A "Hyper Local" source of info

Published December 27, 2010 in the Culpeper Star Exponent

“Hyper Local” is a buzz word for all things local. With our access to national and global information, local culture and quality of life can become lost in the noise of larger voices. We are therefore, fortunate to have the Culpeper Star Exponent as a hyper local source of information about what happens in our community.

For a business to find the news, write about it professionally, package it in a printed form, package it in an electronic form, make it available in a printed copy, electronic copy, and now thru a smart phone app is remarkable. Doing it every day and delivering it to our door, email address, and smart phones… is even more amazing.

The need for local news is ongoing. We love the entertainment, edutainment, as well as the stories that affect our quality of life. The news reports tell of our good sides and sometimes those sides of us that are not so perfect. Having the professional forum to bring such information to the public is a treasured part of our American freedom.

Associates, reporters, journalists, and administrators of the Star Exponent are local residents and committed to our quality of life. I have admired their dedication to supporting our community success in so many ways. Where do local organizations go when they need to get the message out for their event? Where do local businesses go to get their message out locally about their products and services? Who do citizens go to when they want to make known an issue or an individual opinion? They often go to a trusted source for packaging and distributing the message, our friends at the Culpeper Star Exponent.

Though there are certainly changes in how news is delivered, there is nothing like opening the newspaper on Sunday morning with a cup of coffee (a local blend of course). The stories, opinions, and advertisements are something that many of us look forward to weekly and daily. Having reporters and journalists on the ground in Culpeper is critical to reporting the news here for local consumption.

I know many of my fellow column writers. I also know that we work at what we write with a great deal of pride. Our opportunities to express our views as local citizens, professionals, and civic leaders are made known through the generosity of the Culpeper Star Exponent. I am very thankful for the Star Exponent, their leadership, their involvement in the community, and the important role that they play in our free society.

To the associates of the Culpeper Star Exponent – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – May 2011 be a year of prosperity for you, your advertisers, and your enlightened readers.

Chamber Membership a Great Gift!

Published December 20,2010 in the Culpeper Star Exponent

 

Considering gifts at the last minute? I have seen so many Facebook posts from friends suggesting that they have a lot of shopping left to do for Christmas gifts.  Let the Culpeper Chamber make it easy for you. We have “Chamber Cash” that you can buy to stuff those stockings. The Chamber cash is accepted by many local businesses and makes it easy to support the “Buy Local” strategy that we all have. Call the Chamber office at 540-825-8628 or come by the Depot for details.

What else do we have in our gift bag for you at the Chamber??? Consider a gift that will provide returns throughout the year. If you have not joined yet – we have a deal for you thru the end of this year. Chamber Membership makes it easy for you to connect with other businesses and consumers to enhance your business opportunities. A Chamber Membership will provide a way for you and your employees to connect with new opportunities in 2011.

What would Chamber membership offer you and your business? Glad you asked… I hope that your stocking can handle all of these… Member Referrals, Member Referral Statistics,  Business Seminars, Website Visibility, Mobile App Visibility, Business Discounts, Member Business Card and Brochure Distribution, Culpeper Chamber Community Guide and Business Directory, Informational and Network Breakfasts, Information and Network Lunches (RAVE Luncheons), Annual Banquet & Silent Auction, CulpeperFest & Business Expo, The “Pepper Open” Classic Golf Tournament, Chamber News Newsletter, Chamber News Email, Community Leadership Development Programs, Posts on CulpeperJobs.com, New Member Announcements, Young Professionals Group, Human Resource Council, Hot Deals on the Chamber Website and MyChamberApp, Non-Profit Council programs (see http://www.basicsbootcamp.com/ for the next program) , Legislative Programs and updates, Membership Mixers, and much more. The gift of Chamber membership has the ROI that fits all business plans.

Finally, one of the most sought after ways to benefit from your membership in the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is a coveted seat on one of the Leadshare Groups. The groups meet in the mornings and share business leads and business support among the members of each group. The leadshare groups are designed to assist participants in expanding their business network.  It is an active and structured system for furnishing and receiving business referrals. These are especially helpful for those home based businesses to keep their business and communication skills sharp. The groups meet each week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at various locations in Culpeper. Go to http://www.leadshare.net/  for more information. Give yourself the gift of joining a leadshare group in 2011.

Our mission at the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is to be the voice of the business community working to promote, build, and support the most effective climate for economic development. Join us to add your voice to the mission of the Chamber. Contact Martha Snider, at the Culpeper Chamber office located at the Depot to connect you and your associates today. Your Chamber – Your Business – Our Future.

Jim Charapich, President/CEO Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce

jcharapich@culpepervachamber.com

“Preparing for a Brighter Future”

Published December 6,2010 in the Culpeper Star Exponent

 

“Preparing for a Brighter Future” was the title of the first Virginia Economic Summit developed and hosted by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The Summit was held at Kingsmill in Williamsburg on Thursday and attracted leaders in Virginia from Business, Government, and Academia.

With Virginia’s status as a leader in job creation in the United States, the conference reflected our success as well as our opportunities for improvement. Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Vice President for Business Management presented the case for why they choose Fairfax County for their new headquarters.  In addition to the many statistical reasons for their location choice, they were attracted to the location as a result of the “we are here to help you” attitude demonstrated by state and local governments.

The Executive Vice President and CFO, Rolls-Royce North America, Inc. made similar comments about their choice to locate their advanced manufacturing  facility 35 miles south of  Richmond. He described the project, Rolls-Royce Cross Point Center, as a vision and with good reason. The project is robust and includes resources from the entire state. Why this location? It intersects with 295, 95, and adjacent route 64 as major highway routes. It is proximate to the deep water Port of Virginia and the largest US Naval Base. Richmond International Airport and major rail routes are easily accessible. Virginia has world class research & educational institutions such as the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. In addition, The Virginia Community College system will play an important role in workforce development. The vision is to develop the 1000 acre property into a “major aerospace center integrating advanced manufacturing and research across multiple partnerships.” The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) will also be located on the Rolls-Royce grounds and offer other major companies opportunities to collaborate in research and development efforts.

Though these success stories are outstanding, we have some work to do in order to keep the momentum in attracting excellence employers to our Commonwealth. One concern was in the area of transportation. As location teams evaluate sites, they are very interested in the quality of life for their employees. Traffic in Northern Virginia was cited as the 2nd worst in the nation. Traffic in the tide water area is significant issue as well. Our Global competitors are solving this issue proactively and we cannot afford to fall behind.

Other sessions – The Economic Impact of Healthcare and Federal Legislation, Creating a World Class Workforce, Innovative Economic Development Programs, and A Look at Opportunities and Emerging Industries were rich and resourceful. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce - 2010 Virginia Economic Summit has set a new mark of excellence. Virginia Business is stronger and more focused as a result of the leadership of the new President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce - Barry DuVal. “Preparing for a Brighter Future” is a foundation that we look forward to building on in Culpeper, Virginia.

Jim Charapich, President/CEO Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce

jcharapich@culpepervachamber.com

Paying attention to govt. is our right, duty

Published November 29,2010 in the Culpeper Star Exponent

“Our destiny is in our hands” is a common quote. Yet, The phrase makes me think about our uncommon opportunity to shape our future. I say opportunity, but is it really our obligation to our children to shape our future? Our Democracy was established by those who held our right to a voice in Government, worthy of defending with one of our most precious resources, the lives of our soldiers. Thus as a sacred honor, we have the opportunity, right, and obligation to pay attention to what happens in our Government and express our views thru the orderly process of working with our elected officials.

On December 2nd, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce will host our Virginia Senator, Edd Houck, and Delegate, Ed Scott to hear from you the community regarding your organization’s needs, concerns, and legislative ideas. The Legislative Breakfast is a long standing service that the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce provides to members and to the community. This allows our elected officials to hear from many voices in one meeting that may not otherwise be feasible. Senator Edd Houck and Delegate Ed Scott will be able to take the information that they glean from the Legislative Breakfast to consider as they represent us in the Virginia General Assembly. The General Assembly convenes on January 12th in Richmond. As we know, the state and local budgets are being stretched due to the effects of a tough economy. It is up to us to make the case for support or supporting legislation for our needs. Our representatives are skilled legislators, with established experience in advancing opportunities for their constituents when possible. Click here to register now

The meeting will be held at the Country Club of Culpeper, breakfast begins at 8 AM and presentations start at 8:30 AM. We will be taking prewritten outlines (required and subject to approval) from those interested in speaking thru 5 PM, Tuesday November 30th. The meeting is open to the public with pre-registration and payment ($20 per person including breakfast). Register at CulpeperChamber.com or in person at the Culpeper Chamber office at 109 S. Commerce Street – The Depot.

If you are interested in understanding more about the legislative process in Virginia, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce members, thru the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, are invited to attend Chamber Day at the Capitol on January 26, 2011. Join the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce as a member, mark your calendar, and join us in Richmond to hear from and interact with State Government in person for a rewarding experience.

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning." ~  Maya Angelou

Jim Charapich, President/CEO Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce

jcharapich@culpepervachamber.com

Help the United Way this Holiday

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on November 15, 2010

The holidays are approaching and our hearts and minds turn toward family and friends. We often take time to celebrate our thanks for our founding heritage while looking forward toward a new year. Many of us reflect upon our faith and find a peace and understanding toward renewed strength for service to our calling and purpose.

However, there are many who are wondering where they will find a Thanksgiving meal. They are wondering how they will heat their home this winter. They may be asking how they will be able to provide the traditional gifts for their loved ones this year.

Our economy has forced many to stretch their resources to limits never felt before. Despite the slow economic recovery, high foreclosure statistics, and local unemployment figures, there are those ready to rise to the call to help others in need. Culpeper is especially unique in this regard. We have a strong woven fabric of support on many levels.

Our Non-Profit, Government, and Church support organizations work with diligent care to secure the volunteers, funding, and other resources providing help when needed. In addition, it is amazing, quite moving, and ultimately inspiring to see the business community in Culpeper offer their support. They are asked to give for many reasons and for many causes. Their generosity is a bright strength in our community.

There are opportunities for each of us to help. If you would like to be a part of the bright strength of service in Culpeper during this holiday season, there are many opportunities…

First, one of the best places to find out about volunteer needs and opportunities is http://piedmontunitedway.org/volunteers.htm. Check it out.

Next, if you want to be a part by making a financial contribution to those in the most need or in a special venue that you would like to support, the Piedmont United Way Office is a great resource. They work with over 50 local organizations to provide support thru United Way contributions.

Finally, the United Way Campaign set a $500,000 goal this year. Their Campaign Team is ready to meet with you and your business associates to set up an easy payroll deduction program or one time contribution. Join the United Way Team today and make this holiday season a brighter place.

"With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." ~ John F. Kennedy

Best regards,
Jim Charapich
President & CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Center

Chamber focused on jobs in area

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on November 8, 2010

The Agenda for the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce will continue to move forward in November and December. We are focused on jobs and the 2011 Legislative Agenda in Richmond. In order to do this we have set dates for 2 key events. The first event is a visit from Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling.

The Lieutenant Governor has been named as the Chief Jobs Creation Officer in the McDonnell Administration. In order to bring this message to our area, the Regional Chambers of Commerce including Orange, Madison, Fauquier, and Culpeper will jointly host the Lieutenant Governor to speak about jobs and job creation in Virginia.

According to a recent update from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, the Governor's Commission on Economic Development and Job Creation released interim recommendations to support job creation in Virginia. Some of the suggestions were as follows: Establish an Emerging Technology Fund, Develop a Tourism Development Grant Program, Transform Academic Institutions into Economic Engines, Do More to Support Small Business Growth, Train Workers for Virginia Businesses, Improve the Coordination, Efficiency and Responsiveness of Government, and Develop More Effective Business Recruitment.

Join us at the Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper on Friday November 19th for a luncheon to hear more. The link for registration is found on the Culpeper Chamber website at CulpeperChamber.com click here to REGISTER NOW. Dr. Jeanne Wesley Vice President for Workforce Development and Community Relations at Germanna Community College will offer a welcome to the Germanna Daniel Technology Center. Delegate Ed Scott will also be on hand to introduce the Lieutenant Governor and add a few comments about our local economy.

Our next event is the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Annual Legislative Breakfast held at the Country Club of Culpeper. We offer local businesses and organizations the opportunity to address our state representatives regarding important issues for consideration as they plan their agenda for the General Assembly which convenes on January 12th 2011. We are fortunate to have excellent leadership in Richmond. REGISTER NOW According to his website, Senator Edd Houck was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 1983. Senator Houck currently serves on the Finance, Education and Health, Transportation, Rules, and the General Laws and Technology committees. Beginning in the 2008 General Assembly Session, he became Chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee and the Senate Finance Committee's Health and Human Resources Subcommittee. As the son of a small businessman, Edd Houck was raised to appreciate the values of hard work and diligence.

In addition, according to his website, Delegate Ed Scott serves on the Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources, General Laws, Transportation, and Science and Technology Committees. In the 2008 session, Delegate Scott was appointed to serve as chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee dealing with DMV, titling, registration, and insurance issues. Delegate Scott is known for bringing a business perspective to his work as our Delegate. He understands the budgets of small businesses and the consequences of government regulation.

Join us for the 2010 Legislative Conference & Breakfast Thursday, December 2, at 8 AM, presentations begin at 8:30 AM. Go to CulpeperChamber.com for details and registration.

Your Chamber – Your Business – Our Future - Join Us.

Jim Charapich is the President/CEO of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Charapich can be reached at jcharapich@culpepervachamber.com

Much in store at 96th Annual Banquet

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on November 1, 2010

Croftburn Farms, Old House Vineyards, and Belmont Farms Distillery are just a few of the special features that we have in store for you at the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce’s 96th Annual Banquet to be held at Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center Thursday, Nov. 4.

Croftburn Farms was the recipient of the Agribusiness of the Year Award for 2010 from the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. This fits our mission to buy as many of the products used from local sources and members. I am proud to say that we will be serving Croftburn Farms Beef in the main dishes this year. I can’t wait to try the dishes created by Kitchen Gourmet Catering that include the Croftburn Farms Beef.

Our banquet will be moderated by Todd Brown of Brown Harris Investments. Knowing Todd, this is going to be a great evening. Come early to develop your strategy for bidding on the silent auction items. You can find some of the silent auction items displayed on the Chamber website ChamberBanquet.com. Or go to our Facebook page and click on the “Like” button for Chamber updates. There is still time to get your silent auction item in for the banquet.

Our guest speaker this year is from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Bobbi Walker will provide some great ideas with a mix of humor about customer service. I heard Ms. Walker speak at a Virginia Chamber of Commerce Executives meeting last year. We booked her early as she is in high demand having spoken at many of the Chambers of Commerce events around the state. Ms. Walker has also provided support to Germanna lending her insights at the Workforce and Community Education Advisory meeting that we attended in June. You will be uplifted and inspired by her message.

The Award recipients this year will be very interesting. We have had many names and businesses submitted in each category. The awards to be given are Non-Profit of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Most Improved Business Location, Small Business Person of the Year, The L.B. Henretty Award, and a new award this year – Business of the Year. The selection committee individuals were given 3 votes for their top choice, 2 votes for their second choice, and one vote for their third choice. When all of the votes were tallied – our 2010 recipients were identified. You will want to be there to see the recipients announced.

Great food and refreshments from local, world renowned producers, entertainment from a world class speaker, recognizing super stars in our local economy, sensational silent auction items, and a once-a-year networking event…..

Your Chamber – Your Business – Our Future - Join Us

Jim Charapich is the President/CEO of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Charapich can be reached at jcharapich@culpepervachamber.com

Finding Ways to Create Jobs

Find Local Jobs at CulpeperJobs.com

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on October 25, 2010


McDonnell Announces 240 New Jobs in Pulaski County May 06, 2010. Governor McDonnell Announces 300 New Jobs in City of Radford May 11, 2010. McDonnell Announces MeadWestvaco to Move to Virginia May 24, 2010. Va. officials welcome Northrop Grumman to Falls Church Jul 12, 2010. McDonnell Announces Microsoft to Locate Major Data Center in Mecklenburg Aug 27, 2010. Governor McDonnell Announces 174 New Jobs in Winchester Sep 10, 2010.


These are a few of the announcements on Governor Bob McDonnell’s website that describe the jobs introduced so far this year in Virginia. It is great to see jobs in other areas of Virginia since we all benefit from the jobs in our Commonwealth. We are fortunate to have major employers in Culpeper that have weathered the economic storm and preserved many jobs. It is also very good to see the Terremark / Verizon development unveiled. However, we have some work to do in supporting more job creation.


Jobs in my view are the foundation of economic recovery in our community. With unemployment bordering 10%, and probably more unofficially, the cost to our community is significant in government financial support. The potential for a reemployed workforce to buy houses and liquidate our abundance of foreclosures could firm up real estate price levels. Newly employed workers could thus increase the much needed tax revenue into the Town and County. Tax revenues that are desperately needed for school teacher raises, emergency services funding, and investment in maintaining our roads.


Creating local jobs for the approximately 40% of our workforce that commute out of Culpeper would be one of the best “Buy Local” programs that we could implement. Four hours of commuter time per day could be replaced with time and energy invested in local shopping and local community support.


We have heard it through the news cycles, the election speak, the rhetoric of elected leaders - jobs should be our priority. There are no projections for a quick economic recovery. Our policy decisions need to be driven by job creation potential. What are our immediate opportunities?


It is time for Water and Sewer to be negotiated and resolved between the Town and the County. There is every reason that this issue can be resolved and put into the DONE column with a big sign – JOBS WELCOME. We are close, and yet there are a few “Hypothetical’s” and “What If’s” that attempt to make “Water and Sewer Progress” oxymoronic…. Our legacy for 2010 should be Leadership, Statesmanship, and Vision.

What impact would Traffic Impact Fees (TIF’s) have on job creation? We need revenue for road maintenance. We need to have projects funded for our roadway infrastructure. Would TIF’s discourage new businesses to locate in Culpeper? Would TIF’s discourage local businesses to grow and add locations? Are there any other sources for transportation revenue to fund road work? There are no easy answers, and yet right now, we need jobs and we need to find ways to encourage job growth.


Our public policies can lead the way in setting the table for job creation. We can choose not to participate in the “Jobless Recovery”.


Best Regards


Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce



Foundation Center offers help for nonprofits

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on October 11, 2010 

The Foundation Center is known in the Non-Profit community as “The” resource for funding, grants, and grant writing resources. I have been attending free webinars at the Culpeper County Library which are offered by the Foundation Center. The topics for the webinars were Grant Writing Basics, Online Grantseeker Resources, Proposal Writing Basics, and Grant Database Navigation.

The Online Grantseeker Resources webinar covered questions like: 1) I’m new to the field. How do I begin? 2) How can I find information on the Grant makers that will fund me? 3) How can I grow my knowledge of nonprofits and philanthropy today? 4) I’m looking for a job in the nonprofit sector. What resources do you have for job seekers?

There are several new additions to the Foundation Center website. For example, the new TRASI section provides Tools and Resources for Affecting Social Impact. This database of tools allows one to develop strategies in measuring the social impact and the social change of your program. Thus allowing for better support in grant and funding recruitment.

Grantspace.org is another new addition to the Foundation Center resources. The website will include much of the current Foundation Center training resources. In addition, it will allow the Non-Profit grant seeking community to collaborate in efforts to achieve their missions.

Glasspockets.org is an interesting part of the Foundation Center resource. The site allows us to track giving and special opportunities available from philanthropists. One of my favorite aspects of this site is that it aggregates the foundations that push information out thru Facebook and Twitter. It is easy to find the foundations that you are interested in and then tune into their style of giving. They call this Foundation Transparency 2.0 – very cool!!

The map on the front of the Foundation Center website shows the areas of the country where some $450 million has been distributed to help those affected in the downturn by Foundation Grants. The map allows detailed drill downs by state and by date range. It reports that Virginia recipients have received over $16 million for 2009 and 2010.

The Foundation Center database is carefully controlled allowing access at special Foundation Center locations throughout the US. Our Culpeper County Library is one of those locations thanks to support from many local Non-Profit groups such as Healthy Culpeper, Non-Profit Council of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, Private Donors, and the Culpeper County Library.

We have the opportunity to bring funds into our community organizations, create jobs, and strengthen our local economy one grant at a time… The database is free, the opportunity is powerful, and the results can mean everything.

Best Regards

Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

How to make "us" better

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on October 4th, 2010

Real estate values are low. There are high numbers of foreclosures. There is high unemployment. Some of our critical services are stretched to a very thin line. County and State budgets are very lean. And the news seems to be more challenging than assuring for economic improvement.

That is until we look at Culpeper and what we are doing to strengthen our local economy. One of my favorite quotes from Brian Tracy a motivational speaker is that “If it is going to be, it is up to me”. “ME” meaning as a community it is up to “US” to find ways to bring economic prosperity to our community.

What are we doing / can we do to set the stage for this transition to the “next economy”? First, the Town Council and the Board of Supervisors are working in historically significant unity. They plan to resolve the water and sewer issues that have consumed time and resources for decades with little progress. In addition to the many attributes that we have for job creation, optimizing our water and sewer resources leads “US” toward a stronger economic foundation.

Next, we know that a large percentage of our workforce travels north everyday from Culpeper. It is important to know what the job skills for that work force are. We need to focus on finding grants or resources to identify this information in order to show new and relocating companies what the local workforce skills are. We know that most commuters would prefer to work where they live. Please contact the Culpeper Chamber if you are interested in working on grant sourcing for this mission. Our Technology Council will be working on this in the coming months. This also helps Germanna in planning for curriculum for the local workforce. It would be great if our commuters used Germanna for their training rather than staying in NOVA to take classes.

The retail numbers for Culpeper were up 8% thru July over last year. Though this is good news, it is over last year, which was a tough year. This does indicate that there are more dollars being spent in Culpeper. We need to continue to find ways to invite visitors to come to Culpeper and enjoy our retail, restaurants, and hospitality businesses. We have strategic opportunities this autumn time of year. However, we need to focus on the tougher months of January thru March for this segment of our economy. Culpeper would be a great location for small 25 to 100 person conferences, tournaments, church programs, and association meetings…. We can all work together to pull this economy forward. Every event makes a difference. Bring your friends and associates to discover Culpeper. They will thank you.

Though we are making progress, we have some work to do…We need to stimulate our home sales, bring our real estate values up, thus, brining more tax revenue into the Town and County, eliminate the foreclosure problem, and get our building community back to work. We need to stimulate our retail / hospitality businesses with a strong buy local focus to support the businesses during the slower sales days of the mid week (see CulpeperChamber.com for Hot Deals). We need to bring visitors here for meetings and on the weekends to discover our quality of life. “If it is going to be it is up to US”

Best Regards

Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Living Towns Workshop

Published in the Star Exponent Monday, September 20, 2010:


The Living Towns workshop held in Culpeper last Thursday was a world class program. The speakers were very well credentialed in their respective fields. The topics covered were very timely and will have a lasting impact on our community.

The topics covered by the first panel began with Recreation, Tourism, and Area Identity. Greg Kelly, Town Manager delivered and impressive presentation about the development of the arts in Abington Virginia. One of their marketing identities is that they are within driving distance of 7 major cities, which supports a significant part of their tourism during the year.

The next 2 presentations were about trail development, recreation, and economic development. This was especially interesting considering the large number of cycling athletes and enthusiasts in Culpeper. One recommendation was to connect trails to the town in order to facilitate easy access for the community. Trails can be a great way of encouraging healthier lifestyles as well as an economic boost to the communities that have embraced the concept.

The second panel discussion was focused on the Arts with a discussion about the importance and impact of the arts on a community. Theresa Cameron, Director of Membership, Americans for the Arts provided a rich detail of statics, showing the positive impact of the arts on economic development. The following two speakers also commented that the Americans for the Arts is one of the best resources regarding the creative community.

Mary Beth Aungier, The General Manager for the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville was moving in her descriptions. She has a passion for educating the youth about theatre. The Paramount is more than a theatre run by a non-profit organization. It is a part of history in Charlottesville. As we say in Culpeper, “it is still making history” by inspiring the youth of today toward being our leaders of tomorrow. All of this, in addition to bringing world class artists to the theatre, interesting to youth of all ages…

Susan Jennings introduced us to what is going on in Roanoke City. The project is called Creative Roanoke and has a well defined process to develop and sustain the arts. Susan made it sound so inviting to travel to Roanoke to experience the arts. We can learn much from their success.

The speakers in the afternoon panel 3 continued the discussion about arts with presentation by Maggie Guggenheimer, the Executive Director of the Piedmont Council for the Arts. She described their support of the arts in Charlottesville and offered suggestions about bringing together the art community in collaborative ways.

One of the final speakers was Carrie Beach, an urban planner with the City of Alexandria. She discussed the recent Wayfinding and Signage plan being adopted by the City of Alexandria. The challenge was to find a balance with form and function amidst the variety of unique places. Ultimately, communicating to motorists and pedestrians paths to their destination in a consistent “Alexandria” signage to provide a more attractive community.

Thank you to RRRC Director, Jeff Walker and his staff for making this important workshop possible and especially for bringing this 100 person workshop to Culpeper.

Best Regards

Jim Charapich
President / CEO

Career Expo for Culpeper County Students

Published in the Star Exponent Monday, September 13, 2010:

The Career Expo for the Culpeper County School system will be held on September 23rd. This year will be the largest Career Expo ever for the Culpeper County School students. The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, Career Partners, Inc, and the Career & Technical Department of the School System are working together to bring 40 businesses to talk with 2400 students this year.

Each business will talk with approximately 300 students in small groups of 10-20 during the full day of career discussions. The day is so busy for the businesses that we are providing a box lunch and no lunch break. There will be a 10 minute break between groups which will allow for a quick bite to eat.

We moved the Career Expo from spring to September. This allows the students to connect the career opportunities with academic requirements. Having this early in the year provides the students with additional motivation to excel academically.

Another new aspect of the Career Expo this year is that we have included the 8th grade students from both middle schools. The career counselors from the middle schools are interested in helping the students to understand the career options as they approach high school. F. T. Binns held a career expo last spring for the rising 8th graders and the response was excellent. We wanted to include the 8th grade students as a part of the main Career Expo early in the school year this year.

This is also a significant commitment from the business community. Their donation of time and resources to help the students is exceptional. The business professionals are well received by the students. The students know some of the business leaders that come to the Career Expo – requesting them year after year. Yes, this is a sacrifice for each business. However, I have seen how much the business professionals receive out of the program as well. There are no regrets when the day is over, everyone wins… evidence of our outstanding community.

The areas of business that we cover are manufacturing, retail, technology, agribusiness, automotive, accounting, aviation, banking, child care, engineering, entrepreneurship, government, health care, human resources, law enforcement, marketing, media, non-profit, real estate, veterinary, and a few others. If you are a business and interested in helping – please contact JCharapich@CulpeperVAChamber.com. We have most areas of business filled. However, there are a few opportunities still open to participate.

Best Regards

Jim Charapich

President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

CSE

Published in the Star Exponent Monday, July 26, 2010:

CSI - Culpeper took place on Tuesday, July 20th 2010. A little known group of Crime Scene Investigators were in action in Culpeper on this day. The stage was set and the crime scene investigators of Culpeper were assisted by 12 specialists who may shape the future of investigations in significant ways. Who were these 12 specialists? Why were they recruited? How will they shape the future?

The 12 specialists were recruited from the youth of Culpeper for the Annual Culpeper County Sheriff’s Youth Academy. Many at the Sheriff’s Department invested last week in the career development possibilities for participant’s of the academy ranging in age from 13 – 17 years old. The students arrived every day at 8 AM and spent the day until 3 PM learning the coolest things on these hot summer days….

The students were exposed to basic crime scene investigation. They were exposed to firearms safety while gaining experience with firearms at a live firing range (thank you Cedar Mountain Range). They were shown the effects of alcohol and drugs using special simulated vision goggles while trying to drive golf carts (accompanied by an adult). They learned crime scene processing and fingerprinting skills. They were shown law enforcement patrol procedures, basic First Aid, and a variety of crime prevention concepts. The students also attended several demonstrations by specialized units such as the K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Officers, and S.W.A.T. Finally, the students took fields trips to the Culpeper County Jail and the Culpeper Joint Communications Center. Wow, what a week!!!

The students graduated from the C.C.S.O Youth Academy on Friday with a ceremony that demonstrated the military etiquette drill and ceremony skills that they had learned and obviously practiced. All of the students were proficient in their maneuvers and focused on the required discipline, a very impressive display after only one week of instruction.

According to the literature, the program is rooted in the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy that began in England in 1977. The first program of its kind was introduced in the United States in Orlando Florida in 1985. The original intent of the program was designed to provide better understanding between police and citizens thru education and exposure to the Department. Adding the youth component provides an important opportunity for our local youth to see first-hand what they see on television and in the movies.

There are few things more important than educating our youth. We have opportunities to facilitate excellence in youth programs. The Sheriff’s Department has taken the lead in offering this type of program. Career Development can start early, strengthen our community, and offer creative pathways for our young minds.

There are many programs in Culpeper with similar ongoing benefits such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Verdun Adventure Bound, and The Civil Air Patrol Youth Program (meeting at Culpeper Airport), to name a few.

Thank you, Sheriff Branch, for your commitment to the youth of Culpeper. The Youth Academy is an example of excellence in community development. We can only imagine what the future will bear from the seeds planted in the hearts and minds at the Youth Academy.





Best Regards


Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce in the Lead

Published in the Star Exponent Monday, July 18, 2010:

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce leads the country in “Hot Deals” according to Jill Schmoyer an Internet Marketing Consultant for ChamberMaster. Ms. Schmoyer reported this at a recent meeting of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Hot Deals section of the Chamber Website is just one of the many cutting edge opportunities for our community to take advantage of. Our businesses offer these as a way to encourage both businesses and everyone in Culpeper to buy locally. Any Chamber member can post Hot Deals with printable coupons free as part of their membership on CulpeperChamber.com.

In addition, the Culpeper Chamber has offered “Chamber Cash” for anyone to buy as gifts. We offer them in $10 increments. The Chamber Cash is redeemable locally at many Chamber Member locations – encouraging local spending. A commonly published statistic suggests that $68 of every $100 stays in the local economy. We are offering a special promotion this month at ChamberCash.com.

To further encourage local awareness of business, the Culpeper Chamber was one of the first in the Country to have a Smart Phone App referencing our Chamber members. Try downloading MyChamberApp to your IPhone or Blackberry free. You will find a directory of “Local” Culpeper Chamber of Commerce members. MyChamberApp allows the business location to be pinpointed on an easy to navigate map. The App allows one touch dialing to call each member business. I have used this and it works…. When I need to find a Chamber member to do business with, now, I just touch the MyChamberApp icon on my IPhone, find the business, and press the phone number… “Hello, this is Jim with the Chamber, I need to schedule an Oil Change…. how many miles were on my vehicle at the last change….” So easy and no need to have the numbers in my phone directory…. Now, in addition to the Chamber Member Directory on our website, we have an easy to use mobile app.

One of the new Chamber acronyms is RAVE – meaning Resources, Access, Visibility, and Energy. We have taken strides to bring visibility to the Chamber members both physically and virtually. Physically… we have begun a new Wednesday Evening Leadshare group for members to meet at a new time – after work - to share leads and network – spaces are limited and first come first served – contact the Chamber office for details.

Virtually, we are in the process of upgrading our SEO… Search Engine Optimization. Our members are currently connected to one of the largest business networks virtually thru our ChamberMaster affiliation. The new SEO partnership with ChamberMaster will bring more search visibility for online searches. When it comes to online visibility, large networks matter. Our members can further improve their results thru their personal login and access to tweak their key words.

Our Virtual Visibility continues with our Facebook, Twitter, and Blog posts. Look us up as Culpeper Chamber and “like” our page to have access to our up to date local business 411…..

Growing local business since 1915 …. Join us….

Best Regards

Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce