View this email in your browser

February 24, 2026

The Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony

The deadline for nominating a business or nonprofit is Friday, February 27, 2026

Join us to celebrate excellence in our community at the Chamber Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 30, 2026!


This signature evening brings together business and community leaders to celebrate accomplishments, honor excellence, and look ahead to the future.


Enjoy an elegant evening beginning with passed canapés, followed by a beautifully plated dinner. Beverages will be available for purchase.


Dinner will include a 4 oz top sirloin with red wine demi-glacé and a 4 oz skinless chicken breast with mushroom marsala sauce with vegetables, potatoes, salad, and dessert.


Chris Streng will emcee, guiding the evening with energy, professionalism, and a touch of fun.


Josh Lester and Dave Jerovsek of CS Erickson will be our featured speakers.


We will celebrate excellence with the presentation of our 5 prestigious awards:

  • Mission in Action Award
  • Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
  • Strategic Success Award
  • Business Innovator Award
  • Leadership Connect Legacy Award

Contact Heather here to join the members generously sponsoring this event!

The 4-minute power share

Speaking in front of a room full of people can feel intimidating at first until you realize how impactful that can be for your business and yourself!


Spotlight moment, not a marathon

Four minutes is short enough to stay focused, long enough to make an impact, too short to ramble, and too short for the audience to get bored.


Fast-track confidence builder

When you speak for 4 minutes, you practice confidence in a safe environment, you build public speaking skills quickly, you sharpen your focus and force clarity, you increase visibility and credibility, and you strengthen your leadership presence.


The length of one good story

One minute to open strong, two minutes to share your key ideas, and one minute to close memorably.


You're not performing, you're helping the audience learn something

Everyone in attendance wants to learn what you have to share! You are providing a service, not a performance.


It's an opportunity, not an obligation

Four focused minutes to share one idea that matters. It’s short, impactful, and a great way to build confidence.


Are you ready to share your four-minute idea to those interested in learning something new? Contact Heather here.


Secure Your Chamber Sponsorships for Q2

Position your business front and center with Chamber members by securing your sponsorships for the upcoming quarter. Chamber events and programs offer unmatched visibility, meaningful connections, and opportunities to reinforce your brand with business and community leaders across our region.


Quarterly sponsorships fill quickly and provide consistent exposure through event recognition, eNews features, social media and direct engagement with fellow members.


Whether your goal is lead generation, brand awareness, or community leadership; a Chamber sponsorship is an investment that delivers real value.

Don’t miss your chance to stand out and support the work that strengthens our local business community.



Contact Heather to secure your sponsorships today!

Networking at Noon: PREMIER SPONSORSHIP | EXPO TABLE SPONSORS


Early Bird Breakfast: 4 MINUTE SPONSORS | EXPO TABLE SPONSORS


Annual Chamber Celebration: PARTNER SPONSORS


Community Connections: PREMIER SPONSOR | SUPPORT SPONSOR

Email Heather here.

Community Impact Day Projects + Volunteers Needed

Community Impact Day Projects + Volunteers Needed!


Nonprofit organizations of NW Ottawa County are encouraged to submit volunteer opportunities for Community Impact Day 2026! We are looking for projects in and around your organization that need a few extra hands. Projects can be small and require only a few volunteers or large and require many volunteers. Projects should be able to be accomplished within a 4–6-hour time block. Not sure about your project? Contact Nicole by email or by calling 616-842-3860.

Tariffs: What You Need to Know

On Friday, the US Supreme Court struck down a number of tariffs issued by President Trump in the 6-3 decision. The ruling focuses narrowly on tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Here’s what it means: 


  • Scope is limited. The decision affects only tariffs issued under IEEPA authority, which is roughly half of the administration’s tariff actions. Tariffs imposed under other statutes remain in place. 
  • Refunds are unresolved. The Court invalidated the use of IEEPA for these tariffs but did not address whether the federal government must refund importers. In 2025, tariff collections were estimated to exceed $142 billion. 
  • Canadian trade is largely unchanged. The 35% tariff on certain Canadian goods imposed under IEEPA is impacted. However, goods qualifying under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement were already exempt, and sector-specific tariffs on autos, steel, and lumber remain intact. 


What’s next: These tariffs were the underpinning to several trade agreements with other countries. Because this decision is so fresh, we haven’t seen how other countries will respond. 


On Saturday, the president signed an executive order imposing a 15% tariff on imports from all countries. The new tariffs are issued under the Trade Act of 1974, which restricts them to 150 days and a rate no higher than 15%.

Going PRO Talent Fund


  • 842 West Michigan companies expressed interest in the Going PRO Talent Fund for Fiscal Year 2026, Cycle 1.
  • 100 applications received an award for a total of $6.4M
  • 11 Companies in Northern Ottawa County received a combined award amount of $814,024.


The Going PRO Talent Fund makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Your Chamber is pleased to partner with West Michigan Works! to support and promote the Going PRO Talent Fund in our region.


Applications for Cycle 2 are expected to open in April 2026.


Visit the West Michigan Works! website at Going PRO Talent Fund | West Michigan Works! to learn more.


The full press release from the State of Michigan, Labor and Economic Opportunity can be viewed here: LEO - Gov. Whitmer awards $25 million in grants to support worker training in Michigan.


For more information about the Going PRO Talent Fund, click here.


For answers to commonly asked questions, click here.


Meet our newest Chamber Ambassadors!

Jordan Slaughter, Owner, Realvu


"I’m most looking forward to building meaningful connections with local businesses and being a welcoming face that helps people feel instantly plugged into the Chamber. I’m excited to support our community’s growth, share resources, and help create opportunities that benefit everyone involved."

Stephanie Cwiklinski, Assistant Vice President, Tri-Cities Credit Union


"I am excited to be joining the Chamber Ambassadors to continue growing my network. There are so many great local businesses in the Tri-Cities, and I look forward to supporting and celebrating them through this opportunity!"

Click here to view our most recent New Members!




Asha Leena Photography

Chavez Concrete LLC

Coastal Collective Real Estate

Concept Metal Products

Dogology University

Finishing Touch Post Construction Cleaning, LLC

Harbor Humane Society

Leader One Financial Corporation

Mulligan's Hollow Ski Hill

Shoreline Vision - Grand Haven

Shoreline Vision - Spring Lake

The Back Nine

Trailhead Networks

Voda Cleaning & Restoration

WilliamCharles Search Group

February

25 | Chamber 360: Boost Your Business


March

12 | BASH at Straight Line Design

20 | Early Bird Breakfast at Holiday Inn

24 | Chamber Takeover Happy Hour at Off the Chain Brewstillery

26 | Networking at Noon


April

16 | BASH & Community Connections

17 | Early Bird Breakfast at Dr. Rolf's BBQ

21 | Coffee & Counsel: Wage and Hour Compliance for Hourly Workers and

Youth Employment

30 | The Annual Chamber Celebration 2026


May

5 | Advocacy in Action

7 | BASH at Westwind Construction

13 | Community Impact Day

15 | Early Bird Breakfast at Holiday Inn Spring Lake

19 | Chamber Takeover Happy Hour at The Paisley Pig

21 | Morning Brew at Kenzie's Be Cafe

28 | Networking at Noon

Learn more about upcoming events by visiting our events calendar.

Have an event that you want to add to our calendar?

It's easy to submit an event!

From the Chamber homepage, go to 'Calendar,' and then you will find 'Submit Your Event' in the upper, righthand corner. After you submit it, Hanna will approve it and then it will appear on our calendar as a Community Event.

We would like to recognize our Premier Partners

Our office is open M-F 9AM - 4PM,

call at 616.842.4910, or email a staff member directly.


We look forward to hearing from you!

Would you like to advertise in our eNews?

Contact Director of Marketing & Communications, Megan Tobin.

Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn