January 7, 2021
Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce
Weekly Newsletter

Greetings! 

Welcome to this issue of the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter! This newsletter goes out to more than 2000 individual emails and is posted on our Facebook page each week. It is designed to keep you informed of the latest info from your local Chamber of Commerce. Feel free to forward this newsletter to someone who should be a member or is interested in information about what is going on in the Cheboygan Area. We want our information to get to as many inboxes as possible! Be sure to also visit our website and community calendar for more information.
 
Some things to not miss in this issue...


  • Welcome New Chamber Members
  • Jeff Daniels presented by The Opera House
  • Shredding with Straits Area Services
  • Northern Michigan Policy Conference
  • Warm and Cozy Walk 4 Warmth
  • Chicken Dinner for the Dogs
  • Cheboygan EDC Needs Your Help - Link to Survey
  • and lots more great info from our members...


Have a great day!
 
Scott Herceg, CAE
Executive Director
Chamber News
Welcome New Members



Cheboygan Ace Hardware

Salon Beau Est Beau




Let's Celebrate You!
Our Town Cheboygan Bucks Circulates
Nearly $40,000 in Direct Support for
Chamber Member Businesses
On December 14th the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce opened sales on round 1 of the Our Town Cheboygan Bucks. This program was initiated by Consumers Energy as a way to help local businesses boost their sales. This program allowed us to sell Cheboygan Bucks (which all Chamber members are eligible to accept) at a 2 for 1 rate. (ex: buy $50 get $100 to spend). While working with Consumers to promote this promotion, it was decided that because of generous support throughout the year from Citizens National Bank and the Cheboygan County Community Foundation, the Chamber could match Consumers initial investment of $5,000. As a result, on Monday December 14th, we where able to circulate $20,000 in Cheboygan Bucks that can only be spent at our members businesses.

We received a phone call later in the week from the Cheboygan County Community Foundation with news that they would like to invest $5,000 into a second round of 2 for 1 Cheboygan Bucks, and shortly after that call, our partners at Consumers Energy shared news of another $4,000 that they would like to invest in this great promotion. So round 2 of Our Town Cheboygan Bucks, 2 for 1 promotion was announced. Friday December 18th at 8:00 am we open our doors, and with the help of Ambassador Chair Patty Archambo, we sold out in 2 hours. This round circulated another $18,000 of Cheboygan Bucks!

As direct support to our Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses, there are now $39,000 + in Cheboygan Bucks that have begun flowing through your cash registers. (the 2 for 1 program grand total was $38,000 and we have sold over $1,000 in Cheboygan Bucks at the $1 for $1 regular rate.

ALL Chamber members are eligible to accept Cheboygan Bucks as a cash payment. No need to let us know if you are accepting them, just post the "We Accept Cheboygan Bucks" flyer (link below) in your window and by your register. Then bring the Cheboygan Bucks to us at the office, we'll verify the amount you are redeeming and have a check sent to you for the full face value.

Please call or email with any questions polly@cheboygan.com, scott@cheboygan.com, 231.445.9045 office


Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance
Policy Conference
Headlines and Action Items
New Articles are noted with ***
Member News
The Cheboygan EDC (Economic Development Corporation)
Launched Broadband Initiative & Needs Your Input to Strengthen Cheboygan's Digital Landscape
Click Image Above to Take Survey
Please take the survey once as a business or organization and again for your residence.
NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE NAMED TOP NURSING PROGRAM IN MICHIGAN 
Graduates of North Central Michigan College’s nursing program are among the best in the state — and in the top tier of RN graduates nationwide — according to a ranking released by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The No. 1 ranking measures North Central’s May 2020 nursing graduates against all other RN graduates in Michigan, including those from four-year universities. 
The ranking is based on the percentage of North Central’s Class of 2020 nurses who passed the NCLEX-RN® examinations administered between April and September 2020. NCLEX-RN® is the test that qualifies graduates to practice as registered nurses. North Central’s first-time pass rate was 100 percent. 
North Central President David Roland Finley said the ranking is a testament to the college’s value proposition : an exceptional education, close to home, for a fraction of the cost of attending an in-state university. 
“North Central’s faculty is among the best in their field, our technology is state-of-the-art, yet we’re small enough to know our students personally,” Finley said. “Those personal relationships make this already outstanding achievement even sweeter.”  
Humane Society Chicken Dinner
Jeff Daniels presented by the Cheboygan Opera House - Alive and Well ENOUGH
You asked, and the Opera House answered. Jeff Daniels is back on Wednesday, January 20th at 8pm EST!
This show will be a little bit different than the live shows you’re used to at the Opera House; Daniels crafts an intimate, entertaining and unforgettable evening from his own home. This is a BRAND NEW show featuring music from his new album, Alive and Well Enough. Tickets are $20 for individuals, and $30 for families*. Purchase your tickets here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/jeffdanielscheboyganjan20/register
Join us for a “Warm and Cozy” Walk for Warmth!
Contributed by the Salvation Army - Cheboygan County
The Cheboygan County Salvation Army is reaching out to you in this time of need, as
we fight the Coronavirus and help our neighbors stay warm. Every winter
Cheboygan County has come together to put on the Walk for Warmth (W4W), an
event that supports families who are in danger of losing their utilities. This
fund is only as generous as the donations that we receive from local businesses
and individuals. The tradition continues this year, though we will do things a
little differently because of the Coronavirus. 

Please register to participate in this year’s virtual Walk for Warmth, a fun event for
families and people of all ages. In years past we have joined for a community
walk down Main St. in Cheboygan, with food following the event. This year, in
order to fight the spread of the Coronavirus, we will be opting for a virtual
walk instead. You can pick your day and time to complete a walking route of
your choice -- whether that is Main St. or another place of your choosing. This
year’s theme is “Warm and Cozy” – a chance to celebrate the feeling of family
love, Christmas sweaters, winter pajamas, and hot cocoa. You can form a team
and compete against other teams to raise the most donations, or participate as
an individual. You have between January 11th and February 28th to complete your
walk. Send us a selfie after you’ve completed your walk, for a chance to win
prizes for best costume, longest walk, most unusual walk, and largest amount
raised. For pledge forms and other information, please visit the Salvation Army
office (444 S. Main St.) and follow our Facebook page (@cheboygansalvationarmy)
Straits Area Services
Cheboygan Ace Hardware: Now Hiring

Cheboygan Ace Hardware located in the Lincoln Bridge Plaza is hiring helpful associates as well as a store manager! If interested, or know of someone interested, stop down today!

Cheboygan Ace Hardware
712 S Main Street
Cheboygan
Straits Area Community Foundation Announces
2021 Scholarship Availability
The Straits Area Community Foundation (SACF) is accepting applications for its 2021 competitive scholarship program. Current and former graduates of high schools in Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City are invited to apply.

Many of the scholarship opportunities available through SACF depend upon the high school from which a student is graduating, the college they plan to attend, or their planned field of study. Additionally, some scholarships are for students who have already graduated from high school, and also for those planning to attend a certificate program or trade school. To be eligible, students must complete the application by the March 1, 2021, deadline.
Citizens National Bank Announces Promotions
Dave Woods
Senior Vice President & Chief Loan Officer
Stephen Daly
Business Banking Officer
Cheboygan: Citizens National Bank (CNB) President and CEO Matthew Keene announced four recent promotions within the organization.

David A. Woods has been promoted to Senior Vice President & Chief Loan Officer. Woods joined the bank in 2018 as a Senior Vice President & Senior Loan Officer. Woods earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant majoring in finance with a minor in economics. He then graduated from the University of Detroit earning his master’s degree in business administration again majoring in finance with a minor in economics. Woods has also earned his secondary education certification from Ferris State University in Big Rapids in April of 2018. He and his wife Connie reside in Petoskey and have two grown sons.  Click Here for Full Press Release
Chandlar Rush
Technology Officer
Joseph Garber
Senior Vice President &
Chief Credit Officer
Salvation Army Reaches Red Kettle Goal
Chamber Partners
Disclaimer: Information presented in this section of the Chamber Newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce or its membership. It is provided here as information only from other regional organizations that the Chamber has a business relationship with. All decisions made by the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and or Staff are done so locally and independently in accordance with our bylaws and policies and for the betterment of our membership.
Straits Area Community Foundation

Straits Area Community Foundation has been affiliated with the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) since 1998. We connect people who care about the future of Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City with the causes closest to their hearts. By encouraging individuals to create permanent charitable endowments to meet the ever-changing needs of our communities, we can match donors' charitable interests with worthwhile causes by giving grants and scholarships to area programs and students.
SACF believes that the people in our communities, and those who care most about them, can strengthen them most effectively.  We are helping donors make an investment in their community to improve the quality of life for present and future residents of Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City - one that will last for generations to come.
Cheboygan County Community Foundation

Our purpose is to provide a federal and state qualified tax exempt foundation for residents and friends of Cheboygan County to donate income and assets which are federal and state tax deductible. Funds donated to the Cheboygan County Community Foundation are then used to support projects which create jobs, improve local educational opportunities, increase tourism visits, expand retail and commercial offerings, and enhance the overall economic health of Cheboygan County.
The foundation provides grants, scholarships, and other means of financial support for individuals, companies, organizations, and projects which support our mission and purpose.
Cheboygan Economic Development Group

The Cheboygan Economic Development Group is a private sector organization of Cheboygan County business people, community leaders, and volunteers who care deeply about helping create economic growth and educational opportunities for our citizens in this unique and wonderful corner of northern Michigan.
Helping to build sustainable economic growth is our mission. A future of good paying jobs for residents of all ages is our passion. Click here to visit their web site.
News from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Michigan Chamber members receive an exclusive weekly review of legislative & political news in its Michigan News & Capitol Report e-newsletter. This newsletter is FREE to Chamber members.
To Read This Week's Capitol Report Click On The Following Link (Or Load Into Your Web Browser Address Window):
Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance Update

The Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce is an Associate Partner with the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance who advocates for our members to Michigan State Government as a collective Northern Michigan voice. If you would like to find out more about the Alliance and what it is doing for Northern Michigan please go to their web site by clicking here. 
Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau
124 N Main Street | Cheboygan | 49721
231-445-9045 | 800-968-3302
Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce
Supporting Partners