Muskegon, MI – The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce announces a new spin on recognizing local businesses and organizations, the Business Excellence Awards. The event will take place on Friday, April 26 at the Muskegon Country Club. Nominations are open until Friday, March 15, 2019.

The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce has a long history of recognizing and celebrating businesses and entrepreneurs. In this changing global economy, the health and success of an entire community can better the business climate and make an area a prime location to live, work, and play.

“Since the model for organizational success is constantly changing, the chamber’s former entrepreneur awards have been expanded to recognize organizations in multiple categories,” says Cindy Larsen Chamber President.

Nominees should demonstrate excellence in a number of the following areas; quality products or service, profitable growth and innovation in products or process, investments in facilities and/or people, commitment to the environment and show dedication to diversity and inclusion.

“Going forward we will not only recognize an entrepreneur each year, but the chamber will also seek out excellence in manufacturing, tourism, retail, service, non-profit and community engagement,” says Larsen.

Locally owned businesses or non-profits are preferred, but all nominations will be accepted. The Community Engagement category is for organizations who have given back to the community.
The nomination form and supporting information can be submitted to the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce by Friday, March 15, 2019. For more information on sponsorship or to nominate a business please visit http://web.muskegon.org/events/2019-Business-Excellence-Awards-8179/details

CONTACT: Kristin Knop
MUSKEGON LAKESHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
231-724-3182
Kknop@muskegon.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2019

Home Show Expands Footprint and Adds New Seminars

The upcoming Muskegon Home, Garden, and DIY Show is expanding! With the opening of the new Gallery Level, the event will feature over 50 local businesses. The show will include everything from windows, cabinets and floors to home décor, lighting, landscaping and much more! The Muskegon Home Show is taking place at the Fricano Place Event Center on March 8 and 9.

“We are excited to open the Gallery Level and feature local businesses like Jeremy Church Photography and Create.a.frame Studio that will allow guests to paint their own art décor or purchase a lovely photo for their homes,” commented Kristin Knop, Show Director.

Seminars by local businesses are one of the most popular features of the show. This year’s seminars include cooking with Chef Char from Kitchen 242, floral arranging by Skeeter Parkhouse of Wasserman’s, DIY chalk painting with Pretty in Paint and much more!

Event highlights include; décor space by Blended Furniture, garage door solutions by Shepherd Shoreline, lending options by First General Credit Union, and landscaping ideas by Mike Rose Landscaping. Plus, FREE tulips while supplies last, thousands of dollars in giveaways, and discounted Fricano’s Pizza!

Tickets are only $5. Kids 12 and under are free. Tickets are available online at muskegonHGS.org. Advance tickets are recommended, but tickets will be sold at the door.

The Muskegon Home, Garden + DIY Show is a production of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce with support from the Lakeshore Home Builders Association, Fricano Place, Shepherd Shoreline Gutters & Garage Doors and First General Credit Union. Other home show supporters are listed online at muskegonHGS.org.

With the constant hum of construction happening in Muskegon, it can be easy to become absorbed by this quickly changing world of ours: the buildings being erected, the renovations, the debuting businesses. And while this melange of jackhammering and ribbon cuttings is very much about a growing economy, about the future, it’s also inevitably tied to the past, to a history spanning hundreds of millions of years.

Here, against a backdrop of emerging restaurants and coffee shops, is a landscape that tells the stories of ancient seas, of mile-thick ice that once covered our state, of long-extinct animals like mastodons and mammoths and giant beavers. It is a story of continental glaciers that encompassed the land we now call Michigan for more than a million years, of the sand and other sediments that, after centuries of being blown by the wind, have become the dunes framing our beaches.

Continue reading, at Muskegon Times

Muskegon, MI – The Muskegon County Silent Observer program made rewards of $10,650 for crimes solved in 2018.  “This is one of our largest payout years in recent history” says Tom Schultz, Chairman of the Silent Observer volunteer committee and Chairman of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  The payouts for 2018 involved 6 cases related to retail theft, 4 cases related to fugitive arrests, and one high profile murder case.

There was also a payout this year for the “Party Patrol” program.  The Party Patrol’s focus is on underage drinking and drug parties.  Just one call to help break up parties where underage drinking or illegal drug use are occurring can prevent serious harm and save the lives of many.

“Silent Observer is a fantastic tool that allows community members to assist law enforcement in keeping our community safe”, says Schultz.  The high tech program allows individuals to report crimes anonymously by calling in tips with total confidentiality.  Computer software blocks cell phone numbers and computer addresses by replacing that information with confidential code numbers.  The Silent Observer administrators cannot see the identity of who is calling or emailing tips.  When information results in an arrest or breaks up an illegal party, the code number can release the reward payout that can then be cashed anonymously.

The Silent Observer committee is made up of a number of non-profit organizations in the community.  They work in partnership with local law enforcement professionals.  The funds raised for the program, the software and the rewards are held in an account managed separately by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber Foundation.  “New technology and community engagement are making a difference in the safety of Muskegon County”, said Schultz.

To find out more about the program or make a donation go to www.silentobservermuskegon.com

CONTACT: Justin Pelham
MUSKEGON LAKESHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
231-724-3174
jpelham@muskegon.org

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2019

JUSTIN PELHAM JOINS MUSKEGON CHAMBER STAFF

Muskegon, MI – The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce announces the addition of Justin Pelham to the chamber staff.  Pelham joins the chamber as the Communications Specialist. His responsibilities will include managing e-communications, chamber brand publications, and media relations.  “We are excited to have Justin on the team as he brings new skills in technology that will help expand the capabilities of the chamber”, says Cindy Larsen, President of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.

Pelham, a disabled veteran and recent graduate from Grand Valley State University, has experience in many forms of multimedia communications.  He will work directly with business owners and managers when they are trying to promote their products and services through the chamber website and social media.  “I look forward to working with local businesses and hope my skills will bring value to the chamber and to the community”, says Pelham.  Justin can be contacted at jpelham@muskegon.org and 231-724-3174.

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About the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce – The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is the premier business membership organization on the lakeshore representing over 1,230 businesses and organizations. The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber represents businesses of every size and type all over West Michigan. The Chamber is celebrating 125 years in operation working to sustain an environment for business success through community leadership, promotion, inclusive business advocacy and valued member services. The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber is an award winning Chamber, being named Chamber of the Year for the State of Michigan in 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2015 by the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals.

CONTACT: CARLA FLANDERS
LAKESHORE ART FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

PHONE: 231-724-3176
artfest@muskegon.org

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2019

Environmental Awards, National Accolades and a Call for Artists!

MUSKEGON, MI – The Lakeshore Art Festival takes art and environmental stewardship to the next level each and every year.

The newly released 2018 Sustainability Report outlines the ways the festival continues to make progress towards a zero waste event. Over the last five years, the festival has diverted 7,510 pounds of material from landfills, achieving a diversion rate of 21.5% – the best of any festival in Muskegon County! Many factors play into this accomplishment, including compostable serving-ware requirements, multi-purpose recycling containers scattered throughout the festival, and the use of free refillable water stations. To review the complete report, visit bit.ly/LAFSustainability.

The festival continues to increase the number of exhibitors and move up in national rankings each year. Sunshine Artist Magazine, known for high-quality fine art and craft content, ranked the Lakeshore Art Festival #11 in the nation. Art Fair Calendar, an outlet promoting attendance at art fairs, just announced the Lakeshore Art Festival as the 5^th best Art Fair in the country!

“This recognition shows us that exhibitors and guests are talking about the show on a national level. These efforts are rooted in the dedication to excellence from our talented team, quality art exhibitors and an amazing guest experience. All of these factors not only generate a buzz for Muskegon County, but have a direct impact on the local economy, both of which are major priorities for the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce,” commented Carla Flanders, Lakeshore Art Festival Director.

Exhibitor applications will be accepted until Friday, February 1, for the festival taking place Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6, 2019. Artists who create original works of art in either the fine art or craft categories are encouraged to apply online via Zapplications: bit.ly/LAF2019.

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About Lakeshore Art Festival

The Lakeshore Art Festival is always the first Friday and Saturday in July. The Lakeshore Art Festival features a unique blend of 350+ fine art and craft exhibitors, street performers, specialty food booths, interactive art stations, children’s activities and so much more in beautiful Downtown Muskegon, Michigan. Local businesses interested in supporting this locally and nationally recognized festival through sponsorship can contact Carla Flanders at artfest@muskegon.org. For more information visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.

Survey Results, Party Pics, and New Opportunities

Click here to view the December 2018 E-News.

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Click here to view the full October E-News

MUSKEGON, MI – The award-winning Lakeshore Art Festival is now accepting fine art and craft applications for the festival taking place Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6, 2019. Last year, a record number of artists applied which resulted in expanding the festival footprint.

Lakeshore Art Festival has a “blind jury process.” Every year, a group of industry professionals, artists and crafters review each entry, not knowing who the applicant is (i.e. blind jury). Jurors rely solely on the images and body of work provided by the applicants and score each applicant based on standards of quality, uniqueness and handcrafted appeal. Applications are run through the online Zapplications program and can be accessed via lakeshoreartfestival.org.

Lakeshore Art Festival continues to move up in national ranking starting at #83 in 2015 to #27 in 2016 and now at #11 for 2017 by the Sunshine Artist Magazine, known for high-quality content in the fine art and craft industry.

The festival is also in the running for the 2019 America’s Best Art Fair. You can help by voting for the Lakeshore Art Festival here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/18BAFsurvey.  Be sure to type in “Lakeshore Art Festival, Muskegon MI” where applicable. Lakeshore Art Festival was voted “Favorite Small Town Art Fair” in 2016 and 2017.

“It has been our goal to continually enhance the quality of exhibitors that attend the show. The recognition received by artists, national publications and guests signifies that we are reaching our goals!” commented Carla Flanders, Lakeshore Art Festival Director. “In addition to putting on a quality event for exhibitors and guests, we are pleased to announce that the festival gives back to the community and has donated over $30,000 to six local non-profits this year alone!”

Fine Artists and crafters that would like more information or want to register for the 2019 Lakeshore Art Festival can visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.

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About Lakeshore Art Festival
The Lakeshore Art Festival is always the first Friday and Saturday in July. The Lakeshore Art Festival features a unique blend of 300+ fine art and craft exhibitors, street performers, specialty food booths, interactive art stations, children’s activities and so much more in beautiful Downtown Muskegon, Michigan. Local businesses interested in supporting this locally and nationally recognized festival through sponsorship can contact Carla Flanders at artfest@muskegon.org. For more information visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.

Jodi Kittle
Communications Manager
Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
231-722-3751