Chamber Updates

Daylight Saving Time Daylight savings kicked in on Sunday morning, and that means we all lost an hour of time and maybe even an hour of sleep. If your workday is starting off a little slow, you’re probably not alone, but the time change can also lead to positive change for business. With daylight saving…

Understanding Tariffs and Potential Business Impacts After a brief pause in February to negotiate on issues related to border security, President Trump has indicated that new tariffs will now go into effect on Tuesday. Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on imported goods, aiming to protect domestic industries by making foreign products more expensive.…

Business Advocacy at the State Level Later this week, I’ll join a group of business and community leaders from throughout Southeast Missouri in Jefferson City, connecting with state leaders on a variety of topics and issues important to business in our region. Advocating at the state level can be a critical part of supporting business…

New Development Project Announced in Scott City Economic Development is often viewed as a marathon because the work may take time to pay off. Development of the SEMO Industrial Park in Scott City over the past few years has taken time and significant resources from both the private developers, as well as the community and…

Preparing for Disruption Last week, an unexpected memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent many into panic as a freeze on Federal grant and loan funds was announced. While the order was rescinded before going into effect, it certainly has leaders examining what the potential impact could have been. In…

Jumping into the World of AI Some days it can be difficult finding the right things to say or the right image you want to share. With the continuing advancement of technology, some of the newest tools can help get you from being stuck to unstuck quickly. As technology continues to evolve, artificial intelligence (AI)…

Lessons for Business from Dr. King Today is the third Monday in January, and since November 2, 1983, we recognize this day each year as a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While some businesses are closed and others are open today, all business leaders have an opportunity to reflect on…

Preparing your Business for Inclement Weather Ice Storms, Snow storms, wildfires in California, and we haven’t even thought about spring yet! Inclement weather can disrupt businesses, posing challenges such as operational downtime and safety risks, but with proper planning everyone can be ready for when the forecast changes. Weather conditions can seemingly change overnight and…

New Year, New Ideas, New Business! 2025 is officially underway, and that means a new year of opportunity. If your New Year’s resolution includes new challenges like starting a business, then the upcoming Early-Stage Business Boot Camp is a great place to start! Returning to our region with two options to kick-off 2025, the Early-Stage…

New Year, New Resolutions? The end of 2024 is upon us and that means focus is shifting to 2025. The new year is a perfect time to reflect, reset, and plan for growth. Just like personal resolutions, your business can benefit from thoughtful goals to set the stage for success. Business planning, goals, or resolutions…