas is to engage experts and leaders in the community. The effectiveness of a plan to end homelessness depends on the involvement and ownership of people and organizations like you. During this program, valuable data will be collected with the use of interactive voting pads.
The luncheon is sponsored by Porter County Community Foundation. Reservations can be made by May 13, through the Community Foundation by calling (219) 465-0294. This luncheon will take the place of our May Percolator Luncheon.
DISNEY INSTITUTE COMING TO VALPO CHAMBER!
The Valpo Chamber is buzzing about a certain mouse coming to Valparaiso! On Thursday, August 16, the Valpo Chamber will host Disney Institute.
Disney's Approach to Business Excellence is an exciting workshop for any business professional in any industry. The one-day seminar is divided into four sessions: Leadership Excellence, People Management, Quality Service, and Brand Loyalty.
This full-day event will be held at Valparaiso University Harre Union from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The cost of attending the event is $400/per person. Payment options are available. Registration will be made available online soon or you can call the Chamber at (219) 462-1105.
VEDC LUNCHEON FEATURES GOVERNOR DANIELS  At the April 21 Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation luncheon held at Strongbow Inn, Governor Mitch Daniels presented his "Report to Taxpayers" addressing the key topic of Indiana Education.
Daniels stated that implementing education improvements and reform is one of Indiana's most important challenges and that Indiana is the only state he knows that is committed to any increase in K-12 spending. To read the The Times coverage of the event, click here. The luncheon was sponsored by Frontier Communications. |
| RIBBON CUTTINGS/GRAND OPENINGS/OPEN HOUSES | |
156 Washington St
(219) 736-1825
Title Companies
On April 6, Professionals' Title Services celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary with a ribbon cutting and open house.
Professionals' Title Services specializes in complete title insurance, closings, and escrow services. It provides services for residential, commercial, and industrial customers for Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, and Newton counties. For additional information, visit www.protitlenet.com.
332 W US Hwy 30, Ste C
(219) 465-1868
Employment - Human Resource & Staffing Equipment
On April 13, Express Employment Professionals celebrated their recent office remodel with a ribbon cutting and open house.
Express Employment Professionals is dedicated to providing quality staffing services and human resrouce solutions to medium-sized business around the globe. Express has grown to include a network of more than 550 employment agencies. With Express Employment Professionals, both businesses and job seekers alike can experience the confidence and satisfaction of knowing that they will receive personal attention. Express Employment Professionals serves local businesses with both full-time and temporary staffing and job placement in addition to providing human resource services and consulting. For additional information, visit www.expresspros.com. 1251 Eastport Centre Dr, Ste B (219) 405-4294 Healthcare/Home Health Services On April 19, Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital/Workforce Health celebrated the opening of its Valparaiso facility with a ribbon cutting and open house. Workforce Health, an affiliate of Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital, offers occupational health and wellness services to Porter County businesses. The full-service occupational health clinic offers treatment of work-related injuries with case management, drug and alcohol testing, work-related physicals, ergonomic/injury prevention, employee wellness and much more. For more information, visit www.myworkforcehealth.com. |
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| THANK YOU...FOR THE CONNECTIONS! | |
THANKS TO...In-kind Donor Home Mountain Printing for the printing of the Envision the Future student booklets.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | |
Friday, May 6
Ribbon Cutting
4:00 p.m. "One Year Anniversary" Celebration
Wednesday, May 11
Ribbon Cutting & Open House
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. open house
5:00 p.m. ribbon cutting
Thursday, May 19
Porter County Chamber Coalition Luncheon "Homelessness in Porter County: What does it cost our community?"
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Strongbow Inn, 2405 US Hwy 30 E $18/per person Sponsor: Porter County Community FoundationRSVP to Porter County Community Foundation (219) 465-0294 Thursday, May 19
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. open house
5:00 p.m. ribbon cutting
Monday, May 30
Valpo Chamber CLOSED - Memorial Day
Wednesday, June 1
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