by Jamie Lynn Morgan | Feb 26, 2023 | Business & Education
Author Camey Yeager, NWSH
Business and Education Award Discussed for Feb and Volunteers to present the award
- January 2023 Award: Mountain West Bank
- Discussion on top 3 businesses submitted
- Winner will be announced at the Feb Connect 4 Lunch
Secretary & Vice Chair Volunteers
- Decision: Camey Yeager volunteered to be the committee’s Secretary
- Vice Chair is still vacant speak to Christina if interested
Reverse Job Fair
- Date set for March 22nd at Real Life Ministries, from 11:00-1:30
- Discussion on changing the name of the scholarships provided to the students. Some students are not needing to attend higher education and do not have a need for the scholarship but could use the funds towards supplies and certifications for trades
- A comment was made that we need to keep scholarships in the title for some organizations to donate
- Decision: Retitle Awards and Scholarships
- The Reverse Job fair committee is looking to fill two roles
- Public Relations Leader
- Prepare and release press releases regarding this event.
- Develop relationships with the press to assure firm contact.
- Manage Reverse Job Fair fact sheet.
- Archive press coverage.
- Assist with the creation and publication of community thank you letter
- Email Christina if interested
- Interviewer Assignment Leader
- Maintain a Roster of Interviewers
- Electronic document management of current/past rosters.
- Collaborate with Post Falls Chamber, committee members, BEWD members, educators, and Post Falls High School parents to recruit interviewers.
- Update interviewer assignments.
- Collaborate with Registration Leader for interviewer packet assembly.
- Save the date, reminder communications, thank you communications
- Note: After meeting Camey Yeager volunteered
H4 Updates
- The committee is moving along, string backpacks for students needed
- Discussed logo re-design, KTEC students will revise
- Save the Date Flyer coming soon, H4 set for April 14th
- Day of volunteers needed
Good of the Order
- April 5th
- Educators’ thank you notes and baskets
- Given to all departments of education
- Task: Christina sends out donation request in Feb
- Reminder: Vote YES for Post Falls School District Levy
NEXT Meeting – February 28th, 2022
Meetings are scheduled monthly / on the 4th Tuesday of the Month / at 8:30 am
by Jamie Lynn Morgan | Feb 1, 2023 | Public Policy
Author: Alan Wolfe, Co-Chair
Local Update
Our discussion on local issues focused on two items, school levies, and NIC accreditation.
School Levies will be voted on in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, and Rathdrum on March 14th. This can have a large impact on our chamber members. We all feel a strong school system is extremely important to the business community in a number of ways.
It was decided the four chambers would pull together to buy an ad in the CDA Press in support of all the levies in Kootenai County. We are also working on social marketing and speaking opportunities for our districts to spread the word and encourage people to VOTE YES for our schools.
The accreditation issue at NIC was also discussed in length with the suggestion of another informational forum regarding the facts around accreditation. In the end, we decided that while a forum would be helpful to the public and our members, it would be ineffective without the support of the NIC board.
State Update
While things are just getting going in Boise, there was some discussion regarding Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 101 which… Proposes a state constitutional amendment to require an initiative petition to be signed by at least 6% of legal voters at the last general election in each legislative district.
A similar resolution was passed by the legislature in the past but was overturned by the Idaho Supreme Court as unconstitutional. This legislation takes it a step further by suggesting a change to the state constitution.
Details on this resolution can be found at SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 101 – Idaho State Legislature
Federal Update
It’s still early in Washington, DC as well. We did discuss the debt ceiling and the request from our congressional delegation to add another federal judge to Idaho. The workload created by the pandemic has created quite a backlog, and we are in need of another judge.
Next Meeting: Thursday, February 13th, 11 am, Post Fall Chamber Boardroom
by Jamie Lynn Morgan | Jan 31, 2023 | Public Policy
Author: Len Crosby
Key accomplishments of the Joint Chamber Public Policy Committee this past year.
A. We advocated for a reduced corporate income tax rate. The Idaho Legislature agreed. Our Business members will now enjoy a simplified and flattened corporate income tax rate of less than 6%. This will assist ALL of our Business members, both large and small.
B. We advocated for increased State spending for Education and the Idaho Legislature agreed, providing 400 million additional dollars into the State education system for our K-12 schools, and additional funding for our workforce training programs and our junior Colleges and Universities to better equip young Idahoans to be the employees of Today and the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
C. We advocated for increased State spending on our critical infrastructure (roads, bridges, water, sewer, and broadband), which is the foundation of our Business and Industrial growth. The Idaho Legislature agreed and allocated more dollars, including ARPA funds, to improve infrastructure investment.
D. We advocated for assistance to help communities deal with rising housing costs, making it difficult for our Business members to attract and retain employees. The Idaho Legislature agreed and allocated a portion of the ARPA funds toward workforce housing programs to assist Idaho companies and Communities in addressing this critical issue.
by Jamie Lynn Morgan | Jan 26, 2023 | Ambassadors
Ambassador Spotlight: Chris Pappas
Chris moved to Post Falls in 1974 and worked for the City of Post Falls from 1978-2008. She rose through the ranks there as the Deputy Clerk, Administrator Clerk, then the City Clerk. Chris has been a longtime member and volunteer in the community, belonging to the Post Falls Community Volunteers, Historical Society, and American Legion, and volunteering her time with the Boys and Girls Club and the Senior Center.
Chris joined the Post Falls Chamber Ambassadors Committee in 2010 and has been a SUPERSTAR committee member, participating in almost all of the committee’s Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, and Business Appreciation Visits.
