Governor Finishes Business Trip in China, Moves on to Japan

Mitch Daniels concluded his final full day of business on the China portion of his Asian economic development mission yesterday by discussing business prospects with more Chinese companies, telling Indiana’s story at a seminar on investment opportunities in Indiana and meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Indiana’s sister-state province.

The governor started the day with back-to-back meetings with the leadership of two global private enterprises that are interested in expanding into U.S. markets. He was joined by Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob and Steve Akard, state director of international development. The governor gave his familiar sales pitch on the ease of doing business with Indiana and the state’s economic climate.

“Without question this has been the most important day of the trip so far,” said Daniels. “End to end we were seeing businesses that have a serious interest in the United States market and in bringing jobs and investment there.”

Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Department Deputy Director General Peng Bo hosted the governor at a luncheon event. The department helped coordinate much of the governor’s schedule during his stay in Hangzhou. In August 2008, a small delegation of Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Department officials traveled to Indiana to meet with state officials.

Daniels also visited the “Spirit of Man” sculpture on the Foreign Affairs Department grounds. The sculpture is a gift given to the Province by then-Governor Frank O'Bannon to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sister-state relationship. In 1987 when the relationship was founded, Governor Robert Orr presented the province with a large limestone bison, and Zhejiang Province gave Indiana two large marble lions. The lions are now located near the entry to the Indianapolis Zoo.

During the afternoon, Daniels and members of the Indiana delegation offered a seminar about investment and cooperation opportunities in Indiana for representatives of Chinese companies seeking to invest in the state. Many of the Chinese attendees at the seminar joined Daniels and the Indiana delegation at a banquet hosted by Zhejiang Governor Lu Zushan.

Prior to meeting with Governor Lu and attending the banquet, Daniels met with members of the local media at the Zhejiang State Xihu Hotel in the same room in which the Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China (Shanghai Communique) was signed in 1972 by Assistant to the President Dr. Henry Kissinger and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.

The governor concluded his day by meeting another private global firm interested in investment opportunities in Indiana.

Today, the governor and delegation travel to Tokyo, Japan. This will be the governor’s fourth trip to Japan as he continues his Asian economic development mission. Events in Japan will commence on Saturday when Daniels and the delegation participate in 10th anniversary sister-state events with the Tochigi Prefecture. The Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference will begin in Tokyo on Sunday.

Indiana's Energy Assistance Program Approved

The U.S. Department of Energy recently reviewed and approved an Indiana energy conservation proposal that requested approximately $132 million to aid 30,000 Hoosier households with considerably low incomes.

Governor Mitch Daniels stated, "Our goal is to lower utility costs for as many people as possible as quickly as possible."

Auditing will determine the energy needs of individual households with priority given to families with children, disabled individuals, and the elderly.

The selected households can expect aid in amounts of up to $5,000 in the form of new furnaces, programmable thermostats, insulation, and/or water heaters.

Dream Big: Be Part of the Comcast Urban Run/Walk

"Lincoln and the Constitution" Lecture to be at the University of Saint Francis

On Thursday, September 17 at 4 p.m. in the Doermer Center rooms 156A and B, the University of Saint Francis Department of History and Social Sciences will host speaker Sara Vaughn Gabbard in a lecture on "Lincoln and the Constitution."

Gabbard is the Fort Wayne History Center Development Coordinator and the former vice president of the Lincoln Museum. For more information on this event, please contact Dr. Jason Jividen at 260-399-7700 ext. 8135 or jjividen@sf.edu.

Become Employable Seminar on September 24

Back by popular demand, a repeat presentation of the "Become Employable" seminar has been scheduled for Thursday, September 24, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Fort Wayne Campus of Trine University. The campus is located off of Dupont Road at I-69 in an office building at 9910 Dupont Circle Drive East, Suite 130.

Topics for the "Survive in 2009, Become Employable Seminar" on September 24 include:

· Creating effective resumes, handling interviews, and getting the attention of human resources professionals and hiring managers.
· “Market Yourself…Technology or Relationship: What Works, What Doesn’t?”
· Making a positive first impression during the job search.
· Self-improvement through education for future success.
· Using library resources to connect with a future career.

Unemployed individuals from all types of careers and educational backgrounds are invited. There is no charge to attend the seminar and no reservations are required. However, attendees are encouraged to arrive early as attendance will be limited to available seating. For more information, contact Mary Popovich at (260) 413-0225.

Fort Wayne to Receive Reimbursements for Hybrid Vehicle Purchases

Next year the city of Fort Wayne is expecting to receive a $2,000 reimbursement for the purchase of each hybrid vehicle, up to $18,000, due to the Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance Comprehensive Alternative Fuels Implementation Plan.

Lassuss Bros. Oil will be receiving more than $2,000,000 to put toward three E85 stations in Fort Wayne, bringing the total in the city to five. E85 is an alternative fuel that is made from the combination of ethanol and gasoline.

Fort Wayne and Lassus have chosen to locate these new stations at Scott and Illinois roads, Maplecrest and Rothman roads and Northbrook Plaza/Lima road.

For more information from the Department of Energy about this program, visit www.energy.gov/news2009/7843.htm

Indiana's Unemployment Trust Fund

According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), issues regarding the state's unemployment fund continue to worsen. The Chamber wants to help you understand these issues and help employers prepare for the new Unemployment Insurance law effective January 2010.

Join Chamber and DWD officials for the Unemployment Insurance Compensation Workshop on Wednesday, September 23. We will equip you with the tools to manage changes successfully and ensure compliance with the new law.

For more information on this workshop and discount pricing information, click here.

Chamber member Bar-B-Cutie Celebrates One Year

Chamber member Bar-B-Cutie on Washington Center Road is celebrating their one-year anniversary today! Last year Bar-B-Cutie celebrated their grand opening with a Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony. Stop by today and say congrats to Bar-B-Cutie and take advantage of a 1/2 price Barbecue Family Pack in honor of this special day.

Congratulations again to Bar-B-Cutie!

American Red Cross to Honor Blood Collectors

September 13 to 19 is the Red Cross's annual week to recognize and honor the front-lines men and women who assist in collecting the blood of donors. Blood centers across the country will be doing the same.

Eligible donors are encouraged to support blood collections professionals by keeping appointments and by coming in during the recognition week to give blood. For more details on the Fifth Annual Blood Collectors Week, visit www.bloodcollectors.org.

"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" This Saturday

Join the Chamber's own Mike Landram this Saturday at Headwaters Park for the 2nd annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. The event asks men to literally walk one mile in women's shoes to raise funds and awareness for the programs and services of the Fort Wayne Women's Bureau.

Over 500 men will be walking a one mile course in women's 4-inch red heels. Registration and Tailgate breakfast begin at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Walk-up registrations are accepted, but shoe availability cannot be guaranteed. A minimum $30 pledge is required.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes provides an opportunity for men to champion an end to rape and sexual assault, and to affirm that rape isn't a women's issue, it's a community issue.

Indiana's Part in a Clean Fuel Initiative

If green transportation is all the rage, then Indiana is hopping on the bandwagon. On August 26, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that 25 cost-share projects will be carried out under the Clean Cities program. Indiana specifically will be receiving $10 million in stimulus funding for their portion of the project.

All together the projects should put more than 9,000 alternative fuel or energy efficient vehicles on the road and provide an average of 542 alternative fuel locations across the country. Indiana was one of the states selected among the 25 projects and will be responsible for producing 900 vehicles and 13 fueling sites.

BMX Open Houses in September

The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation's BMX track located in Franke Park will be hosting an open house from 3-5 on September 12, 19, and 26. If you are interested in BMX racing, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more. For more information, visit www.frankeparkbmx.com.

Local "Passports" Encourage Hometown Exploring

Local residents will have the opportunity to discover gems in their own backyard free of charge during the Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown celebration. On Sunday, September 13 from 12-5, area residents will be able to tour 10 Fort Wayne attractions free of charge simply by presenting their "passport." These attractions include the Artlink gallery, the Lincoln Tower, the Botanical Conservatory, Science Central and more.

Passports can be obtained at The Visitor's Center on Calhoun Street or printed off from your home computer at visitfortwayne.com.

Used Book Sale at Jefferson Pointe

Starting Friday, September 11 Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center will host a Used Book Sale featuring thousands of used books!

Books costs are:
5o cents for children/youth books
$1 for paperbacks
$2 for hardbacks

Admission on Friday, Sept. 11 is $5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday Admission is FREE
Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday noon - 5 p.m.
Used Book Sale location will be across from Rave Theater between Cold Stone Creamery & Payless Shoe Store

For more information call (260) 637-7098.

Santa Display Lightbulbs to Become Commemorative Ornaments

It was 1940 when the first oohs and ahhs were elicited by the dazzling Santa's sleigh and reindeer lights display on the side of the Wolf & Dessauer department store downtown. Over five decades much has changed around Fort Wayne, including the display itself. Last year the original lights were updated to more efficient LED bulbs. The display used a whopping 24,717 bulbs, approximately.

Rather than toss the old bulbs out, Easter Seals Arc has received them as a donation. Each bulb will be turned into an ornament by individuals with developmental disabilities and sold to the public as a commemorative item.

Production begins Tuesday, September 8. Easter Seals Arc is allowing media access on Thursday, September 10 from 8:30 a.m. -11 a.m. for photos and interviews. For more information, contact Tony Belton at (260)469-2777.

17th Annual Senior Health Fair

United Way of Allen County and Organized Labor have scheduled their annual Senior Health Fair for Friday, October 2 from 8 a.m. until noon at Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

Free blood pressure, glucose and colorectal cancer screenings will be available. A blood chemistry test is also available for a $17 fee; this tests liver function, kidney function, cholesterol levels, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides and more.

Also during the event, Parkview Home Health & Hospice will give flu shots for $21 and Pneumonia vaccines for $35. Anyone covered by Medicare Part B will not need to pay for these shots.

For more information, contact Vickie Meyers, United Way of Allen County, at (260) 422-4776.

Participants & Volunteers Needed for FW's Amazing Race 2

Accept the challenge and take part in the Fort Wayne Parks Amazing Race 2! Entrants and volunteers are needed to make this the best event ever.

The Amazing Race 2 will take place Saturday, October 3, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., starting from Shoaff Park Riverlodge, 6401 St. Joe Rd.

Entrants will solve clues, perform challenges and tour the city. Teams are limited to 4 coed members (2 females/2 males) and each must be at least 18 years of age. Teams are responsible for their own transportation. Every participant will receive an official Amazing Race t-shirt to be worn on race day. The race will end with a victory party where prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams. Call Patti Davis at 427-6467 to register your team. Spots fill up quickly, so don’t delay. Fee: $80 per team.

For more information about this event, visit www.fortwayneparks.org or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 427-6000.

Chamber Observes Labor Day Holiday

The Chamber will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 8 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.