Bellingham Strives to Repair Area’s Child Care Capacity Shortage
Opportunity Council and the Bellingham (WA) Regional Chamber have joined forces to open the new Northwest Center for Child Care Retention & Expansion. The Center will provide business technical assistance, coaching, feasibility studies and planning to existing and would-be providers of child care, local businesses and policymakers to assure the local child care market does not contract further and, as soon as possible, expands. Through support from the Washington Department of Commerce, North Sound ACH (Accountable Community of Health) and various philanthropic organizations, the Center will also award grants to providers of care to retain the market and stimulate its growth.
For more details on the Center’s main areas of focus, visit www.bellingham.com.
3 California Chambers Team Up to Enhance Business Advocacy Efforts
The Oceanside (CA) Chamber, Carlsbad (CA) Chamber and Vista (CA) Chamber have partnered to take their business advocacy to the next level by purchasing subscriptions to the OneClick Advocacy software platform. The platform includes communication tools such as video messaging, integrated text messaging and auto population of advocate data into its webforms. This software will give the chambers a greater outreach throughout the Tri-City region for their “calls to action” about critical business legislation, as well as a quick and easy way for businesses to contact their legislators on items of concern.
For more information, visit www.oceansidechamber.com.
Billings Chamber Forms Women’s Leadership Cohort
The Billings (MT) Chamber is assembling a core group of influencers to inspire women through ENCORE: Encouragement. Networking. Consulting. Opportunities. Resources. Empowerment.
The program’s programming seeks diverse female business leaders and will focus on both personal and professional growth and explore issues facing female leaders. Participants will enhance their own leadership skills through a combination of structured workshops, small group discussions and opportunities for free-flowing conversation. Topics will feature work-life integration, personal health, leveraging strengths as a female leader, uplifting yourself and others, accountability, gender bias, and more. The Women’s Leadership Network will meet for eight learning sessions and two special events over 11 months.
Learn more about the program at https://www.billingschamber.com/womens-leadership-network/.
Chamber Celebrates Annual Awards Event in Unique Way
With the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tahoe (CA) Chamber had to get creative with its Annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony. The event was pre-recorded and televised on a local TV station. Supporters were able to make a donation in lieu of registration fees. What made this event different is the chamber also offered Celebration Baskets that could be preordered and enjoyed while viewing the event. “Celebrate from home with a basket of local goods and Blue Ribbon Awards party swag!”
Two types of baskets were provided and were delivered before the start of the event. The Wine Lover Celebration Basket included your choice of a bottle of Barbera or Chardonnay from Boeger Winery, 4 Sample the Sierra GoVino stemless shatterproof wine glasses, and Blue Ribbon Award celebration swag. The Beer Enthusiast Celebration Basket included 4 cans of South Lake Brewing Companies beer (2 cans of Marlette Sunrise and 2 cans of Fog Nozzle), 2 South Tahoe Beer Trail pint glasses, and Blue Ribbon Award celebration swag.
Learn more about the event and see photos of the baskets at www.tahoechamber.org.
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Information featured each month in Around the West is taken from chamber newsletters and websites that W.A.C.E. receives from its members. We try to share best practices, ideas and programs from chambers working hard to be Catalysts, Conveners and Champions and make a difference in their community. Make sure to subscribe W.A.C.E. to your mailing list, if you haven’t done so already, and you may be featured in a future Insider!
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