Enter the 2013 High Noon Chili Cook-Off

Calling all chili fans! Register by Thursday, May 9 for the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and Howdy Pardner Ambassador Club 2013 High Noon Chili Cook-Off set for Sunday, May 19 from 12:00-3:00pm.  

Local chili aficionados are invited to show off their skill and enter the contest. There are categories for individuals and for businesses. Chili may be hot and spicy or mild and flavorful. It could be meaty or vegetarian and green or red. But it must taste the best to win top honors. Rain or shine, Town Square is the place to be! A refreshing selection of beer and other beverages will also be available to cool tasters' palates. For more information, please contact Rachel Eden Reich, Events Coordinator, rachel@jacksonholechamber.com or 307.201.2309.

2012 Professional Category Honors

First Place – Town Square Tavern

Second Place – Sweetwater

People’s Choice – The Wort

2012 Amateur Category Honors

First Place – Vom Fass

Second Place – The Showstoppers

People’s Choice – The Showstoppers

Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 9. The High Noon Chili Cook-Off, held the Sunday of ElkFest weekend, draws local residents and visitors into the community while celebrating the culture and heritage of Jackson Hole! ElkFest is traditionally held the third weekend in May and is followed by Old West Days. To see a complete schedule of events, please visit www.jacksonholechamber.com/events.

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The Wyoming Business Alliance Economic Outlook Tour: Featuring Esther George

The Wyoming Business Alliance Economic Outlook will be held in Jackson on Friday, May 10 from 12:00-2:00pm at the Snow King Resort in the Grand Room. 

The luncheon will feature Esther George, President/CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City. The community is invited to hear a financial expert's perspective on the future of the economy and its impact on Wyoming. Registration is $30.00 including lunch. For more information, please click here.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan Open House: Thursday

Attend the community open house!

The Teton Area Wildfire Protection Coalition (TAWPC), the interagency working group developed to enhance a comprehensive, collaborative approach to community wildland fire protection, is hosting an open house on Thursday, April 18 from 6:00-9:00pm at the Jackson Hole Middle School. The community is invited to learn about the plan and about how individuals can help prevent wildfires. Please contact Jackson Hole Fire/EMS at 307.732.8500 for more information.

TAWPC focuses on using diverse backgrounds and viewpoints to implement fuels projects to benefit the community. The coalition's specific objectives are to educate citizens about steps to mitigate wildland fire, provide technical review of fuel reduction and forest stewardship plans, and facilitate funding opportunities for wildland fire fuels management projects. All TAWPC meetings are open to the public. Please visit www.tetonwyo.org/fire to view the current plan.

Progress: Opening Yellowstone!

The Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Joint Powers Board and the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce have pledged $70,000 to open Yellowstone National Park. The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce is currently working with Members and community partners to help buy-down the investment to open Yellowstone on time and promote the news to potential visitors who are planning summer vacations. For more information, please visit www.jacksonholechamber.com/OpenYellowstone.   

The effort has gained local and national attention. KIFI in Idaho Falls aired "Plowing begins on time for Yellowstone's south entrance" on Tuesday evening. The segment featured Chamber CEO/President Jeff Golightly and Chair Jim Waldrop. Find the video online!  

Wyoming Office of Tourism is also working to amplify the efforts and are running the Yellowstone or Bust Sweepstakes. Visit www.wyomingtourism.org/yellowstoneorbust to guess the date and time when WYDOT and Yellowstone National Park plows meet to be entered in the sweepstakes for a free iPad. 

The Chamber was on hand to thank the crews who got to work on Monday morning.

Read "Your Chamber Quarterly!"

"Your Chamber Quarterly," the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce newsletter, was published in the April 3 Jackson Hole News&Guide. Download the pdf here or pick up extra copies at the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Administrative Offices, 112 Center Street. Learn more about Yellowstone or Bust, upcoming events, the Howdy Pardners, and more! For more information about "Your  Chamber Quarterly," please contact Kate Foster, Communications Manager, kate@jacksonholechamber.com or 307.201.2304.

Women in Business Roundtable

The Teton County Roundtable Program is a FREE monthly informational and networking luncheon for the local business women of the community.

April's program will be held on Wednesday, April 10 from 11:45am-1:00pm at First Interstate Bank's Commercial Loan Building training room, located at 802 West Broadway (downstairs). Lunch will be donated and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The featured program will be from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services with Savannah Verde and Jamie Critelli. Topics will include Wyoming at Work, the Youth Job Fair set for May 1, and Workforce Development Training Funds. Visit www.wyomingworkforce.org.

For more information, please contact co-facilitators Jen Christensen and Bridget Meyer at jlc.christensen@gmail.com and bridgetpmeyer@gmail.com.