Upcoming Chamber Events:

May 8- Lion's Club Park Recreation Center and Senior Citizen's Center Ribbon Cutting, Lion's Club Park, 2:00 p.m.

May 14- Ribbon Cutting, O'Reilly Auto Parts, 4802 Judson Ave, Killeen, 11:30 a.m.

May 15- May Third Thursday Mixer, Military Child Education Coalition, 108 E. FM 2410, Suite D, Harker Heights, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

May 22- Rodeo Killeen 61st Annual Kickoff Party, Rodeo Ground on South W.S. Young, 5:30 - 7:00.

May 23- 2008 Leadership Killeen Graduation, Shilo Inn, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

May 26- Memorial Day, Chamber closed.

June 6- June Power Hour, sponsored by Fuddruckers. Central Texas Workforce Center, 11:45 a.m.  Click here to register.

SAVE THE DATE! September 16, 2008. GKCC Annual Meeting and Banquet, Killeen Civic & Conference Center, 6 p.m.  Come "Join In The Magic of Killeen!" Contact the chamber at (254) 526-9551 for details.

Click here for our new interactive community events calendar.

Be honest now. Do you plan to vote in this weekend's municipal elections. (We'll see how closely this poll matches the actual turnout.)

Watch the next edition of GKCC Hot Links! on May 21st for the results of this poll.

RESULTS OF THE APRIL 23rd POLL:

What, in your opinion, will be the most pressing municipal planning issue facing the new city council after the upcoming city election.

Local city council and mayoral candidates please take note. I'll give you exact numbers for your benefit, because this one wasn't even close.

Public Safety- 9 responses (6%)

Traffic- 126 responses (90%)

Taxes- 3 responses (2%)

Killeen's Image- 3 responses (2%)

Something else- 0 responses (0%)

I'd say that is a pretty clear statement by the folks in our communities.

Thanks for taking last newsletter's poll!

Quality Texas Foundation Names Workforce Solutions of Central Texas as Recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence

The Quality Texas Foundation, administrator of Texas’ premier annual performance excellence award, announced Friday, May 2, that Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, and St. David’s Healthcare in Austin, have been selected as recipients of the 2008 Texas Award for Performance Excellence. These organizations have been identified as role models for Texas organizations based on their execution of the national Baldrige Criteria for performance excellence. 

Quality Texas is an organizational improvement training and education foundation that helps businesses, schools, hospitals, non-profits and government agencies achieve excellence through knowledge, feedback and recognition.

"We are elated to be receiving the Texas Quality Award," said Susan Kamas, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas.  "Although Workforce Solutions of Central Texas is known as an award winning organization, this award is different.  It represents an achieved “benchmark” in the quality journey of our organization, which began 14 years ago.  One key to this success is our extraordinary employees and partners working together for the business and job seeker customers."

Jerry Haisler of Workforce Solutions, and the Chairman-elect of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce board of directors, was also pleased with the award. "This is an incredible honor and I am proud to list Workforce Solutions among an elite group of businesses and organizations. However, the most important aspect is that I feel we have an obligation to be the best we can possible be. Our businesses deserve it, our Veterans and military families deserve it and any job seeker deserves it. The Baldrige principles and this Quality model embraces a framework, process and criteria that allow an organization to truly develop and utilize staff to their capacity -- –they are a business’ most precious resource. So we continue our quality journey and look for ways to be even more effective in our work."

Workforce Solutions of Central Texas is one of 28 regional organizations responsible for all publicly funded workforce programs and services in Texas. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1995, Workforce Solutions of Central Texas is responsible for planning and oversight of local Workforce Centers which provide workforce assistance to businesses and job seekers in Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, and San Saba counties. 

Central Texas Workforce services are provided through three large Workforce Centers and three smaller Centers serving both urban and rural businesses and job seekers. The Mission of the organization is to provide quality education, training and labor market services that give employers and job seekers of the region a competitive advantage in the global economy. 

Strengths of Central Texas Workforce include communication and commitment to listening to staff and stakeholders; innovative approaches to allocation of resources; high performance; and development and retention of a highly motivated and tenured staff by providing quality benefits, an environment that rewards exceptional performance and a sense of empowerment that results in a high quality customer experience. More...

Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs

Latest Comptroller's Study of Fort Hood's Economic Impact to be Presented at May 13 News Conference

Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs has announced that she will hold a news conference on Tuesday, May 13 to release the results of the state's latest study of the economic impact of Fort Hood on the region and on the state.

The news conference will held on the front steps of the III Corps Headquarters building at 1:30 p.m.

Combs will present the results of the study to Fort Hood Commanding General LTG Raymond Odierno.

It’s Show Time!…2008 Showcase Time, That Is!    

The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce will host its annual 2008 Showcase on July 17^th, 2008 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.  The July Third Thursday Mixer will close the show on Thursday evening.

Showcase is a great event in which vendors can purchase booths to “showcase” their services, products and all that goes along with it.  Products can be sold at the 2008 Showcase (with the exception of food) and contracts can be signed!  Show the business community and the consumers of the community what you have to offer!

This is a great time to introduce new products or services to old customers as well as gain some new customers.  If you are a new business, or a business that has made changes, this is a great way to re-introduce yourself into the community.  Show it off! 

This year's event is a patriotic themed event to tie in with the elections. There will be red, white and blue everywhere!  Some of the things featured this year will be a Voters Registration Booth, blood drive, demonstrations by the Shoemaker Robotics Team and more!  Come and celebrate with us!

Booth price for members is $350 for the first booth, and sponsorship packages start as low as $500.  Reserve your booth now or become a sponsor!

There is special pricing for non profit organizations. Call Diane Drussell for details!

Register online or you may call Diane Drussell for more information at (254) 200-2001.  You may view a floor plan by clicking  here.

GKCC members can register prior to May 9^th and save $50 on their first booth

May Mixer at Military Child Education Coalition Will Provide Opportunities for Education, Fellowship and Growth

Dr. Mary Keller and her staff at the Military Child Education Coalition are truly looking forward to May's Third Thursday Mixer as an opportunity to inform Killeen-area residents about all the great programs MCEC has undertaken to enhance the educational opportunity

And they are not beyond understanding that food is a great inducement!

The MCEC offices will have a variety of foods set up throughout the facility, with volunteers on hand to explain different aspects of the MCEC operation at each station.

The Military Child Education Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, world-wide organization that identifies the challenges that face the highly mobile military child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and educational communities and initiates and implements programs to meet the challenges. MCEC's goal is to level the educational playing field for military children wherever they are located around the world and to serve as a model for all highly mobile children.

Military children generally move from six to nine times during their K-12 school years. Many make multiple moves during high school years alone, some even during their senior year. Academic standards, courses, access to programs, promotion and graduation requirements, programs for children with special needs, and transfer and acceptance of records vary greatly from state to state and even from school to school. Separation from a deployed parent (or parents) raises an additional issue. MCEC's role is to help families, schools and communities be better prepared to support children during these frequent moves and difficult - and sometimes traumatic -times in the life of military families.

MCEC, located at 108 E. FM 2410, suite D in Harker Heights, will be hosting the GKCC May mixer on Thursday, May 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

This month, the Killeen Green Jackpot will be worth $150. All chamber members are entered, but you must be present to win.

Stan and Paula Lohse of Toyota of Killeen enjoy some great food at last year's Rodeo Killeen Kick Off party.

Kick Off Party for 61st Annual Rodeo Killeen Scheduled for Thursday, May 22

Rodeo Killeen celebrates its 61 year of spring rodeo festivities, and it all starts on Thursday evening, May 22nd with the annual  Rodeo Killeen Kick-Off party. All community members are invited to share in the fun.

Sponsored jointly by Rodeo Killeen and the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, the event is in its third year of opening up the rodeo festivities for the event. The presenting sponsor of this year's rodeo is Toyota of Killeen.

This year's Kick-Off party will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evening. The first order of business will be to welcome and present this year's rodeo sponsors and introduce them to the crowd. This will be followed by great food provided by Wal-Mart and some special rodeo events for your enjoyment.

In the event of rain that evening, all activities will be moved inside the Special Events Center, and the event will still be held..

Beginning in late April, the chamber will begin advertising sales for the 2008 edition of its popular Killeen Magazine and Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory.

For the third consecutive year, the chamber's partner in this publication will be Color Visual Concepts of Killeen.

The magazine features interesting, up-to-date information on the Killeen area designed for residents and visitors alike, great local photography, award-winning design and a complete and updated list of Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce members.

Advertising in the magazine is an excellent way for your company's marketing message to reach newcomers, new business coming to the community and anyone wishing to learn more about the Killeen area. Approximately 10,000 magazines will be published and distributed during the next chamber year.

For anyone needing additional information, please contact Jennifer Mobley at (254) 289-3446.

Business Resource Center Sets May, June Workshops

The Central Texas Business Resource Center (the BRC) provides high-quality business counseling, training, and assistance to potential and existing small business owners. The BRC is a collaboration of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce and Central Texas College. Each month the BRC offers or sponsors workshops and special events for the small business community.

Registration is Now Open for the First Step FastTrac Small Business Training Program

First Step FastTrac is an education program created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Taught by seasoned entrepreneurs in the community, FastTrac is a hands-on program that uses your business concept as a case study - giving you an opportunity to evaluate and perfect your idea in a safe and supportive environment.

In class and in coaching sessions, you'll explore issues such as: What additional opportunities exist for entrepreneurs? How can I market my new business? How do I price my products and services? How do I begin developing a budget?

Designed for entrepreneurs who are starting or expanding a small business, First Step FastTrac® incorporates materials from the award-winning FastTrac® Entrepreneur training program. You'll work closely with other entrepreneurs, sharing ideas and experiences, and laying the foundation for future business relationships. Through the program, you'll discover whether the life of an entrepreneur is right for you.

This is an important opportunity for the Greater Killeen area because this training, which is usually offered at high rates, is being offered at a special rate of only $129.00 per person, plus additional $39.00 for materials. In addition, spouses or business partners of the student can also participate at no additional charge. 

First Step FastTrac is twelve sessions and meets every Thursday evening from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. The program starts Thursday, July 10 and runs until September 25, 2008. Interested individuals should contact the Central Texas Business Resource Center at 254-200-2001 to register, or visit the office located in the Killeen Workforce Center, 300 Cheyenne Room 101.

Rebecca Ryan, 2EO of The Next Generation Consulting, does her best to get her arms around the topic of recruiting talent today and into the future.

“Creating Place to Recruit Talent” key topic of discussion at CTEC Conference

The upcoming generation of skilled workers – called the Millennial Generation – is going to do two things: live first, work second.

That is the assessment of Rebecca Ryan, the keynote speaker at a conference hosted by the Central Texas Economic Corridor (CTEC), the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas and TIP Strategies on April 30 at the Central Texas Council of Governments building in Belton. Ryan’s speech followed Rich Froeschle, Texas Workforce Commission, who focused on Globalization and the Texas Economy.

Ryan is 2EO (co-CEO) of The Next Generation Consulting, a company that helps clients engage the next generation. The “live first, work second” was the most profound lesson to be learned from Ryan’s presentation.

By ‘living’ first, the Millennial Generation, those born between 1982 and 2001, will move where they feel that a community has a sense of “Place”; that is, a community that has activities for singles and families after the working day ends at 5 p.m. More....

Rich Froeschle of the Texas Workforce Commission gives attendees of the April 30th CTEC conference some insight into the workforce of the future.

Area Leaders Introduced to Factors Affecting Future Workforce Challenges

An economic conference was held on April 30 at the Central Texas Council of Governments building in Belton. The conference was sponsored by the Central Texas Economic Corridor, the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas and TIP Strategies. Due to limited seating, each community invited a select number of community leaders to participate in the annual conference.

The conference focused on the theme, “The Workforce of the Future.”

Rich Froeschle, deputy director of the Labor Market and Career Information (LMCI) department of the Texas Workforce Commission, presented the topic, Globalization and the Texas Economy. Following Froeschle’s presentation, Rebecca Ryan, co-CEO of The Next Generation Consulting (NGC), gave the keynote presentation on Creating Place to recruit talent.

Prior to the keynote speech presented by Rebecca Ryan, area leaders were introduced to factors affecting future workforce challenges by Rich Froeschle, Texas Workforce Commission.

Froeschle focused on globalization and the Texas economy, and Ryan focused on the workforce of the future. Both speakers made it crystal clear that the central Texas region will compete globally for both “talent (qualified labor)” and product sales. More....

TxDOT Opens Segment 4 of SH 130

Beginning April 30th, Central Texas drivers will have increased access to southeastern Travis County with the opening of Segment 4 of SH 130. The latest addition to the Central Texas Turnpike Project is approximately eight miles long and extends from SH 71 to US 183 interchange near Mustang Ridge. 

With the opening of SH 130 Segment 4, all 65 miles of the Central Texas Turnpike System 2002 Project—SH 45 North, SH 130, and the Loop 1 Extension—will be open to traffic.

During May and June, drivers on Segment 4 will travel toll-free. TxTag account holders will continue to use Segment 4 toll-free through July. In August, TxTag account holders will pay a 50% discounted toll. Non-TxTag account holders will begin paying the full toll ($1.50) on July 1.

Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs

Texas Extends Deadline for Filing New Franchise Taxes

The May 15 due date for filing franchise taxes has been extended 30 days. State Comptroller Susan Combs said tax practitioners and taxpayers throughout the state have expressed concerns regarding the complexity of the revised franchise tax and the newness of the enhanced electronic reporting methods.

By extending the filing deadline and allowing for the filing of an extension without penalty, businesses can avoid what would have been a 5 percent penalty if the tax had not been filed by May 15.

"We want to make sure businesses and tax practitioners have adequate time to make sure they're complying with the revised franchise tax," Combs said. "Because they're dealing with new calculations and enhanced technology for filing reports, the one-month penalty waiver will help taxpayers accurately complete their returns in the first year of this brand new tax."

PUC Action Will Result in Consumer Tax Reduction

Commissioners of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently approved a $144 million reduction in the state's Universal Service Fund (USF) that should result in consumer phone bills being reduced by approximately 1 percent starting in January of next year. The reduction was part of a compromise between the PUC and phone companies.

The USF originally was intended to help defray the cost of phone service in rural areas of the state. The agreed-to settlement will be phased in over four years. The large telecom carriers will be allowed to increase basic service costs to consumers to help defray the loss of USF funds.

The slashing of the USF fund marks the second reduction to Texas consumers' telephone taxes as the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was eliminated during the last legislative session. That tax added 1.25 percent to consumer telecom bills.

New Texas Demographer Karl Eschbach

Eschbach named as new State Demographer

Karl Eschbach (pictured) of San Antonio has been named State Demographer by Gov. Rick Perry. The state demographer's office distributes census information for the state, as well as Texas population estimates and projections and information from federal, state and other government sources.

Eschbach is an associate professor in the department of demography and interim director of the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a past board member of the Texas Economic and Demographic Association and past caucus chair of the American Public Health Association.

Eschbach received a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree and doctorate from Harvard University, and a post-doctoral fellowship in demography from the University of Wisconsin. He replaces Steve Murdock of Helotes, who left that position after being named director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce and the Houston Astro's AAA Farm Club Round Rock Express are pleased to announce the second annual "GKCC Night at Dell Diamond."

Slated this year for Tuesday evening, July 29, the 7:05 start will feature a game between the hometown Express and the Sacramento River Cats.

To encourage attendance at the game, the Express are offering GKCC members all seats that evening at half price. That means you can take the family and see the Express play for as little as $3.00 per ticket for berm seats, and even the best grandstand seats are no more than $6.00 per person.

In addition, the trip will offer all the fun and food "The Diamond" has to offer its guests.

This year, Express representatives have even challenged us that if we can get a large enough contingent from the chamber for the evening, they might even let GKCC Chairman of the Board Pat Kaufman throw out the first pitch.

Reservations can be made either online or by filling out the order form and returning it to the Express ticket office. Please see the order form for payment options.

Come on out to the ball park (40 miles - and less than $10 of gas - away) and enjoy a game with your friends at the chamber!

Pizza Hut Set To Open New Fort Hood Location, Needs Your Help With Decorations

As Pizza Hut prepares to open their newest area restaurant on Fort Hood, they are asking local residents and business to help decorate the facility to show the sprit of cooperation between the post and the area communities that support it.

Local Pizza Hut General Manager, Julia Zavala, notes that the new restaurant has a good amount of Fort Hood memorabilia, as you would expect, but he'd like to have additional items from the communities.

"As part of the décor in our new building," Zavala noted, "we want to have a “Hometown” section of wall. We already have plenty of Ft. Hood stuff, but I would like to see if anyone could donate a couple of things that would fit that category and could be displayed."

Photographs, framed news articles, local sports memorabilia relating to Fort Hood and other items are all desired.

If you would like to donate items to decorate the walls of the new Pizza Hut restaurant on Fort Hood, contact Zavala at (254) 624-4171 or store manager and GKCC Ambassador Jennifer Hetzel at (254) 634-2839.

Communities In Schools, Bell-Coryell Counties, Inc. would like to announce their upcoming 10^th Annual Ken Morgan Invitational Golf Tournament.

This golf tournament is the only fundraiser that the organization conducts all year in a combined effort to earn monies to help our students and their families.

The tournament will be held Saturday June 14^th at Mill Creek Inn & Golf Club in Salado . Sign In begins at 7:30AM with the Shotgun start beginning promptly at 8:00AM.

Sponsorships are available at several levels. Tournament Sponsorship is $500 and includes 2 free golfers, banner, brochure, t-shirt, and website recognition. Hole Sponsorship is $200 and includes 1 free golfer, Signage on Course, T-shirt and Website Recognition.

There is a $75.00 fee per player. The fee includes green fee, cart, range balls, goodie bag, lunch and cash prizes. First, second and third place teams will be awarded. 

Hole-In-One First Prize will be a 2009 Toyota Corolla, with four opportunities on the course to win.

Communities In Schools is a local, private, non-profit organization dedicated to impacting the lives of children in a positive way, helping them achieve the success they often find unattainable. We are the only non-profit housed on 71 campuses, with a professional staff of 82 caring adults who make problems manageable and solutions possible.

Please contact CIS Executive Director, Mary Erwin Barr, at 254-554-2132 for sign-up or further sponsorship information or a copy of the sign-up brochure.

Donna Bownds Receives 2008 Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award

Donna Bownds, a teacher at Clear Creek Elementary School on the Fort Hood Army base, will be honored with a prestigious Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award for creating and implementing innovative ways to educate students and for making a substantial contribution to learning her community.

As one of four winners nationwide in the Cable Partnerships for Learning category, Bownds is being recognized for partnering with Time Warner Cable to implement “Take a Vet to School Day.” Local veterans visited the school and shared stories about their service, while linking their work in the military and in their current jobs with the learning that is occurring in the classroom. This was a part of a national initiative by The History Channel. The project aims to strengthen ties in the community, bring history to life in classrooms and recognize the contributions of local veterans and their families who must deal with issues associated with deployment. More....

Tuggle

You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Killeen Silver Eagle Luncheon. The Silver Eagle Award given by the Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America is awarded to a leading citizen within the community for achievements and leadership, professionally or as a community volunteer, that have left an enduring impact on the community.  This individual is recognized for modeling the principles and values expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.  

This year's award recipient is Terry Tuggle of Fort Hood National Bank. The awards luncheon will be held at noon on May 22 at the Shilo Inn.

Our leadership and financial support have enabled the local scouting program to continue its growth, expand its camping program, serve at-risk youth, and provide a moral compass to our future generation.  Your attendance will establish the pace for 2008.  Your moral support by attending makes a significant difference.  We welcome you as our guest to this meal.  There is no cost.  We ask only that you attend, learn and consider financially supporting our boys through the programs of the Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America.  This dynamic program will last approximately one hour.  Please RSVP by May 16th to 254-772-8932.

Click for full .pdf image

A free Aloha Festival of Central Texas will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at the Killeen Conference Center, 3601 S. W.S. Young Drive in Killeen.  The festival, sponsored by the Pacific Heights Dance organization, will feature Polynesian dance, live music, international and variety food vendors, history, children’s fun zone, fire truck and ambulance display, arts and crafts, face painting, balloons, kid’s train rides, cultural entertainers from Oklahoma, San Antonio, and the home-based Pacific Heights Express, and many other activities ongoing during the day. 

Entertainers direct from Hawaii, “Mel Amina and 3 Scoops of Aloha will perform during the evening concert at the Conference Ballroom. 

Evening tickets to the concert:  Advance ticket $75 (Premier View) and includes Luau-Style Dinner Show ($80 at the door); $50 (Mid Section) and includes Luau-Style Dinner Show (($55 at the door).  Dinner starts from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a floor show at 7:00 p.m. by Pacific Heights Express.  General Admission (concert only), door will be open at 7:30 p.m. and live in concert “Mel Amina and 3 Scoops of Aloha” direct from Hawaii will come on stage at 8:00 p.m.  Ticket information can be obtained by calling the following numbers (254) 699-0152, 702-0624, 415-9701 or 466-2885.  Tickets can also be obtained at the Fort Hood ITR, 532-5292 or at the Killeen Chamber of Commerce 526-9551.

Central Texas College has a number of special activities and programs set for the upcoming weeks.

For more information on each of these programs, activities and announcements, please click the links below.

CTC speech team members earn national honors

CTC summer semester registration begins

Monday Matinee features kids’ favorite “Cowboy Astronomer”

The first requirement is that all sponsoring or associated entities of events or programs submitted must be members in good standing of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. Items for chamber non-members will not be considered. What can we say? - it's a perk of chamber membership.

All items to be submitted must be in the form of a MS Word or text document. They must be written in news style so they may be pasted into Hot Links! in the format you see throughout the e-newsletter. We are glad to edit for style and grammar; what we simply can't do is take your flyer and write the Hot Links! story for you.

If you have one piece of art to submit with the story, please submit that in a .jpg format.

If you have registration forms, entry blanks, flyers, etc. that go with a news story, please submit them as either Word, Publisher or Adobe Acrobat files. They will be converted to Adobe Acrobat documents and linked to the news story.

Any items not submitted in accordance with these guidelines will not be considered for inclusion. All items must be submitted via e-mail to Thad Byars at the chamber.

Don't Miss the June 6th POWER HOUR!

"Don't be chicken....come to the Power Hour!"

        --- Jen Joy Tsosie, Plucker's Evangelist---

Click here to register for the June 6th Power Hour!

A group of GKCC board members and community leaders talk about the chamber's priorities going into the future.

Chamber Board Retreat Re-Prioritizes Creation of “Place” in Chamber’s Program of Work

The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce has been engaged in addressing the needs of creating “Place,” to be competitive in recruiting companies to locate in Killeen .

At a board retreat, held on May 1, those in attendance acknowledged the importance of creating “Place” when they collectively recommended the Top Six Priorities. Members of the board identified the importance of “Enhance Quality of Place” and suggested this to be the new third Priority on which to focus chamber programs and tasks.

By remembering Rebecca Ryan’s statement from a regional conference held the day before the board retreat, “The next generation’s focus is live first, work second,” the chamber’s Place Design Team hopes to stay on the cutting edge of understanding the needs of the Millennial Generation.

Ryan was the keynote speaker during a regional economic conference hosted by the Central Texas Economic Corridor (CTEC), the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas and TIP Strategies on April 30 at the Central Texas Council of Governments building in Belton

The following list of Priorities will be presented to the board of directors for approval: More.....

Staff and volunteers of the Hay Branch Wooden Nickel General Store celebrates the store's opening.

Hay Branch Elementary School Opens New Wooden Nickel General Store with Help From World Finance Corporation

The Adopt-A-School program of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce opened a new School Store at Hay Branch Elementary on May 1, 2008. 

The school is sponsored by World Finance Corporation.

The Wooden Nickel program for the School Stores is designed to increase volunteers in the school and to encourage exceptional achievement by the students. Parents receive wooden nickels for volunteering within the school and they can exchange the nickels for items such as pencils, flash cards, cleaning products and household items in the school store. 

Contact Heather Nusbaum at the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce if your business is interested in sponsoring one of the Wooden Nickel General Stores in this program.

Thank You for Supporting Your Local Title One Elementary School Wooden Nickel General Store.

The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Public Education Committee – Adopt-A-School Committee and participating schools would like to extend a thank you to all the local businesses who have agreed to sponsor the Wooden Nickel General Store program with donations beginning at $250 per school. 

Over the last year this support has been used to stock items for the General Stores for purchase by students and volunteers with Wooden Nickels earned by volunteering in each elementary school.  This program is a wonderful way to show our young children the pleasure of success in a job well done; along with the pride of earning gifts and supplies for their families.  With this program parents and care givers are also given additional incentives to volunteer in the elementary their children attend. 

More support is needed to allow us to continue operating these General Stores and open the Wooden Nickel General Stores in more of our Title One Elementary Schools.  If your business is interested in sponsoring one of these stores please contact Heather Nusbaum at 254-526-9551

Thank you Fort Hood Family Housing from the volunteers and staff at Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary School and the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Public Education Committee for your 2007-2008 sponsorship of the Wooden Nickel General Store	Thank you Shilo Inn from the volunteers and staff at Brookhaven Elementary School and the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Public Education Committee for your 2007-2008 sponsorship of the Wooden Nickel General Store	Thank you Killeen Veterinary Clinic & CT Council of Governments from the volunteers and staff at Clifton Park Elementary School and the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Public Education Committee for your 2007-2008 sponsorship of the Wooden Nickel General Store

Some of the members of the 2008 Leadership Killeen class take a break after planting roses, putting up signs and sanding the gazebo during the May 3 Farmers Market workday.

Downtown Farmers Market Gets a "New Coat of Paint" Thanks to 2008 Leadership Killeen Class

Spring is in the air; what better way to enjoy it than by beginning with some spring cleaning, and that is exactly what the Leadership Killeen Class of 2008 did on May 3. 

The class put in a full day of work to the Downtown Farmers Market, beginning with a complete clean up of the park.  New flower beds were created and 40 Freedom Roses were planted and mulch was placed around the younger, existing trees. The class performed maintenance on the existing gazebo, which included sanding, replacing a few boards, staining the structure and building a couple of new flower beds in front of it. What a great way to help Killeen and the Farmers Market grow.

The afternoon brought food & entertainment as the community was welcomed for a bite to eat and to enjoy the sounds of live entertainment by the Lohse Family Band. Donations were accepted throughout the day to help the complete of all 4 phases of the project. A special “Thank you” goes out to the Lohse family and Toyota of Killeen for their donation of food and entertainment!

The revitalization of the Farmers Market project has been divided into 4 phases. The class has now completed phase 1. Keep Killeen Beautiful has agreed to then take the project over and with time and much needed funds complete the remaining phases.

If you were unable to attend the event on May 3, 2008 and would still like to make a donation please contact Tammy Sanchez at the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce at (254) 526-9551.   

Members of the Blanco family join with the GKCC Ambassadors for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the Grand Opening of Mi Tierra Restaurant on April 25.

Mi Tierra Restaurant Makes Fine Mexican, Guatemalan and Puerto Rican Dining a Family Affair

"All of the people you see working here are either family, or close enough friends of our family to be family."

That's what owner Jose Blanco of Mi Tierra Restaurant said was the reason the staff at their restaurant was just a little more committed to being the best restaurant in Killeen.

Located at 129 W. Veterans Memorial Blvd., just west of Killeen Glass and Mirror, Mi Tierra has remodeled the facility, tweaked the menu and established a true family atmosphere to make sure their eatery appeals to the widest group of customers around.

When the Ambassadors enjoyed lunch at Mi Tierra on April 25, they tried a little bit of everything, from grilled fajita plates to authentic Mexican dishes to the very special sopapillas. A few even tried some of Jose's very special green hot sauce. Everything was good, and no one went away hungry.

Give Mi Tierra a try today. For more information, you can call them at (254) 634-5655.

The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Would Like to Welcome Its Newest Members!

Members who have joined April 24 - My 7, 2008