A functional transportation network is critical to business success in Northern Michigan. That's why the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Board this week endorsed state Proposal 1. If approved by Michigan voters at the May 5 election, Proposal 1 would raise more than $1.3 billion annually for roads and transportation, and significantly increase local transportation funding received through the state. Learn more...

Prime Time is back! Join us one week from tonight - March 18 - from 5 - 7 p.m. for a special "Prime Time" Business After Hours event. Meet and welcome dozens of recently joined Chamber members and learn about what they do. It will be a special night with trivia fun, prizes, food and refreshments. Plus it will be a great place to make scores of new business connections with your fellow Chamber members.

Chamber Members that joined in 2014 have until Friday to
 sign up for a free display at Prime Time. Register with Event Coordinator Andi Wagenschutz at andiw@tcchamber.org

Prime Time's presenting sponsor is:   

Business After Hours is sponsored by:
 

The clock is ticking! Area businesses nominated for the Chamber's 2015 Small Business Celebration have through this Friday, March 13, to apply. Companies that take the next step in the SBC will be featured at the Small Business Candidate Showcase March 25 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College's Hagerty Center. The SBC Candidate Showcase is a great chance to get your company in front of hundreds of people who turn out to celebrate the strength of small in the Grand Traverse region.

Sign up today for the Candidate Showcase.  Mark your calendars as well for these other upcoming SBC events:

• May 5 - Meet the Top 10 Breakfast from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at Hagerty Center
• May 28 - SBC Awards Celebration from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Hagerty Center.

The Small Business Celebration is presented by:

                   

Time is running out to register for this spring's Mini MBA program offered at the Chamber through Ferris State University.It's part of the leadership continuum at the Chamber that offers training and education at all corporate levels. Mini MBA is a compact, 9-week business simulation course offering experience and information across the business spectrum including financing, critical thinking, strategy implementation and more.

Sign up today for the Mini MBA and hear what some graduates of the program said about their experiences.

Did you know thousands of people visit the Chamber's website every month to stay atop the region's business landscape? You can now use the Chamber's website to promote your company's deals and discounts, post photos, informational videos and more.

Want to learn more? Join us for the next Get to Know Your Chamber Lunch & Learn event on March 19 starting at noon and learn how to put the power of Chamber communications to work for you. Sign up today!

Members of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance recently traveled to the state Capitol in Lansing to lay out the concerns and priorities of the region's business sector. Chamber Government Relations Director Kent Wood and Petoskey Regional Chamber President Carlin Smith addressed the Senate Commerce Committee, and you can learn more about their presentation in the Northern Michigan Business Blog.