NIBAC PUTS NEW PROGRAMS IN PLACE , KICKS OFF GRASS ROOTS LOBBY EFFORTS

Your Northern Illinois Business Advocacy Coalition, representing eleven northwest suburban chambers of commerce, had an extremely active first-quarter 2007 as it completed its organizational process and kicked off programs that are aimed at creating a new voice for our regional business community in the State Legislature.

Most dramatic of the recent actions taken was the hiring of Consulting4Biz, a veteran Springfield-based government relations firm to act as the NIBAC lobbyist through the Spring session and on through 2007.

“This is a huge step forward for NIBAC, which now, for the first time, will be able to provide to our chamber members in-depth monitoring, ongoing communications with Legislative and committee staffs, and alerts and action calls, all focused on our northwest suburban business issues,” said NIBAC President Tom Rivera.“

"Consulting4Biz will provide us with weekly reports that individual chambers may use in their member communications and on their websites, and will remain in constant touch with NIBAC’s Issues and Executive committees as the association puts Legislative action plans in place.”

The company and its predecessors enjoy a 25-year history in the field of government relations and currently is the lobbyist for the Illinois Nurses Association, the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, the Illinois Council of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and the Illinois Tourism Alliance, among others.

Moving forward, the NIBAC board also identified its first major Legislative issue, the Gross Receipts Tax proposed by the Governor, passed a resolution in opposition, and, has notified our State Senators and Representatives that we will be staying in touch with them on the subject as the session progresses.

Janet Meyer of the Barrington Chamber, NIBAC Issues Committee chair, is the immediate contact on this and other issues the association is monitoring this session.

NIBAC also is in the process of developing its own website under the leadership of Jim Uszler of the Mount Prospect Chamber as Chair of the Communication/PR Committee as part of an extensive program for the year. Maintenance of the site as well as the association’s administrative needs will be handled by the Greater O’Hare association. Shirlanne Lemm of Greater O’Hare, duly elected NIBAC Secretary, is the point person.