Need to Merge Back onto the Information Superhighway?

Today's post on the SmallBizBigTime blog, "Attention Small Biz - Get Ready for New Technology & Social Media Tools", was particularly timely. Just last night, I commented (to my wife on Sofa 1.0) on how sad a blog with one post, months old, was. It tells a lonely story: someone went to a conference session or read an economic development expert's column or book, was seduced by the rewards of Web 2.0, signed up, logged on, wrote an introductory blog post promising insightful prose promptly posted.... then nothing but a sad withered reminder of Web 2... oh, well, so sad! So, if your business or economic development organization needs back on track for Web 2.0, or to prepare for (cue foreboding music) Web 3.0, stay tuned for more helpful information such as the above.

Tap an Interactive Map

I was just reading an article in Forbes online magazine that has an economic development interest to those of us seeking a quality of place. The story, "Where Americans are Living Well", highlights one of the many interactive data features of Zoomprospector.com, an economic development website.

Mediocre to Mighty-fine

I read an interesting article this morning in the New York Times on Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, a book that I would highly recommend. In the book, Mr. Collins uses a lot of research that basically details how steady leadership and staying focused on an organization's mission is the key to success. In the article, his focus on committing time for creativity provides an example of how business is an art and a science and not just a collection of tasks.

Green business assistance in Hickman County, Tennessee

I just ran across the DSIRE, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, which gives a brief overview of incentives each state and the federal government makes available for renewable energy production and for energy efficiency improvements. For Tennessee information, go to the www.dsireusa.org/incentives/allsummaries.cfm?State=TN&&re=1&ee=1.

Spend some of your Memorial Day Weekend in Hickman County

It is Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of Summer. I was just reading that folks are staying closer to home for their holiday and vacation fun (the "stay-cation", as we call it.) If you are looking for a nice drive and something a little different to do during this long weekend or this summer, check out Hickman County tourism information at http://www.musiccitybackyard.com/. It looks like a great weekend for a day trip or a scenic motorcycle cruise.

If you are in town on Monday, Memorial Day, take a moment to stop at the Centerville Public Square at the memorial monument to recognize the sacrifice of our Veterans on the beautiful newly renovated courthouse lawn.

Let's get down... downtown, that is

Though more on the economic development side, http://www.downtowndevelopment.com/ has a page with a lot of downtown development information, www.downtowndevelopment.com/perspectives.php , but it also has some information that will be helpful to downtown businesses.

Macon County and Hickman County make Community Connection

We had a nice time today hosting a group from Macon County for our Three-Star Community Connection. Our group from Hickman County presented our ongoing Centerville downtown revitalization project, our tourism efforts, and other economic & community development work. Of course, we made time for a nice lunch. To end our day, we visited the Grinders Switch Winery and said 'howdy' to the Minnie Pearl statue.

We look forward to visiting and learning about Macon County in a few weeks.

"Minnie the Mover" ...or "Grinders Girl Graces Gazebo"

Look who's back in town. Yes, the Minnie Pearl statue is now at the Grinders Switch Winery. Check out the Minnie Pearl statue located in the gazebo on the grounds of the Grinders Switch Winery located in Hickman County. Minnie went visiting the Commodore Hotel in Perry County, but for the sake of Uncle Nabob, Brother, and her fellers, we hope she is back in Hickman County to stay. If you would like to visit Minnie and stay for a few hours (or a few days), check out some other things to do at http://www.musiccitybackyard.com/ .

2009 Tennessee Business Matchmaking Webinar Series

The 2009 Tennessee Business Matchmaking Webinar Series provide Tennessee’s small, minority-, and women-owned businesses a cost-effective way to learn about existing procurement opportunities with public and private entities.

Since April 2006, BERO has hosted six Tennessee Business Matchmaking events in Johnson City, Knoxville, Nashville, Franklin, Jackson and Memphis, where over 3,277 one-on-one business appointments were held between 904 small businesses and 286 procurement officials. This webinar series is the continuation of BERO's commitment to providing procurement opportunities to small and diverse businesses.

For more information and to access archived webinars, go to the BERO Business Matchmaking website.

I'm from "dot" GOV and I'm here to help you...

I was revisiting business assistance websites for entrepreneurs, business start-ups and business managers this morning and I just wanted to highlight www.business.gov . It is especially helpful with information on how business interfaces with government. Not only does it include the unpleasant tax and reporting information, but also information on how to make your business more profitable.

For links to www.business.gov and other websites with helpful information on financing, marketing, and operating a business (whether an existing business or a business start-up) check out www.business.hickmantn.org .

Biz Blogs for Beginning Business

If you are starting a business or have just started one, there is a steep learning curve that you probably don't have a lot of money to hire consultants to help gain traction. Economic development organizations (like HCECDA) can help, but sometimes our time resources don't match up. Plus, since you are an entrepreneur, you tend to want to go your own way.

A great way to help ascend the learning curve is with on-line information. One source specifically designed for those in Hickman County is www.business.hickmantn.org . Since you are reading this, you may be like me and find the concise format and diverse expertise offered by bloggers and business blogs appealing. Since I never claim this is the best blog, I would suggest checking out "The Top 50 Blogs for Startups in 2009" for (duh) 50 best biz blogs beneficial to beginning business.

Let's make our small towns cooler this summer...

I liked this post "Can small towns be cool". Of course, the answer is 'yes' but it takes some vision and some work to make a small town 'cool' or whatever term you use for successful in your town.

I've come to terms with the fact that there are communities out there whose idea of 'cool' is to do nothing, watch the community decline, and gregariously grouse about how bad things are getting. However, in Hickman County, there are people passionately involved in making our communities way cool.

News on News Story

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association was a part of a news story on NewsChannel5 tonight about the efforts of Connected Tennessee and local communities like Hickman County to work toward improving broadband technology availability and utilization in Tennessee. To view the story, check out NewsChannel5.

Verizon Wireless, Comcast, and AT&T have all recently improved access in areas of Hickman County recently, but we all continue to work toward better sustainable access and more utilization to improve economic development, increase educational opportunities, and enhance the quality of life of our residents.

(link to story added 05/16/09 10:24 CDST)

FY 2010 Budget related to Rural

The Rural Policy Research Institute released a report titled "A Snapshot of the President’s Budget FY 2010 What’s In It For Rural America?", which gives a glimpse at what we in rural areas might can expect in the next budget year.

Fish for your niche when marketing to tourists

A blog post with great ideas on marketing your business or community to tourists: "Yfactor -New Ideas for Tourism Niches"

Old Country Store

Want to see a real old country store? Check out Tarkington's General Store down on Hassell's Creek in Hickman County. Wade the creek, have some food, and listen to some music. You may check them out on the web at http://tarkingtongeneralstore.com/ .

Scenic Drive and Wine (best not at the same time!)

Yes, Hickman County gained the reputation for moonshining and is still sometimes called "Keg County" by some old-timers, but we are a little more refined these days. There are many scenic drives reminiscent of Thunder Road in Hickman County including the Natchez Trace Parkway. Once you get to the Gordon House on the Natchez Trace, you can drive on out State Route 50 and visit the new Grinder's Switch Winery. For more information on it, its wine and things to see, visit http://www.gswinery.com/. It is also part of the Natchez Trace Wine Trail if you would like to make a wine tour.

The grass IS greener....

During the past few weeks, I have had the inclination and opportunity to look more closely at economic development organizations in other communities. It is tough these days, but it is amazing what a few people in a small community can accomplish with few resources. Hickman County's local industry is hanging tough and a few companies are hiring. Sales tax collections are doing better than a lot of places. Yet, I look at the commitment other communities make and wonder what could be done with, for example, a web presence that costs more than a donated $250 one like ours. I think that is evidence that despite the challenges, there are people motivated in rural communities with a quality of place like Hickman County that work hard for business retention and expansion and business attraction and recruitment. I hope that they will be able to persevere and reap the rewards when the economy makes its inevitable upswing.

Megasite Bill Passes

A bill passed the Tennessee General Assembly was celebrated by Governor Phil Bredesen, Tennessee Economic & Community Development Commissioner Kisber, and state legislators that will help the development of a megasite. (see article).

The megasite program has been successful in attracting Hemlock and Volkswagen in Tennessee and this bill will aid development of the megasite near Jackson just down the road from Hickman County on I-40.

Higher Education more Accessible

A long time ago and in a place far, far away, I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. Other than the rare occasions that I stayed with hospitable classmates or lived off the kindness of strangers, I made the 1.5 hour one-way commute to Clarksville from Hickman County for my last three semesters of undergraduate work. It was a place far, far away to finish my degree, a drive that stretched my time and financial resources to the point that some days I wondered if it was going to be worth it all.

Well, it was worth it, a tremendous return on my investment. I was pleased to read today in my Austin Peay (Let's go Peay!) alumni magazine that Hickman County is a lot closer to a Bachelor of Business Administration from AP than it was 15 years ago. Austin Peay and Nashville State Community College will offer, beginning this Fall 2009 semester, all the courses required for the B.B.A. degree at the Renaissance Center on State Route 46 in Dickson. This is such a great opportunity for people in the area to start or return to higher education and earn a Bachelor's degree.

For more information, visit www.apsu.edu/dickson .

Small Business Tax Assistance

A few weeks after April 15th.... why not forget about taxes for a while? Not a good idea, especially for business. For current advice on federal taxes, check out the IRS website for business related tax information that includes text, audio, and video explanations.

Dress like Minnie Pearl....

Well, the statue of Minnie Pearl is still in Perry County somewhere, I guess. As my thoughts were on Minnie today, it occurred to me that she really did touch a lot of people's lives. She was even mentioned the classic The Dead Milkmen hit, Punk Rock Girl. You just can't import that kind of cool.

Cold Calling... no, please don't hang up!

Most of us in business have to do make cold calls sometime - like it or not. Whether a small business owner developing a customer base, an economic developer calling prospects, or an economic development consultant trying to connect with clients, cold calling can be arduous chore or a valuable component of a marketing plan.

I think this post, "Cold Calling = Dialing for Dollars", gives some great suggestions for making your calling more productive and less obtrusive to your potential customer.

Community Case Studies in Economic Development

If you are looking for some ideas, the following post, "Small Towns, Big Ideas Case Studies", has case studies of how smaller communities achieved economic development success.

Tweet, wiki, blog post, connection, podcast, friend: time for new words in a marketing plan

Marketing can be maddening. The traditional media still works, but as social media becomes more main stream and fewer people are non-adopters, business must integrate social media in their marketing plan. Another thing is if one is smart about it, the cost of gross impressions is less and those impressions are more robust. With social media, one can begin an interactive relationship with her market with little investment from a reluctant potential customer. Anyway, this blog post I read this morning, "It's Time to Make the Call: Out with the Old!" on SmallBizBigTime.com, explains getting started with social media in your marketing better than I can.