North Central West Virginia Economic Outlook event expanded, scheduled for Oct. 18

Press Release

WVUtoday

A regional economic forecast from researchers at West Virginia Universityand a look at the U.S. economy by a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond will anchor the North Central West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference Oct. 18 in Morgantown.

This year’s event will also include a presentation by a nationally renowned economic development strategy organization, sessions on local government and education, and a panel discussion on economic and community development. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Waterfront Place Hotel.

[. . .]

Alex Pearlstein, vice president of Market Street Services in Atlanta, will serve as the keynote speaker. Market Street is a provider of community, workforce and economic development strategic planning services recognized for its work throughout the U.S.

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It's time to leverage our past for a bright future

Rob Bradham, President and CEO, Great Dalton Chamber of Commerce
Dalton Daily Citizen


I am rapidly approaching the end of my first year as president and CEO of the chamber as well as my first year in Dalton. I spent a great deal of time over the last year learning everything I can about this community. I read books, I read news articles, I drove around, I toured businesses and I listened to literally hundreds of opinions about Dalton and Whitfield County.

[. . .] Today, I'm very pleased the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce is taking the lead in building a plan for the next chapter in our community. The chamber's Executive Board has contracted with Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based community and economic development firm, to assist the community in just such a planning process.

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New report highlights data, challenges in Topeka, Shawnee County

Morgan Chilson
Topeka Capital-Journal


A 64-page community assessment of Topeka and Shawnee County released Thursday is bursting with data, comparisons to other cities and, most importantly, six primary issues that tell the capital city’s story.

Those six, identified in the Market Street Services Inc. report, are:

■ A critical need to improve community pride.

■ Threats to a strong workforce go beyond population growth.

■ Quality of place enhancements are needed to change outlooks.

■ Homegrown talent: a need to connect the local and regional talent pipeline.

■ Enhancing economic opportunities through existing strengths.

■ Prosperity and well-being lag behind.

“It’s not all rosy, is it?” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO and president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and GO Topeka. “We have our work cut out for us. I think that this actually confirms a lot of what our gut was already telling us. It puts some data behind it.”

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Dalton business groups come together to develop plan to grow local economy

Mike Pare

Times Free Press

When Rob Bradham came to Dalton, Ga., late last year, he kept hearing about the city's heydays in the '70s, '80s and '90s when the carpet business was blazing.

"The [Great Recession] took a heavy toll," said Bradham, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, adding that leaders in the area believe they need to start thinking about what's next.

The business group has launched a community and economic development strategic planning effort for Whitfield County. The initiative will look at crafting a long-term vision for industrial recruiting, downtown revitalization, and economic and workforce development, the Chamber CEO said.

The end product will have specific recommended projects, including a price tag, and goals to achieve, said Bradham, who came to Dalton after serving as the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's vice president of public strategies.

To read the full article click here. If it has been removed, please email Alexia Eanes for a copy of the entire article.