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.
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Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 8/21/2009 10:16:00 AM
 On August 19th, The Scottsville-Allen County officials announced their participation in an economic development program to help communities be better prepared for economic growth. TVA Economic Development in cooperation with local power company, Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation, is offering the pilot community preparedness program. "We are pleased to work with Scottsville-Allen County's community leaders to offer this pilot economic development program,” said John Bradley, TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development. "This will help the community be better prepared for growth and potential job opportunities." Its objectives include work to move forward with Allen County's strategic plan, identify available land and buildings, foster the community's charitable and entrepreneurial spirit, and continue to improve educational opportunities for career and industry trades. Tri-County Electric, TVA, state and local entities will assist the Scottsville-Allen County Industrial Authority with a variety of resources to accomplish these objectives. For more information visit http://www.scottsvillegrowth.com. Labels: Allen County, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, Scottsville
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 8/07/2009 11:45:00 AM
 In an effort to interact and connect better with our partners and the community, The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and South Central Kentucky regional economic development partners have joined several social media sites. And, we want you to join us! Tweet with us on Twitter: twitter.com/BGChamber. Become a fan of the Chamber and South Central Kentucky on Facebook! Are you LinkedIn? Connect with the Chamber! Labels: Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, social media
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 8/04/2009 04:16:00 PM
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/28/2009 10:58:00 AM
As expected, the card check compromise has arrived. The so-called card-check provision would have required employers to recognize a union as soon as a majority of workers signed cards saying they wanted a union. A half-dozen senators friendly to labor, faced with immovable opposition to the repugnant card check component of the Employee Free Choice Act, dropped that element of the proposed legislation earlier this month. Marc Elliot, vice president for property development & public policy, stated, "The removal of the 'Card Check' provision from the proposed federal Employee Free Choice Act is a positive move. The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce believes in a worker’s fundamental right of privacy and that a worker’s decision to join a union should be made by private secret ballot rather than a card check process in order to protect the worker from coercion from a union, business, or any other interest." It appears the Senators will, once again as expected, attempt to replace it with an expedited election feature. Though some details remain to be worked out, under the expected revisions, union elections would have to be held within five or 10 days after 30 percent of workers signed cards favoring having a union. Currently, the campaigns often run two months. This is good news and bad news. The good news is that the card check provision would protect employers from the “weekend ambush” where a majority of employees could be signed up at a union sponsored Jimmy Buffet concert. The bad news is that an election conducted within 5-10 business days of the filing of a petition will not afford an unprepared employer the opportunity to construct and conduct an effective campaign. This legislation is expected to be on the Senate agenda in September. Now is the time for employers to contact their representatives. Once the Senate has acted, it will be too late! Log onto VoiceforSouthCentralKY.com to voice your opinion or use the following information to contact your Senators: Sen. Bunning: http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactFormWashington, D.C. 316 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Main: 202.224.4343 Fax: 202.228.1373 District 2 - Owensboro 423 Frederica Street Room 305 Owensboro, KY 42301 Main: 270.689.9085 Fax: 270.689.9158 Toll free: 1-800-283-8983 Sen. McConnell: http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfmWashington Office 361-A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2541 Fax: (202) 224-2499 Bowling Green (South Central Kentucky Office) Federal Building 241 E. Main Street, Rm. 102 Bowling Green, KY 42101 Phone: (270) 781-1673 For additional information, contact Vice President, Property Development & Public Policy Marc Elliott at 270-781-3200 or marc@bgchamber.com. Labels: Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Employee Free Choice Act, Small Business, Washington DC
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/22/2009 10:53:00 AM
 Here are a handful of quick facts from 2008 and 2009: -Forbes ranked Bowling Green as No. 12 among the best small places for business and careers in the country for 2008. -US News and World Report ranked Bowling Green High School in top 505 high schools nationwide – Bowling Green Daily News -The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University has been named to Newsweek’s 2009 list of “The Public Elites.” -In the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings in “America’s Best Colleges 2009,”WKU is No. 10 among public master’s universities in the South. -The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce was among 2008's Top 3 Chambers in the Nation (of its size) by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. -The Excellence Award for Best Website and the Excellence Award for Outstanding Membership Retention from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives. Check it out at www.bgchamber.com! Labels: Bowling Green, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, quick facts, WKU
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/20/2009 10:02:00 AM
 Last Thursday, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a 1950’s-style ‘Day of Celebration’ commending our volunteers and dedicated partners for their continual support. Activities included 50's-themed games and contests, classic cars, ice cream floats at the Chamburger Diner, music, rock & roll trivia, a sock hop, prizes and more. In addition to the activities, there were surprise appearances by "The Big Bopper" and "Dick Clark." “Thursday's festivities provided fun and excitement for the Chamber’s volunteers and committee members,” said Partnership Development Director Beth Oliphant. “Aside from the entertainment, our purpose was to show appreciation for those generous individuals that continually help to make Chamber programs and events possible.” Labels: 1950's, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, partnership
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/06/2009 08:44:00 AM
 In an effort to provide even more value to our partners, the Chamber has invested in a state-of-the-art IP video conferencing system.Everyone knows video conferencing saves time and travel expenses—but did you know it’s better for the environment too? Video conferencing eliminates the CO2 emissions that would have been produced and saves the fuel that would have been used by traveling.We know that now more than ever, you are looking to spend each dollar wisely—and that is one more reason why your Chamber is continually looking for ways to make your partnership dollars provide value to your business. Video Conferencing Rates: Chamber Partners - $150 an hour Bronze, Silver, and Gold President’s Club Partners - $100 an hour Diamond and Platinum President’s Club Partners - $75 an hour*ISDN to IP bridging service is an extra $65 an hour for all partners.All rentals include the use of either the Community Room, Board Room, or Presentation Room. Contact Office Manager Amanda Johnson at amanda@bgchamber.com or by calling 781-3200 to check availability and to plan your next video conferencing session today! Labels: Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, partnership, video conferencing
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 7/02/2009 11:11:00 AM
 According to U.S. Census Bureau information released yesterday, Bowling Green grew 1.8 percent from 54,107 to 55,097 and Owensboro grew .28 percent from 55,360 to 55,516 this year. For Bowling Green and Owensboro, the difference in growth since the 2000 Census is even wider. Bowling Green grew nearly 12 percent, while Owensboro grew just 2.6 percent, only adding 1,449 people to its population since 2000.The lack of a major interstate highway near Owensboro and the presence of one adjacent to Bowling Green have continually been cited as the reasons for the difference.
While concentrated mainly in central Kentucky, the anticipated growth for the Elizabethtown and Hardin County area could spill southward along Interstate 65. The region will see a surge in population because of relocations for base realignment to Fort Knox, and if a battery manufacturing facility is located in Hardin County that will mean thousands of jobs and likely population growth.
Labels: Bowling Green, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Census, I-65, population
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/23/2009 09:20:00 AM
JD Power Results – Something to Smile About The Chevrolet Corvette was ranked the Best GM Model by JD Power in its latest study. The Chevy Corvette score came in at 71 PPH, placing in the top of the pack for all GM models. In addition, the Corvette came in at the top of its segment – beating a top competitor, Porsche, by 1 PPH. The Bowling Green Assembly Plant team also secured the Bronze Plant Award, tying with the Toyota Georgetown Plant and the Ford Truck Plant. The plant score indicates the number of quality issues that were plant controllable. Congratulations Bowling Green Team! Want to know more? Visit or click http://www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com/Labels: Bowling Green, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Chevrolet, Corvette, GM, JD Power Survey, National Corvette Museum
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/18/2009 10:35:00 AM
 A local resident was honored Tuesday with The Jefferson Award in Washington, D.C., for her exceptional contributions to the Bowling Green community. Martha Haynes received the award primarily for her significant philanthropy to Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children, a local, nonprofit agency that serves abused, at-risk and homeless youth throughout Kentucky. The Jefferson Awards, which began in 1972, are a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. The awards are presented on two levels: national and local. Bowling Green is one of approximately 90 communities in the U.S. that participate in the awards on a local level. Haynes won the local Jefferson Award in April along with three other Warren County natives: Ret. Col. Robert Spiller, his wife, Cora Jane Spiller, and Hilda Sarver. Afterward, Haynes was nominated by the local board to be honored in the National Ceremonies in Washington, D.C. As part of the three-day ceremony held this week, Haynes received her award and spoke before all the recipients and their guests about the services she performed that resulted in national recognition. “My father always told me that wherever I went I should make sure it was a better place when I left, in part, because of what I’ve done,” Haynes said. Labels: Bowling Green, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson Award, Marth Hayes, national recognition, public services, South Central Kentucky
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/16/2009 03:09:00 PM
 Local leaders throughout the region, Western Kentucky University affiliates, and members of the Board of Directors of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce spent several days in Washington D.C. last week discussing South Central Kentucky's legislative priorities with members of the Kentucky congressional delegation. Hosted by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and led by Chamber Board Chairman Todd Davis, the fourth annual South Central Kentucky Washington DC Fly-in was held on June 9-11. Fly-in participants who traveled to our nation’s capitol had the opportunity to spend time with Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning along with Congressmen Brett Guthrie, John Yarmuth, Hal Rogers, Ed Whitfield, Ben Chandler and Geoff Davis. Labels: Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, DC Fly-In, South Central Kentucky, Washington DC
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/12/2009 08:39:00 AM
 Pan-Oston announced last week that it was expanding its manufacturing plant on Louisville Road to accommodate growth in self-checkout and technology products and completing renovation of a portion of the plant to consolidate all its metal and wood production into a single state-of-the art manufacturing facility. The addition will house an Electronic Assembly Area that is specially designed as a controlled “clean” environment with lighting, anti static technology and air conditioning to help ensure the perfect assembly of Utopia self-checkout solutions and other technology products.
Pan-Oston, a majority owned subsidiary of Houchens Industries, Inc., one of the largest employee owned (“ESOP”) companies in the United Sates, has been an industry leader in the design and manufacture of retail checkout products as well as a broad range of retail fixtures and fittings for over 40 years Labels: Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Houchens Industries, Manufacturing Plant, Pan Oston
Posted by Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce - 6/09/2009 11:23:00 AM
 For three days last week, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce economic development staff and South Central Kentucky partners hosted site selectors from across North America, showcasing the region’s assets to these professionals. Leaders from throughout the region, along with representatives from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority, also participated in the three-day event. Upon arrival on Tuesday, June 2, the six consultants were escorted to a Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball game against the Lexington Legends. After visiting the Kentucky Transpark on Wednesday morning, they boarded helicopters for an extensive aerial tour of the South Central Kentucky region. The group spent Wednesday evening at a networking reception at the National Corvette Museum. After a 5-minute networking session and panel discussion on Thursday morning, the tour ended with a round of golf at Olde Stone and other recreational activities. The tour was designed to give insight on the South Central Kentucky region and to showcase why we are renowned for being, "Central for Business and Southern for Living". Labels: Bowling Green, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Fam Tour, South Central Kentucky
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