Monthly Archive for February 2012
Save the date: We Love Our Community Awards to be held March 22
The Charleston Area Alliance will host its fifth annual We Love Our Community awards program on March 22. The event will recognize 12 recipients representing the best in the Kanawha Valley.
“This is another fantastic program and each year, the Alliance is excited to host an event that shines a spotlight on the best of Charleston,” said Susie Salisbury, the Alliance’s vice president of community development. “This is about the grace of our people, places and culture, and recognizing these recipients fits well with our mission –building a vibrant community and prosperous economy.”
The program includes awards for several categories, including Outstanding Preservation, Best Development, Best Re-Development, Community Celebration, Youth Volunteer and Servant Leader and the Kanawha Heritage award, among others. Presented by title sponsor City National Bank, the event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. at 405 Capitol Street.
For more information, contact Susie Salisbury at SSalisbury@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.
Tonight: Leap into networking at Holiday Inn and Suites Business After Hours
Holiday Inn & Suites
Business After Hours
Tuesday, Feb. 28
5-7 p.m.
400 Second Avenue
South Charleston
Online registration ends at noon today, Tuesday, Feb. 28, for Business After Hours at the Holiday Inn & Suites in South Charleston.
Formerly the Ramada Charleston, the hotel has transformed itself into a full Conference Center with newly remodeled meeting space, contemporary and comfortable public areas and an indoor pool complex.
Business After Hours events are fantastic opportunities to network and meet the region’s leaders in a relaxed setting, all while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment.
Click here to register for the event.
Tonight, join the Leap Year festivities and see the newly remodeled Holiday Inn and Suites!
The cost for BAH is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members who register early online.
Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.
The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.
The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.
Member Market: Register NOW for Marshall University’s Spring Career Expo
This “Member Market” is a paid announcement sent by the Alliance on behalf of a member to business and community leaders and young professionals.
Consortium aims to create a natural gas vehicle fleet in Kanawha County
Kanawha Converts, a consortium of local governmental and business leaders, economic development, energy, and education agencies, has set a goal of seeing a natural gas fueling station as part of its initative for the conversion of gasoline engines to natural gas for Kanawha County operated vehicles.
In the United States, recent shale gas discoveries have generated renewed interest in using natural gas as a vehicular fuel, primarily in fleet applications. With the discovery of the Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale in West Virginia and surrounding regions, as well as with existing manufacturing infrastructure in the Kanawha Valley and enactment of the 2011 Marcellus Gas and Manufacturing Development Act, Kanawha County officials want advancement of the energy, economic, and environmental goals for the region through fleet conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) engines with the Kanawha Converts program.
Kanawha Converts was created in January by the Kanawha County Commission to focus on natural gas conversion. Using $50,000
in seed money, the consortium was formed with representatives from the county commission, Charleston Area Alliance, Bridgemont Community and Technical College and the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority (KRT), along with representatives from the state’s energy sector and local business leaders. The $50,000 is being used to coordinate consortium activities, conduct market analyses, provide references materials, and contract with experts in education and training, marketing, and financial fields to help initiate the project.
Charleston Area Alliance President and CEO Matt Ballard said the consortium feels confident that a natural gas fueling station will arrive in the region sooner rather than later. The county commission has committed to converting many of its agencies’ fleet vehicles once the first station is in place. Bridgemont plans to construct a training program that will train a workforce to convert vehicles and maintain them.
“The Kanawha Converts initiative has brought a broad interest to move these goals forward. There is much progress being made and we applaud the Kanawha County Commission for providing the seed funding to initiate this economic development project,” Ballard said. “Natural gas is abundant in West Virginia. It’s also is cheaper and burns cleaner than the current standard. We want to take advantage of this natural resource to create new jobs and save the taxpayers’ money.”
A bill has been introduced in the Legislature by Del. Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, that will authorize the sale and transfer of tax credits allowed for the purchase or conversion of alternative fuel vehicles and the construction of alternative fuel vehicle refueling stations. The bill would ensure governmental entities are able to take advantage of tax credits when they convert to alternative fuel vehicles.
Leap into networking at the Holiday Inn and Suites Business After Hours
Holiday Inn & Suites
Business After Hours
Tuesday, Feb. 28
5-7 p.m.
400 Second Avenue
South Charleston
Join the Leap Year festivities and see the newly remodeled Holiday Inn and Suites!
Formerly the Ramada Charleston, the hotel has transformed itself into a full Conference Center with newly remodeled meeting space, contemporary and comfortable public areas and an indoor pool complex.
Business After Hours events are fantastic opportunities to network and meet the region’s leaders in a relaxed setting, all while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment.
Click here to register for the event.
The cost for BAH is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members who register early online.
Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.
The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.
The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.
All Alliance news that’s fit to print. Check out the latest newsletter.
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Early bird rates end Feb. 29 for the annual Business Summit & Showcase
Time is running out to take advantage of the early bird rates for the annual Charleston Small Business Summit & Showcase, presented by the Charleston Area Alliance and Frontier Communications.
Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette will kick off the event, which draws hundreds of area business and community leaders and young professionals. The showcase sells out quickly, so secure your place in the business spotlight and register today.
The showcase will be held March 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the Charleston Town Center Marriott.
Held in conjunction with the popular Business After Hours, hosted by the Marriott, the event is a premier venue for raising your company’s visibility, making new connections and forging relationships with clients and community leaders. Fees are $200 Alliance members/$275 future members; starting Feb. 29, rates go to $250 Alliance members/$325 future members.
Click here for an expo registration form.
To register as an individual for Business After Hours, click HERE.
For more information, e-mail Matthew Thompson at mthompson@charlestonareaalliance.org or call him at (304) 340-4253.
The Alliance cannot invoice for groups of fewer than 10 and is unable to issue refunds for cancellations received less than 48 prior to an event.
Member Market: UC Speaker Series: Environmental Policy Expert Visits Wednesday
This “Member Market” is a paid announcement sent by the Alliance on behalf of a member to business and community leaders and young professionals.
Save the date: 2012 Business After Hours calendar
A year’s worth of networking and connecting with colleagues, friends and future clients is on tap as the Alliance announces calendar line up for our 2012 Business After Hours.
Leading businesses from around the area are partnering with the Alliance to present these perennially popular events that draw hundreds of business leaders and young professionals.
We salute our sponsors for their commitment to their community and look forward to welcoming you to our next BAH:
Feb. 28: (note: this is a Tuesday) Holiday Inn & Suites (former Ramada in South Charleston) 400 Second Avenue
Click here to register for the event.
Future BAH dates: (All BAH events are held from 5-7 p.m.)
March 29: Charleston Marriott Town Center
April 26: Host: Snowshoe Resort; location TBA
May 10: City National Bank, Hale Street
June 14: Appalachian Power Park
July 26: Frontier Communications
Aug. 23: Charleston Conference Center
Sept. 13: Ferguson Enterprises
Oct. 11: Embassy Suites
Nov. 15: Mardi Gras Hotel & Resort
Dec. 13: Hampton Inn Southridge
The cost for BAH is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members who register early online.
Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.
The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.
The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.
Member Market: Considering an MBA? Think WVU
Member Market:
By Alliance Members for Alliance Members
This “Member Market” is a paid announcement sent by the Alliance on behalf of a member to business and community leaders and young professionals.
