Founded in 1922, TAB is the largest and most influential broad-based business group in Texas. The organization’s mission is to make the Texas business climate the best in the world. Its members and staff advocate policies in Washington, D.C. and Texas to advance that vital objective.

Kurkul, who joined the Round Rock Chamber as President and CEO in November 2010, has a long background in the world of pro-business advocacy. After serving in the Reagan Administration in 1985-86, Kurkul spent 21 years with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in Washington, D.C., the last 5 of those years in a vice president capacity. He then spent three-plus years as CEO of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the second largest chamber in the state of Nevada.

“TAB plays an important role in shaping the business climate in Texas,” said Chamber Chairman Writ Baese (Hill Country Payroll). “Doug’s service on the TAB Board will help elevate the profile of Round Rock and our vibrant business community at the statewide level and beyond.”

“The Round Rock Chamber has several critical functions, including helping local businesses succeed, promoting economic development, and advancing our quality of life,” said Kurkul. “Our success depends in part on our progress in the fourth part of our mission, which is shaping a positive business environment in Round Rock, Central Texas, and beyond. I’m looking forward to contributing to TAB’s efforts, on Round Rock’s behalf, to continue to shape the best possible business climate for Texas.”

The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Partnership is one of the largest and most active business organizations in Central Texas. Information about the organization is available at www.RoundRockChamber.org. Information about doing business in Round Rock can be found at www.RoundRockTex.com.

FTZs promote the global competitiveness of U.S.-based businesses, facilitate trade, and encourage manufacturing and logistics. FTZ operations involve operations combining foreign inputs with significant domestic inputs. Within FTZs, companies are able to manufacture, assemble, test, sample, process, and repackage. Companies can also utilize FTZs for warehousing, inspection, labeling, salvaging, and distribution. Texas leads the nation with 31 FTZs.

As representatives of Round Rock and the Round Rock Chamber, White and Yeats are committed to sound governance of the FTZ and to ensuring Round Rock businesses are aware of how the FTZ may benefit their operations. Benefits to companies using FTZs may include relief from inverted tariffs, duty exemption on re-exports, and duty deferral, among others. The Round Rock Chamber also assists exporters by administering Certificate of Origin Seals for exporting.

The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Partnership is one of the largest and most active business organizations in Central Texas. Information about the organization is available at www.RoundRockChamber.org. Information about doing business in Round Rock can be found at www.RoundRockTex.com.

New Principal Investors include:

• La Madeleine
• Any Lab Test Now
• IPG Search Marketing
• Joleen Van Zanden – Realtor, Pacesetter Properties
• K & M Steam Cleaning
• Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas
• McDonald’s Restaurant #5157
• Richard A Crow & Associates
• Seven Star Martial Arts
• Social Butler

New Basic Level Investors include:

• European-Bistro
• Breeze Salon & Spa
• Camp Doublecreek
• Campo Azul Bar and Grill
• CenTex Appraisals
• EMTS Academy
• Hagy & Associates, P.C.
• Laser Scientific
• Security Finance
• Sport Clips Inc.
• Strong Electric, LLC
• Texas State Optical
• Title Boxing Round Rock
• Zahir Walji

New Community Leader Investors include:

• Kris Whitfield, member of City Council
• Gina Littlefield
• Patt Ott
• Sarah Burris
• Willie Johnson

The following Chamber investors also upgraded their memberships to Classic in January:

• UFCU-Highway 79 Financial Center

The following Chamber investors also upgraded their memberships to Principal in January:

• Chaparral Women’s Club
• Modern Woodmen of America-Linda Gray Ayotte

New and longstanding investors alike wishing to learn more about how to take full advantage of their investment are urged to contact Bruce Crowell at 512-255-5805 or bcrowell@roundrockchamber.org.

The City of Round Rock has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the Texas Municipal Utility Association Outstanding Municipal Utility Award. The award was announced at the TMUA conference on Jan. 27 in Fredericksburg.

Each year, TMUA honors a municipal utility system with active members in TMUA that meets one of the following requirements:

• Is widely recognized as a leader in the municipal utility industry
• Has enhanced the prestige of all municipal utility systems
• Has made a measurable improvement to customer services
• Has developed innovative solutions to any utility problem

“It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers, and we are especially pleased to be recognized for innovation for both long-range and operational projects,” City Manager Steve Norwood said. “Our regional water project addresses the No. 1 problem faced by utilities in Texas: how best to secure long-term, affordable, reliable water supplies. What makes it really special is that we developed a solution that successfully involves partner cities. And our pipeline repair program allows us to perform critical system maintenance with as little disruption to residents as possible.”

Read the original article here.

The deadline to complete the survey is February 29, 2012. All businesses who complete the survey by February 29 will receive one $10 gift card from a selection of downtown merchants.

Click here to complete the survey.

Please feel free to forward this email to other businesses in downtown.

If you have any questions, please contact Carrie Yeats at 255-5805 or by email at cyeats@roundrockchamber.org

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Partnership, one of the largest business organizations in Central Texas, invites businesspersons and residents to the January 24 Power Lunch, focused on “The 2012 Economic and Business Outlook.”

The Chamber announced that Texas Restaurant Association CEO Richie Jackson and Williamson County Association of Realtors Chief Executive Marge Phillips will be on the panel, commenting on the outlook for their industries. Other panelists will be announced soon. Moderating will be John Garrett, CEO of Community Impact Newspaper, and Chair-Elect of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Attendees should pre-register at 255-5805 or here. Advance tickets are $20 for Chamber investors and $25 for future investors. Day-of-event tickets are $25 for investors and $30 for future investors. Investors can purchase tables of eight for $160. It will be held at the Williamson Conference Center (behind the Wingate by Wyndham, at 1209 North Interstate 35. To sponsor and speak at this event on behalf of your business, contact Shontel Mays at 255-5805.

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New Classic Level:

• NEXTCARE Urgent Care

New Principal Investors include:

• AAA Texas
• Aramark
• Comerica Bank
• Edward Jones Investments – Daniel Harris
• Interactive Entertainment Systems
• San Gabriel Rehabilitation and Care Center
• TravelHost Austin Magazine
• Tula Properties, LLC

New Basic Level Investors include:

• Equity Settlement Services, Inc.
• Foot Specialists of Round Rock
• Freese and Nichols, Inc.
• “Joe” The Honey Do Handyman
• Krave Wine Bar & Bistro
• Miracle Maids
• Q & T Jewelry
• Red Roof Inn
• Stall Jewelers
• Taco Market

New Community Leader Investors include:

• Carol Chafin
• Craig Morgan, Member, City Council
• Gina Littlefield
• Hal C. Hawes
• J. Hollis Bone
• Jim Black
• Kris Whitfield, Member, City Council
• Pat Ott
• Reggie Hauser
• Rick Moore
• Ron Hagood
• Steve Laukhuf

The following Chamber investors also upgraded their memberships in November:

• Belle Notte on Main
• Dale Carnegie Training
• The Art Institute

The next Chamber event is the January Business After Hours on Jan. 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Cottages at Chandler Creek. Details.

New and longstanding investors alike wishing to learn more about how to take full advantage of their investment are urged to contact Bruce Crowell at 512-255-5805 or bcrowell@roundrockchamber.org.

The past year has been a very good one for Round Rock. Our community has continued to build on its reputation as one of America’s best places to live, work and grow a business. That lofty claim comes not from City Hall or the Chamber of Commerce, but rather from prominent and impartial national publications and agencies.

The high points of 2011 are too numerous to list in their totality, but several compelling highlights include:

•        Designation by CNBC as one of America’s 10 Perfect Suburbs.

•        Recognition as one of the 15 Safest Cities in the United States.

•        Williamson County being named the Healthiest County in Texas.

•        Voter passage of propositions to boost tourism and economic development.

•        An unemployment rate 25% better than the national average.

•        The dedication of the Play for All Abilities Park.

•        The completion of the Downtown Plaza, and the growth of the Arts Space and other cultural attractions.

•        The City’s commitment to expedite traffic improvement projects, under the leadership of our Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Council and City Manager.

•        The attraction of Emerson, with 750 high-paying jobs and 10,000 hotel room nights, plus the arrival and expansion of countless other businesses.

•        Superb collaboration between Round Rock and our elected state and county leaders, and with our fellow area chambers of commerce.

•        The PCL Southern Division championship for the Round Rock Express.

•        Countless achievements by our medical care and education institutions, students and teachers, non-profit organizations, and local businesses.

As we count our blessings, we look to 2012 with optimism. Sales tax receipts are on the rise. Six of every ten businesses we visited in 2011 plan to expand in the next three years. Business and civic investments being made today will benefit our community, region and our local small businesses for years to come. Moreover, many companies based in Round Rock are global leaders in innovation with operations in, or exports to, many countries around the world. All of these factors bode well for our future.

It is true that our national economy continues to underperform, and not everyone is enjoying prosperity. Through a variety of civic and faith-based programs, as well as the personal initiatives of countless local residents, Round Rock continues to demonstrate a very strong, community-wide commitment to helping the disadvantaged get back on their feet and improve their own quality of life.

For our part, the Round Rock Chamber is committed to helping our businesses succeed, promoting economic development and job creation, developing leaders, and advancing our region’s quality of life. Our investors, who come from Round Rock, Austin and throughout the region, are helping to shape and participate in our community’s growth. To reflect the changes around us and the exciting opportunities ahead of us, the Chamber has introduced new programs and refined others. We have invited widely respected leaders to address our Chamber. Our staff team has redoubled its dedication to superior member service. We welcome the chance to help each investor achieve their own unique business objectives.

Our Chairs (Writ Baese in 2011-12 and Jim Shelgren in 2010-11) are joined by dozens of other dedicated business and community leaders, Ambassadors, and other volunteers who tirelessly advance our mission. The Chamber’s work is important, and would not be possible without the investment and involvement of committed leaders like you. For that, we are very thankful.

As we reflect on a very good year for Round Rock and our region, we wish you, your loved ones, and your business associates a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2012.

Warm regards,

Doug

Read the full story here.

New Principal Investors include:

• Austin City Living
• Cotton Patch Café
• CSCMP Central Texas Roundtable
• Edward Jones – Scott Green
• First Medical Response of Texas
• Masfajitas Restaurant
• McDonald’s – R.R. 620 at I-35
• Ricoh Americas Corporation
• Streetman Homes
• University Place Townhomes

Basic Level Investors include:

• A-Best Water Damage Restoration & Carpet Cleaning
• Blue & Associates, Inc.
• Capitol Wealth Strategies
• Coldwell Banker Commercial, United
• Don Martin Public Affairs
• Rifeline, LLC
• Round Rock Café
• Texas Imaging Systems

The following Chamber investors also upgraded their memberships in November:

• Austin Staffing, Inc.
• Beancounter
• Penfold Theatre Compnay

“Exciting things are happening in Round Rock. We encourage our community to do business with Chamber investors,” said Chamber President Doug Kurkul.

The next Chamber event is the December Power Lunch on December 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will be joined by our speaker, Jeff Boyd, Cheif of Staff, Office of the Governor, State of Texas, where he will be discussing the Importance of Economic Development. RSVP here.

New and longstanding investors alike wishing to learn more about how to take full advantage of their investment are urged to contact Bruce Crowell at 512-255-5805 or bcrowell@roundrockchamber.org.