City Looks for Parking Input

Business owners and the public are invited to hear more about downtown parking plans next week. The City of Fort Wayne will host two sessions open to the public to explore ways to implement a parking authority for downtown.

Representatives from Carl Walker, a parking consultant that the City has been working with to review downtown parking, will make a presentation and take comments and questions from the audience.

The sessions will be 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Grand Wayne Center.

The proposed parking authority, which is currently under development, will serve a planning purpose to ensure downtown parking inventory is developed and coordinated strategically in alignment with the other goals of downtown revitalization.

It's Not Too Late to Apply for Brain Gain!

Administered by the Questa Foundation for Education, the Brain Gain Program assists selected college graduates with repayment of their educational loans.

Applicants must be employed in Allen County, Indiana, and have received a federal student loan or other loan approved by the Questa Loan Review Committee. Four annual payments of $2,500, up to a maximum of $10,000, will be applied toward recipients’ college loans. To qualify for each $2,500 payment, recipients must meet annual employment requirements in designated fields in Allen County. Graduates having bachelor’s and/or graduate degrees in Engineering, Engineering Technologies, or Computer Engineering employed in the following fields are eligibleto apply: 1. Advanced Manufacturing 2. Computer Information Technology 3. Biomedical/Biotechnology.

To apply for a Brain Gain Grant, please submit the following information to Fort Wayne Educational Foundation at the following address: P.O. Box 5224, Fort Wayne IN, 46895-52241. An official copy of your college or university transcript 2. Lender’s current statement of your educational loan account 3. Letter of recommendation from your employer including dates of employment 4. Listing of community and/or extra-curricular activities in which you have participated within the past two years 5. Letter stating your academic major and future career goals and indicating why you should receive this award.

The deadline is October 1, 2008. Be sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

Concert to Benefit Women’s Initiative Literacy Efforts

Former Bluffton resident and internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Jane Rivar will perform in Fort Wayne on Thursday, October 2 in a concert benefiting literacy efforts. The concert is hosted by United Way Women’s Initiative, a network of women philanthropists who are working to improve early literacy skills for children living in low-income neighborhoods.

Rivar will perform “Riding the Creative River,” a multimedia event that weaves original song, storytelling, art and video into a unique experience. The following day, Rivar will conduct a workshop called “Stepping into Your Flow,” which explores the source of creativity, and provides insight and experience for accessing and realizing one’s creative potential in any field.

Both the concert and workshop will take place at Sweetwater Sound, 5501 US Hwy 30 W. The concert is preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. and begins at 7 p.m. The workshop takes place on October 3 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Tickets for the benefit concert and workshop are $75 per person and seating is limited. Workshop-only tickets may be purchased for $25. Call (260) 422-4776 to reserve a space.

YLNI High Speed Networking

What: YLNI High Speed Networking
25th Floor - Summit Club
Thursday, October 2, 5 p.m.

Back by popular demand! YLNI is offering an opportunity for you to connect with other YLNI and Chamber of Commerce members and build lasting business relationships with dozens of new connections.

Join us for a fast-paced, fun way to get the word out about your business while you learn more about businesses in Northeast Indiana. Registration begins at 5 p.m. Arrive early, grab a drink and prepare for a unique networking experience! The action will start at 5:30. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be provided.

Representatives from YLNI and the Chamber will be on hand to provide information regarding upcoming events and promotions! All attendees will receive free entry into the Chamber’s October 16th Morning Mix.

All ages and occupations are welcome. RSVPs are strongly encouraged as this event is expected to sell out.

COST: $10 for all dues paying YLNI members and $15 for non-members. Also bring plenty of business cards to share.

RSVP to rsvp@ylni.org (or call 969-5748) with the following information:
Name:
Business
Address
Phone
Email

Join NEOTI For a Celebration

You are invited to join Chamber member NEOTI for a special upcoming event! (click on image for larger view)

Discovery Channel to Feature Fort Wayne's Master Spas

Chamber member, Master Spas, a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based design and manufacturing company of portable hot tubs and fitness and luxury spas, will be featured on Episode 7 of “How It's Made 5,” a television series on many of the Discovery Networks including Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids, Discovery Channel Europe, and will premier on The Science
Channel, beginning October 17.

“How It's Made” is documentary-style programming that provides a walk-through of the processes by which diverse, everyday products (everything from aluminum foil to yule logs) are designed, engineered, and manufactured. More information and
show schedules can be found online at http://science.discovery.com.

For more information on Master Spas visit www.masterspas.com.

City of Fort Wayne Hosts Int'l Trade Conference

Businesses from across Indiana are invited to the City of Fort Wayne’s International Trade Conference Oct. 1 at the Grand Wayne Center to learn more about how to be successful in international trade.

The one-day conference offers workshops on risk management and an international trade “boot camp.” Futurist and global management consultant Barry Minkin, author of “ECONOQUAKE,” is the keynote speaker at lunch.

Mayor Tom Henry will present the 2007 Indiana Exporter of the Year award on behalf of the City and the Indianapolis U.S. Export Assistance Center. Award nominations are being accepted through Sept. 22.

The deadline to register for the conference is Sept. 22. The cost is $50 for the workshops and lunch or $35 for lunch only. The conference runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Grand Wayne Center.

To register online or pay using a credit card, click here. For more information or to request a brochure, contact Ola DeGabriele, the City’s international trade manager, at (260) 481-0498.

Afdent Celebration Today

Afdent will celebrate the grand opening of their new location with an open house celebration today at 4:30 p.m. They are located on 4041 Parnell Avenue just one block from Coliseum Boulevard.

Everyone is invited to the big launch party at the all new Afdent. The grand opening will also feature a hog roast, live radio remote, beverages and more. Admission is free. Due to last-minute circumstances, David Stremme has cancelled his scheduled appearance this evening at Afdent.

Afdent offers full family dental service to the Fort Wayne and Mishawaka areas. Dr. David Allen, an Indiana University graduate, has perfected individual’s smiles since 1985. Afdent’s highly qualified professionals offer preemptive and cosmologic care.

For more information contact Tim Winski at (574) 210-2334 or visit their Web site at www.afdent.com/fort_wayne.

Table Facilitators Needed for Landmark Morning Mix

Table Facilitators are needed for this Thursday's Morning Mix at the Landmark Conference & Reception Centre. The fun starts at 7:30 a.m.

The Landmark Conference & Reception Centre is located at 6222 Ellison Road. You will experience 20 minutes at three different tables, receiving the opportunity to present your "unique selling proposition" to a couple of dozen businesspersons in a fast-paced, fun and structured setting.

Admission is $5. In addition, please make sure to bring a stack of your business cards. Continental breakfast is included. To reserve a space, contact the Chamber at (260) 424-1435 or register online here. You do not have to be a Chamber member to attend.

Walk a Mile Results

Over $70,000 was raised for the Fort Wayne Women's Bureau Rape Awareness Program when 320 men and 700 walkers and spectators enjoyed the "Walk a Mile in her Shoes" walk. Many men were in attendance in their shoes, including Mayor Tom Henry, Sheriff Ken Fries and Police Chief Rusty York.

Here are some pictures from the event...

Verizon Foundation to Grant Northeast Indiana Foundation $30,000

The Verizon Foundation will present a $30,000 check to the Northeast Indiana Foundation (NIF). The presentation will be made on Wednesday, September 17 at 10 a.m. at the Fourth Wave Building, 1st Floor Lobby (300 E. Main Street).

For more information contact Mark Becker, NIF at (260) 469-3479 or mark.becker@chooseneindiana.com or Matt Kelley, Verizon Foundation at (260) 461-2325 or mailto:260/461-2325matthew.kelley@verizon.com.

New Community Resource Center for Refugees Coming in Fall

Mayor Tom Henry announced today that Fort Wayne will open a new Community Resource Center for Refugees this fall. The Center will offer assistance to the several thousand new refugees who are struggling with accessing services and integrating into the Fort Wayne community.

The Resource Center will serve refugees from Burma, Somalia and other regions of the world whom the US State Department offered “shelter” in this country from dangerous political regimes around the globe.

The Resource Center will offer established community businesses, employers and individuals a place to connect with new refugees as well as provide a variety of self-sufficiency programs, English language classes, employment assistance services, healthcare navigation, assistance with issues related to public schooling for children, disease prevention education, limited preventive health care and other services needed by new refugees.

These services are aimed at an estimated one thousand refugees who are beyond their “relocation and placement services (typically 180 days)” and less than five years since their arrival in our country. Doors are expected to open in about 30 days.

For more information click here.

The Embassy Experience Takes Place September 27

(click on image for larger view)