Making Friends

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.24, 2012

Leadership in Economic Development. What is that you might ask? Well, I’m not sure. I am going to take the year to explore the topic one week at a time. I have said it here in the past and I will say it again, our profession is a dubious one. I am not sure we all like each other.  I’m not sure we... [Read more]

Hope for Algae

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.23, 2012

We hear so much about how growing something, anything to turn into fuel will save the world. Grow corn ,turn it into ethanol and we can tell the Sheiks to stuff it, right. Then we learn that it takes too much energy to turn corn into fuel and that the net gain iz negative. How about switch-grass? How... [Read more]

Lessons Learned

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.18, 2012

I feel for the people of Moberly, Missouri. In particular I feel bad for the economic development and municipal officials in the town along with those from the State of Missouri. It seems that the folks in Moberly have entered into a venture that by all accounts has fallen apart and has hurt them. Hurt... [Read more]

Plastics and Recycling…the future!

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jan.16, 2012

I live in the town of Normal, Illinois and it has awesome city services. One thing they do really well (as does the City of Bloomington, its neighbor to the south) is collect garbage. The really nice thing about the Town is one can throw just about anything away and it will be collected. Yard waste merely... [Read more]

Ode to Eldon

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Nov.22, 2011

Every Thanksgiving I give my respects to the one fowl that has sacrificed life and limb for my family holiday feast. This year our sacrificial bird has more than exceeded his ability to provide. Seven Sister’s farm  near  Sidney, IL has raised our loyal and giving bird this year. His name is... [Read more]

Mom’s Procedure

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Oct.10, 2011

I am at my mothers home this morning, in the basement in the room I called my bedroom when I was a teenager, but now considered a “guest room”. I can hear mother dearest moving around above me the kitchen. It is right above my head. Pretty soon I will smell the coffee, which will eventually... [Read more]

The Greatest…Ever!

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Sep.27, 2011

I just heard a speech by former President George Bush here in Washington DC. He is the luncheon keynote for the AdvaMed conference I am attending. AdvMed is the premier conference for senior level executives, policy-makers, medical device and software producers, financiers, and service providers (that... [Read more]

Retention…the non-medical type

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jul.25, 2011

“Business retention” is a phrase that does not invoke much inspiration. As a professional economic developer many of us would rather be in a far flung part of the country or world calling on some company hoping they relocate or expand their operations to our community. Just the phrase “retention”... [Read more]

30 Days to Success

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jul.21, 2011

I just saw this video on TED, one of my favorite web sites. There are so many good ideas at TED. I hope that it never goes away. Matt Cutts, an engineer at Google seems like an ordinary guy, but his idea of thirty days of change is inspiring. What can you try to do fo rthe next thirty days that would... [Read more]

Peaches

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jul.20, 2011

I love peaches and it’s high peach season here in Central Illinois. The other Saturday, the “peach guy” at the Farmer’s Market didn’t make it until 9:00 before he was sold out. Trish makes two types of peach pie at the Red Oak. Peach Double Crust and Peaches n Cream which... [Read more]

Social Media & Entrepreneurs

Post By: Marty    Posted On: Jul.19, 2011

A couple weeks ago we pulled off something myself and several others have worked on for a long time…a Social Media Conference. this conference was born in  a coffee shop when several business friends and acquaintances would get together for some coffee and have a discussion about social media.... [Read more]