What Businesses Should Move into the Shopping Plaza at 24 Mile and Garfield? The shopping plaza at the corner of 24 Mile Road and Garfield has several vacant stores. What businesses would you like to see in this area? … Read entire article »

Vanessa Cazares flashed a huge smile and fought back tears as the local chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation made her wish come true Saturday. The 17-year-old Centennial High School senior — who suffers from a congenital heart defect — received a complete makeover of her 1967 Ford Mustang coupe, courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Southern Nevada chapter and its partners. Since the local chapter was founded in 1996, the foundation has granted wishes to more than 1,200 Las Vegas-area children suffering from life-threatening conditions to provide hope, strength and joy to sick children and their families. Vanessa beamed as members of two local Mustang groups — Vegassstang and the Mustang and Classic Ford Club of Las Vegas — unveiled her refurbished muscle car, “Stella.” She bought the classic car using $2,200 of her own money … Read entire article »

I moved here from Atlanta and my bills were never this high, said Rebekah Page, owner of the Sole Searching shoe store on Howe Street. Her summertime bills range from $220 to $330 a month for a 780-square-foot store. She said she never got a bill for more than $200 in her Wilmington store that was twice the size. Its a huge impact, Page said. Its way more than I anticipated. And that discomfort has local leaders wondering if business recruitment will be hamstrung for the long term if Electricities rates arent relieved. Southport, along with 32 other cities, gets its power from the NC Eastern Municipal Power Agency, which is managed by Electricities. The agency is loaded down with $2.1 billion in debt stemming from a decision made by the … Read entire article »

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Local businesses have rallied behind a high school band after money for their upcoming trip disappeared with the groups travel agent. The Southside High School band is out about $250,000 because a travel agent said the money was lost. Members of the community, especially business owners, are trying to help out. I figured why not go about business as usual but also be able to give back to the band, business owner Andy Hearn said. Band members are still figuring out what happened, but some business owners are trying to take away some of the pain. Its just like that feeling in your stomach; its like great, of course, this would happen. Weve been looking forward to this trip since they told us about it in ninth grade. Everybody has been … Read entire article »

Smart Trips — This Knoxville city-run program rewards employees for commuting, walking, biking, taking mass transit or telecommuting. Workers get gift certificates for participation, and employees can sign up individually. The program currently has 700 office workers in 37 businesses around the Knoxville area, according to Sara Martin, outreach coordinator for Smart Trips. Sign up at www.smarttrips.knoxtrans.org. The Knoxville Recycling Coalition — This non-profit program picks up recyclable materials (including printer toner, cell phones and even Styrofoam) from about 200 businesses in Blount, Anderson and Knox counties. According to director Frank Sewell, pickup costs start at $10 per load, depending on distance and content, and can be scheduled as often as needed. The National Center for Transit Research offers advice and guidelines for encouraging energy efficient commuting. Six Knoxville companies were … Read entire article »

The Plymouth Road construction has snarled traffic between Newburgh and Farmington roads. Business owners dont like the construction much, because motorists who usually drive on Plymouth Road will avoid it if they can, unless they have a specific destination in the construction zone. They are bracing for a long inconvenience for themselves and potential customers who will deal with delays to drive to the businesses. Business owners are hoping customers dont avoid them altogether. No one likes it, especially businesses, said Tom Pappas, owner of Kickers, 36071 Plymouth, near Levan Road. Customers ask ‘how long is it going to be? Pappas was told it would last through the fall, until the end of October. Thats a long summer, he said. Construction zone A drive on eastbound Plymouth at 4:30 pm Thursday took 12 minutes for … Read entire article »

FLINT, MI — Shatisa Higginbottom thought at first it was the Hammerberg Road apartment complex she lived in that was on fire after talking with her mother. … Read entire article »

Small-business owners say they believe federal clean-energy investment helps drive job creation and economic growth, even with the cloud of Solyndras bankruptcy hanging over them, a recent poll of such enterprises in six US states indicates. Results indicate 71 percent of small-business owners think government has a role in driving toward a cleaner, more competitive economy, said advocacy group Small Business Majority, which commissioned the survey. The poll also found strong support for current and new federal Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards even if enforcement meant a possible increase in utility prices. Small-business owners participating in the survey listed the cost of doing business and a lack of consumer demand as the two biggest challenges they face, John Arensmeyer, Small Business Majority founder and chief executive officer, said during a conference call … Read entire article »

INSOLVENCIES across Australias small business sector are soaring, with the number of companies placed into external administration in February at the highest level since the statistics were introduced in 1999. Australian Securities and Investments Commission statistics show 1123 businesses were placed into administration in February, compared with 518 in January, with the next highest figure on record in March 2009 when 1095 businesses went into administration. Behind the latest surge is a sharp rise in the number of businesses being wound up through the courts, which also reached a record of 449 in February compared with 79 the month before. This represented 40 per cent of the total number of businesses placed into administration. … Read entire article »

Carson Willis with Jordans Floral Gardens, with locations in Fort Collins and Estes Park, chats with people Sunday afternoon who stopped at the nurserys booth at the 2012 Home and Garden Show at The Ranch in Loveland. Jordans was among dozens of outdoors and home improvement businesses from across Colorado that turned out for the weekend event. (Madeline Novey) … Read entire article »