Welcome to the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Blog
The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Blog will discuss the news and issues impacting South Central Kentucky's business community. To join the conversation, click the comment link under any post.
Please note that the Chamber may reject comments for any reason we deem appropriate. This is a moderated site and comments will appear if and when they are approved. We will review the queue several times daily, so please don't resubmit if your comment doesn't appear immediately.
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/17/2008 09:03:00 AM
 You've probably heard the news by now, but on July 15 DESA Heating Products, LLC announced several hundred jobs will be coming back to its Bowling Green headquarters from China! More than 600 people--including 450 plant workers--attended an announcement on Tuesday that featured Governor Steve Beshear, Warren County Judge Executive Michael Buchanon and Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker, along with Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Commissioner George Burgess and DESA and Chamber representatives. DESA is moving manufacturing production from China back to its Warren County facility. The shift in operations will expand the company's Bowling Green workforce and create a capital investment of over $6.4 million in the commonwealth. "DESA Heating Product's decision to move production back to Kentucky is a strong indicator of evolving outsourcing trends in the global economy," said Gov. Beshear. "We are delighted DESA will expand its Bowling Green facility to accommodate the added production, resulting in a multi-million dollar investment and several hundred new employment opportunities for the south central Kentucky region."  "The Cabinet is pleased to work with DESA Heating Products and the Bowling Green community to make this expansion possible," said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary John Hindman. "Kentucky's central location, coupled with our logistical advantages and productive workforce, make it ideal for companies relying on shipping products to customers across the globe." Over the last year DESA has begun bringing back a significant percentage of its manufacturing from China, due to changing times in the world economy. Factors such as the continuing rise in the cost of oil, the weakening of the U.S. dollar compared to foreign currency and the recent rise in wages for Chinese workers is making manufacturing in China no longer as economical as it once was. The continuing spikes in the cost of oil are making transportation increasingly expensive, especially for larger, heavier products such as the consumer and professional heaters that DESA produces. Bowling Green's centralized location will not only allow DESA to save on transportation costs, but will expedite the shipping process. The company now can ship products to over half of the U.S. in about one day compared to the average six to eights weeks timeframe to ship from China. "Bowling Green, Kentucky is an ideal location for DESA Heating Products' expansion because we are located within a day's drive of 70 percent of the U.S. population, we have a large labor base with whom we have a very solid relationship, and we enjoy a low overall cost of doing business here," said Claude Hayes, president of retail heating for DESA. Labels: Economic Development
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/07/2008 08:48:00 AM
 Inkjet Express helps businesses save money, save time, and help the environment. Inkjet Express, a local Bowling Green company, remanufactures inkjet cartridges here in Bowling Green. It also supplies remanufactured toner cartridges. Discarded empty printer cartridges have rapidly become an environmental challenge. The petroleum used to manufacture new cartridges adds up to a significant consumption of oil. The manufacture of a new inkjet cartridge requires 2.5 ounces of oil; the manufacture of a new toner cartridge requires 3.5 quarts of oil. Even if each new cartridge is only refilled once, the consumption of oil for the manufacturing of new cartridges would be cut in half. Use. Save. Repeat. Use. Save. Repeat. Use. Save. Repeat. Use. Save. Repeat. We guarantee our products. Fax us your printer model and cartridge number for a free price comparison. 270-843-9677 (fax) or call us at 270-780-9698. We offer Bowling Green businesses FREE pick-up and FREE delivery. Labels: The Chamber Green Scene
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/03/2008 08:36:00 AM
Last month Tonya Matthews, vice president of operations, submitted a post explaining that the Chamber has qualified to submit for ACCE's Chamber of the Year. This was an honor in an of itself, but now we have more news to share. We are ranked as one of the top three chambers in the U.S. and Canada within our dues structure! The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) selects three to four chambers in each of four dues categories each year, honoring these chambers for their excellence in overall operations, programs, partnership numbers and other functions. In our submission, we highlighted our capital campaign for our new building, our economic development efforts, our partnership numbers and our programs--all of which contribute to the outstanding work of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce's board, staff, volunteers and partners! The only national association serving the professional development needs of chamber executives in the United States and Canada, ACCE currently represents more than 7,800 professional members in 1,400 chambers of commerce. It is the premier organization for chamber executives, and the Chamber will receive national recognition at the annual convention in Pittsburgh at the end of July. Congratulations and thank you to all of our partners! This ranking wouldn't have been possible without you! Read the full news release.Watch WBKO's coverage of our ranking.Labels: Chamber of the Year
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/01/2008 03:37:00 PM
-710748.jpg) You may have heard some buzz around the community about the Chamber's new menu of services program that is part of our revised South Central Kentucky Marketing Plan. Today the program was launched during a news conference at the Chamber with speakers from Butler, Edmonson, Logan and Warren Counties participating. Judge N.E. Reed from Edmonson County summed up the expectations of the program best by saying, "We're moving the Golden Triangle down to South Central Kentucky, and it's going to stretch from Metcalfe to Logan Counties."
The menu of services program was created to deepen the marketing of South Central Kentucky to site selection professionals and industries, informing their decisions to locate business here in the region. While this is the primary goal of the program, it will also -778335.jpg) Provide excellent, cost-effective economic development services to the surrounding counties that do not have full-time economic development professionals of their own.
- Deepen the Chamber’s ability to increase the competitiveness of the area counties, involving all organizations and officials in economic development efforts in the region.
- Drive the economic development success of the entire South Central Kentucky region with a commitment to industry attraction, as well as to assist in current industries’ retention and expansion plans.
To accomplish these goals, the Chamber developed an a la carte menu of its economic development services, which Chamber staff has begun to present to the surrounding counties. The services include -753260.jpg) - Economic development administration
- Business attraction
- Business retention and expansion
- Strategic planning
- Product development
The counties and organizations are able to select specific services from the menu—whether all or just a few—to add to their economic development efforts. To date, Butler and Edmonson Counties have agreed to services offered in the program, with Allen and Logan Counties taking advantage of the enhanced marketing package. Our Chamber staff will continue to meet with the other counties and their industrial development organizations through the next several months. Read the Chamber's press release. A special thanks goes out to all who attended this event, and to those who participated in the presentation: Doug Gorman, 2008 Chamber Board of Directors chairman; Dan Preston, Chamber vice president, economic development; Warren County Judge Executive Michael Buchanon; Judge Reed; Morgantown Mayor Eva Hawes; Butler County Judge Executive David Fields; Tom Harned, Logan LEAD executive director; and Logan County Judge Executive Logan Chick. Read the article about the menu of services in Tuesday's Daily News. Labels: Economic Development
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/28/2008 03:27:00 PM
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities Offers Services for Sustainability!Bowling Green Municipal Utilities offers many unique opportunities for its customers to promote green living, and the company embraces sustainability practices throughout its workplaces. Click here to read about BGMU's efforts in one of their newsletters.Want to see your business highlighted in the Chamber Green Scene? Send your sustainable/energy-saving business practice success stories to amanda@bgchamber.com. Labels: The Chamber Green Scene
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/19/2008 11:04:00 AM
 Service One Credit Union to Use Reclaimed Timber in Building of “Green” AdditionService One Credit Union has purchased the timber from the historic Poole’s Mill (Poole Milling Company) for re-use in a “green” addition to its Campbell Lane Branch. The original Poole’s Mill was built in 1830. After a devastating fire it was rebuilt in 1924. The Mill served a large portion of Western Kentucky for nearly 150 years producing flour, meal, and animal feed. The Mill played a vital role in the development of Webster County Kentucky and surrounding areas. The present structure is of superior design and was built using excellent oak timber for the floor joists and vertical posts. According to local citizens, some of this timber may have been from virgin trees. The purchase of the Mill’s timber by Service One Credit Union is not only a testament to the Credit Union’s green efforts, but also preserves an important piece of Kentucky history. The building has been disassembled and the materials are currently being transported to Bowling Green, KY for the construction of the “green” addition. Dr. Marvin Russell, former Dean of Ogden College, Western Kentucky University, was born in a house across the road from the Poole Milling Company. He remembers hearing the single piston engine chugging continuously throughout the day as flour and cornmeal were ground from grain brought in by local farmers. He stated, “I have many fond memories from boyhood of time spent exploring the workings of the Poole Mill. I am delighted that the timbers and the history of this important community industry will be preserved.” He also remembers fishing and ice skating on the Mill pond. Valerie C. Brown, President and CEO stated, “Upon completion of Service One’s “green” addition, pictures and a synopsis of the Poole Milling Company’s history will be displayed prominently at the Credit Union’s Campbell Lane Branch.” Service One Credit Union was chartered in 1963 as a not-for-profit financial cooperative to assist Western Kentucky University's faculty, staff and students in attaining their financial goals. Service One Credit Union's membership now includes numerous SEGs (Select Employee Groups) throughout south-central Kentucky. It is a full-service financial cooperative serving more than 14,000 members through its four branch locations and on the internet at http://www.socu.com/. Want to see your business highlighted in the Chamber Green Scene? Send your sustainable/energy-saving business practice success stories to amanda@bgchamber.com. Labels: The Chamber Green Scene
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/16/2008 02:53:00 PM
Today the Chamber welcomed Miller Slaughter to the team. Miller has joined us as director, regional development. In this newly created role, he will be responsible for the regional economic development efforts in the counties which have contracted with the Chamber and as a liaison with all the Chamber's partner counties as part of the newly revised South Central Kentucky Marketing Plan. Chamber President and CEO James N. Hizer, CEcD is thrilled to welcome Miller to the team. "For the past three years, Miller has worked for the Cabinet for Economic Development as a development specialist within the Cabinet for Existing Business. That position charged him with the responsibilities of encouraging capital investment and job growth in the BRADD region. His experience with the Cabinet is a great addition to our team, and I expect him to lead our regional economic development efforts in support of our new marketing plan." During his tenure at the Cabinet, Miller was responsible for approximately 30 projects which created $160 million in economic investment and 1,700 new jobs. Aside from shepherding expansion projects to a 13-county area, he also provided assistance and consulting services to entrepreneurs starting new businesses in the South Central Kentucky area. Hizer added, "Now that Miller has joined our team, the Chamber boasts nearly 65 years of economic development experience combined. With such a lengthy history of experience, we're further enhancing our proven track record and increasing our effectiveness to expand and recruit more business to the South Central Kentucky region." Prior to joining the Cabinet, Miller was vice president of sales and minority owner for Bowling Green Recycling, and was responsible for identifying new sales leads and converting them to longtime satisfied customers. His marketing experience is lengthy, as he worked as marketing manager for Pig Improvement Company (PIC), vice president of marketing, activewear for Fruit of the Loom, Inc., marketing director and strategic business unit leader for Dial Corporation, marketing manager/SBU leader for Armour Star Canned Meats, marketing director-Coppertone Suncare Products at Schering-Plough, and marketing director-Dr. Scholl's Footcare for Schering-Plough. In addition, he served as brand manager-Maybelline Cosmetics at Schering-Plough, brand manager for Amour-Dial, and brand assistant in the pet foods division for Quaker Oats. Overall, he boasts more than 20 years' experience in marketing, sales and branding. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Business Administration degree in management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is an adjunct instructor of marketing at Midcontinent University and has attended numerous economic development training courses and workshops offered in economic development. Labels: Chamber staff
|
"The Cabinet is pleased to work with DESA Heating Products and the Bowling Green community to make this expansion possible," said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary John Hindman. "Kentucky's central location, coupled with our logistical advantages and productive workforce, make it ideal for companies relying on shipping products to customers across the globe." 
-710762.jpg)
-778367.jpg)
-753307.jpg)
