Posts by rgilligan_robgilligan

Show Me Network Week & The AI Revolution Next month, Missouri’s entrepreneurial spirit takes center stage as May 4th through the 8th will be the inaugural Show-Me Network Week. Held in conjunction with National Small Business Week, this statewide event highlights the modern pathways founders are taking to grow businesses across every corner of Missouri. Led by…

Building the Future of a Regional Healthcare Workforce Last week, Southeast Missouri State University took a monumental step in securing our regional workforce by breaking ground on the Roy Blunt Health Professions Hall. This 55,000-square-foot facility is more than just a new addition to campus—it is a critical investment in the future of Cape Girardeau.…

Beyond the Books: Why Financial Literacy Matters for the Whole Team April is National Financial Literacy Month, and while we often associate “financial literacy” with personal savings or tax prep, it’s also a vital business asset. For a local economy like Cape Girardeau’s to thrive, we need more than just profitable companies, we need fiscally…

Preparing for the Storm: A Tornado Season Checklist for Business As we move into April, Southeast Missouri enters the heart of tornado season. While we hope for calm skies, professional preparedness is a non-negotiable responsibility for every business. A solid plan doesn’t just protect your physical assets, it protects your most valuable resource, your people.…

Global Energy Shifts – What it Means to the Local Economy The ongoing conflict in Iran and recent strikes on energy infrastructure are more than just international headlines. They are already beginning to ripple through the global economy, leading to a rise in fuel and natural gas prices. Because energy is the “hidden ingredient” in…

Planting for the Future: Why Mentorship is Our Best Local Investment As we edge closer to spring, the conversations in our business community often turn to growth. Usually, we think of “growth” in terms of square footage, new equipment, or annual revenue. But if we apply the concept of Economic Gardening to our most valuable…

Celebrating 50 Years! Why Recognizing Milestones Matters In the daily grind of business, it is easy to focus solely on the next goal. But this past week, we had a powerful reminder of why we must occasionally pause. The Chamber had the honor of hosting a 50th Anniversary celebration and ribbon cutting for KRCU Public…

Revitalizing the SEARS Grand Site Exciting news for the Cape Girardeau business community! Tonight, Monday, March 2, the Cape Girardeau City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and move forward with a redevelopment agreement for the former Sears Grand building and surrounding area. This project, led by Drury Development Corporation, represents a significant…

New SCOTUS Ruling on Tariffs Means More Changes on International Trade Coming In a significant 6-3 decision on February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the administration’s broad use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs. This ruling has immediate and profound implications for our business community here…

From Cape to Statewide: Codefi’s AI Powered Evolution It has been just over a decade since Codefi first opened its doors in downtown Cape Girardeau, sparked by a mission to prove that world-class tech innovation doesn’t require a Silicon Valley zip code. Today, we are thrilled to celebrate a massive milestone for this homegrown organization:…