The Somerville Chamber of Commerce announced today that State Treasurer Steven Grossman has been scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Chamber’s 66th Annual Dinner and Awards event Wednesday, November 7 at the Boston-Somerville Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street, Somerville.

Steven Grossman was elected Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2010. He spent the previous 35 years creating jobs, managing money, dealing with crises, and finding commonsense solutions to problems as CEO of Grossman Marketing Group in Somerville, a 100-year-old, fourth-generation family business. He grew the company’s revenues eightfold, entering new markets and repositioning the company to meet the challenges of an evolving economy. He is committed to using the full potential of the Treasurer’s office to protect the public’s money, help create jobs, boost small businesses, and bring new standards of transparency and disclosure to state government. Treasurer Grossman will be discussing his priorities and legislative agenda. Afterwards, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Question & Answer session with the Treasurer.

The dinner is the foremost yearly gathering of local business, civic, and community leaders.   The evening will include the 2012 Powderhouse Awards for Excellence. Awards are given for: Distinguished Service; Small Business of the Year; Excellence in Economic Development;  Excellence in Public Service; Excellence in Dining & Nightlife; Business Neighbor of the Year; Green Business Award; Non Profit of the Year; and Lifetime Achievement.

Telecommunications Insight Group and Bunker Hill Community College are the major sponsors.  The reception, sponsored by Federal Realty Investment Trust and East Cambridge Savings Bank, begins at 6:30 p.m., with dinner, lead off sponsor Cambridge Savings Bank, at 7:30 p.m..  Tickets for Chamber Members are $100 per person, $800 per table of eight guests.  Non-members pay $150 per person with $1200 for a table of eight guests.  Sponsorships and reservations for the reception and dinner may made by contacting Tim O’Malley 617-776-4100, tim@somervillechamber.org

The Chamber is Somerville’s premier business organization.  The Chamber monitors local and state issues that affect the local business community and advocates for businesses large and small.  It has been deeply involved with the redevelopment of Assembly Square, the Green Line extension project, and planning and zoning issues in and around the Innerbelt, McGrath, Union Square, Boynton Yards and Somerville Avenue.  The Chamber’s Dining & Nightlife Group has been instrumental in the development of Somerville’s metropolitan appeal.   Throughout the year, the Chamber produces outstanding business community networking events such as the Taste of Somerville, Oktoberfest, and the Business After Hours series.  The Chamber also produces an annual membership directory and maintains an online local products and services search engine called CommercePedia.