Chamber Updates

Road Construction Benefits Business The temperatures are warming up and the detour signs and orange cones are out in force, meaning construction season is underway. While this can certainly feel like a hassle when it disrupts your normal commuting patterns, continued investment in our infrastructure is good for business. Street improvements play a pivotal role…

Planting the Seeds of Entrepreneurship this Summer We are just one week into the summer season and the classic cries of “I’m bored” are starting to creep into households across the region. If the kids are older, encouraging them to find a job can be a terrific way to fill the summer void. But for…

Workforce Opportunities with Veterans Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of our nation. While reflecting on Veteran’s service and those that have made the ultimate sacrifice today, I also think it’s important to remember the value that service men and women can bring to your business as…

Professional Development is Good for Business One often overlooked yet incredibly powerful strategy to improve business performance is to invest in professional development for employees. While it may require resources upfront, the return on investment can make it a savvy choice for businesses of all sizes. While the benefits of professional development to business can…

Ready, Fire, Aim Planning can often be a frustrating and time-consuming process that feels unnecessary or of low priority. For some leaders when you already have an end goal or desired outcome in mind, taking time to work on the idea with your team or partners can seem unimportant. If your goal is to hit…

Student Perspectives and a Welcoming Community Last Friday, the Cape Chamber hosted a panel of students at or near the end of their academic careers here at SEMO and Mineral Area College. The goal of the conversation was to learn more about what attracted them to the area, how they were engaged, and what strategies…

New FTC Rule on Non-Compete will be challenged Last Tuesday, in a 3 -2 vote, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued the Non-Compete Clause Rule (“the final rule”), that would effectively eliminate millions of business agreements currently in place, pending litigation fighting against the rule. In its rule release issued April 23, the FTC stated, “The final…

Codefi Launches Innovate SOMO Funds Codefi, a leading venture and tech-based development organization based in Cape Girardeau announced last week a pioneering new hybrid venture capital model that will blends seed funding and venture philanthropy to support startup growth across Southern Missouri. Innovate SOMO Funds are the latest in a series of developments led by…

Business Development is Strong in Southeast Missouri The start of April brought with it the opening of the newest hotel property in Cape Girardeau, the Riverview Hotel at the Century Casino. This is just one of several large commercial investments underway in the region that will help improve the overall quality of life and add…

Economic Impact from Eclipse Tourism It’s finally here! Eclipse day 2024 and with-it thousands of umbraphiles, or eclipse chasers will descend on the Southeast Missouri region. While I am sure some of the locals will be grumbling about traffic and crowded restaurants, the economic benefit to our area businesses and the communities overall will be…