Did Twitter put Brüno in an embarrassing, awkardly funny situation?

Did Twitter cost the movie Brüno millions? There is evidence (see MSNBC.com article) that the crowds that rushed to the new Sacha Baron Cohen movie Brüno came out of the theatre tweeting to their friends and followers that the movie just wasn't that funny -- costing it millions in ticket sales during the opening weekend.

If Twitter or other SoMe (social media) is that effective in communicating product value (or lack of it in this case), wouldn't it be a good idea for a business or organization to pay some attention on mitigating the bad messages and maximizing the good messages on your products and services?

Smart Start Small Business Guide

The Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) with the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development has a new publication to help small business, Smart Start Small Business Guide. It includes a lot of great information that can help you start or grow your small business. For related information specific to Hickman County, check out www.business.hickmantn.org .

Shortage of private employment brings The New York Times to Perry County, Tennessee

When I pick up my daily copy of The New York Times on the way to work this week, I will be watching for an article to be published on the hardship of high unemployment in Perry County, Tennessee. The New York Times will be reporting on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA or stimulus program) funds are putting people to work in federally financed jobs to replace real private sector jobs lost as companies could not survive there. More remote, with no Interstate, 4-lane highway or rail, and with less access to a highly skilled workforce, Perry County faces struggles to provide a competitive environment for business that make Hickman County appreciate the wealth of resources that we have.

Hickman County is served by I-40 and 840 and is less than an hour from I-65. Located in the Nashville, Tennessee MSA, Hickman County has a rural work ethic and business-friendly environment with a close proximity to the cultural, educational, and business services resources of a large metropolitan city. Hickman County employs economic development experts to work with new and existing private sector business to assist in their location, growth, and sustainability.

Does our Quality of Place translate for Gen M?

I have been trying to find the secret to getting people engaged in their community. Related to that quest is how we as managers of businesses and organizations become better engaged in an interactive, mutually beneficial relationship with our customers. For friendly rural communities like Hickman County, Tennessee that weren't able to capitalize on the boom of our nearby Nashville neighbors, it is important to minimize the effects of the economic bust and to prepare for the inevitable changes in the coming recovery.

One way is to better understand generational differences. Studying articles like this one, "The Generation M Manifesto" on HarvardBusiness.org, can help us communicate our quality of place and to make the more youthful creative class feel as much at home in Hickman County as our ancestors do.

Men wearing women's underwear, publicity, asking for money: Can it be a good thing?

I was checking out Twitter this morning and a tweet from Michelle Proctor with Tennessee Dept. of Economic & Community Development Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) mentioned what seems to be a great idea for raising money, creating a community publicity 'buzz', and allowing a little public cross-dressing for fun.

Check out this story from Franklin, North Carolina: Men sporting bras catch people's attention on Main Street

Green Jobs -- Act fast before they're snatched from the vine

The Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is providing training for the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). TVA will provide energy auditor and weatherization contractor training across the state that meets U. S. Department of Energy standards.

If you are interested in working as an energy auditor or as a weatherization contractor, contact your local WAP agency for information and training registration. In addition to contacting local action agencies for information, a temporary toll-free training registration number has been established and can be reached at 1-877-830-3304.

While weatherization contractors are required to have a license and insurance, each WAP agency establishes its own minimum qualification for weatherization contractors and energy auditors.

For more information, check out the website: http://tn.gov/wap/

SBA American Recovery Capital Loan... ARC for short

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has always been a great asset for financing small business. SBA has responded to the economic times with some new programs made available by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA or 'the stimulus package'). For more information on SBA, check out the SBA Recovery site, SBA's American Recovery Capital Loan Program Fact Sheet, or the Hickman County Economic Development business site.

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, stay away from me · American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, mama let me be ...

Most of the buzz on the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA, aka 'the stimulus package') is about grants and loans. Another component that can be beneficial to business are the tax benefits made possible by the ARRA. From expanded Work Opportunity Tax Credits to new Net Operating Loss Carryback rules to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Incentives, there are things on the IRS website that you might should know before that tax filing deadline. For updated information on federal tax and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, check out the IRS page, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center.

Oh, what a tangled Web presence we need...

I am an advocate that every small business can benefit from a web presence and from better utilization of the internet. The blog post on BusinessWeek.com, "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Web Sites", gives a little insight in developing a web strategy... spending a lot of money on a web site may not be your wisest use of resources.

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association

Small business sick of current healthcare coverage cost

Vanderbilt University's Center for Community Studies released a report of a survey it conducted that reveals the struggle of small business owners to afford healthcare coverage and their strong opinions on heathcare reform and what it should look like. For more information, check out the full report at http://www.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/Documents/pdf/ccs/Sm_Bus_report_final.pdf .

Greener pastures require fertilizer

I'm off today out of town exploring some future opportunites. Looking at other communities - their assets and elbow-grease energy - makes one think not only of greener pastures, but also of fertilizer one might could bring home.

Still a good place for a still

Hickman County, Tennessee has a well-earned reputation for making moonshine, achieving the designation of "Keg Kounty". Johnny Cash even sung about "running off the 'shine" in his ode to Hickman County -- no better endorsement than a CASH country song.

Whiskey making is still technically illegal in Hickman County until you've jumped through the proper hoops, so any whiskey made would be genuine moonshine (not that there is any made!) However, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law this session that makes it easier to establish a legal distillery. In a Knoxnews.com article, "Ground zero for whiskey: Law allows production of distilled spirits in state", the new legislation is explored.

If you would like to explore locating a distillery in an area like Hickman County with a rich history of whiskey making, whether corn liquor or other distilled spirits, maybe it's time to have a drink with an economic development expert and talk about it.

Info to Make Maintaining Your Small Business Blog as Easy as Falling off a Web Log

Blogs are a great (and cheap) way to tell the story of your business, connect with your customer, and cultivate a long-term customer relationship. For you blog to be effective, it needs to be fresh and have some value to your reader. This blog post, "18 Blog post ideas for any small business", on the Small Biz Survival blog provides some ideas for posts that will help you past your blog writer's block.


And if you are wondering, yes -- I used idea number 18 today!

L.A. International Airport, they won't see him anymore....

"Rival states hope California's economic woes will send businesses their way" - The Sacramento Bee.

Balanced budget, efficient & stable state government, business friendly, rural work ethic - should I go on? Whether your business is from California or Calcutta, maybe its worth taking a look at the fertile and friendly land of Hickman County and Tennessee for location or expansion. Economic development experts are waiting to take your call...

How many OK people are here?

Oklahoma has Project Boomerang to recruit a select group to return to their home state. "If you're a former Oklahoman living out of state and you are a skilled, knowledge-based professional, check the boxes below...", it states on one call for the return of members of their creative class. Looking at their "Reasons to Come Back" page, it seems they have some of the components of a quality of place that we have in abundance in the Hickman County and Nashville, Tennessee MSA.

You don't need to turn up the AC to enjoy a quilt today

On this Fourth of July weekend, quilts might not be the first thing on most people's mind, but not for an aficionado. Someone sent me a link to a CBS story (CBS quilt story) on the popularity of quilts and the recognition that quilts are not only historical and cultural artifacts, but also works of art. The Hickman County Quilt Committee has been working for years to showcase quilts with Hickman County connections. The Hickman County Quilt Show is usually held in Centerville, Tennessee the first weekend in October when there might be a little chill in the air. It is a great event and an exhibition catalogue of each of the previous few shows has been published after the event to chronicle the warmth of the media and the provenance of quilt.

Happy Independence Day!

Though I had to work yesterday while most everyone else had the day off, I appreciate having time off this weekend, not on the road, to celebrate July 4th, our Independence Day. The United States of America is the greatest country that I could imagine to call home. Places like Hickman County with a quality of place, that values work and its rewards, and people who care about their neighbors make this country great.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Decide if Twitter is for your Small Town Business

Twitter. Sure, it can be fun. Some businesses and organizations are finding it beneficial to their mission and economic condition. Small town rural businesses may not be the most social media, Web 2.0 savvy group, but is it worth it to spend time on things like Twitter? Hmm, possibly -- maybe worth checking out. On the Small Biz Survival blog post, "Is Twitter worth it for small town businesses", that issue is discussed and some tips are given on how to best use Twitter to maximize economic benefit to retail development.

Shop Local... (buy your meal here and we both can eat)

A Wall Street Journal article, "Local Efforts to Save Main Street Bring In Traffic", confirms 'buy local' programs work -- but are 'shop local' programs a long-term fix for a community's small retail business? Probably not on its own.

Maybe 'shop local / buy local / shop-at-home' programs should not be expected to save small retail business. However, it could be a marketing piece that brings customers into the store, but small business had better be prepared to provide those customers with a shopping experience with value and a quality of place. Ideas on improving a small retail business in Hickman County, Tennessee can start at http://www.business.hickmantn.org/ or on this blog, http://blog.hickmantn.org/.

Tennessee Buckles Down and Approves Budget, Balanced and On-time

Many states are still without a budget and are scrambling to avert financial crisis (see article). Tennessee, however, passed a balanced budget on time and is ready to get back to work this fiscal year in improving economic development in Hickman County and the 94 other counties in Tennessee.

Bring Out the Popcorn, It's an Economic Development Film

In my neverending quest for knowledge, I ran across a YouTube video from the economic development experts at WTIA (West Tennessee Industrial Association). It really is a nice, concise video that shows how attractive the West Tennessee area can be to industry. Hickman County is just a few miles east of West Tennessee on I-40 and has many of the same attractive features. Take a look at us (or WTIA, if you must!) if you are looking for a place to grow.

Twit on Twitter, Ain't That Tweet!?

Yes, I'm on Twitter. Catch tweets at http://twitter.com/Daryl_Phillips . Be warned, economic developer constrained by only 140 characters.

Guitars, Bon Aqua, Johnny Cash, and Hickman County Music

Johnny Cash (yes, THE Johnny Cash) had a home in Bon Aqua and spent quite a bit of time there back in the 1970s. He wrote and recorded a song, Saturday Night in Hickman County, that was an album cut on Johnny Cash and His Woman. It was hard to find, but it's now on YouTube if you would like to hear The Man in Black sing about our Hickman County, Tennessee. If you would like to come for a visit to the places in the song, check out http://www.musiccitybackyard.com/ .

Independence and Revitalization Celebrations

I was just looking at my calendar and it seems my work week especially light on appointments. I would expect that a lot of folks are taking vacation during the Fourth of July week. I'm looking forward to being home Saturday, July 4th, as we celebrate our country's independence with our friends in our neighborhood.

Unfortunately, I will be traveling the next weekend and will be unable to attend the celebration on Saturday, July 11th commemorating the completion of the latest phase of the Downtown Centerville revitalization. As part of the festivities, this year's Leadership Hickman Class has organized the burial of a time capsule in the lawn in front of the Hickman County Justice Center (former site of the Hickman County High School and Fairview Academy). The class gathered artifacts from across the county, including essays from students at East Hickman and Centerville. I will be far from Hickman County that day, but my thoughts for a more happy and prosperous community in the future will be with them.

Skilled Labor in Hickman County

Even with higher than normal unemployment rates, companies in some areas can still have challenges finding skilled workers. In a recent article in The New York Times, "Despite Recession, Demand for Skilled Labor is Still High", one of the skilled labor classifications mentioned was experienced welders. With Hickman County's agrarian roots, rural work ethic, and high numbers of manufacturing workers; welding, electrical, mechanical, and general manufacturing skills aren't that difficult to find. Since Hickman County is in the Nashville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, an abundant pool of professional occupations also reside within a short, easy commute.

We Adore the SBA 504

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has instituted a new policy that allows the SBA 504 loan program to be used to improve the cash flow of a small business by restructuring its existing debt - provide the company is expanding and purchasing building or equipment. An article on The New York Times website, "From the S.B.A., Another Small Step", gives an overview. For a fact sheet from the Small Business Administration, click here.

For more information on how Hickman County business can utilize the SBA 504 program to improve sustainable economic development, feel free to contact me or check out www.business.hickmantn.org .

Go for a Hike and Stay Out of Trouble in Hickman County

Planning to hike the Appalachian Trail? Better rethink as it could damage your reputation.... for a safer hike, a shorter drive from Nashville, and scenic beauty -- check out Hickman County. For more information, check out www.musiccitybackyard.com .

Nissan Zero-Emission, Electric Car Announcement

The latest economic development news:

Nissan Motor Company, North America, located in neighboring Williamson County, announced plans today to create 1,300 jobs in Smyrna, Tennessee when production on Nissan's new zero-emission car begins.

For a complete story, check out The Nashville Business Journal article, "Nissan's new electric car to create 1,300 jobs...".

Rural Grocery Store Challenge... Which is the Arugula Aisle?

Though a lot of folks want a big chain supermarket in rural areas like Hickman County, I try to remind people that the answer to their want for better grocery choices may be improved local or regional based grocery stores. Kansas State University's Center for Engagement and Community Development has recognized rural grocery stores' importance to economic and community development and has established an initiative to develop and sustain them. The Rural Grocery Store Initiative website at http://www.ruralgrocery.org/ has some good information on best practices for grocers and rural communities. Though specifically geared toward Kansas, much of the information is relevant to rural grocery retailers in Tennessee.

I won't be in the office on Tuesday...

I am anxiously awaiting my wife, Gayle Shay, flying home Tuesday from her work at the Vancouver International Song Institute (VISI). Gayle received recognition for one of her performances at VISI in a review in the Vancouver Sun newspaper.