Chamber Updates

Why Clustering like Businesses Works Have you ever wondered why some areas seem to be a hotspot for similar businesses? Several restaurants in the same neighborhood, jewelry stores on the same block, or even similar business models opening in the same community. It’s not just coincidence – it’s called clustering, and it’s a game-changer for…

4th Quarter Economic Growth Last week, the Commerce Department reported that U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by a seasonally and inflation adjusted annualized rate of 3.3%, more than double the 1.5% expected by most economist. Positive economic news is a good start to the new year but it’s important for businesses to understand what…

Corporate Transparency Act Requires Action from Business New Year’s Day started the clock on a new Federal Law requiring many business entities in the United States to file Beneficial Ownership Information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury. While the initial filing deadline is the end of the…

Inspiring Business Leaders with Lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15, 2024, marks the 95th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. Today is also the third Monday in January, and since November 2, 1983, we recognize this day each year as a national holiday in his honor. While some businesses are…

An Opportunity to Bounce Your Big Idea! Have you ever encountered a problem or an issue at work and thought there should be a technical solution to this problem? Do you have ideas for an application or technical concept that could be a business but don’t know where to start? Thanks to a new program…

Have a S.M.A.R.T. New Year It’s the official start of a New Year as we step in to 2024 and many businesses are setting plans for 2024 into motion. One way to help ensure a good year is to be S.M.A.R.T. in your goal-setting process. First introduced in an article by George T. Doran in…

Christmas Holiday It’s December 25th and I want to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! While most business activity is taking the holiday, there is still a segment of our business and public works that are spending their days working and today we want to recognize their efforts. While it seems like everyone is…

Year End Business Review The start of 2024 is only two weeks away, and a new year means new opportunities for business. Before we start focusing on future goals, now is a great time to reflect on 2023 and do a quick business or organizational review. While a year-end review can be very detailed and…

Graduation and Keeping Alumni Local This Saturday, December 16, 2023, Southeast Missouri State will hold it’s fall commencement with more than 850 students expected to complete their degrees and move into the workforce. We have talked many times about the impact that students have on the local and regional economy but today we will focus…