Dear members, Today, I had the privilege of interviewing the finalists for 2021 National Chamber of the Year. When asked to name a key issue their community is facing, one group mentioned how there has never been a more important time to support local than now. Small businesses are the threads that hold a community together. "If we don't want to see boarded up windows and local organizations, groups and nonprofits cease to exist, we must support our hometown businesses." They mentioned how no one is going to look to large, online retailers to sponsor or support their teams and events. It will be local small businesses they come to for help. We need to support those that support us! We are cheerleaders for this all of the time, but it was great to hear that other communities are trying to educate on the same thing! We can all make a more conscious effort to shop locally, regionally or statewide before going online for a product or service. The Chamber's Business at Breakfast will resume this fall kicking off with a Murray State University update from Dr. Robert Jackson on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 in The Murray Room, CFSB Center. Tickets will go on sale next week. Annual Business Celebration presented by CFSB will be held on Friday, October 15, 2021. Tickets will go on sale next week. We already have a waiting list of people ready to purchase tickets. If you would like to reserve a table or be an event sponsor, please contact Hailey at hailey@mymurray.com. If you are interested in any other fall sponsorships: LIFT, Annual Business Celebration, Women's Luncheon, Leadership Murray, YPM and more - contact Hailey at hailey@mymurray.com. Michelle Bundren President/CEO

LIFT NEEDS SPONSORS SO PROGRAM CAN LAUNCH IN AUGUST The Leadership Initiative for Teachers program (LIFT) is a workforce initiative of the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce. The LIFT program is a partnership between The Chamber, the Calloway County School System, Murray Independent School System and local businesses to ensure our educators are able to help students succeed in their future careers. The LIFT program is designed to spark innovative thinking and discussion between our community educators and business leaders. This experience will allow teachers to make classroom activities and discussion more relevant to the needs of students and better prepare them for emerging business demands. Program Goals: Bridge the gap between education and workforce through experiential learning. Expose educators to the true needs of our community’s industry and business partners in relation to career pathways. Establish relationships with fellow educators and industry leaders – creating a resource base for educators to implement innovating teaching strategies into their classrooms. Participation in LIFT is open to all educators in the Calloway County and Murray Independent School Systems. We launched applications to educators last week and already have many applicants! They are excited, now we need the business community's investment to make this program a reality! $750 sponsors an educator for the program. Click below! For more information, visit our website.

Sponsor An Educator for LIFT

RIBBON CUTTINGS Thursday, July 22 at 10AM New Business Celebration MarketHouse Realty PLLC 218 South 12th Street Thursday, July 29 at 10AM Groundbreaking Murray-Calloway County Hospital Regional Cancer Center Friday, July 30 at 10AM Expansion on Southside of Murray CFSB Sycamore 414 South 12th Street

We are looking for Leadership Murray Day Sponsors! If your company would be interested in supporting this program and engaging with the class, please click on the form below. Cost is only $350.

Click to be a Leadership Murray Day Sponsor

Kathryn Wilson - MarketHouse Realty United Way Murray-Calloway County J David Outland, MD Wisdom Tree Technologies LLC Crossroads Landscaping MarketHouse Realty - Shelley Evans Pruitt Law, PLLC Beth Minor Travels Refer A Business for Membership!

The marketing experts at Profile Display, Inc. are again calling our members to offer promotional space on the display and kiosk. Someone will be contacting you shortly to discuss how the information display and kiosk can be used to benefit your business. Many members are already taking advantage of this opportunity and spaces are limited! If you have any questions or want to "verify before you buy," call the Chamber at (270) 753-5171. Contact Amanda Cooper at Profile Displays Today at (270) 854-3115 ext. 133

INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS NOW AVAILABLE

Individual Health Plans that work for you are now available. After speaking with Anthem Director Harry Hayes last week, we are excited to announce a new partnership with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield on health insurance options for entrepreneurs, individuals, gig workers, and 1099 contractors. Open enrollment and cancel anytime. Get a quote for the new Anthem Enhanced Choice plan quote by contacting your local health insurance agent. For information on the plan, see this FAQ pdf. Qualifications: (must be a member of our Chamber) 64 years and nine months or younger to apply as of effective date U.S. citizen or national or be a lawfully-present non-citizen Resident in the state in which you are applying Agreement to pay the cost of the required premium Not entitled to or enrolled in Medicare Parts A/B, C, and/or D Not covered by any other group or individual health benefit plan Not currently incarcerated Satisfactory proof of dependent eligibility (if applicable and needed) Qualified under this contract on the effective date.

The affordability of health insurance consistently ranks as one of the top worry-items for business owners. With health care costs hitting small employers particularly hard, you may find it hard to offer health benefits to your employees. We are proud to have the ability to provide great options for healthcare coverage and workers' compensation. To learn more, contact your local insurance agent or a Chamber staff member for more information. hailey@mymurray.com

OTHER NEWS YPM Lunch Meetup July 13th: Nathan Carter with HOPE Calloway will be joining YPM to speak briefly about their organization and ways members can volunteer. For more information on loan details, visit SBA website. Find our Small Business Series, Virtual Business at Breakfast and PLUGGED IN event on Economic Development & Entrepreneurship and other videos you may have missed on our You Tube channel.