Chamber Updates

What Does the Fed Rate Cut Mean for Business Last Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced it would be cutting the federal funds interest rate by 50 basis points, the first cut the Federal Reserve has made since March 2020. While this is just the beginning, the cut may create several opportunities for businesses.…

Celebrating American Business Women’s Day This coming Sunday, September 22, 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…

Transportation Key to Business Growth Last week I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with several community and business leaders in the region to talk about some access limitations for transportation here in our area. While there is no easy solution to solving complex transportation planning issues, it is certainly an important conversation to…

A Workforce in Flux Formally established in 1894, Labor Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September each year. “Labor” is a key part of our regional economy and critical for business success, today is a wonderful day to reflect on that. Historically, Labor Day started as a recognition of “Organized…

Ozarks Startup Weekend Designers, developers, and entrepreneurs, now is your opportunity to shine and turn concept into action with the Ozarks Starup Weekend event next month in Springfield. The Ozarks Startup Weekend, hosted by Codefi, is an intense 54-hour event designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs to bring their startup ideas to life. Scheduled for September 13-15,…

Next Stop, the Windy City The new terminal at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, code CGI begins operating this week and will be a nice new change for passengers. But the new terminal isn’t all that is new as CGI announces a change to air service and a return to the Windy City for Cape area…

Changing U.S. Labor Laws Two new changes to U.S. Labor Law may impact some business budgeting and staffing. Now is a great time for businesses to learn more and adjust their plans and practices moving forward. The first change in Labor laws took effect on July 1st, and updates limits and requirements on overtime pay.…

Entrepreneurs Wanted Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any community and a driving force for the local economy. Through the variety of locally owned businesses, communities develop their own unique identity. If you have ever thought there is a need or an opportunity for a new or different business concept here in Southeast Missouri, now may…

Preparing for Back to School Missouri Tax Free weekend takes place August 2-4 in 2024 and helps kick-off the back-to-school shopping season for families and students in Missouri. For business, now is a great time to connect with a new audience of shoppers. With students at all levels just a few weeks away from starting…