April 13, 2023

Support Appleton's Octoberfest: Vote & Volunteer

Vote Appleton's Octoberfest 'Best of the Valley'!

The nominations are in for the Post Crescent's Best of the Valley awards. Octoberfest has been nominated in THREE categories: Community or Charity Event, Event – local, and Tourist/Seasonal Attraction - Local.

You can vote for each category daily. If you vote in more than 25 categories, you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $250 gift card! Voting closes on April 24th. Remember, you MUST register to vote. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support Appleton's Octoberfest!

Cast your votes here

Become a volunteer at Octoberfest!

We need you! We have several volunteer opportunities available at Octoberfest on September 30.

Volunteer positions include Bartenders, Bar Managers, and Block Captains. Bartenders are not required to have a license, but must be 21 or older. Bar Managers must obtain a license from the City of Appleton if they are not currently licensed, and fees will be reimbursed.

Get a free t-shirt and help a great event; volunteer below!

Volunteer

Apply to become a food vendor at Appleton's Octoberfest! Join the fun and participate in this impactful community event. Learn more and apply here.

Chamber Quick Poll

How do you prefer to learn?

Watch a video

Read an article

In person, 1:1 or a seminar

Attend a webinar

Last Week's Quick Poll Results

The City of Appleton has approved an 18 month pilot project...How do you think this will affect people visiting downtown?

Fewer visitors - 45.7%
No change - 32.6%
More visitors - 21.7%

Your Business Advocate Blog

Senator Baldwin Announces Re-Election Bid

This week Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) announced her intent to run for a third term in 2024. The announcement was not a total surprise, though Senator Baldwin was on some media watch lists as a potential candidate to retire from office at the end of her current term. No Republicans have officially announced their intent to run at this point, though some names mentioned have included former state Senator Roger Roth, Congressmen Mike Gallagher and Bryan Steil, as well as businessmen Eric Hovde and Scott Mayer.

Read the full blog post here.

Jon Turke

Vice President of Government Affairs

jturke@foxcitieschamber.com.

Last chance to get your employees more ENGAGED!

Just a few openings remain for our ENGAGE Fox Cities program slated for June 2 & 3. ENGAGE offers a community immersion experience that connects employees with the community and improves retention and satisfaction.

ENGAGE is two 3 1/2 hour sessions on a Friday night and Saturday morning. Participants are able to bring a guest as they learn about history of the Fox Cities, education, community service, arts, volunteering, recreation, and human services. Whether your employees are new to the area or longtime residents, every participant will learn something new and feel more engaged in the Fox Cities.

To register or learn more, contact Amy Schanke, 920.734.7101 or aschanke@foxcitieschamber.com

Career Expo in need of volunteers

We are looking for five more volunteers to help out at our Career Expo on April 18th and 19th from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed both days to help make this annual event happen. Please contact Aimee Herrick at aherrick@foxcitieschamber.com if you or your organization are interested in this opportunity.

Social Media Marketing seminar a huge success

Thank you to our three presenters for putting on an exciting and informative seminar! 'Social Media Marketing for Businesses' was a hit, with attendees finding it extremely beneficial:

"I have attended SO MANY mediocre and uninformative (non-chamber) seminars in the last few years that I am hesitant to react and sign up for a chunk of my precious time. However, this one was fantastic! I thought the presenters did a great job at concisely relaying useful information that everyone could take away and start using immediately. Nice job!" - Thomas M Weiland, Marketing and Development Director, Hearthstone Historic House Museum

Our next Grow Seminar on 'Low Cost Marketing' is to be held July 12th at Community First Credit Union. If you are looking for more educational opportunities before then, sign up for our Grow with Google Webinar on how to 'Make Your Small Business More Accessible' being held on May 10th.

Join Berkshire Hathaway Home Services for Business After Hours

Join us tonight, April 13th, from 5 - 7 p.m. at W6180 Aerotech Dr. Ste 300 in Appleton for our April Business After Hours. Register for the event here.

Chamber members can get free weekly updates on the world economy

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, 14 Fast Facts, which provides a brief snapshot of the world economy, courtesy of "Bowtie Economist" Dr. Elliot Eisenberg. Here’s a sample:

Oil Output - Starting May 1, 2023, OPEC will reduce oil production by about 1.1 million bbl/day. OPEC previously cut production by two million bbl/day back in October 2022, but prices kept falling. If prices rise from the upcoming production cuts, inflation will worsen slightly, the Fed’s job will be made more difficult, and recession odds will somewhat increase (source: OPEC).

Subscribe to 14 Fast Facts

Take this quick Small Business Technology Survey

Village Market has partnered with Microsoft to understand what the priorities are for your business and where technology may be able to support you to meet your needs and goals. Studies have uncovered that small businesses that readily adopt new technology enjoy on average 120 percent higher revenue, and they want to see a greater number of businesses of color in this number.

Please take this 15-minute survey. All business owners who do will receive access to free digital resources to cultivate your business.

Chamber Member News

Froedtert Health and ThedaCare announced they have signed a letter of intent to come together as one organization to advance local health care for patients and improve health and the delivery of health care in Wisconsin.

Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI) is excited to bring a brand-new event to Downtown Appleton to kick off the summer season. Light the Night Market presented by Fox Communities Credit Union will transform Downtown Appleton into an open-air market on Friday, May 19.

Dive into summertime in Downtown Appleton - events calendar.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center invites community to 20th Anniversary Community Open House.

A-mazing Events announces Trade Show Management Division.

Chilton Public School District breaks ground on Athletic Complex.

Vida Medical Clinic and Support Services announces addition of maternity home.

Hoffman Completes two Fox Valley remodeling projects.

People Making Headlines

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is proud to welcome Doug Tiede, Chief Audience Development Officer, and Sherry Rougeux, Senior Manager of Business Engagement, to its Senior Leadership Team.

Red Shoes Inc. is excited to announce the hires of Pam Henson as a business strategist, Jennifer Thurlow as media coordinator and Reagan Fritts as an account assistant.