October 2014 newsletter

Issue #27 October 2014

Our Superior Partners. Thank You!

Inside This Issue

Returning/New Chamber Members 3Chamber Board of Directors 3Employment Opportunities 5Ambassadors 7Lift Bridge Construction 9Fall Golf 11Portage Health Foundation 13 Business After Hours 14Eggs & Issues 15Events Calendar 15

Proud Member of

Photo by Chamber staff

The Keweenaw Chamber’s bi-annual publication of the Street Map and Business Guide is being updated and redone.

The Daily Mining Gazette staff is out selling the advertising space, as well as, working with WUPPDR for the maps and local printers for the publication.

Please give them your time and find out why this may be a great advertising venue for your business.

This particular piece is the only one of it’s kind for the Houghton and Keweenaw areas and is a very popular map for both our local community as well as visitor to our area.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support of the Chamber and our projects.

If you should have nay questions or concerns about the map or advertising please call Trina at the Chamber 482.5240 or the Daily Mining Gazette’s Advertising Department at 482.1500.

2 Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

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Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce is

pleased to recognize the dedication of our

new and renewed members!

Board of Directors

Glen Tolksdorf, President

OwnerTolksdorf Realty and [email protected]

Greg Seppanen, Vice President

Assistant Vice President / TrustSuperior National Bank and [email protected]

Matt Thyer, Treasurer

OwnerUp and Running Technology [email protected]

Karin Van Dyke, Secretary

Vice President for University RelationsFinlandia [email protected]

Brian Donnelly

Branch ManagerRiver Valley [email protected]

Lisa Dunnebacke

Associate [email protected]

Darrell Guitar

AgentCentury 21 / North Country [email protected]

Beth Hoy

Assistant Director of Operations and Industry Outreach

Industry Relations TeamOffice of Innovation and Industry

EngagementMichigan Technological [email protected]

Michael Scott

PublisherThe Daily Mining [email protected]

Welcome New

Community Partners!

Attorney Kevin L. Mackey200 Michigan StreetHancock, MI [email protected]

Copper WorldAnthony Bausano101 5th StreetCalumet, MI 49913906.337.4016 FAX [email protected]

Habanero’s Fresh Mexican KitchenJulie Cortright101 E. Quincy StreetHancock, MI [email protected]

Horst Schmidt, AssociateHubbell, MI

IR Telemerics, Inc.Glen Barna1780 Birch StreetHancock, MI 49930PO Box 70, Houghton, 49931906.482.0012irtelemetrics,[email protected]

Superior Tax AccountingSheila Tormala20017 E. Sharon AvenueHoughton, MI 49931906.523.7013

continued on page 9

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Are you or someone you

know looking for work?

The Daily Mining Gazette, and MI Works are two of the area’s resources for finding employment.

Are you looking for part-time

Employees?

Are you looking for part-time Michigan Tech student help for your local business? If so, please consider advertising your employment opportunities at Michigan Tech through HuskyJOBS, an online job management system. HuskyJOBS is an excellent resource available to all Michigan Tech students. It connects employers with students and allows you to easily post your positions at no cost. For more information, please visit: mtu.edu/career/employers/jobs/community or contact Career Services at [email protected] or 906-487-2313.

We Want Your Input

We are looking for photos, business news, new hires, open positions or any updates about your business to use in our newsletters. If you have photos or stories you’d like to share, send them to [email protected]. Please tell is about the photo or story, including who took the photo, where it was taken, and who wrote the story so we can give proper credit. Thanks!

Your Brochures

Are NeededBring in your brochures to fill the racks.

Visitors and community members and businesses of our area find useful information from your

brochures, and we want Chamber members

represented.

What a great way to increase the visibility of your business!

Thank you to those who have sent in your information.

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A Call For Keweenaw Chamber

AMBASSADORS

POSITION DESCRIPTION:An Ambassador will be a reputable professional, actively

engaged in business in the great Keweenaw area, who is

willing to promote and protect the best interest of the

Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce and its members. An

Ambassador will also serve as a liaison for prospective,

new, and existing Chamber members; sharing

opportunities to promote and support their business

initiatives and goals. The Keweenaw Chamber Ambassador

Committee offers many ways to participate that work with

your schedule.

RESPONSIBILITIES:Recruit and Welcome new business and professionalsParticipate and greet attendees in the Annual Golf Outings, Ribbon Cuttings, Business After Hours, Open Houses, and other eventsDelivery of Renewal Thank you LettersEducate benefits of Chamber of Commerce membershipAttend monthly Ambassador Committee meetingsUnderstand the Chamber membership materialsParticipate in subcommittees:

� Prospect:• Identify new businesses• Deliver Potential Member Packets

� New Member Maintenance:• Develop and maintain relationships as assigned• Deliver New Member Packets and follow-up

� Retention: • Maintain relationships with existing members• Follow-up annually with renewed members

QUALIFICATIONS:Flexible work schedule, In-depth knowledge of the Chamber of Commerce, Willingness to take leadership role, Strong communication skills, Outgoing personality and positive attitude, Ability to work independently

TIME COMMITMENT:A one year minimum time commitment during & for which Personal Commitment form is completed:Attend the majority of the monthly Committee meetingsComplete one orientation training sessionMember and potential member calls are done at the convenience of the AmbassadorRegularly attend Ribbon Cuttings, Business After Hours, and Open Houses

If you are interested in being an Ambassador, please contact Trina at the Chamber office by August 18th. First Event would be September 10th our Annual Fall Golf Outing!Phone: 906.482.5240Email: [email protected]

AMBASSADORSOur current Ambassador Committee has the following members.

• Brian Donnelly, River Valley Bank, Board Liaison, Committee Chair

• Amanda McConnon, Century 21 North Country Agency, Committee Co-Chair.

• Hannah Erickson, Michigan Tech University

• Victor Harrington, Portage Health

• Kevin Store, Portage Health Foundation

• Jay Ringler, Upper Peninsula Power Company

• Barb Foley, County Village Shop

• Jack Eberhard, Book Concern Printers

8 Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

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Continued from page 3

Welcome Back,

Superior Partners

City of Houghton

Welcome Back,

Community Partners!

Crown CleanersEdward Jones – Robert K. NelsonGitzen CompanyLibrary Restaurant and Brew PubPilgrim River Hills & AcresSayen’s - OPG

The project, set to begin in January 2015, will require numerous closures of the lift bridge. While trying to minimize traffic impacts by scheduling closures at night, these closures may impact public transit, school athletic schedules or other activities. We do not have an exact schedule of closures at this time, but we will release it as soon as it is available.

The Michigan Department of Transportation has sent the Chamber a PDF document to provide some initial information about the upcoming Portage Lake Lift Bridge rehabilitation project. If you would like the document emailed or mailed to you please contact the Chamber. Phone 482.5240 or email: [email protected].

The Individual Shared Responsibility PaymentBeginning in 2014, the individual shared responsibility provision of the Affordable Care Act requires each

individual to:

• Maintain a minimum level of health care coverage – known as minimum essential coverage, or

• Qualify for an exemption, or

• Make an individual shared responsibility payment when filing their federal income tax returns.

Minimum essential coverage generally includes government-sponsored programs, employer-provided health

coverage, and coverage purchased in the individual market, including the Health Insurance

Marketplace. Most people already have health insurance coverage that qualifies as minimum essential

coverage, and therefore will not need to make a payment if they maintain their qualified coverage. However,

for each month that you or a member of your family is without minimum essential coverage and does not

qualify for an exemption, you will need to make an individual shared responsibility payment.

If you and your dependents had minimum essential coverage for each month of 2014, you will check a box

indicating that when you file your 2014 federal income tax return. If you qualify for an exemption, you will

attach a form to your tax return to claim that exemption. If you are required to make the individual shared

responsibility payment, you will calculate your payment and make the payment with your return.

If you choose to make an individual shared responsibility payment instead of maintaining minimum essential

coverage, this means you will not have health insurance coverage to help pay for medical expenses.

In general, the individual shared responsibility payment for 2014 is the greater of:

• One percent of your household income above the income filing threshold for your tax filing status, or

• A flat dollar amount of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (under age 18) in your family, but no more

than $285 per family.

The individual shared responsibility payment is also capped at the cost of the national average premium for

bronze level health plans available through the Marketplace that would cover everyone in your family who

does not have minimum essential coverage and does not qualify for an exemption – for example, $12,240 for

a family of five. However this maximum fee will only impact the small number of high-income taxpayers who

choose to go without health insurance. The payment amount is based on each individual’s personal

circumstances, and information about figuring the payment can be found on our ‘Calculating the Payment’

page on IRS.gov/aca.

Example of Payment Calculation

Eduardo and Julia are married and have two children under age 18. No family member has minimum

essential coverage for any month during 2014, and no family member qualifies for an exemption. For 2014,

their household income is $70,000 and their tax return filing threshold amount is $20,300.

• Using the household income formula: Subtract the tax return filing threshold amount for 2014 from

the 2014 household income, then multiply the answer by one percent (0.01). $70,000 - $20,300 =

$49,700

One percent of $49,700 equals $497.00.

• Using the flat dollar amount formula: Add $95 per adult for Eduardo and Julia to $47.50 per child – for

their two children. $95.00 + $95.00 + $47.50 + $47.50 = $285.00

Eduardo and Julia’s shared responsibility payment for the year for 2014 is $497. That’s because the

household income formula amount of $497 is greater than flat dollar formula amount of $285, and it is less

than the $9,792 annual national average premium for bronze level coverage for a family of four in 2014.

More examples can be found on IRS.gov/aca.

More Information:

Find out more about the tax-related provisions of the health care law at IRS.gov/aca.

Find out more about the health care law at HealthCare.gov.

Thank you to all of our EAGLE sponsors!• Keweenaw Brewing Company

• Daily Mining Gazette

• Tadych’s Econo Foods

• Pilgrim River Hills and Acres

• CM Morris Contracting

• The Library Restaurant

Thank you to all of our PAR sponsors!• Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union

• Northern Hardwoods

• Range Bank

• Pat’s / Festival Foods

• Portage Health Foundation

• Superior National Bank

• UPPCo

• Portage Health

• Aspirus Keweenaw

• Finlandia University

• Tervo Agency

• Michigan Tech University

• Wal-Mart

• River Valley Bank

• Pepsi Cola of Houghton

• Tolksdorf Realty

• City of Houghton

• Surplus Outlet

• DP Construction

• U.P. Engineers & Architects

Thank you to all of our SWAG BAG

sponsors!• ALL OF THE EAGLE SPONSORS!

• Finlandia University

• MTU Food Service

• Favorites Custom Apparel

• Downtown Hancock

Thank you to all of our Raffle Prize donors.Portage Lake Golf Course • M&M PowerSports • 41 Lumber of Houghton • Copper Harbor

Lighthouse Tour Boat • Finlandia University • Magnuson Hotel Franklin Square Inn • Applebee’s

Neighborhood Bar & Grill • Aspirus Keweenaw • Culver’s of Houghton • Pat’s / Festival Foods •

Chassell Carpentry & Woodwork, Inc. • Mont Ripley • MTU University Images • Gartner’s Gallery

• MTU SDC • Flowers by Sleeman • Subway of downtown Houghton • Habaneros Fresh Mexican

Kitchen • Tadych’s Econo Foods • Daily Mining Gazette

A big thank you to Mark and all the staff at the

Portage Lake Golf Course

for your time and efforts helping us with the tournament!

MDOT is seeking "Road Watchers"

How was your ride? The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to know. A new Road Watchers

program will give motorists a chance to tell MDOT how well it's maintaining highways in the Upper Peninsula this

winter. MDOT's Superior Region is now recruiting regular commuters willing to complete brief online surveys

about road conditions after winter weather events. Road Watcher volunteers will occasionally be asked by e-mail to

complete a short online survey about roads on some of the U.P.'s key routes:

- US-41 between Calumet and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge

- US-41 between Herman Road, south of L'Anse, and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge

- US-41 between M-28 in Harvey and Westwood Drive in West Ishpeming

- US-2 between M-77 in Blaney Park and M-94 in Manistique

- M-117 between US-2 and M-28

- M-129 between M-134 in Cedarville and I-75 Business Spur/Ashmun Street in Sault Ste. Marie

- US-2 between Rapid River and Escanaba

- US-2 between Escanaba and M-69

- US-2 between Waucedah and Iron Mountain

If you drive any portion of these routes on your daily commute, MDOT would like your input. Taking the survey is

quick, completely voluntary and all results are anonymous. MDOT will use the feedback to help fine-tune winter

maintenance operations.

"Winter maintenance is a huge part of what we do as a department and with our local partners here in the U.P.,"

said MDOT Superior Region Engineer Randy VanPortfliet. "We pride ourselves on doing the best we can with the

resources available. The Road Watchers program will give us useful, timely feedback directly from the customers we

serve."

To get more information, or to sign up to be a Superior Region Road Watcher, visit

www.michigan.gov/roadwatchers

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The Portage Health Foundation, a non-profit charitable

foundation serving Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and

Ontonagon counties, is pleased to announce it is now

accepting grant requests to address Community

Health, Wellness and Prevention services.

“Over the past several months, the PHFoundation has

been working with various community stakeholders to

identify and assess community need.” said Kevin Store,

Executive Director of the Portage Health Foundation.

As a result, the Portage Health Foundation has

announced an initial allocation of $150,000.00 to be

awarded. “This is just the beginning,” added Lennon

Mattila Hughes, Chair of the foundation’s Board of

Directors. “We recognize the incredible need that

exists in our community and we are working on ways

to begin reinvesting more money back into our

communities.”

Grant requests of all scope and size, up to the stated

initial allocation will be considered as part of this RFP

notification.

Grants addressing the following will be considered

under this Request for Proposal (RFP):

1. Initiatives that promote and/or demonstrate

collaboration among charitable non-profit

service providers to enhance the provision of

health and wellness services to the citizens of

the stated service territory.

2. Community Health and Preventive Health

initiatives that address identified areas of critical

health risks in the community including:

• Child and Adolescent Health

• Infectious Disease

• Chronic Disease and Mortality

• Substance Abuse and Addiction

• Behavioral and Mental Health

• Geriatric Health and Nutrition

Interested parties may request a grant application

packet by contacting 906.523.5920 or by stopping by

the PHFoundation office located at: PHFoundation,

400 Quincy Street, Hancock, Michigan 49930

Grant requests will be accepted until Friday November

14, 2014 and must be received at the PHFoundation

Offices no later than 5p.m. EST. Late applications will

not be considered.

45807 Highway M 26, PO Box 18945807 Highway M 26, PO Box 18945807 Highway M 26, PO Box 18945807 Highway M 26, PO Box 189

South Range, MI 49963South Range, MI 49963South Range, MI 49963South Range, MI 49963

Phone: (906) 487Phone: (906) 487Phone: (906) 487Phone: (906) 487----6400640064006400

Fax: (906) 487Fax: (906) 487Fax: (906) 487Fax: (906) 487----6415641564156415

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]

WWW.hlmcorp.comWWW.hlmcorp.comWWW.hlmcorp.comWWW.hlmcorp.com

14 Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Monday, October 6

Toastmasters Meeting –Portage Health, Hancock

Tuesday, October 7

Trail Services Meeting – Convention & Visitors

Bureau Office, Hancock

Wednesday, October 8

KEDA Meeting –Finish American Heritage Center,

Hancock

Thursday, October 9

Ladies Night Out – Barkell Elementary School,

Hancock

Saturday, October 11

11th Annual Nordic Film Series Begins – Finnish

American Heritage Center, Hancock

Saturday, October 11

Let’s Go Downtown – Downtown Houghton

Tuesday, October 14 – DATE CHANGE!

Business After Hours – Roy’s Pasties & Bakery,

Houghton

October 17 - 19

Lake Superior Performance Rally – Houghton,

Keweenaw & Baraga areas

October 18-19

Keweenaw Cup Cyclocross Race – Copper Harbor

Monday, October 20

Toastmasters Meeting –Portage Health, Hancock

Tuesday, October 21

Carnegie Seminar Series - Carnegie Museum,

Houghton

Thursday, October 23

Keweenaw Young Professionals Meet-UP –

Continental Fire Co., Houghton

Friday, October 24

Treat Street - Houghton

Keweenaw Peninsula Event Calendar 2014Your source for area Business Events and Community Events0

Eggs and IssuesThursday, October 16

Irish Times Pub

& Restaurant, Laurium

Presenter: CopperDog150

Topic: The CopperDog 150 Board will discuss with us the impact the event has on our area, how it can benefit your business, ways to help out financially or with your time.

Eggs and Issues is free to Chamber Members

there is a $10 fee for non-members.

Please RSVP to 906.482.5240

or [email protected]

Keweenaw .org 15

902 College Avenue, P.O. Box 336Houghton, MI 49931

Visibility Opportunities

Looking for a way to get your advertising message out to a fresh new crowd? The Chamber newsletter has a circulation of more the 200 local

businesses. We can accept print-ready ads or build an ad for you…just ask for details. Email advertising is also available and reaches 1,800 email

addresses! Newsletter and email advertising gets proven results – let us help you grow your business today!

The deadline is the 20th of the month for the next month’s newsletter. For example, May 20 is the deadline for an ad in the June newsletter. Call us with questions!

Ad rates per issue:

Full page $100½ page $ 75¼ page $ 501/8 page $ 25Email campaign $ 25

The mission of the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce:

SUPPORT BUSINESS: The Chamber supports businesses by providing information and referring inquiries to our local and regional economic development partners such as the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, Michigan Small Business Development Center, MTEC SmartZone, Entrepreneur Support Center, or Jutila Business Incubator.

ATTRACT BUSINESS: The Chamber provides information and referrals to people who want to visit or relocate here. If someone inquires about tourism, we coordinate with the Keweenaw Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. When someone is relocating a business or family here, we connect them to the appropriate community resources that meet their needs.

DEVELOP : The Chamber will continue to grow networking and visibility opportunities for small businesses. We will provide opportunities for ribbon cuttings, Eggs and Issues, and After Hours networking events, promotion and advertising opportunities, golf outings, annual membership directory, business referrals, and a monthly newsletter.

p. 906.482.5240

f. 906.482.5241

e. [email protected]

Business Hours

Monday thru Friday

9 am to 5:30pm

Lunch hours varies each day.

www.keweenaw.org

www.facebook.com/Keweenaw.Chamber