Little Rock chosen as one of ten great Southern downtowns – big and small – that are worth a visit
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock’s history has certainly captured the world stage in recent years for two particular markers: the opening of the Clinton Library, housing the papers and items belonging to President William J. Clinton, and the anniversary of the Little Rock Nine and their attempt to enter Central High School in 1957. The two attractions draw thousands of visitors from around the world.
Some of the “can't miss” things to do in Little Rock are in the River Market area. The Old State House (the current Capitol Building is downtown, too) and Heifer International call this area home. The Historic Arkansas Museum is located there as well. Visitors to La Petit Roche Plaza at Riverfront Park can even see the little rock the city is named after. Downtown also hosts the Arkansas Arts Center and the MacArthur Museum of Military History.
See more: Southern Business & Development
Northern Kentucky Chamber head disappointed that no gubernatorial debates taking place in northern, eastern or western Kentucky
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and former Secretary of State Trey Grayson is unhappy that there will be no gubernatorial debates held in northern Kentucky.
It was announced that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Attorney General Jack Conway and GOP nominee Matt Bevin will participate in five debates beginning this Friday at the County Judge-Executives/Magistrates Conference in Louisville.
The gubernatorial candidates are also scheduled to meet at Kentucky Farm Bureau’s “Measure the Candidates” event July 23; a debate hosted by WAVE-TV and AARP at Centre College Oct. 6; a forum held by WLKY-TV, WKYT-TV and the Kentucky League of Women Voters at Eastern Kentucky University Oct. 25; and Kentucky Educational Television’s “Kentucky Tonight” Oct. 26.
Conway and Bevin will also attend the Fancy Farm picnic Aug. 1.
House Majority Caucus Chairwoman Sannie Overly, Conway’s running mate, will debate Republican lieutenant governor nominee Jenean Hampton on “Kentucky Tonight” Oct. 19.
Grayson feels that it’s important to appear in all regions of the state because different areas have different issues which results in different questions during the debates. Read more: myCN2.com
Arlington Chamber beats fundraising goal
Final figures are not yet in, but the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 capital campaign appears to be a record-beater.
The “Opportunity Works” campaign brought in $261,859 in cash and pledges as of June 18, above its goal of $252,015.
As of June 18, the three highest
producers in the campaign have been David Shooshan of TMI Inc.; Kevin
Shooshan of the Shooshan Co.; and Bob Hawthorne of United Bank.
Top producers are eligible to participate in a “victory trip” to St. Thomas in October. Read more: Inside NOVA
Ten Best Places to Start a Business in Illinois --- #4-#6
Climate of collaboration
The collaborative spirit boosts the business climate, which is especially strong in the suburbs and small communities surrounding Chicago. Entrepreneurs’ attitudes toward business also helps, Rosa says.“We’re more interested in commerce, business and revenue production than probably either coast that’s in this Internet world, where it’s important to grow rapidly without much regard to business models,” Rosa says.
With Chicago area businesses placing a greater focus on the fundamentals, he says, “some of the businesses we create seem to be more sustainable.” The state is home to major company headquarters, making it great for B2B companies, Rosa adds.
Illinois, especially Chicago, has a number of universities, which are a source of entrepreneurial talent. Many graduates used to relocate to the West Coast, but Rosa says more are choosing to stay in Illinois and start businesses.
NerdWallet’s analysis
NerdWallet analyzed 285 places in Illinois, each with a population of at least 5,000. We calculated the overall score for every location based on the city’s business climate and economic health using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Learn more about our methodology at the end of this article.Key takeaways
Chicago suburbs win. The 10 top places on our list are in northern Illinois, with all but one, Peru, clustered around Chicago. Almost all of the top spots are in suburban Chicago, located from 15 to 30 miles from downtown.Smaller communities succeed. Five of the top 10 places on our list have populations under 10,000. The municipality with the largest population, Elk Grove Village, is home to just over 33,000 people.
Best places to start a business in Illinois
4. Countryside
Countryside is the second-smallest town in the top 10 by population (a little fewer than 6,000 residents), but it has the second-highest number of businesses with paid employees (53%). The Countryside Business Association, a nonprofit, member-based organization, aims to foster a great business environment in the area and help local businesses connect with the community. Countryside, in Cook County, is one of eight communities that participate in the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, another resource to help businesses collaborate and grow. Countryside is also the second-most affordable town among those in the top 10 spots, with a median monthly housing cost of $955.5. Peru
Peru is the only city in the top 10 outside of the Chicago area — about 100 miles from the Windy City. Since it’s far from Chicago, housing is the most affordable of our top 10 places (the median monthly housing cost is $702). Peru also has the largest number of businesses with paid employees (61%). Peru and nearby LaSalle are in the Illinois Valley, and businesses in the region have access to resources and development opportunities through the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.6. Deerfield
About 25 miles north of Chicago, Deerfield is where Walgreens, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, the Baxter health care company and other large companies are headquartered. Deerfield businesses can access networking and growth opportunities through the DBR Chamber of Commerce, which also supports the communities of Bannockburn and Riverwoods. The average median income in Deerfield is the fourth highest of the top 10, at nearly $103,000. Read more: Nerd WalletBridgeman Chamber interest: Lake Michigan Wine Festival This Weekend
A wide variety of southwest Michigan wines will be front and center this weekend at the Lake Michigan Wine Festival in Bridgman. The event is celebrating its tenth year, and Calli Berg, with the Bridgman Chamber of Commerce, says that the fun this Saturday will include live entertainment from five bands, beer, mingling, and of course, the wines. Read more: WSJM.com
Beaver Dam chamber honored by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently received a plaque commemorating their efforts to make Beaver Dam one of the first Future Wisconsin cities.
The Future Wisconsin Project is an effort started in 2014 by the WMC Foundation and the WMC to create a comprehensive 20-year plan for Wisconsin that will address such things as quality of life, economic development and workforce.
WMC Foundation President Jim Morgan provided the chamber board with a brief update on Future Wisconsin Project progress, then presented the board with the plaque. Read more: WiscNews.com
Linton-Stockton Chamber interest: American Pickers are coming to Indiana
The History Channel television show American Pickers will be coming to Indiana July 6 through 19, and have asked area chambers of commerce for their help to guide hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz to locations that have antiques and collectibles.
On Wednesday afternoon, Executive Director of the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce Cheryl Hamilton was contacted by Cineflix Productions, the production company that produces American Pickers.
"They will be in Eastern Illinois/Western Indiana July 6-19 and are looking for places to film. They are asking us to help spread the word," Hamilton said.
Hamilton added that the American Pickers are looking for locations that have a large collection and great characters.
"He stressed folks who have an accumulation of items in buildings, barns, basements, etc. Wouldn't it be great if they located someone in Greene County to visit?"Read more: Green County Daily World
Monroe County Chamber assistance: United Furniture Industries Locates Distribution Hub In Wren, Mississippi
An upholstered furniture manufacturer that is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of Simmons Upholstery, United Furniture Industries is locating distribution operations in the former Lane Furniture distribution facility in Wren, Mississippi.
The project will create 50 new jobs at the Wren location, as well as 50 new manufacturing jobs throughout United Furniture’s Amory, Nettleton, and Okolona, Mississippi, facilities. United Furniture currently maintains operations in several Mississippi locations, including Amory, Hatley, Nettleton, Okolona, Vardaman and Verona. The company employs more than 2,000 workers throughout these locations.
“United is proud of its presence in Northeast Mississippi and looks forward to this expansion and growing its footprint in Monroe County,” said United Furniture COO Doug Hanby. “The purchase of the 500,000-square-foot Wren Distribution Center will allow United to expand manufacturing operations across Monroe, Chickasaw and Lee counties.” Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project for infrastructure improvements. Tennessee Valley Authority also provided assistance.
“United Furniture is a valued business partner to the state of Mississippi and continues to demonstrate its commitment to the state and the communities in which it is located through new investment and job creation,” Governor Phil Bryant said. “The company is truly a shining example of the growth and success companies enjoy in Mississippi, and I thank the United Furniture team for locating these operations in Wren and providing new job opportunities for the region’s workforce.”
“This expansion by United Furniture marks the company’s second this year, and it will be the company’s seventh facility in Northeast Mississippi. That speaks volumes about the people found in Mississippi, and it demonstrates to the world that we have the business environment and productive workforce needed for success in today’s global economy,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough. “MDA is grateful for the teamwork of Tennessee Valley Authority, the Monroe County Board of Supervisors, and the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, which assisted United Furniture in choosing to locate these distribution operations in Wren.” Read more: Area Development
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