Possible H1N1/Flu Outbreak - What Businesses Should Know!

The Chamber, in partnership with Western North Carolina Human Resources Association, A-B Tech, and the Buncombe County Health Center, will present a program to help employers address the impact of the flu/H1N1 on their workplace. The presentation will be on Tuesday, October 6, from 1– 2:30 p.m. in the Asheville Merchants Corporation Boardroom at the Chamber Building. The program will include expert information from the Society for Human Resource Management, a panel of human resource professionals/health care specialists, and a Q&A session addressing:

• Potential Impact of a Flu Pandemic on Today’s Workplace
• Prevention Strategies
• Business Continuity Strategies
• Legal Issues

This program is FREE and open to WNC HRA Members, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce members, A-B Tech small business clients and public/non-profit organizations. Although this program is being offered at no cost, there is limited seating, so registration is required.

Sky High Award Nomination Deadline Extended

The deadline for nominations is now October 12 for the 2009 Sky High Growth Awards presented by Advanced Business Equipment in conjunction with the Advocates for Small Business.  The Sky High Growth Awards is an annual event recognizing the area's fastest growing small businesses for their outstanding achievements and contributions to our region's economy. The event is the October Business After Hours on October 29 at the North Carolina Arboretum but nominations are being accepted now.  Learn more about the awards, the event, and nominations by visiting the event website. The Business After Hours are presented by Clear Channel Asheville.

Asheville City Council Candidate Surveys

Early voting for Mayor and Asheville City Council is under way. Visit the Chamber's Public Policy page for links to register to vote, to find your voting location, and to learn more about the candidates seeking office.

Legislative Priorities Survey Results

Thank you for your participation in the Chamber’s 2009/2010 Legislative Issues Survey. The Public Policy Department of the Chamber seeks to serve the needs of our membership and make sure their voice is heard. This year we had 94 participants whose insight will help us shape our legislative priorities, agenda, and actions for the coming year. Please view the survey results here.

Key Themes from Open Ended Question Answers:

Meet The Media Presented By the Advocates for Small Business

Meet the Media, presented by the Advocates for Small Business, is your opportunity to learn about local media operations and hear from local media experts representing newspaper, radio and TV on how to submit information to them, their policies on news releases, faxes, e-mails and photography.

Media representatives include:

The session takes place Thursday, October 22, from 9 - 11:30 a.m. at the Asheville Merchants Corporation Boardroom in the Chamber Building.  Please register for the Meet the Media session on the Chamber website.

Asheville Regional Airport Announces Service to Chicago

The Asheville Regional Airport Authority is pleased to announce that United Airlines is beginning twice daily non-stop service to Chicago, IL. Flights from Asheville Regional to O’Hare International Airport start December 17, 2009, on 50-seat CRJ200 regional jet aircraft. “This new non-stop flight to the ‘Windy City’ is great news for Western North Carolina,” said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., Airport Director. “Asheville Regional Airport is proud to provide a link to business and industry in the Midwest as well as welcome tourism from the third largest city in the U.S. via this new service.”

Asheville Habitat Staff and Board to Sponsor the 200th House Built

On Monday, October 5, at noon, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will raise the wall of another Habitat house being built in the Enka Hills neighborhood. This time though, the house sponsor isn’t a faith community, civic group or local business – it’s the board of directors and staff of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity!  The media and public are invited to attend this special event – which happens to also be World Habitat Day 2009. And, this house will be the 200th Habitat house built in this community. After a short speaking program, Habitat board and staff members will join with the Noteboom family to raise the first wall of this 4-bedroom HealthyBuilt home.