Chamber Updates

Preparing Your Business for Back to School Season It’s August and that means our attention is turning to the end of summer and the back-to-school season that is on its way. Now is the time for areas businesses to get prepared for this seasonal transition. With students at all levels just a few weeks away…

Growing International Enrollment at SEMO The fall semester is just around the corner and SEMO is expecting to see a record number of International Students enrolled this year. That is certainly great news for the University and the community, but businesses should be aware of rules that can affect their ability to work while in…

Sports Tourism in the Cape Region The Sports Tourism market is projected to expand from $1.4 Billion in 2018 to $2.9 Billion by 2028 there is a great market for growth which can benefit the Cape Girardeau region for years to come. Many people hear the term “sports tourism” and they think of traveling to…

Election Season and Business Advocacy Election season is upon us, and the ads, mailers and yard signs are impossible to miss. As a business leader in your community raising your voice in advocacy on policy issues can be critical to long-term success. Engaging in the political process as a business leader can sometimes be challenging…

Independence Day, Freedom and Entrepreneurship July 4th marked the 246th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A document and message that set our nation on a new course. While we take today as a holiday to celebrate our nations freedom, now is an exciting time to think about how entrepreneurship can be a…

Road Construction is Good for Business Summer is the height of construction season and while those orange cones and signs can sometimes be a pain to navigate, the benefits of investment in transportation infrastructure is good for business. As we work toward the middle of summer and the upcoming Independence Day weekend, travel will be…

Protecting Employees During Summer Heat Temperatures remain, don’t forget to think about the impact that may have on your employees as they try to stay cool and productive. With temperatures in the area expected to break into the one-hundred-degree range this week, the threat of heat stress in the workplace will be very high. It’s…

Compensation Transparency & Hiring Microsoft announced that they will start including salary ranges in all job postings starting no later than January 2023, will this start a trend for more transparency in compensation? Microsoft’s announcement last week that they will begin including salary ranges on all job postings both internal and external was largely seen…

Returning to the Office Tesla is bringing everyone back to the office full-time. The question is, how will the employees respond and how can that response guide business planning for the future? Last week Elon Musk emailed the Tesla organization telling employees that they must start working at least 40 hours per week in the…