The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce along with Downtown Portage Inc. and the Business Improvement District are again organizing the Portage Holiday Shopping Giveaway contest to encourage shopping at participating businesses this holiday season between November 25 and December 16.

The contest is simple: Shoppers who purchase goods and services at participating Holiday Shopping Giveaway businesses can bring their receipts to the Portage Chamber during the contest time frame. Based upon the amount of a receipt, the shopper will be awarded chances to win prize drawings held on various days during the contest. Two $100 Portage Green drawings and one $500 Portage Green drawings will be held this year.

Building Facade Improvements

Read the guidelines of the facade grant program.  View the grant application.

Weekend Wish

For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.weekendwish.com. Weekend Wish thanks its supporters and their generous donations.

Chamber Member Open House at Costco

Members, families and friends of the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce are invited to an Open House through November 13. Shopping passes are available at the Portage Chamber office, 104 W. Cook St.  Exclusive offers during this event include: Join as a new Executive Member and get a $20 Costco Cash Card or join as a new Gold Star Member and get a $10 Costco Cash Card.

For more information, call Heather at 608-825-4020.

Be a Salvation Army Bell Ringer

The Salvation Army depends solely on the generosity of individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and efforts. Would you consider joining us as we prepare for the 2016 Christmas Kettle Campaign? We ask that your group consider taking a block of time to ring this upcoming Christmas season. Money raised during this campaign helps local families and individuals throughout the year. It is an enjoyable experience for families to volunteer together and also a good opportunity for the youth groups that need to complete community service projects too.

 

The Salvation Army has been serving Columbia County for many years helping our neighbors who find themselves in emergency situations. The work is carried out by volunteers living and working in our communities.  Last year we helped 645 people with emergency situations and over 1,000 people through the special projects we support. Some highlights of they are doing locally: Utility Assistance;  Emergency Lodging; Rental Assistance; Transportation Emergencies; Special Projects such as Hygiene kits; Bike helmets; Back to School, Annual Coat Drive.

 

Your time will be well spent and appreciated!  Please contact Kathryn at 608-617-3237 or [email protected] for more information and to schedule a spot!

Where incarceration, poverty and unemployment are a way of life in some districts in Milwaukee, the Joseph Project has provided an opportunity. That opportunity has now come to Madison. The Sen. Ron Johnson-backed Joseph Project tackles inner city unemployment and helps manufacturers that are struggling to fill jobs.

 

According to the Wisconsin Business Voice magazine, the Jospeph Project involves "a curriculum of workshops focusing on interview skills, work ethic, time and financial management and conflict resolution." The classes are taught by church members connected to the creators of the Joseph Project and Sen. Johnson's senate staff. Upon completion of the process, a candidate receives an interview from a company working with the Joseph Project.

 

 "Almost all these individuals are in a position where they've got to put their pasts behind them and move forward," Sen. Johnson explained to the Wisconsin Business Voice. "Probably for the first time in their lives, not only do they have the dignity of earning their own success, but they have that added dignity and joy of doing something that's going to benefit somebody they don't even know."

 

If your business is interested in finding out more about the Joseph Project, please contact Tawsif Anam, southwest Regional Director U.S. Senator Ron Johnson office at [email protected].

 

 

Insite: The Work Connection

Employment has a brand new name. For over 20 years VARC, Inc. has developed job opportunities for individuals with exceptional abilities, and has now launched its new venture-Insite: The Work Connection. 

Insite is an innovative combination of this experience and new creative approaches to job placement. Insite focuses on matching business needs with individuals who are ready to work-and to be productive, contributing members of society. Insite works with individuals in achieving their long term employment goals through supported employment and job development. Presently, Insite is seeking area businesses that would be open to working with Insite and these exceptional individuals while carving and creating internships to assist with area business needs, as well as give our clients the ability to gain valuable work skills and experience in an area of occupational interest to the consumer with no cost to the employer hosting the worksite.

What is an unpaid internship and how long does it last? An unpaid internship allows individuals to gain valuable work skills and experience free of charge to the employer hosting the worksite. An unpaid internship usually lasts one to three months. We also do seek employer assessment sites which are shorter in duration. As for potential training costs, any necessary on-the-job training above and beyond what is required to train any other new employee will be supported and organized by the Employment Specialist in conjunction with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services. The Employment Specialist will work with the employer to determine the job skills needed and provide support to both the employer and the participant via on site visits, skilled job coaching and telephone contacts. 

If your business is interested in coordinating with Insite to host an internship or work assessment please contact the Columbia County Insite office at 608-742-2552 or via email at [email protected].