Economic Blog
Searching...71 Days
10/14/2009
The boys and I were on our way home from eating the Tuesday night Mexican special and discussing Halloween costumes (the five year has chosen a fireman and his Mom dictated the two year old will be a Dalmatian, something about a theme). So there we are in the middle of October talking about Halloween when I see it. It could have been there a few days before but yesterday it became official. I was at the traffic light on Poplar Springs Drive about to turn left onto 52nd Street. It was high in the window of the large chain drug store, as blatant as the rain on my winds ...
Continue ReadingTargeted Shotgun
09/28/2009
Maybe it's some sick voyeuristic attribute of keeping up with old friends and new ones that attracts me to Facebook. Maybe it's the amount of down time I have waiting here or there that is now filled with scrolling on the Blackberry to see what witty thing the girl behind me in 9th grade Spanish has to say today. I don't know exactly what is driving the phenomenon, but for the time being, I am going to try and enjoy the ride. They call it "Social Networking," and if you'll excuse the Facebook pun, "I'm a fan."
Having spent over ten years in chamber of commerce work ...
Continue ReadingBrand Matters
09/16/2009
Sunday was hectic, and after a long day in the car with kids driving home from the beach, I finally found time to settle down that evening for my first snap of the day. No, that's not a typo… my first chance to watch opening day of the new professional football season. Before the game, one of my favorites, Bob Costas, was interviewing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on a variety of topics. For some reason I like Goodell, maybe it has been his firm and pragmatic hand in disciplinary measures with players the likes of Adam "Pacman" Jones and PETA's favorite, Michael Vick.&n ...
Continue ReadingPsychographics
09/08/2009
"Do you have a Super Saver card?" she asked, fingers resting on the keypad along with a glazed look mixed of boredom and regret.
"Oh yes," recalling the number without hesitation I watched with anticipation as the register in front of me calculated my savings. I had high expectations, several of my favorites, boneless skinless chicken breasts, Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce and Kiwi Strawberry juice boxes were all buy one get one free with a Super Saver Card and I was stocking up! With savings accrued and grocery bags overflowing from the cart I left the store half lo ...
Continue ReadingPunch It
09/03/2009
Jim Jubak of MoneyShow.com recently released a segment on what he called the "Shadow Supply" within economics. The theory, with my sincere apologies to Mr. Jubak, is that there is a market out there on the cusp of play but not really in the game. It's as if you are suited up and ready to play in the game, but the coach, for whatever reason has not put you in. My wife and I had toyed with the idea of selling our house last year and even continued the discussion into this spring. Of course now I must ask, why even enter the market when demand is down and supply so high ...
Continue ReadingAvoiding Pink Eye
03/24/2009
March 17th was my anniversary date here at the EMBDC. I have until the end of the pay period to use 11 hours of vacation or I will lose it. Zachary (our 4 year old) sensed my need to take time off and somehow timed contracting pink eye accordingly. I like to think he gets his powers of perception from his father but I think his Momma had more to do with that. Thankfully the conjunctivitis wasn't too bad and the fact that his Mom is an optometrist was nice. The good thing about Pink Eye, is you feel fine. Zachary did not know he was sick unless ...
Continue ReadingInnocent Suffer with the Guilty
03/04/2009
A long time ago I was in Boy Scouts. Troop 9 at Highland Baptist church was where I earned my Eagle. Every Tuesday night for several years we got together in the church basement, repeated the Scout Oath, the 12 Points of the Scout Law and of course the Pledge of Allegiance. There were plenty of campouts and special overnight field trips. As you can imagine, 20 or so prepubescent males was not an easy group to tame. My first Scoutmaster, Bob Chatham, introduced me to his favorite disciplinary tactic which I remember vividly 25 years later. Once the troop began to approach the rowdy st ...
Continue ReadingPork... I mean Stimulus
02/26/2009
I was updating my status on Facebook the other day when I noticed a friend in SW Mississippi wondering "does Wall Street realize we have been stimulated." I could not help but chuckle. No matter our individual feelings toward pork.. I mean the stimulus bill, I remain the pragmatic optimist that concludes, "if money is to be doled out, let's make sure we get our share." The most widely talked about local project to be included is the new interchange for both the new industrial park and the older Central Industrial Park. I know our friends at Handy Hardware who will be locating in the ne ...
Continue ReadingLocation, Location, Leadership
02/20/2009
For a long time the mantra in real estate and economic development has been Location, Location, Location. In a recent civic presentation I made the suggestion that in today's economic realities that are driven by global market pressure and extreme competition that perhaps, just perhaps location is not as important as it used to be. Don't get me wrong, proximity is still what we call a "key driver" and will continue to be so. However, on its heels and closing in fast is community leadership. So, my new economic development mantra is Location, Location, Leadership!
What is commun ...
Continue ReadingDance with the one that brought you.
02/16/2009
Welcome to our blog. I'll admit I'm a novice when it comes to such but I certainly look forward to sharing some of my thoughts and reactions to community issues as it relates to growing an economy and improving our shared quality of life. In hopes that you won't get bored we'll be sure to take turns around the office offering our take on what's happening and sometimes why.
I am fortunate today to kick off the blog following the week we announce a significant investment in Meridian and Lauderdale County. I say fortunate because economic development that entails recruiting n ...
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