Opportunity for Small Business Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has introduced a new loan guaranty program specifically for small business owners with a good credit record. The program, called Small/Rural Lender Advantage includes available capital of up to $350,000. A streamlined application process with reduced paperwork and a special credit scoring model allows for efficient processing time.

Four informational sessions will be held over telephone on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 28 at 7:30 a.m. (ET)
Thursday, October 30 at 10 a.m. (ET)
Thursday, November 6 at 7:30 a.m. (ET)
Thursday, November 13 at 10 a.m. (ET)


Sessions will cover:


-Details about Small/Rural loans
-Eligibility
-How the money can be used
-How to apply for the loans

To dial into a session call (866) 740-1260 – Access code 3056201#
To access slides visit http://www.readytalk.com/ –Access code 3056201#

Magical Day of Giving

Jefferson Pointe will host their annual "Magical Day of Giving" on Saturday, November 8 from 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. Magical Day of Giving includes exclusive discounts at Jefferson Pointe stores, Santa's arrival to his outdoor cottage, holiday entertainment, the tree lighting ceremony and fabulous door prizes.

Magical Day of Giving also makes a great fundraiser for your non-profit organization!

For more information call Chris Ford at (260) 459-1160.

Regal Beloit Introduces New Technology: The Evergreen IM

Fort Wayne HVAC contractors attended training at Regal Beloit on new technology for residential heating and cooling. Contractors including J.O. Mory Inc., Korte Does It All and Koch Air were represented at the training on the Evergreen IM motor, the first universal ECM aftermarket motor for residential heating and cooling applications. The Evergreen is a high-efficiency motor that is the first in the world made for replacing blower motors in residential heating and cooling equipment. This high-efficiency technology will benefit consumers through costs savings. The Evergreen is made by Fort Wayne company Regal Beloit, a leading manufacturer of mechanical and electrical motion control and power generation products serving markets throughout the world.

Learn more about the Evergreen IM

Broadway Corridor Project Unveiled: Businesses Invest in Renovations

Fort Wayne businesses recently unveiled the Broadway Corridor Project earlier this month at Catablu American Grille. The project is an effort by private business in conjunction with the City of Fort Wayne to make the neighborhood more attractive and increase commerce. The Broadway Corridor is a 2-mile stretch designated as an up-and-coming “destination spot” for the city. The area is already undergoing improvement from the city by way of sidewalk reconstruction that will make the north side of the corridor accessible for the disabled.

In addition to the city work, major renovations will take place on both the external façade and inside of many businesses along the Corridor, as well as construction upon some currently unused lots. Many businesses along the Corridor are making major investments into renovating their sites, including a minimum quarter-million dollar renovation to the Metro Real Estate Building. Metro Real Estate owner Brian Schaper also announced that the Design Factore, Inc. will be moving into the Metro Real Estate Building.Other changes include the incorporation of the restaurant Hartley’s, currently on Fairfield, into Chappell’s Coral Grill & Seafood Market on Broadway. Chappell’s will also be undergoing a $100,000 renovation.

The Broadway Corridor Project includes a logo for the Broadway Corridor and a Web site designed by Design Factore, Inc. The Broadway-Taylor intersection will be the hub of the Corridor. Other businesses undergoing major renovations include: the Mad Anthony Brewing Co., George’s International Grocery and George’s La Baguette International Bakery

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry attended the unveiling along with his Community Development Staff, Fifth District City Councilman Tim Pape, and the City Council At-Large members. The Mayor announced his new Community Front program which will provide funds to help city businesses investing in façade renovations. The matching amount of the grant is expected to equal about $20,000 on average. Larger projects may receive additional assistance.

The leadership team of the Broadway Corridor Project includes: Tim Gouloff of Gouloff-Jordan Surveying; Chris Rongos of George’s International Grocery/Baker; Brian Schaper of Metro Real Estate; Nancy Schoenle of IntraScape; Barbara Schopmann of St. Joseph Hospital; Blaine Stuckey of Mad Anthony Brewing Co.; Gary Chappell of Chappell’s Coral Grill $ Seafood Market; Steve Shine of Shine & Hardin, LLP.

Visit the Broadway Corridor Project Web site.

We Need Your Photos

We need your photos for our upcoming This is Fort Wayne publication. Have any photos you would like to send in? We would love to hear from you! Click on the image below for a larger view & more detail.

Matthew 25 Honors O’Shaughnessy Family Today

Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic will present its first annual “Fabric of the Community Award” to the O’Shaughnessy family at the Matthew 25 Celebration today, October 23 at the Fort Wayne Country Club.

This prestigious award recognizes a group or individual who has provided exemplary service or support to Matthew 25. It honors sacrificial and significant contributions that, over time, have been key in helping Matthew 25 fulfill its mission.

The O’Shaughnessy family has befriended and served the Clinic for three generations.

It all started with Dr. Phil O’Shaughnessy, Allen County coroner and periodontist. Dr. O’Shaughnessy treated dental patients at Matthew 25 for nearly 20 years and served on the board of directors until his death in 2001. Dr. O’Shaughnessy’s widow, Jean, has volunteered in the dental clinic since 1993—registering patients and sometimes assisting dentists—and continues to serve at Matthew 25 today.

Sons Drs. Mark and Andy O’Shaughnessy likewise perpetuate their parents’ legacy of serving Matthew 25. Dr. Mark has been conducting a monthly Cardiology Clinic since 1995. He also coordinates the annual Dr. Phil O’Shaughnessy Walk/Run for Health, a Matthew 25 fundraiser. Dr. Andy conducts a monthly Nephrology Clinic and is a member of the Governing Board of Directors of Matthew 25.

What’s more, Jennie (O’Shaughnessy) Rumschlag represents yet a third generation of significant contributions from this big-hearted family. She first served as a volunteer in the Patient Assistance Program and in January 2007 became the Matthew 25 Volunteer Coordinator.

Over the years, many other members of the O’Shaughnessy family have been involved through fundraisers such as the Dr. Phil O’Shaughnessy Walk/Run for Health and the Bocce Tournament.

The Matthew 25 Celebration is a sold-out, fundraising event. For more information contact Mary Jane Bogle, (260) 469-4060 or maryjane@gotobig.com.

Al Foxx to Speak at Pathfinder Annual Recognition Dinner Nov. 8

Pathfinder Services, Inc. will celebrate its Annual Community Recognition Dinner Saturday, November 8th, 2008 at Huntington University. This year’s dinner will have a special keynote speaker in Al Foxx.

Over 25 year’s ago, a crash changed Al Foxx from a healthy 19-year old roofer to a disability survivor with brain damage and partial paralysis. After years in rehab, he became an award winning comic and national speaker whose storytelling ability and contagious believe in possibilities philosophy brings laughter and hope to all ages.

Also at the dinner the prestigious Herbert D. LaMont award will be presented to an outstanding citizen of Huntington for their work with adults and/or children with disabilities. The Timothy Hancher award honoring a direct service staff member of Pathfinder Services, Inc. will be presented at the dinner as well as honoring outstanding community partners of the organization.

Pathfinder Services’ recognition dinner will be held at Habecker Dining Commons, adjacent to the Merillat Centre on the grounds of Huntington University. The evening will start with a punch reception at 4:45 where guests will have the opportunity to meet Al Foxx, followed by dinner at 5:20. The dinner will conclude with Foxx’s presentation to those in attendance. Following the dinner, a performance of Music Man by Huntington University will take place at 7:30 at the Merillat Centre for the Arts.

The price is $15 per person for dinner and Al Foxx’s presentation, $20 for dinner, Al Foxx’s presentation, and a ticket to Huntington University’s theater performance of Music Man at the Merillat Centre for the Arts beginning at 7:30. Corporate Tables of ten are available for $190.

Anyone interested in attending should call Jason Meyer at Pathfinder Services at (260) 356-0500 by Friday, October 24th to make their reservation. A reservation form for the dinner can also be found at http://www.pathfinderservices.org/.

Reserve Your Space to "Taste" Now!

Vendors - it's time to reserve your space for a booth at the Chamber's annual Taste of the Chamber, Fort Wayne's favorite holiday event for the business community. (click on image for larger view and more information).

Mad Ants Open House Tonight

You are invited to a Mad Ants Open House tonight from 4 p.m.- 7 p.m. Mad Ants staff and coaches will be there to get to know the community and answer questions. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

The Mad Ants' office is located in the Paper Mill Office Park - 1910 St. Joe Center Rd., Suite 61, east of Bishop Dwenger High School.

For more information call the Mad Ants at (260) 469-4667.

Mad Ants Mascot Receives National Fame as “Nightmare Ant”

Through the wonders of viral marketing, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants mascot, formally titled “the Mad Ant,” has become known across the U.S. as the “Nightmare Ant.”

An accidental click of a button caused a picture of the Mad Ant to go up prematurely on Deadspin, a sports blog, with just the caption “the Nightmare Ant” and no mention of the Fort Wayne team. However, bloggers took a liking to the fierce-looking ant and the picture and the name has been spreading across the Internet ever since, even landing the Mad Ants in ESPN magazine, and earning the Mad Ant a nomination to the Deadspin Hall of Fame.

Mad Ants President Jeff Potter has been enjoying the free press that the “Nightmare Ant” has been bringing to the team, and has mentioned the phenomenon on his own Mad Ants blog. Potter also released a YouTube clip of the Mad Ant in a parody of a Napoleon Dynamite dance.

The Mad Ants have gained other national exposure recently, being featured on the hit show One Tree Hill, and also being included in the NBA Inside ’09 video game.

Learn more about the “Nightmare Ant” phenomenon and the Mad Ants recent success:

ESPN Article

Jeff Potter's Blog

Mad Ant on YouTube

One Eleven Design's Red Carpet Event!

(click on image for larger view)

Chamber Member Employee To Receive Empowerment Awards

News Director at Chamber member WAJI FM and WLDE FM, Carrie Wellman, is to be honored at the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) annual conference. Wellman is the recipient of the ICADV Empowerment Award for Public Awareness, under the category of media. The Public Awareness award is one of four Empowerment Awards given this year to individuals or organizations who have had a positive impact on victims of domestic violence. Wellman is being recognized for her efforts to promote the message of the ICADV to broadcast audiences.

Ms. Wellman will receive her Empowerment Award at a reception during the ICADV annual conference on Tuesday, October 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marriot Center in Indianapolis.

Go Green to Save Greenbacks

The Good Life Home, Garden & Harvest Show takes place at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Oct. 24-26. The best part...admission is FREE! Fort Wayne Shows would like to use this opportunity to help the Community Harvest Food Bank so attendees are greatly encouraged to bring a canned food item to donate.

The Good Life Show promises to provide some new remedies for cash-strapped consumers in Northeast Indiana. The show hours are Friday 3 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more information click here.

Last Chance to RSVP for Annual Meeting

Last chance to RSVP . For more information please call Heather Neilson at the Chamber (260) 424-1435. (click on image below for info)

Fall Fest This Week: Helping the Hungry

(click on image for larger view)

Woolman Financial Group Seminar at DeBrand's

Chamber member Woolman Financial Group will present a unique seminar at DeBrand’s Fine Chocolate’s:

What makes navigating through today’s market difficult?
· Ups and downs: “Volatility”
· Confusion about how to invest
· Unpredictability of returns
· Differing ideas on direction of the economy and markets.

Time: 7-8:30pm
Date: October 22, 2008
Location: DeBrand’s Fine Chocolates
10105 Auburn Park Dr.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825


RSVP: 424-1125 to Jeanne Meyers or Carrie Houser

Woolman Financial Group
825 S. Barr Street, Ste 100
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
www.woolman.com

YLNI the VOTE releases candidates brochure, hosts candidates night Oct. 27

Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI) is educating its members and the general public about the upcoming general election with a non-partisan candidates brochure and a candidates night Oct. 27 as part of the YLNI the VOTE initiative to educate and inform local voters. YLNI does not endorse candidates.

The candidates brochure, which was sponsored in part by the Chamber, includes responses from major-party candidates in the governor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, Congress, statehouse, Allen County offices and Fort Wayne Community Schools board races, is currently available to download at http://www.ylni.org/.

Hard copies will be available at YLNI's General Membership Meeting 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 in the lobby of the First Source building, 200 E. Main St., or at a variety of locations throughout Fort Wayne starting next week. Interested parties may also email communications@ylni.org to find out alternate locations for brochure pick-up.

Starting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 at the downtown branch of the Allen County Public Library, Candidates Night will allow candidates to address YLNI members and the general membership just before the Nov. 4 election.

Denice Beights, YLNI president, will moderate the event for candidates to introduce themselves to YLNI members as well as the general public. Candidates or their representatives from local and statewide races will be attending this free event.