Area Businesses Join Together to Clothe the Cold

By Nancy-jo Manney, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

As a winter chill returns to Northern Virginia, businesses from across the Greater Springfield area have stepped up to provide winter outerwear for area residents in need. The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual winter outerwear campaign will aid area residents served by one of the Chamber’s non-profit members, ECHO – Ecumenical Community Helping Others, as it has in years past. “Living here in the Greater Springfield area is a blessing we often take for granted,” said Nevin Gibson, chair of the Chamber’s Community Affairs Committee, which organized the drive. “It is difficult for us to imagine families that are less fortunate to the point they cannot even afford the basics. “The Community Affairs Committee has been proud…

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2012 Economic Census

By Nancy-jo Manney, Executive Director, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

By month’s end, 16,000 businesses in Fairfax County will receive 2012 Economic Census forms from the U.S. Census Bureau. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke has called this census "indispensable to understanding America's economy." Taken every five years, the Economic Census "assures the accuracy of the statistics we rely on for sound economic policy and for successful business planning," said Bernanke. Collected for years ending in "2" and "7", Economic Census results serve as the foundation for the gross domestic product and other indicators of economic performance. The statistics are also used by trade associations, economic development agencies and many individual businesses. To reduce the burden on the business community, …

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Support Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24

The holiday shopping season is upon us. Now is the time to support your favorite small businesses.

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday sits Nov. 24, 2012 – Small Business Saturday®. This is a special day to celebrate and support the local small businesses that boost our economy and invigorate neighborhoods in the Greater Springfield community and across the country. The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is proud to take part in Small Business Saturday, and we’re encouraging local businesses to participate and area residents to Shop Small® right here in our community on Nov. 24. Look for the Shop Small logo or Small Business Saturday logo in the window of a store near you. Ask your favorite mom and pop merchant about their special Small Business Saturday offer. If they’re not familiar with Small Business Saturday tell them to …

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New Young Professionals Network Engages Younger Demographic

Thirty-two young professionals met at inaugural meeting last month.

Over the summer a group of young professionals from Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce member companies approached our Marketing Committee about developing a program to target the younger generation workforce. An initial brainstorming meeting was held in August. Following that team-meeting the Chamber tasked Mike McGurk of Transurban and Meghan Snyder, Meghan Snyder Communications, with planning an inaugural event. The Young Professionals Network (YPN) was officially founded this fall and held its first event Oct. 9, sponsored by Fireside Grill in Lorton Station Town Center. Thirty-two young professionals attended for the peer to peer networking, and to learn more about the group’s goals and future events. At the event iPads were used…

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Hiring Our Heroes Comes to Springfield

Hiring Our Heroes job fairs help veterans in 400 communities secure civilian professions.

Hiring Our Heroes, a job fair initiative aimed specifically at helping veterans transition from military service to the civilian workforce, will be in Springfield, on Friday. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for veterans, active duty military members, Guard and Reserve members, and eligible spouses at American Legion Springfield Post 176.  Although the event is currently filled, an online waiting list is available. American Legion Post 176 and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce are hosting the event locally as part of the Hiring Our Heroes effort by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and The American Legion.  They say Hiring Our Heroes job fairs have helped more than 10,000 veterans and their spouses find employment thus far…

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Photo Gallery

Photos: Eleventh Annual Springfield BridgeWalk

Community, Fort Belvoir Reaffirm Partnership at Springfield BridgeWalk

Fort Belvoir soldiers, Springfield-area business owners, local politicians, school groups and citizens marched across Veterans Bridge Tuesday evening for the 11th annual Springfield BridgeWalk. Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay organizes the event each year to affirm the support of the local community for those who serve in the military, especially those at Fort Belvoir and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir North. The BridgeWalk began in 2002 to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11 and to thank the men and women of the armed forces, he said. The Kings Park Concert Band played marches and patriotic tunes, as those who marched then gathered at American Legion Post 176 for the annual signing of the Army Community …

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Homebuyer Seminar Answers Your Questions

Local professionals will answer your questions about buying, selling and renting in today's market.

Is it the right time to buy or sell your home? What does our current real estate market look like? What are the advantages & disadvantages of renting versus buying? Housing & Community Services of Northern Virginia is hosting a free homebuyer seminar on Tuesday, Aug. 28, at El Paso Mexican Restaurant, El Paso Restaurant, 6804 Commerce Street in Springfield, for the answers to these questions and more. The 7 - 8:30 p.m. seminar is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided. Featured Speakers: Mario Rubio, Broker/Owner, Rubio Real Estate Mariana Montalvo, Loan Officer, Embrace Home Loans Mabel Zuleta, Realtor®, Long & Foster Realtors® The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce provided this information to Patch.  The …

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Chamber Hosts Patch User Forum

The Greater Springfield Chamber hosts a free brown bag seminar on Tuesday, August 21.

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Patch invite area businesses and nonprofits to a one-hour brown bag seminar where you'll learn how to use Patch.com to market your company and events to our local community, free of charge. Local editors will demonstrate how to post events on the calendar, submit a press release, blog and stay up-to-date with community news. The Patch User Forum will be held on Tuesday, August 21, from noon to 1 p.m. at Interstate, 5801 Rolling Road, Springfield.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop for a more robust, interactive session. Chamber membership is not required to attend this free event. 

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Local Businesses Donate Tons of Food

Donations were collected for the Greater Springfield Chamber's participation in the Governor's Bowl.

4 More Travel collected 3,261 pounds — 1.6 tons — of food for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce's participation in the Governor's Bowl Chamber of Commerce Challenge Food & Fund Drive. The Springfield business was one of more than 25 chamber members that served as collection locations for the first ever Governor's Bowl, according to the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce website. “We had from Memorial Day to July 4 to collect the one ton of food we pledged,” said Patrick Barney, co-owner of 4 More Travel.  “With only 30 days, we put the word out to all our friends, relatives and travel clients, and they helped us exceed our goal," he said.  “Virginians are generous when they see a valid need, and the Springfield area people …

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Nancy-jo Manney

10:12 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012

Thank you, Pat. The Chamber very much apprciates your participation in this worthy event.   more ›

Burke Tennis Tournament & Fun Fair

The event is sponsored by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce to benefit Jill's House.

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce presents a professional tennis tournament and fun fair at Burke Racquet and Swim Club this weekend. There is no admission fee.  A donation to Jill's House is requested. Jill's House "celebrates children with special needs and provides much-needed relief to their families in the greater Washington DC area."  The nonprofit is based in Vienna, Va. In addition to the tennis tournament, the fun fair events include: This information was provided to Patch by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

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