​The Temple business community recently gathered to elevate their social media skills with a Half-Day Digital Bootcamp, held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn – Temple. Organized under the Small Business Connect initiative by the Temple Chamber of Commerce, the event aimed to empower small business owners with social media strategies for Facebook and Instagram.
 
The seminar began promptly at 8:00 am with a warm breakfast, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful learning and networking. Attendees received printed materials to guide them through the half-day sessions, ensuring they had the necessary resources to make the most of the training.
 
Amanda Robinson, Founder & CEO of The Digital Gal Inc. and a Meta Certified Lead Trainer, flew in from British Columbia, Canada, to lead the boot camp with her extensive knowledge and engaging presentation style. The first session, titled Creative Optimization for Facebook and Instagram, provided a deep dive into crafting and optimizing engaging content for these platforms. Amanda shared best practices for content creation and demonstrated how to use the Meta Business Suite to test and iterate performance. Attendees left this session with an understanding of how to identify tools and creative formats that build a strong community on Facebook and Instagram, as well as strategies for increasing business awareness through posts, Stories, Reels, and Live videos.
 
After a brief intermission, the second session, Instagram Deep Dive: Designing and Optimizing Your Instagram, delved into the creative features of the platform. Amanda revealed innovative techniques for engaging audiences through impactful posts, Stories, and Reels. Participants learned how to create visually appealing content that aligns with their brand identity and target audience, develop effective caption-writing techniques, and incorporate their brand tone of voice into their Instagram content.
 
The seminar was not only a learning experience but also an opportunity for local business owners to network and share best practices. The hands-on approach and real-world examples provided by Amanda Robinson made the sessions impactful, equipping attendees with actionable insights to enhance their social media strategies.
 
As part of the Small Business Connect initiative, launched in 2023 by the Temple Chamber of Commerce, this boot camp exemplified its mission to resource small business owners with expert training to accelerate and enhance their businesses. The positive feedback from participants underscored the event’s success and the value of the knowledge gained.
 
This half-day digital boot camp was graciously provided by Meta and supported by the 2024 Small Business Connect sponsors--Extraco Banks, Hilton Garden Inn-Temple, Ludwick, Montgomery & Stapp, P.C., and McLane Intelligent Solutions. The Chamber looks forward to continuing its support of local businesses through more events and training sessions under the Small Business Connect initiative.
 
For those who missed the event, stay tuned to the Temple Chamber Facebook page and website, www.templechamber.com, for future opportunities to participate in these transformative events designed to take your business to the next level.

The Rotary Club of Temple, the Rotary Club of Temple-South, Temple College, and the Temple Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the completion of the third cohort of Launch Temple. Six aspiring entrepreneurs graduated from the 10-week program on July 16, 2024.
 
Launch Temple is part of the LaunchMyCity family of programs, modeled after LaunchDETROIT (Michigan) and LaunchRALEIGH (North Carolina).
 
LaunchMyCity is a program of Rotary International, the community service and global humanitarian organization located in over 200 countries. The program strives to develop successful entrepreneurs by expanding access to comprehensive business training and financial and business resources.
 
Launch Temple is a collaborative effort between the two Temple Rotary Clubs, Temple College and the Temple Chamber of Commerce, which provides training, mentorship, and networking to cultivate local entrepreneurs.
 
The program is offered at no cost to qualified applicants and held at Temple College. The curriculum is derived through LaunchMyCity, with Temple College staff providing instruction.
 
James Skinner, MBA, Director of Adult Education and Literacy at Temple College instructed the 10-week program. The program has training sessions with topics including Business Models, Market Research, Funding, Legal Strategy, Marketing and Branding. The participants walk away with a complete business plan to help them navigate the journey of an entrepreneur.
 
Some of the program participants did so to strengthen an existing business. Others participated to gain a great foundation to start their business on the right foot.
 
The Temple Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the graduates of the third cohort of Launch Temple!
 
The six Launch Temple Graduates are:
 

• Cassie Edwards
  Purple Learning Crowns
  
  
• Anorea Hill
  Let’s Eat: Losing Weight on a Budget Book Series
  
  
• Laci Landry
  Wealthwave
  
  
• Krystle Moore
  Wise Owl Adult Tutoring
  
  
• Lee Peterson
  Peterson VO
  
  
• Anna Pineda
  ​Vida Y Danza

 
For more information visit www.LaunchTemple.com.

The Temple Chamber of Commerce is excited to host the fourth annual Polar Texas Bottling Summer Sizzle “Seltzer”. The event takes place on Friday, August 16, 2024, in the Santa Fe Plaza, 301 Santa Fe Way, in Temple. This free, family-friendly community event is a fantastic way to end the summer ​and enjoy Downtown Temple.  It is an evening of live music, food trucks, an outdoor market, and fun for the entire family from 6:00 - 9:30 pm.
 
Polar Texas Bottling is bringing the “Chill” to Summer Sizzle “Seltzer” sharing their New England roots with Central Texas.
 
Founded in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1882 by a savvy bartender, Denis Crowley recognized an opportunity in carbonation as Prohibition began to rumble in New England. He crafted what he considered the best-tasting bubble recipe and began selling sparkling beverages from a horse-drawn carriage.
 
Today, Polar Beverages remains owned and operated by the Crowley family’s fourth and fifth generations, under the leadership of President and CEO Ralph Crowley Jr. They are the largest independent beverage company in the United States. They are purveyors of premium quality sparkling beverages, including Polar® Seltzer, heritage sodas, and Polar Orange Dry®.
 
Food trucks and vendors for the outdoor market will be set up along Santa Fe Way and in the Plaza beginning at 6:00 pm. Live music by Members Only 80’s cover band will begin at 7:30 pm in the Plaza Greens. Lawn chairs or blankets are welcome to use while enjoying the music.
 
Members Only is a 80's cover band located deep in the heart of Texas.  Their high energy performances and love of 80's music make for an epic evening of singing and dancing.  Their musicianship is exceptional, and their vocalists have been called the songbirds of their generation.
 
Summer Sizzle “Seltzer” is proudly supported by Polar Texas Bottling, McLane Company, Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors, Reynolds Consumer Products, and Ludwick, Montgomery & Stapp, PC.
 
Polar Beverages invites you to sip into their world on August 16, 2024, at this free, family-friendly event. Vendor spaces are available for food trucks and the outdoor market. Visit templechamber.com/summerseltzer for more information.