The excitement is starting to build for the Chamber's Annual Celebration coming up January 15, 2016, from 6:30 - 10 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. The Annual Celebration kicks off the new year in grand style as we look back on the business community's accomplishments for 2015 and get ready to tackle the new challenges in 2016. The Annual Celebration also includes the presentation of the Chamber's annual Distinguished Service Award, with the recipient to be announced in early January.

Reserve a seat now for this can't miss evening of fun, food and entertainment. Tickets are $100 per person, and 10-person corporate tables are available for just $750.

Click here to view a photo gallery of last year's Annual Celebration.

The Annual Celebration is presented by:

Michigan's future got a little less bumpy this week after state lawmakers finally signed off on a long-sought road funding plan committing up to $1.2 billion in funding to the state's transportation system. Legislators in the state House and Senate agreed on the proposal last week and it was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday. Northern Michigan's lawmakers all voted in favor of the plan.

Here's an overview of the proposal from Government Relations Director Kent Wood in his latest Northern Michigan Business Blog.

The Chamber's Board of Directors this week endorsed pending legislation in Lansing to extend a locally successful job training program, and another proposal that would allow community colleges like Northwestern Michigan College to offer 4-year bachelor of science nursing degrees. Learn more.

We're just a month out from the Chamber's Membership Event, coming up December 8 - 10 and headquartered at West Bay Beach - Holiday Inn Resort. Jimmy Cusano, the high-energy pitchman for Your Chamber Connection, will be in Traverse City on Thursday for training with our eight membership chairs - Allison Beers, Troy Broad, Warren Call, Stephen Peacock, Sander Scott, Tammy Tarsa and Dale Tumey. Jimmy will also be a guest on Thursday morning's Ron Jolly Show on NewsTalk 580 starting at 9 a.m.

Follow the Chamber Bulletin for updates on the Membership Event. If you'd like to get involved with the event, contact Chamber Event Coordinator Andi Wagenschutz at andiw@tcchamber.org.

All good things must come to an end, including the 2015 season of Business After Hours. The region's original after-work business networking event wraps up for the year next Wednesday, November 18, at the beautiful new office of The Larkin Group located behind the Tom's West Bay complex off M-22 in Greilickville. Join us from 5-7 p.m. as we close out another great year of Business After Hours!

Business After Hours is sponsored by:

Attention LGT Fellows! Have you been involved in the "Deep Dive" discussions exclusively offered to this prestigious alumni group? These events serve as a refresher course for LGT Fellows and the series concludes this Monday, November 16 with a Deep Dive on Positive Leadership skills and techniques. It's the last program of the year and it's from 3 - 4:30 p.m. here at the Chamber. Sign up now.

Where are the job opportunities in Northwest Michigan? What are the pay rates? Which professions are in the most demand?

The answers to these questions and more are available in the 2015 Hot Jobs report from our friends at Networks Northwest. Some of this key jobs data was made available at last week's Economic Outlook Breakfast, and you can view the full report by clicking here.