Your Chamber News & Updates - Thursday Jan 6

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news & updates

6 January 2022

"Wise men speak because they have something to say;

Fools because they have to say something."

- Author Unknown

Featured Events

Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday Jan. 18th 5pm

This is a NEW DATE and TIME

Come out to support a new business in town! The official ribbon cutting is set for Tuesday evening, January 18th at 5pm!

540 Main Street - Belleville

2022 Polar Plunge

In person at BYC - More details will follow

February 19, 2022 - DONATE NOW

Circle the date for the 2022 Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics. You can donate now by clicking HERE

Redistricting Commission Adopts Maps For Congress, Senate, House

After a year of sometimes rocky collaboration, questions about transparency, and plenty of public comments, the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Tuesday (MICRC) approved Congressional, State Senate, and State House district maps that will be used through the 2030 election cycle.

The approved maps are the Chestnut Congressional map, the Linden State Senate map, and the Hickory State House map.

With enough votes from Republican, Democrat, and nonpartisan members of the MICRC, all three maps were adopted by a roll call vote. If any map had less than two from each group voting yes (2-2-2), it would have gone to rank-choice voting.

MIRS predicted the three adopted maps earlier this month after they were available for public comment.

Nancy Wang, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, applauded the effort.

“Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, a group of citizens from across the state nd the political spectrum, made history today by adopting the first maps in our state’s history to be drawn using a fair, impartial, and transparent redistricting process,” she said in a statement. “The Commission took thousands of public comments and incorporated them into their decision making. They carried out the will of the 2.5 million Michiganders who voted to end gerrymandering and put political power back in the hands of voters – not politicians.”

Read Complete Article

Advocacy | News | Info | Events

1st Thursday Book Club

7pm Library - Tonight

If you have a resolution this year to read more and meet new people, here's your chance! The 1st Thursday Book Club meets tonight at 7pm at our lovely library!

Membership Meeting

Lunch & Learn - ZOOM

January 12th, 12:15pm

We are rebranding this meeting as a Membership Meeting & Lunch and Learn. In this monthly meeting we hear from all the stakeholders in the community; DDA, City, Township, State and Federal officials. We hear their plans, and then we open the discussion up to the members. Every meeting is a chance to network as well ... come prepared with your 30-second elevator pitch, questions for the community leaders, or ideas for Chamber members!

If you haven't yet registered, Register here

Goal Setting Workshop

January 19th 6:30 pm

Our first educational opportunity of 2022, and there are many more to come! Learn the 7-step goal setting process, and why it's important to set goals! Normal price $79, Chamber is offering to the public for $35, and free for any one business member. Members use discount code: MemberGoals

IRS Announces Mileage Rates for 2022 Tax Year

The IRS has issued the 2022 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2022, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be

58.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from the rate for 2021;
18 cents per mile driven for medical purposes or for moving by qualified active-duty members of the armed forces, up 2 cents from the rate for 2021.
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2021.

MDHHS Updates Guidelines

Advocacy News – January 4, 2022 On New Year’s Eve, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced it will update its quarantine guidance for the general public to reflect the recent recommendations from the CDC.

Notably, the CDC recommends a shortening of the quarantine and isolation duration for those who aren’t vaccinated or haven’t received their booster to five days, followed by an additional five days of wearing a well-fitting mask around others. The updated guidance is specific to the general public and does not change the current guidance recommendations for congregate settings, early childcare or K-12 settings. MDHHS has said these settings should continue to use existing guidelines and policies regarding quarantine and isolation.

The specifics of the new COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance can be found HERE.

Member Benefits Update

SBAM Membership Included

As a reminder, your chamber has a strategic partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan. This association is the largest in the country for small businesses with over 30,000 members.

As a member of the BACC you are given a Premium Membership with SBAM (value of $249)! Not only do you get all the local benefits of being a BACC Member, but the expanded benefits of SBAM.

Keep in mind, your account at BACC must be in good standing and not past due. You don't want to jeopardize your status at both organizations!

Welcome Center - Info Board

If you haven't been to our Welcome Center at 248 Main Street, check it out. We have a new info board that is updated at least 1x per month. Hundreds of people are coming into the pharmacy and Welcome Center - YOUR AD can be viewed. Free for Premium Members - all you need to do is contact us and let us know and send a flyer!

Take a look at how your ad may look - VIEW 60 second Video

Thanks to our Corporate Members