Bellevue Chamber News Update
September 24, 2020
E V E N T S
Professional Development Opportunity!
Our Bellevue Chamber of Commerce & Bellevue Offutt Rising Professionals have come together to present a day of professional development for groups & individuals. Take advantage of this event to gain insightful information from internationally renowned experts.
Disturbance. Disorder. Disarrangement. Many people think these are negatives in the workplace, but Leadercast will show why disruption is the best way to make positive, lasting change in your organization and beyond.

The speakers at Leadercast 2020—Positive Disruption will unveil to you how you can upset the status quo to incite positive change that will echo throughout your organization.
 

October 22
In-person Ticket Prices:
$125 Non-Chamber Members*
$99 Chamber Members*
*Includes coffee, lunch and hors d'oeuvres. Cash bar available during afternoon networking.
 
Virtual Ticket Price: $85
 
Group Virtual Ticket Prices:
$75/ea for groups of 10-19
$65/ea for groups of 20+

All attendees will qualify for a half-price 1-year Bellevue Offutt Rising Professionals membership.
 
RSVP by Friday, October 16th.

It was a pleasure to host our Premier Event last Thursday evening.
Thank you for joining us in-person or as a virtual live-stream attendee!
Highlights of our Premier Event - The Annual Chamber Dinner
A very special thanks to our decoration committee for all their hard work & organization.
Left to right: Sue Hoogeveen, Susan Kluthe, Eileen Klein, Tam Castro, Tiffany Brown, Meg Cordes.
Not pictured: Cindy Dropinski, Shelly Spencer, Heath Paulsen, Nemat Azizi, Lori Bickford, and Debbie Meyer.
Tiffany Brown from O.C.R., the MC live-streaming host for our Premier Event.
Pictured: Interview withTom & Lisa Deall of Chick-fil-A, one of our event sponsors.
A host of spectacular guest speakers included; Josh Dotzler, Jack Stark, & Clester Johnson
Congratulations to our raffle winners!
Winner of the women's amethyst & diamond pendant; Denise Miller.
Winner of the men's Bulova Watch;
Col Gavin Marks.

Thank you to Erwin's Jewelers for their donation of raffle items

Thank you to all of our Premier Event Sponsors!
COFFEE WITH KEVIN
An opportunity for members to connect and enjoy learning from community business leaders.



(Bellevue Chamber Members Only)
Friday, September 25 at 8:30 AM

Guest speaker: Andrew Prystai, CEO and co-founder of Event Vesta.

Topic:
Event Vesta automates the local promotion of events, getting your event in front of tens of thousands of locals and visitors.
Learn how you can promote one-time and recurring events quickly, easily and inexpensively.





Next Coffee With Kevin:

Guest speaker:

  • Rita Sanders candidate for Nebraska State Legislature

  • Jerry McCaw, candidate for Bellevue City Council, At Large position.


Friday, October 2 at 8:30am
Join us October 9 at 7am
Don’t miss out on this virtual networking event to meet other business owners just like you, share stories, and learn about resources that can help your business grow and succeed. Networking opportunity for all from Cass, Douglas and Sarpy Counties.
Guest speaker: Karissa Williams
Topic: Surviving to Thriving, Hit the Reset and Boss Up
 
Karissa is the Founder of Bossbabe of 365DailyHustle, Motivational Speaker, & Amazon’s Best Selling Author: “Surviving to Thriving, Hit the Reset and Boss Up”
She has been featured on CBS, NBC, USA Today, and Fox News.
You're invited to attend our upcoming ribbon cuttings and welcome our newest members to the community.
Please remember; masks are required and social distancing is expected.

Ribbon Cutting Physicians Mutual

Wednesday September 30
3:00 pm -4:00 PM 
Location:
601 Galvin Rd S, Bellevue, NE 68005
Former Shopko Building on Galvin Rd

Ribbon Cutting Innovate Physical Therapy(formerly Hillcrest Physical Therapy)

Thursday October 15
4:00 pm -5:30 PM 
Location:
1804 Hillcrest Drive Bellevue, NE
Ribbon Cutting
Beyond Dispensing Pharmacy & Compounding

Wednesday October 28
4:00 pm -5:30 PM 

Location:
2206 Longo Drive Ste. 209
Bellevue, NE

Ribbon Cutting
Latitude 41 Apartments

Thursday October 29
4:00 pm -5:30 PM 

Location:
10712 South 15th Street
Bellevue, NE
C O M M U N I T Y
WE NEED YOU…                                       
To Inspire Hope, Comfort
and Help Communities in Need
The American Red Cross continues to deliver critical services while following Covid-19 guidelines. We urgently need people like you to join as a volunteer in the following areas...

Click Here to request a no-obligation quote and once we quote you; we will donate $10 to Toys for Tots. Promo ends on 11/30/2020.

Our goal is to raise $5000 for them this year.
Online voter registration
  • Nebraska offers online voter registration.
  • You should know: you need a valid Nebraska State ID or Driver's License to use Nebraska's online voter registration system. If you don't have a Nebraska-issued ID, you can still register by mail to vote.
You can register online to vote until Friday, October 16, 2020.
Election day is Nov. 3

Registration deadlines
Online: Oct. 16
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 16
In person: Oct. 23

Absentee ballot deadlines
Request: Oct. 23
Return by mail: Received by Nov. 3
Return in person: Nov. 3 by 8:00 p.m.

Early voting
Oct. 5 - Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live

Additional information
The deadline to return a voter registration form with an early voting ballot in person is Election Day.
As a reminder; the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce does not endorse any specific party or candidate. We thank you for supporting our community & voting in the elections!
Over 95% of Households Counted So Far in 2020 Census
September 23, 2020
 
Over 95% of housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census as of September 22, with 29.6% counted by census takers and other field data collection operations, and 66.2% of housing units responding online, by phone or by mail.
Every day, the U.S. Census Bureau releases the 2020 Census housing unit completion rate for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Census Bureau releases the completion rates...Read More
B U S I N E S S
Your Small Business is The Heartbeat of Our Economy
Economy fights back in rural America
From the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
NE unemployment rate lowest in nation
 
Nebraska’s unemployment rate dipped to 4%, below all other states. The 66.8% employment-to-population rate also topped the national lists. Continuing unemployment claims remain three times higher than prior to the pandemic, although job growth is steady.
 
Read more at the Hastings Tribune.

NE businesses lead nation in digital adoption
 
91% of Nebraska small businesses report increasing their digital presence during the pandemic, about 20% more than the national average. However, Nebraska businesses lagged in other areas – 29% found digital tools necessary to business versus 35% nationally, and 15% see the value but haven't fully integrated it into their business versus 33% nationally.
 
The nonprofit author of the study, Connected Commerce Council, links digital use and adoption to pandemic resiliency, suggesting Nebraska businesses will see a 20% reduction in revenue versus 16% nationally.
 
Read more at News Channel Nebraska.

Rural states move toward “normal”
In CNN’s and Moody’s “Back-to-Normal” index, more rural states are leading the way, with at least 88% of economic activity restored.
 
Comeback states have a few things in common – fewer coronavirus cases, space, fewer urban centers of business catering to commuters, less reliance on tourism. Reopening sooner was not one of the factors.
Who doesn’t love a good index?
 
Read more at CBS.


Rural areas making gains
 
The Rural Mainstreet Index, a survey of rural bankers in 10 Midwestern states, indicates an improving economy. The index rose to 46.9 in September versus 44.7. An index of 50 indicates economic expansion. With federal support and improving markets, bankers estimated agricultural income was down 1.5%, with agricultural equipment still suffering at an index around 32.
 
Read more at the Associated Press.



Retail sales remain stable
 
U.S. retail sales showed a tepid 0.6% growth in August, better than the dip that retailers were bracing for as the federal CARES Act Pandemic Unemployment Compensation expired. The U.S. Department of Commerce also reported a 0.7% increase over August 2019.
 
Read more at NET.
Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce | Webpage