Mason Area Chamber of Commerce

A Weblog for Members and Friends of the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce --------------------- by MACC Executive Director Douglas J. Klein, APR

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Location: Mason, Michigan, United States

Contact information for Mason Area Chamber of Commerce: e-mail dougklein@masonchamber.org and webpage www.masonchamber.org -- Contact information for STAR ASSOCIATES: e-mail dougklein@usa.net and webpage www.starassociates.us -- Contact information for Lansing Community College: e-mail kleind@lcc.edu and webpage www.lcc.edu

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

This New Year Remember to Shop Mason Area Businesses First!

This new year, you can save both gas and money by shopping close to home. No, we’re not talking about shopping online. The shipping charges sometimes outweigh the savings buying that way. Instead, think about our local businesses.

Recently, a Mason woman was in the market for a new purse. She shopped at the mall and at other stores in Lansing, East Lansing, and Okemos until she found exactly what she wanted. The next day she did some shopping for other things in Mason and was surprised to see that that two Mason stores had purses for sale. She just didn’t think to “Shop the Mason Area First.”

Kind of a small thing, you say? Well, sometimes seemingly small acts can make a big impact. This year, you may think you’re just fulfilling your family’s needs when you shop out of town. Think again. The choice of where you spend your money makes a big difference to our community. I'm proud that I didn't set foot in a mall when Christmas shopping this past December!

Spending your money with local businesses puts your money to work directly helping our own community’s economy—just one way we all benefit from our hometown businesses. Those businesses use goods and services of other businesses – circulating your money longer locally than if you spend it elsewhere. This creates greater community health and prosperity.

Now imagine the impact on our community if everyone shopped more locally. You can stop imagining and help make it a reality. Maximize the impact of your dollars. Encourage your neighbors to do the same and inject potentially millions more into the local economy through doing our shopping, dining out and buying services with our local businesses. We’ll then have an even more vibrant local economy – right here in Mason, Michigan -- Hometown USA!

MEDC PROMOTING ONLINE DIRECTORY

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is working to expand its Michigan Business & Organization Directory. The FREE online directory is described as “your connection to products and services offered by Michigan companies, organizations, and associations.”

According to MEDC, “Whether you are seeking new avenues for your products and services, or providers to help you build or expand your business, this online B2B directory will create new opportunities for expanding your market Our easy online registration allows you to create your listing.”

To learn more or to be listed, go to http://medc.michigan.org/services/ServiceProvider

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Temple Street Extension Opens


On Wednesday, December 22, 2005, cameras were on hand from all local news organizations to record the opening of the extension of Temple Street by Mason Mayor Robin Naeyaert and the City Council. The road on the city's east side runs from Ash Street on the north to Kipp Road on the south.

This road also aids further development of that section of town. Dennis and Jeff Anderson have already started work on a series of planned developments on the east side. Evergreen Woods senior condominiums are on the north side of the extension's intersection with Ash.

This new road also eliminates the problems caused by many years of use of a county-owned parking lot access road on the east side of the Ingham County Fairgrounds to go from Ash to Kipp. This access road is now gated and closed to trough traffic. Fair traffic will now also have access from the new Temple Street extension.

Monday, December 12, 2005

In the news...

An announcement of Mason Area Chamber of Commerce officer election was a recent article in the Ingham County Community News. Check it out at:
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/INGHAM01/512110495/1215/INGHAM

Davey’s Basement, a new music store and Chamber member, located at 448 S. Jefferson in downtown Mason, was featured in a recent article in the Ingham County Community News. Check it out at: http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/INGHAM03/512110507/1215/INGHAM

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Souders Starting Consulting Business


Chamber member Ed Souders has formed Souders Management Advisors L.L.C. Ed Souders has served as a volunteer for the past 5 years for the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) working with small business owners improve their operations. Prior to that, he owned Entre Computer Services. Souders Management Advisors L.L.C. will focus on working with organizations who are either struggling, want to step to the next level, or who desire to undergo a transformation. SMA will utilize the tools developed at Entre Computer to transform a business from an MBO focus to a W. Edwards Deming approach. http://www.soudersmanagementadvisors.com/