What's the FWA "Forecast"?

Don't miss this chance to learn the latest forecasts and trends in the airline industry with a free luncheon seminar on February 24 presented by nationally acclaimed aviation expert Michael Boyd. Boyd Group International presents "The Air Service Future at Fort Wayne: Some of Those Clouds Really Do Have a Silver Lining."

This presentation takes place at the Chamber starting at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served. This event is free to all Chamber members.

Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to learn about the impact of air service in the Fort Wayne Community. Register online at fwchamber.org. For more information contact Dave Young at (260) 747-4146, ext. 248 or dyoung@fwairport.com.

City of Fort Wayne’s Environmental Certification Program for Businesses

The City of Fort Wayne has developed a Green Business Certification Program, the first of its kind in local government. This program is voluntary, non-regulatory and when your business implements will save you money. All a business needs to do is to register and attend the FREE 3 hour training session and complete the requirements, which are flexible and designed to save money while becoming green. Each attendee will receive a checklist and resources to help you go green. Additionally, each participant will have access to a mentor who will provide advice and suggestions on how to implement the environmentally friendly actions that you choose.

The first training session will be held March 3, 2009 at the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce – Gallery Room beginning at 8 a,m. To register (space is limited) call Mary Lopez at 427-6050 or e-mail mary.lopez@cityoffortwayne.org

Beat Winter Blahs at MyMenu Red Nose Day

MyMenu wants to help you beat the winter blues and brighten your day with a dose of laughter this Friday, February 20. For the 1st annual MyMenu Red Nose Day, look to see Managers and Product Consultants at all three Fort Wayne MyMenu locations wearing red noses to entertain and tickle the funny bones of customers.

What: A fun photo of a unique event - MyMenu Red Nose Day
When: Friday, February 20
Where: All MyMenu locations in Fort Wayne

• 6425 West Jefferson Boulevard
• 9811 Lima Road
• 10140 Maysville Road

Why: To make people laugh!

For more information or to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact Laura Heidbuechel at Strategic Objectives, at (866) 366-7733, ext. 255 or lheidbuechel@strategicobjectives.com.

In This Issue...

In this issue of the Chamber's Emphasis magazine (published bi-weekly as the center section of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly)...

Special center section - get to know the incredible nominees for the 5th Annual ATHENA Award® Program and Luncheon, taking place March 11.

Heart healthy tips from Lutheran and Chamber President/CEO Kris Foate.

Local publishing company McCrory Publishing helps you stay in touch with your clients...

For questions about Emphasis please contact nwilkins@fwchamber.org.

Fort Wayne to Hold Community Bike Summit

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry announced today he will hold a community bike summit March 21 at the downtown branch of the Allen County Public Library to follow up on the more than 4,000 responses the City received from last fall’s bicycle use survey.

The summit will focus on public input for infrastructure planning, education strategies for drivers and cyclists, and legislative components related to bicycle transportation. City staff will use the information as it writes an in-house bicycle transportation plan. The need for a bicycle plan is outlined in Plan-It Allen, the joint City-County comprehensive plan approved in 2007.

The summit will be from 9 a.m. to approximately noon in the meeting rooms of the Allen County Public Library’s downtown branch. An expo of bicycle vendors, trail organizations and other entities will be in the library’s Great Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both events are free to the public.

Intern Inspiration at the Chamber

Chris Young, Operations Manager of ESCO Communications in Fort Wayne, has hired interns to assist with his business. He had this to say about his company and a particular intern he hired:

“ESCO Communications is a specialty systems contractor that provides voice, video, data, fire alarm, nurse call, security, and many more low voltage solutions for schools, hospitals and commercial facilities. Our work load increases during the summer months due to the school market, and we require additional technical help to meet our commitments. The Indiana INTERNnet (IIN) is a great tool to help facilitate finding student workers during the summer. I advertised positions for interns on the IIN.

The students that responded to my posting were all good candidates, and I selected an individual who was able to perform well above my expectations. He was a student from Purdue and was able to assist our workforce in meeting aggressive deadlines for the start of the school year. I am planning to use him next summer and make him an offer for a permanent position with our company when he graduates.”

For assistance with internship programs at your business, call the Chamber at (260) 424-1435.

Comedian Mike Epps Coming to the Embassy

Comedian and actor Mike Epps will perform at the Embassy Theatre on Sunday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Epps has appeared in numerous films with actors such as Cuba Gooding Jr., Beyonce Knowles, Ashton Kutcher, Bernie Mac, Milla Jovovich and Martin Lawrence. Epps also established Naptown Records, which assists in mentoring and nurturing musical talent in Indianapolis and the Midwest region.

Tickets are on sale now for $57.25 and $32.25 (additional fees and charges may apply), and are available at the Embassy Theatre box office, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic 72 Hour Sale

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic is offering a 72-Hour sale where tickets to most remaining concerts for the season are $20 or less.

The sale begins online at http://www.fwphil.org/ at midnight on Thursday, February 19 and concludes at 11:59pm on Saturday, February 21.

Tickets can also be purchased by calling the ticket office at (260) 481.0777 or by visiting the ticket office at 4901 Fuller Dr., across from the IPFW campus’ St. Joe Rd. entrance. Box office hours are Thursday, 9am-6pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday 12pm-4pm.

Tickets to the Sweetwater Pops Series are $20 for all available tickets. Remaining concerts include:

· March 7 performance of “An Evening of Jazz with Byron Stripling and the Voices of Unity Choir”
· April 3 performance of “The Music of Queen”
· April 24 and 25 performances of “A Tribute to John Williams.”
All Sweetwater Pops Series concerts are held at the Embassy Theatre.

Madge Rothschild Foundation Masterworks Series tickets are $20 or less. Concerts include:

· February 28 performance with music director candidate Gregory Vajda, celebrating the 200th birthday of Lincoln with Copland’s Lincoln Portrait
· March 14 performance featuring Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite
· April 18 concert with the Philharmonic’s Artistic Advisor, Jaime Laredo, conducting
· May 9 finale featuring music director candidate Andrew Constantine conducing the powerhouse piece, Carmina Burana.

All concerts are at the Embassy Theatre.

Lincoln Financial Foundation Spectrum Series tickets are only $10. The two concerts on the sale include:

· February 21 and 22 performances with the Philharmonic’s artistic advisor, Jaime Laredo
· May 2 and 3 performances with music director candidate, Andrew Constantine, featuring Susie Park on violin.
· The March performances with Fort Wayne Ballet are excluded from the sale.
All concerts are at the Arts United Center.

Freimann Series tickets are $10 and are available for the March 4, March 8, April 22 and April 26 performances at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

The STAR Financial Bank Family Series will present “Play Ball” on March 15 at the Auer Performance Hall in the Rhinehart Music Center on the IPFW concert. Tickets for all ages are only $5.

For complete concert information and times, visit our website at http://www.fwphil.org/.

Morning Mix Tomorrow at Fort Wayne Off Track Betting

The Chamber's Morning Mix takes place tomorrow, February 19 from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. and will be hosted by Fort Wayne Off Track Betting, located at 1820 West Washington Center Road.

The cost is $5 plus a stack of your business cards. Continental breakfast is included.

Contact Laureen Voirol with Questions:
lvoirol@fwchamber.org
or (260) 424-1435 Ext. 266

The Chamber holds one Morning Mix every month to provide business development opportunities for both large and small businesses. At the Mix, you will sit at a table of eight and pass out your business card.

Everyone at the table will have two minutes to share their elevator pitch with information about their business. You will then rotate to two more tables, reaching a total of 21 attendees.

History Center Presents George R. Mather Lecture Series

On Sunday March 1 the History Center presents the George R. Mather Lecture Series with “The Lincoln Highway Across Indiana.” The lecture will be given by Jan Shupert-Arick and is free to the public. The History Center is located at 302 East Berry Street in downtown Fort Wayne.

For more information contact (260) 426-2882 or www.fwhistorycenter.com.

Win a Trip for 2 Tomorrow Morning at the Fort Wayne International Airport!

The Chamber and Majic 95.1 will celebrate Allegiant Air's 2nd Anniversary in Fort Wayne by giving away a trip for two tomorrow morning at the Fort Wayne International Airport!

Register anytime between 7 a.m. and 8:59 a.m. The first 100 get a free DeBrand Fine Chocolate bar! Plus, there will be gifts for adults and kids! Park in short term parking for free and have breakfast at the airport, shop Debrand and the Airport Gift shop with their great Vera Bradley selection! Dirk and Jeannete announce the winner live on the air at 9am! (Need not be present to win).

It's Allegiant Air's 2nd Anniversary and you get the present -a trip for two. But, the only place to register is at the Fort Wayne International Airport!

Free Business Workshop Offered Thursday

A free forum on how to start a business will be offered this Thursday, February 19 from 4-7 p.m. in the Omni Room on the second floor of the City-County Building. The workshop covers:

• City of Fort Wayne's resources for small businesses
• Legal business structure
• Business planning
• Financial tools and cash flow
• Banking
• Funding sources and strategies

The topics are designed for those who are thinking about starting a business or have recently launched a new venture and have questions. The workshop will include a panel discussion of representatives from the City of Fort Wayne, Beer, Mallers, Backs and Salin, Women's Enterprise, SCORE, Community Development Corp. and the Indiana Small Business Development Center.

This workshop is the first in a year-long series on how to start, grow and sustain small businesses. The workshop is brought to you by the City of Fort Wayne, the Chamber of Commerce, Women's Enterprise, Small Business Administration, SCORE, Community Development Corp. and the Indiana Small Business Development Center.

Grant Money Allocated for EMS Development

(click on this link or image below for larger view and more information on the JUMPSTART program)The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is assisting organizations with a grant program that could increase profitability while reducing an organization’s effect
on the environment. This offer is free to those organizations qualifying for the program. The uncertainty of both global economic and climate impacts mean it is imperative that businesses and communities remain profitable while still be being environmentally conscious.

The JUMPSTART program is being offered throughout the state of Indiana to organizations interested in reducing environmental impacts while increasing operating efficiency. For more information or to apply visit http://www.jumpstartems.com/.

Economic Stimulus Could Provide Local Boost

The federal economic stimulus package could provide a direct boost to at least one local Fort Wayne business. Chamber member, WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc. President and CEO Bruce Ritchey says the plan includes a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install a geothermal heat pump. WaterFurnace already employs nearly 290 directly and says another 300 jobs are related to its supplier and service companies.

One Lucky Guitar Commissioned for Plant/Krauss Poster

Local design, advertising and marketing firm One Lucky Guitar was commissioned by Outback Concerts to create a limited edition poster for the first two sold-out show dates of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' U.S. tour for their album "Raising Sand," winner of five Grammy Awards.

The limited edition (qty. 25) posters were signed by the artists and presented as commemorative gifts to the venue, management, tour personnel, promoter and the artists themselves.

One Lucky Guitar has also created limited edition posters for concert promoter Outback Concerts for artists Willie Nelson, John Prine and Josh Turner.

Millions in Tax Credits for Low-Income Residents

Millions of dollars in tax credits are waiting to be claimed by local low-income residents, and free help is available to help them file for the credits. The Financial Stability Partnership, led by United Way of Allen County and the Volunteer Center @ RSVP are in charge of the effort to help residents file their tax returns and file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

As much as $6 million in tax credits go unclaimed in Allen County each year. Last year the Financial Stability Partnership helped over 1,000 low-income residents file their returns, and $1.4 million was returned to these residents and the community. Residents earning less than $42,000 annually may qualify for the EITC and could be eligible to receive more than $4,500 back in tax credits.

Assistance is available through April 13, 2009. To determine if they qualify, residents can download an EITC flyer from United Way's Web site at unitedwayallencounty.org, or dial 2-1-1 and ask for information from a trained phone counselor.