Chamber Updates

Fall Back, Reset and Close Out Strong Well, here we are Monday morning after the glorious “Fall Back.” Hopefully everyone enjoyed that elusive, once-a-year gift of an extra hour this weekend! For many of us, it translated to a much-needed second snooze, a longer dog walk, or maybe even an extra hour trying to figure…

Codefi to Host Missouri’s First Vibeathon in Joplin AI Technology and the rise of Large Language Models or LLMs as tools accessible to all has created a new trend in technical problem solving called “Vibe Coding.” Codefi is set to host the very first Vibeathon in Missouri next month and you’re invited to participate. Codefi…

Latest Release of Federal Reserve Beige Book Offers Insights for Business As the CEO of your Chamber of Commerce, I often focus on equipping our business community with the clearest possible picture of the economic landscape. One of the most insightful tools we monitor is the Federal Reserve Bank’s Beige Book. Published eight times a…

An Opportunity for Small Business Owners in 2026 Are you a small business owner who is ready to grow to the next level? The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is now expanding to rural Missouri, offering an incredible opportunity for growth-minded entrepreneurs. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program provides MBA-level business education designed…

What Does a Federal Government Shutdown Mean for Business? For the 20th time since 1976, the U.S. federal government has “shut down” after Congress failed to pass a funding bill to start the new fiscal year. Understanding how this may impact your operations is an important part of business. Federal government shutdowns can create significant challenges…

Applications opening for Missouri One Start Program If you are a business leader here in Southeast Missouri, you already know one of the best investments you can make is in your most valuable asset: your employees. The next application period for the Missouri One Start Credential Training Program opens on Wednesday and is an opportunity…

Celebrating American Business Women’s Day Today, September 22nd is American Business Women’s Day, a holiday recognizing the founding of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) in 1949. According to a 2021 article titled Research: Adding Women to the C-Suite Changes How Companies Think published online by Harvard business Review that is a good thing. The ABWA has…

What to watch for at the Federal Reserve Meeting this week The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets for two days starting tomorrow with a big topic for discussion and possible action. While these discussions might seem far removed, their outcomes directly influence our local economy here in Southeast Missouri. The major topic…

The Importance of Community Networking for Business In an increasingly digital world, it’s easy to think that business can be conducted entirely online. While social media and email have their place, the real power of business growth lies in in-person connections. This is especially true for our thriving business community right here in Southeast Missouri.…

Labor Day and Labor Markets As we return from another Labor Day weekend, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the meaning of this holiday. It was created to honor the contributions of American workers—the people who built our country and continue to drive its progress. Today, that legacy is more important than ever as…