Leadership Hickman leads the way to better leadership skills and networking

Well, it is that time of year again. We have begun putting together our 13th class for the Leadership Hickman program, which will be taking applications in August and will start in early September. Began in 1996 with the assistance of the Tennessee Economic & Community Development's Three-Star Program, Leadership Hickman has graduated over 110 community and business leaders who live or work in Hickman County.

Leadership Hickman consists of one overnight retreat in September and eight topic-oriented, one-day seminars. The retreat provides structured exercises and presentations which explore theories of leadership and personal power, as well as decision-making through group discussion, analysis, and probing. The one-day seminars focus individually on a major area of community concern and explore the issue of leadership within the context of the day’s subject.

Each session is carefully designed to present a wide range of opinions and perspectives to encourage thoughtful discussion through lectures, panel presentations, and a variety of group activities. Participants are given the opportunity to explore controversial issues with leaders representing a broad range of community interests.

The goal of each day is to open the mind of each participant to the perspectives that surround each issue and, through thoughtful consideration of those perspectives, enable participants to become more visionary leaders in the community.

If you live or work in Hickman County and would like more information on the program, you may download a brochure or send us an email at leadership@hickmantn.org.

3 Star Award

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Assn., which leads Hickman County's efforts, had its recertification review yesterday for the Governor's Three-Star Award for Economic & Community Development Preparedness. The official award ceremony will be a part of the Governor's Conference on Tennessee Economic and Community Development scheduled for September 14-15.

Hickman County Fair

Just a little advanced notice so that you can mark your calendar -- The Hickman County Fair will be held August 26-29 at the Hickman County Agricultural Pavilion and Fairgrounds. Be sure to ride all the rides and see all the shows!

Back to School?

Though it may be a little late to start planning where to go to college next semester, it is never to late for planning to meet your higher education goals. Inspired by the "Education Life" section in the paper this morning, I just wanted to remind those interested in post-secondary education about the Hickman County Higher Education website, http://www.highereducation.hickmantn.org/ . It contains links to colleges, universities, distance learning, and vocational technology schools as well as how to survive the new demands of returning to learning and how to find financial aid to fund it.

Mom, Pop, and the little tweets.

The New York Times had an article yesterday titled "Mom-and-Pop Operators Turn to Social Media" that gives some examples of small businesses using Twitter to market their business.

Change, it's still there

I recently did a mailout to site selection professionals. I was a little amazed at the number of returned pieces of mail, probably close to 10%, even though my database wasn't that dated. In correcting my mailing list, I found that most were still in the business, just at different firms or new addresses. I took it as another sign of how dynamic economic development is and how much an economic development expert must be willing and able to go with it.

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 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.