Business After Hours tonight!

Mix and mingle at the July Business After Hours hosted by Community Cancer Services. Tour the facilities and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

Community Cancer Services "Heather’s House" 1215 Michigan St. Suite B

July 29, 2009 5:00-6:30 PM

Affordable Housing Town Hall Meeting Tonight!

Less than 80 years ago employers were providing housing for their workforce. Bonner Community Housing Agency (BCHA) recognizes housing remains one of your biggest concerns and opportunities. BCHA, a local non-profit, is pleased to offer information about home ownership.

What: Town Hall Meeting

When: Tuesday July 28 6-8pm

Where: Sandpoint Community Hall on First Ave.

There are limitless misconceptions about home ownership, availability of quality affordable homes, financial requirements and the like. Tuesday’s meeting will be a myth-busters format of sorts.

BCHA will have a team of people available to introduce you to many aspects of home ownership and information about Finally Home! - a class that could help you qualify for a USDA zero percent interest home loan.

BCHA has partnered with Seven Sisters to provide affordable housing in Bonner County. Seven Sisters will be offering quality homes in the $144,327-$176,300 range in a mixed use development that will include homes of all price ranges. Seven Sisters is a beautiful development off Highway 200, located near businesses and Kootenai School.

Homeownership is one of the building blocks to our community and our families.

The Sunday edition of the Bonner County Daily Bee provides more information on this partnership, development and the Town Hall. See: http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2009/07/26/news/doc4a6bc14129da4168224273.txt

Chamber Welcomes We the People Art Gallery

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce welcomed new business We the People Art Gallery. Located on the Cedar Street Bridge, the new gallery includes rich photographic images of scenery and wildlife, oil and water color paintings, pastels, knitted hats, jewelry, crystals, and more from local artisans. Participating artists include watercolor painters Ben and Karen Robinson, photographer Brenda Cook, bead woven jeweler Darlene Pfahl, sign designer Diana Tillberg, painter Douglas Roe, jeweler Julie Ellis, oil painter Karen Dexter, crystal artist Mark Frates, painter Marti Bennett, watercolor painter Patti Regone, photographer and owner Gordon Ormesher, photographer Richard Bennett, and pastel artist Teresa Fisher. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and throughout the summer they are offering a framing special of 35 to 50% off. Pictured are owners Gordon & Millie Ormesher celebrating their new gallery with a ribbon cutting with artists, friends, and the Chamber Ambassadors. For more information, call (208) 265-0909.

Quest Aircraft Honored as Business of the Month

Quest Aircraft, an aircraft manufacturing company in Sandpoint, was honored as business of the month for their successful contributions to the community and world with the production of their KODIAK aircraft.
Started in 2001 with a staff of fourteen, Quest Aircraft was formed to design and manufacture a bush/utility aircraft suited to the needs of missionary and humanitarian aviation organizations. Within a year, Quest Aircraft built a 27,000 sq. ft. plant at the Sandpoint Municipal Airport where work began on the prototype aircraft. In 2007 the KODIAK gained FAA certification, and in 2005 the company completed a 57,000 sq. ft. expansion.

The organization has grown significantly in the last few years. Their $1,450,000 plane is on back order for the next 3 years, and every 10th plane is delivered to one of their participating mission/humanitarian organizations. Most recently, the KODIAK s/n 0015 was donated to Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief and evangelism organization.

Featured in Flying Magazine, GANews, AOPA Pilot, and Sandpoint Magazine, the KODIAK is a 10-seat single engine turboprop utility plane. The aircraft is built with rugged construction, turbine power, and high useful load with the ability to handle a short takeoff and landing, easily handle unimproved airstrips, and designed for floats and amphibs.

“We all benefit from the fact that Quest Aircraft Company has chosen Sandpoint for their home base,” said Ambassador Bill Justus from Mountain West Bank when presenting the award on behalf of the Chamber. “What a contribution it is to our community to bring over 300 good paying jobs to our local economy. Without question, that’s a significant impact,” he said.

“Sandpoint has proven to be an excellent location for our company headquarters,” said Paul Schaller, President and CEO of Quest. “It is a growing community that has met our needs as a company and also provides our employees with a wonderful quality of life. We look forward to growing Quest Aircraft Company and expanding our employment here in Sandpoint in the years ahead.”

“Sandpoint is also a great destination for our customers,” added Schaller. “They really enjoy coming here with its friendly atmosphere, great attractions and restaurants.”

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce congratulates Quest Aircraft for the significant contributions they’ve made to the Greater Sandpoint community and the world.

Photo Caption: Pictured are President and CEO Paul Schaller and CFO Roger Franklin receiving the award for business of the month from Chamber Ambassador Bill Justus from Mountain West Bank.

North Idaho Title Insurance Celebrates New Location

The North Idaho Title Insurance (NIT) team celebrated their new location at 418 N. 3rd Avenue with the Chamber Ambassadors and business partners. Specializing in residential, commercial, and builder/developer title and escrow services, NIT is proud to continue to build partnerships with the greater Sandpoint community and provide superior customer service to those they serve. Pictured from left on the front row is Title Officer Terry Gonzales, Escrow Officer Nancy Albanese, Escrow Officer Kathy Pizzolato, Branch Manager/Escrow Officer Lindsey Chichester (cutting the ribbon), and Ambassador chairman Carol Warren. From left on the back row is Ambassador Clif Warren from Technical Corporate Services, Chris Bassett with MetLife Home Loans, Escrow Officer Joice Hupp, and Chamber board member Doug Lynch from MetLife Home Loans. For more information on NIT, call (208) 263-2400 or visit www.NorthIdahoTitle.com.

Horizon Credit Union Celebrates Grand Re-Opening

On Wednesday, July 15th Horizon Credit Union celebrated a grand re-opening of their Bonner Mall branch after a significant remodel. The remodel doubled the size of the original branch and includes an expanded lobby, additional offices, and an ATM.

Horizon Credit Union is a financial cooperative with an extensive branch network spanning from Northern Idaho to Central Washington. The Credit Union began in 1947 as Kaiser Employees Federal Credit Union in Spokane, WA and has grown to 16 branches and over 35,000 members. With an aim to provide the most secure and innovative financial services, their newest programs include Mobile Banking, an E-service allowing members to bank from any web-enabled cell phone or PDA device, and Personal FinanceWorks, a program providing accounting tools to help members manage their finances.

For more information on Horizon Credit Union, call (800) 852-5316 or visit www.hzcu.org.

Photo Caption: Pictured from left is Ambassador Peggy Shadel, Horizon VP of Marketing Brian Grytdal, Horizon President and CEO Jeff Adams, Horizon Board Member Bernie Korth, Horizon Bonner Mall Branch Manager Andrea Marich (cutting the ribbon), Horizon Sandpoint Branch Manager Andrea Cordle, Horizon Vice President of Retail Delivery Mark Neumann, Marcella Nelson from Ponderay Community Development Corporation, Ambassador Colleen Spicklemire, Chamber Chairman of the Board Dennis Dye, and Ambassador Chairman Carol Warren. Pictured in back row is Horizon VP of Relationship Management Steve Wilder, Horizon Northwest Home Mortgage Loan Specialist Teresa Lunde, Horizon Relationship Manager Officer Josh Allison, and Chamber Membership Account Executive Lee Hoge.

MetLife Home Loans' Chris Bassett Receives Volunteer of the Month Honor

Chris Bassett from MetLife Home Loans received the Volunteer of the Month award from the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, July 9th.

Bassett has been an active member and volunteer for the Chamber for the last three years. He was the chairman of a networking group called Business Connections in 2007 and 2008 and led efforts to organize the annual Business Expo to promote businesses in the region. He then became the chairman-elect of the board of directors and served this role for the last nine months.

“Chris did a great job stimulating the Chamber Business Connections committee and his commitment to the Chairman-Elect position was stellar,” said Kelly Prior, CFO of Litehouse and treasurer for the Chamber’s board of directors. “Although we are sad to see him go, we are happy he is exploring other opportunities with his family.”

“I can’t say enough about Chris Basset,” said executive director Amy Little. “He is a cheerful giver of his time and resources to support our local business community,” she said. “The board and staff of the chamber are thankful for his contributions as a business leader.”

Photo Caption: Pictured is MetLife Home Loans’ Chris Bassett receiving the award for Volunteer of the Month from the chamber’s executive director Amy Little.

Juvenile Detention Center Discussion at Next Power Luncheon

On Thursday, July 9th the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce welcomes Director of Justice Services Debbie Stallcup to discuss an upcoming levy for a new juvenile detention center for Bonner County.

The two-year $6.6 million override levy will go before voters on August 4th. The moneys will pay for the design and construction of a 32-bed juvenile justice facility. Stallcup will discuss this upcoming levy and will inform voters before heading to the polls.

The luncheon will be held at the Sandpoint Center Community Room, located at 414 Church Street. The cost of the luncheon is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers, and advanced reservations required. To register, visit www.SandpointChamber.com or call (208) 263-0887.

ClickShops Celebrates New Storefront

ClickShops Inc. is a web retailer serving an online niche market allowing customers to find useful and unique products that improve quality of life. Their products are practical, pleasurable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Founded in February 2004 by Richard Marks, ClickShops’ new storefront located at 509 N. 5th Avenue provides shoppers the opportunity to view the online store and featured products.

Marks maintains search engine success by building websites that offer large selections of products specific to a web search - making the user experience easy to navigate. Featured ClickShop sites include gunsafes.com, massagechairs.com, leatherfurniture.com, thegaragedealer.com, and sofabeds.com.

Clickshops.com offers the largest selection of massage chairs on the internet, and the largest gun safes and cabinets in the nation. Additionally, they provide a variety of products including home furnishings, outdoor living furniture, carports and shelters, garage storage, game tables, office furniture, tools and equipment, and crates, houses, and kennels for pets. Knowledgeable account representatives can also help design systems for an office or home to fit the customer’s lifestyle and preferences.

Marks noted they offer free shipping and handling for the majority of their products. They also provide “white glove” delivery for many products wherein a product will be delivered to their home or office, unpackaged, and assembled if necessary.

The Chamber congratulates the ClickShops Inc. team for their innovative business model and high-level customer care.

For more information, visit www.ClickShops.com or call (800) 540-1695.

Photo Caption: Pictured is President and CEO Richard Marks cutting the ribbon with Doug Marks, Vice President/General Counsel, for the new ClickShops storefront amongst the ClickShops Inc. team, the Chamber Ambassadors, family, and friends.