ATTENTION MUSKEGON MONEY PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS!

URGENT NOTICE TO PARTICIPATING MUSKEGON MONEY PROGRAM MERCHANTS!!

DO NOT ACCEPT, DEPOSIT OR GIVE ANY MUSKEGON MONEY GIFT CERTIFICATES

Due to circumstances beyond control of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon Money can no longer be redeemed. The provider of Muskegon Money Gift Certificates, Certifichecks, Inc. has abruptly ceased operations.

DO NOT ACCEPT, DEPOSIT OR GIVE ANY MUSKEGON MONEY CERTIFICATES!
* Notify your staff
* Remove all window & door decals
* Place a sign up at your business notifying customers you can no longer accept these certificates.

The Chamber will be contacting participating merchants with more details and information as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience.

Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce Member Benefit Pays Out Dividend

Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce Member Benefit Pays Out Dividend

Did You Know?
Chamber membership dues could pay for themselves in group program discounts.The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that several members have earned over $134,528 in dividends through the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America workers compensation group program. Congratulations to our chamber members who participate in the program!

Since the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce is a designated group, our members receive 5 percent up-front savings on Accident Fund workers compensation insurance rates. Plus, when the group performs well, participating chamber members are eligible for dividends.

In January 2009, our chamber’s group program was reviewed and it was determined that we earned a 11.0 percent dividend for members that participated in the October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007 program. The $134,528 in dividends is being paid to nearly 100 participants, so the average dividend to participating members is over $2,280. The group will be reviewed again this same time next year for another possible dividend distribution. Since 2004 Accident Fund Insurance Company of America has paid participating Muskegon Area Chamber members dividends in excess of $681 thousand dollars.

To join the Accident Fund groups program through our chamber, contact the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce for an Accident Fund Insurance Company of America agent in your area, or find an agent at http://www.accidentfund.com/public/find_agent/.

Retailers Roundtable

On Thursday, February 5, the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce hosted 11 local business owners for a “Retailers Roundtable” discussion. The purpose of the meeting was to have an informal conversation about our member retailer’s struggles and to share unique business issues with the Chamber and each other. Most importantly, the group met to determine how the Chamber can serve our retailer business members better during this economic transition.

Business owners asked for the Chamber to continue promoting small business and a buy local message, implement Muskegon map enhancements to help tourists find their shops, and start an ongoing “retailers alliance” meeting. We look forward to working on these great ideas both short term and long term.

This meeting proved to be very helpful in receiving constructive feedback on how the Chamber can be of assistance. Just like our largest investors, small business is very important to the Chamber and we rely on their continued success and support. Currently, 80% of the Chamber’s membership is small business employing 25 individuals or less.

The Chamber will host the next Retailers Alliance Roundtable on Monday, March 2 at 6:00pm. All Chamber member retailers are welcome.

Muskegon Chamber Partners Business Leaders With Students

The Michigan Scholars Program had yet another successful year! This three year partnership with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce & Muskegon Public Schools has brought business professionals into the eighth grade classrooms at Bunker and Steele Middle Schools to talk to the students about their future. The business professionals encouraged students to challenge themselves by taking more rigorous courses in high school to better prepare them for the global economy they will have to face. If students continue with the required Michigan Scholars Course of Study and if eligible they could qualify up to $6000. Once again, thanks to all our business professionals who volunteered their time to this very rewarding initiative.

If you are interested in getting involved in an education initiative, contact Linda Ray at the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce.

Refreshed & Relevant

2009 will usher in exciting changes to Chamber programming and events in 2009. The name of the Early Bird Breakfast is officially changed to Business for Breakfast. As the most popular ongoing Chamber event, we are introducing healthier options with a breakfast bar, extended networking time with a later starting time, pre-printed nametags for faster check-in and corporate table options available for purchase.

We will present forward thinking, relevant topics of interest to businesses today. In the coming months we will hear from Jim Dunlap, Regional Group President for Huntington Bank about the “Four months that Redefined the Financial Services Industry and the Impact on Main Street, USA.

Rich Studley, President of the Michigan Chamber; Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid; and Mark Griffin, President of the Michigan Petroleum Association, will join us in March to discuss Michigan’s transportation issues at the breakfast entitled; Michigan Transportation: Tragedy or Triumph.

Areas of future focus to include ecotourism and “green collar jobs”, a “State of the Cities” report from our mayors, local leadership in higher education, and energy independence.

We look forward to a great season at the Business for Breakfast events!

Muskegon Chamber Annual Survey Spurs Changes!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the annual Chamber wide membership survey. The results proved to be very helpful. The Chamber is taking advantage of your feedback by changing the way we deliver value to better serve our members. Here’s how:

You asked for more low cost trainings…You got it!
The Entrepreneur Committee has added seven additional Business Briefings to the training lineup this year. At $20 per training, you won’t find a better deal in town for the array of topics offered and the high quality programming.

You asked for easier registration…We can do that!
The Chamber’s online registration feature will make signing up and paying for events faster and easier. Prepaid individuals will be able to bypass the lines at the actual event to spend more time networking.

You want an electronic email newsletter with the option to print…Absolutely!
The first issue of the ECoastline Newsletter was released in January. We look forward to delivering Chamber and business information every month. As you read through the information, handy links are available for you to access the entire story. If you like having a hardcopy or want to read on the run, feel free to print the stories

You said the Chamber should be more involved around Muskegon County…Will do!
The Government Affairs Committee is working on and advocating for a number of County-wide issues. Issues such as the Sternberg/31 interchange, signage directing tourists to northern Muskegon and the Seaway Drive Enhancement Corridor just to name a few.

You want an opportunity to promote products and services to other Chamber members…Coming Soon!
In the near future, the Chamber will roll-out access to a member’s only portal on www.muskegon.org. One benefit of the members only portal will be the opportunity to exclusively share discounted products and services with other Chamber members.

Again, thank you for your input and recommendations. We understand the challenges you are experiencing in your organization. We will continue to bring our members tangible benefits, with low-cost marketing and training opportunities. We promote the community and your business through our website and media activities. And we will advocate for your business at every opportunity.

Chamber’s Muskegon Money Keeps $225,000 in Consumer Spending Local!

Shopping locally creates jobs for your friends and neighbors! The difference between supporting locally-owned businesses and non locally-owned businesses in West Michigan, is the amount of money reinvested into the area. It results in business growth, essential services, and additional employee wages.

In 2008, the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce sold $300,000 in Muskegon Money, a gift certificate program for local Chamber members. Over 120 merchant participants accept Muskegon Money giving consumers a wide range of choices with one certificate. By using these certificates you can guarantee local dollars are spent at home verses online or in other parts of the state.

A report by Civic Economics, a leader in analyzing the economics of regional retail and service activities, states that $73 out of every $100 spent locally is retained and pumped back into the West Michigan economy.

“Considering the impact of local consumerism, over $225,000 was circulated locally and supported our Chamber member businesses. This is great news for Muskegon’s economy,” stated Cindy Larsen, President of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce.

In comparison to the $75 kept local, only $43 out of every $100 spent in the non-local economy is retained. Nearly 58% more money is kept local when consumers choose to spend their money at locally-owned businesses.

For a complete listing of Muskegon Money participants and purchasing information, visit: http://www.muskegon.org/?page=muskegonmoney.