New Stimulus Funds Available to Small Businesses

Small businesses in Indiana may now be eligible to receive new interest-free loans through a program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) program offers loans of $35,000 to firms that demonstrate immediate financial hardship. The funds must be used to pay down existing debt. The loans will be available through Sept. 30, 2010, or until appropriated funding runs out.

To qualify for the ARC loans, small firms must demonstrate they are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the economic downturn, but are otherwise deemed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to be viable. The loans will be made by commercial lenders and can be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debts like credit card obligations, mortgages, lines of credit, and balances due to suppliers, vendors, and utilities.

To apply for ARC loans, businesses should visit their local SBA-approved small business lenders. The loans will be available through Sept. 30, 2010, or until appropriated funding runs out. Additional information about the ARC loan program is available at http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html.

In addition to the ARC loan program, the ARRA contained other measures aimed at helping small firms access credit. For instance, the new law increases the percentage of a loan that the SBA can guarantee, makes SBA-backed loans more affordable and provides tools to unfreeze the small business credit markets, helping small companies access capital at affordable rates.

TinCaps Partner with Red Cross for Special Summer Event

Monday, August 3 is your opportunity to help the Fort Wayne Tin Caps break a lifesaving record! The Tin Caps will host a special American Red Cross blood drive at Parkview Field to help boost the local blood supply at a crucial time.

Summer is always a difficult time of year to collect blood with families traveling, high schools and colleges out of session and many regular donors busy with other activities. But lately, an urgent need has developed for three blood types: O-negative, A-negative and B-negative. You can help increase the blood supply and be part of potentially the largest one-day community blood drive in Fort Wayne’s history! The Tin Caps plan to break the current record of 283 pints of blood and hope to “Hit 300” on Monday. Won’t you STEP UP TO THE PLATE and help the Tin Caps reach this goal?

All presenting donors will receive a t-shirt, a voucher for Monday night’s Tin Caps game, and will be entered into a weekly regional drawing for a $500 Meijer gift card. Most importantly, you can help save up to three lives by giving blood.

Tin Caps Blood Drive
Parkview Field – Lincoln Financial Event Center
Monday, Aug. 3
7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or log onto givelife.org and enter sponsor code “Tin Caps” to schedule your blood donation appointment. Appointments are recommended; walk-ins are also welcomed.

The Lincoln Financial Events Center is located in the right field concourse with easy access from the Harrison Square Parking Garage and the East Gate. Free parking for blood donors is available in the Silver Lot, located at the corner of Brackenridge and Ewing Streets across from the Main Gate. Donors may also park in the Harrison Square Parking Garage for $2 per hour or use nearby meter parking for $0.25 per hour.

Smith Field Receives Upgrades

Work to repave and upgrade part of a Smith Field Airport runway is set to begin next week. New pavement will be laid on a portion of runway 13-31, and other sections will be replaced, according to the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. Lighting and drainage improvements also are included in the project.The runway rehab project will cost $1.1 million, with much of the funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Another $444,370 federal grant, which requires a 2.5-percent state and local match, is paying for the lighting and drainage improvements.About $167,537 in local funds will pay for a new taxiway to give the Ivy Tech Aircraft Maintenance Technology facility access to the field as well as allow for future development. Construction is expected to begin August 3. The project is expected to be completed in late November, weather permitting.

Ivy Tech Holds Thunder Run to Hoosier Park

Chamber member Ivy Tech Community College will host its second annual scholarship ride on Saturday, September 12. The event is a ride for vehicles of all kinds to eventually reach Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson.

There will be free food, a bike show and a casino pass (must have arm band to participate; must be 21 or older to enter the casino or receive food and casino vouchers). There is an entry fee of $10 per person. The entry fee benefits student scholarships through the Ivy Tech Foundation.

The ride starts at Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast’s Coliseum Campus at 3800 N. Anthony Blvd. The run will begin at 10:45 a.m., and arrival at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino is scheduled for noon. To register, go to www.ivytech.edu/thunderrun. Please indicate in the ‘Use my gift for’ line that the donation is going to 'Thunder Run'.

Participants receive a pin, $10 food voucher, and $10 casino voucher. Commemorative shirts can be purchased on site at a minimal cost. For more information, contact John Knight at (260)480-2031.

Cancer Services in Need of Volunteers for Special Campaign

Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana needs volunteer groups and individuals to help create mini-neckties in preparation for an awareness campaign for National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September. The mini-neckties will be used as part of a series of promotional events entitled “Tie 1 On 4 Prostate Cancer” that incorporate blue neckties to draw attention to the prevalence of prostate cancer in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley counties.

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer represents 33 percent of all new cases of cancer in American men. The campaign will culminate with Cancer Services’ annual tribute dinner. The tribute dinner is designed to honor those individuals who have been touched by cancer (victims, survivors, family, friends) and/or those who have helped in the cancer treatment process.

This is a great group activity for service and social organizations. If you or any group you are involved in are interested in participating in tying miniature neckties, please contact Linda Bewley at 866-484-9560 to arrange a demonstration and receive the necessary supplies. This effort will continue until September 1, 2009. For more information visit http://www.cancer-services.org/.

August 27 - Don't Miss the Chamber's "Golfopoly"!

Hop on board for the Chamber's Annual Golfopoly, taking place Thursday, August 27 at Autumn Ridge Golf Club. Morning and afternoon tee times are available. In addition to golfing, there will be lots of fun new games, including a special Hole-in-One chance to win a New Car from O'Daniel Automotive!!

Register now at fwchamber.org as an individual or in teams of four. Morning tee time is 7:30 a.m. and afternoon tee time is 1:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Closing reception with hors d' oeuvres, cash bar and a chocolate fountain and cheese fountain from Fort Wayne Chocolate Fountain will begin at 6:30 p.m.

If you are interested in promoting your organization through a sponsorship or by donating an item for the silent auction or raffle, please contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435, ext. 266 or lvoirol@fwchamber.org.

Thank you to our Silver Sponsors, Comcast Business Class & ROCK104 and our Beverage Cart Sponsor, PHP.

Memorial Stadium Donor Bricks Available for Pick Up August 1

Businesses who donated funds to the Memorial Stadium construction fund by purchasing a paving brick, can claim their brick on Saturday, August 1, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at the Memorial Coliseum.

Because many of the bricks were damaged during the removal process and were unable to be salvaged, donors are encouraged to call the Memorial Coliseum’s Administrative Office at (260) 482-9502 to find out if their brick will be available for pick-up. The pick-up location will be inside the Memorial Coliseum’s lobby entrance

Announcing August Chamber Academy Seminars

August 5 – “Value Driven Innovation: How to Drive New Growth” presented by Steve Franks of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC).

August 11 – “Networking to Build Your Personal Brand” presented by Chris Sanderson of Dale Carnegie Training.

August 19 – “Your Business - Can You Make it an Infinite Game?” presented by Dave Ramsey of Aptimise.

Cost for each Chamber Academy session is just $19. All sessions take place from 8-10 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce. To register visit fwchamber.org. For more information contact Katelyn Jacquay-Daniel at (260) 424-1435, ext. 270 or kjacquay@fwchamber.org.

This Thursday July 30: We'll "Cc: you" at Club Soda

They say in business it's all about who you know...They were right!

Build lasting connections while enjoying an evening at Club Soda (235 Superior Street) on Thursday, July 30 from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy an evening of networking with hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar. and some of the best martinis in town.

Cc: me is an after-work event designed to create opportunities for you to build lasting relationships with other Fort Wayne professionals and find out the latest business buzz without being bombarded with sales pitches.

Admission is $5 for Chamber members, $10 for non-members. For questions please contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435, ext. 266 or lvoirol@fwchamber.org.

Pathfinder Services Cornhole Tournament on August 8

Pathfinder Services, Inc. and Habitat for Humanity are partnering to hold their 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament. The tournament will take place on Saturday, August 8 in the former Marsh parking lot located at 220 South Jefferson Street in Huntington.

Registration will begin at 11 a.m. and the tournament is set to begin at noon. Registration is limited to 64 teams of two, and the Cornhole Champions will receive $500! The tournament is a single elimination bracket tournament and the teams will play best-2-out-of 3 games to 21 points guaranteeing each team at least 2 games during the tournament. All participants will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a custom made cornhole board used in this year’s tournament!

The cost to register is $25 per player, or $50 per team, all registrants will receive a free t-shirt and lunch from 11 until noon. Registration forms are available at www.patfhfinderservices.org. For more information please call Jason Meyer at (260) 356-0500 or e-mail him at jmeyer@pathfinderservices.org.

McDonald's on Lima Road Celebrates Grand Opening

Fort Wayne’s newest McDonald’s is now open at Lima Marketplace. On July 25 the new store kicked off their Grand Opening Celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Franchisee Mike Kefer celebrated along with Mayor Tom Henry, Chamber staff and McDonald's characters including Ronald McDonald. The new store at Lima Marketplace will employ approximately 75 crew members.

McDonald’s Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan co-op franchisees locally own and operate 69 McDonald’s restaurants in South Bend, Fort Wayne and several surrounding communities. The Co-op also includes 21 company-operated restaurants. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information on McDonald's visit http://www.mcdonalds.com/ or log on at any of the 10,000 Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants.

Cancer Services Event Addresses Life Perspectives

Cancer can strike anyone and it often brings difficult questions that challenge life perspectives and belief systems. Local clergy understand firsthand how a diagnosis of cancer can change one’s life and even test one’s faith.

Cancer Services CEO Dianne May will moderate a panel discussion among an oncologist, two clergymen who have personally faced cancer and a clergywoman who acted as a caregiver for a loved one with cancer.

They will share their experiences and insight about how a cancer diagnosis affected their life perspective. This candid discussion is for people with cancer, their caregivers and family, members of the clergy, healthcare providers and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how a health crisis can impact the spiritual experience.

Panelists include Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker, retired bishop, United Methodist Church and cancer survivor; Reverend Dr. Richard Frazier, Pastor Emeritus, Trinity English Lutheran Church, and cancer survivor; Gary Gize, MD, medical oncologist, Fort Wayne Medical Oncology & Hematology; Kathleen Haller, pastor, Trinity English Lutheran Church, caregiver.

“Mere Mortals Facing Cancer” will take place Wednesday, July 29, 2009 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library. For more information contact Gail Hamm or Dianne May at (866)484-9560.

Live, Learn & Intern Summer Events

The Chamber's "Live, Learn & Intern" program presents free summer events for college interns. Encourage any interns you know to take advantage of this great schedule of free events. Upcoming dates include:

- July 30, 7 – 9:30 p.m., Xbox Tournament @ Aptera Software. Come and enjoy a night of games, big screen TVs and for those interested, an XBOX tournament. The event is hosted by Aptera, a company that specializes in helping other companies use technology to become more efficient and competitive. A great way to network with employees at Aptera, as well as other interns - particularly in this field. All career fields/interests are invited to attend! Pizza and soda will be provided.

- August 5, 7-9 p.m., Sycamore Hills Receptionl Join us in our end of the summer "Intern Reception" at the beautiful Sycamore Hills Country Club. Hors d'oeuvres and dinner will be served. Business attire required. Space is limited, so RSVP’s are required for this event.

For a full summer schedule or to RSVP for these events visit fwchamber.org or contact Katelyn Jacquay-Daniel at (260) 424-1435, ext. 270 or kjacquay@fwchamber.org.

August 20: Morning Mix at the History Center

The next Morning Mix, hosted by The History Center (302 East Berry Street) will take place Thursday, August 20 from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.

The Morning Mix offers fast-paced, lead generating opportunities and is designed for professionals who are involved in sales and business development. You will experience 20 minutes at three different tables, receiving the opportunity to present your "unique selling proposition" to a couple of dozen business persons 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. For more information, or if you are interested in being a table captain for a Morning Mix, contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435, ext. 266 or lvoirol@fwchamber.org. You do not have to be a Chamber member to attend.