The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce presents recommendations on the State of Utah 2010-2011 Budget to Legislators

PROVO – (January 15, 2010) The Utah Valley Chamber, one of Utah’s largest Chambers of Commerce, met in a special session to assess this year’s State Budget conditions in preparation for the upcoming Legislative session. The Chamber unanimously endorsed the following statement:

"We support Governor Herbert’s budget goals and applaud him on his willingness to have state government live within its means in the midst of an economic downturn. Those goals are: 1.)Protect Public and Higher Education by keeping funding steady, 2.) Avoid exacerbating the budget’s structural imbalance, 3.) Retain a responsible balance in the State’s Rainy Day Fund 4.) Impose no tax increases."

In developing the recommendations, the Chamber adhered to certain guiding principles under which they believe government and business objectives should be pursued:

-What is good for business is good for Utah.
-Government should live within its means.
-In an already challenged economy, tax increases should be a last resort.
-Limited government, maximized private sector
-Government should seek maximum efficiency at all times.

“At a time when businesses and families are struggling in this economic downturn, we believe government needs to live within its means,” said Chamber President, Steve Densley.

The Chamber Board of Directors and Government Review Council for the Chamber also made certain suggestions including: modifying vendor discounts to reflect the true cost of compliance and considering bonding for new building construction (particularly for the Utah Valley University Science building listed as the top higher education building need).

CONTACT: Chelsea Haviland, 801-851-2560, chaviland@thechamber.org

ITS LOUD, ITS IN YOUR FACE AND ITS BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS

Volunteers of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Race the Clock to Tell the Chamber Story

Provo, UT (January 15, 2010) – While most Chambers of Commerce struggle through their annual membership drive, The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a ‘Membership Event’ that is like none other. For two and a half days, over 100 volunteers will work against the clock and against each other to sign up new chamber members and create a greater community awareness of the important role of the chamber of commerce. The event is organized by a group called Your Chamber Connection, whose specialty is high energy membership campaigns that allow volunteers to conduct ‘out of the box’ membership fun while building the membership base.

“It’s about business,” says Event guru, Jimmy Cusano. “The Chamber of Commerce is the business community. This brings everyone together to build our chamber. It’s a membership- based organization and most people don’t like ‘membership drives’. With a Membership Event they come together in a competitive fun setting and tell the chamber story. When others hear about everything the chamber does, all of a sudden you have a great deal of enthusiasm for the chamber, and a great deal of support.”

The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Membership Event will kick off on January 19 at 8:28 a.m. and conclude January 21 at Noah’s (644 North 2000 West, Lindon, UT 84062). For more information on how you can be involved, call the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce at (851) 851-2558.