The upcoming chamber luncheon will focus on economic uncertainty and will feature a panel discussion organized by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Small Business Development Center. The chamber has been hosting various events, including a successful women's conference that raised funds for scholarships. They also recently sponsored the NUME conference, which brought together over 150 manufacturers from around the state. The chamber is known for its focus on manufacturing, which plays a crucial role in the local economy of Cache Valley [19f21681].
In a recent event, the Shelby County Chamber hosted the ninth annual Shelby County Business Outlook Conference and the Chamber's 43rd Annual Meeting. During the conference, a panel of four individuals shared their outlook on the future of Shelby County. The panel consisted of Central State Bank CEO Mitt Schroeder, Scotty Myers of EXP Commercial, Director of Nursing at the Shelby Baptist Medical Center Rudy Sandel, and CEO of SEPCO Chris Wilder. Myers shared that the unemployment rate in Shelby County is low, around two percent, wages are up, fuel costs are down, and job quits dropped to 12 percent in 2023. Myers also provided a breakdown of several significant upcoming projects in multiple municipalities in Shelby County. The projects include a new recreation center in Pelham, the Shops of 31 development, Big Whiskey's Restaurant and Bar opening in the Colonial Promenade, the Courtyard at Calera Main Street, the Valley Post development, a mixed-use community plan off Highway 280, the U.S. Steel Real Estate development called the Hillsboro Town Center, the Riverwalk Village development, a new ambulatory surgery center in Hoover, a new main street hotel in Montevallo, and renovations to the Moore's crossroads intersection. The Shelby County Chamber also presented the 2024 Shelby County Business Outlook Survey Results, which showed a positive outlook for businesses in the county [b57f87e8].
Tracy Mayor Nancy Young discussed Tracy's growth and economic development in the State of the City address. The event was hosted by the Tracy Chamber of Commerce, with chamber CEO Maria Valenzuela and board chairman David Torres providing opening remarks. Young highlighted the city's industrial growth since 2014, with the Northeast Industrial Area and the Prologis International Park of Commerce becoming regional economic hubs. She also mentioned recent changes at Tracy City Hall, including the appointment of a new city manager and the establishment of a new Community and Economic Development Department. Jennings Imel of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce emphasized the importance of small businesses to the national economy and noted that while small business owners feel optimistic about their own businesses and the local economy, they have low confidence in the national economy. Imel also highlighted the challenges faced by businesses in finding qualified candidates for job openings and the impact of inflation and retail theft on businesses. He encouraged businesses to work together to shape pro-jobs, pro-growth policies [b5c9d630].
The Shelby County Youth Justice and Education Center, which was constructed in 1980 and purchased by the county after being abandoned for about 10 years, is facing challenges. A group of organizations has alleged that the facility's leadership and staff deny visitation, do not provide sufficient education or time outdoors for the youth detainees. The article does not provide specific names or numbers related to the allegations. The author of the article is Julia Baker, a member of The Daily Memphian's public safety reporting team. The article was published on April 3, 2024, at 2:54 PM CT [810efe79].
The Chamber of Commerce in Taylor, Texas is offering a series of Lunch and Learns to help local businesses succeed. The next class, scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, will teach attendees how to create striking marketing materials using the free tools in Canva. The courses cost $15 for members and $25 for non-members and include a light lunch. In addition to the Lunch and Learns, there will be a luncheon on Monday, April 15, featuring Taylor Economic Development President and CEO Ben White discussing the future of Taylor and East Williamson County's economy. Reservations for the luncheon are required and cost $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at www.taylorchamber.org before the deadline on Wednesday, April 10 [0ae20bdd].