Sunday, September 27, 2009

“Vision, work ethic backed as business woes dog - Detroit Free Press” plus 4 more

“Vision, work ethic backed as business woes dog - Detroit Free Press” plus 4 more

Vision, work ethic backed as business woes dog - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 27 Sep 2009 05:56 AM PDT

On election night in November 2005, supporters and friends told then-Detroit City Council candidate Jai-Lee Dearing it was mathematically impossible for him to lose. At least two of the local TV stations called Dearing the winner for the ninth spot on City Council.

So Dearing left the victory party at his nightclub Bert's on Broadway to go to sleep. He woke the next morning, placing 10th with 87,299 votes, losing to Brenda Jones, who received 90,669 votes.

"I was just devastated," said Dearing, 37.

Four years later, Dearing is back.

The fourth-generation entrepreneur who operates Bert's Marketplace at Eastern Market with his father, Bert Dearing, finds himself a month away from another general election as a council candidate, who placed eighth in the August primary and continues polling among the top nine candidates.

But Jai-Lee Dearing's foibles as a businessman, including a litany of unpaid bills, various code violations for his business and business license issues, are dogging his campaign.

This wasn't so apparent earlier this month, when Dearing was in his element -- speaking to a group of seniors at Virginia Park Meadows.

Heads nodded as Dearing talked about bringing revenue to the city in the form of: beefing up the city's EMS services to compete with private medical transportation services; leasing city-owned land to private businesses, and getting the city into the utility business by building and operating a city-owned nuclear power plant.

"I want to be a solutions man," Dearing told them.

There were a lot of "hmmm-hmmms" when he talked about regionalizing transportation in the city, decrying the cuts to city bus service that would leave some of his Bert's Marketplace employees without transportation.

Beatrice Stephens, a Virginia Park resident, said she voted for Dearing in 2005 and 2009.

"It makes sense what he's talking about," she said.

Third time's a charm?

This year is actually Dearing's third run for City Council. He ran against Gil Hill and JoAnn Watson in a 2003 special election. He calls the council "an extremely effective body when they work together."

Business owners work to salvage shuttle - Rutland Herald

Posted: 27 Sep 2009 07:08 AM PDT

Business owners work to salvage shuttle

By Cristina Kumka STAFF WRITER - Published: September 27, 2009

Killington town leaders and local business owners are attempting to salvage the Killington Road Night Shuttle in time for peak season tourism through fundraising, weeks after the Marble Valley Regional Transit District said the line needed more financial support or it would stop running.

Killington Chamber of Commerce President Phil Black and Pickle Barrel Nightclub Owner Chris Karr have spearheaded a campaign to raise $20,000 to sponsor the shuttle service, exclusive to Killington Road from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay told the town's three-member Select Board at a recent meeting.

The effort is in response to lagging donations from local businesses to the shuttle's Friends of the Bus fundraising program over the years and Killington Resort not being able to sponsor the shuttle with $50,000 of its own funds due to economic conditions.

"For us, anything we operate, there's a local match needed," said Ellen Atkinson, community outreach manager for the district in charge of the shuttle.

"We have to find businesses to support a share of that (the cost of operating the shuttle) and that's what we are working on right now," Atkinson said.

The district, the town, the town's Economic Development & Tourism department and the Killington Chamber of Commerce are working together to raise the money needed to save the shuttle, Atkinson said.

The late-night shuttle services the Comfort Inn Killington, Summit Lodge, North Star Lodge, Butternut Motor Inn, stops along Killington Road, Highridge, Fall Line, Whiffletree, Edgemont, Trail Creek and Pinnacle Condos, the Killington Grand Hotel and Mountain Green, according to the district's Web site.

Approximately 50 percent of the shuttle's ridership happens after 11 p.m., according to information provided by the district. The fewest number of passengers use the shuttle on Tuesday nights.

Day service from Rutland's bus depot to the entire Killington region will continue to be offered by The Bus' Rutland Killington Commuter, everyday and on the hour from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. from April 13 through Nov. 25 with expanded hours after Nov. 25, said to Atkinson.

For more information or to donate, call the Killington Town Offices at 422-3241.

cristina.kumka

@rutlandherald.com

Marcellus Shale Business Breakfast Seminars set - Wayne Independent

Posted: 27 Sep 2009 04:59 AM PDT

Honesdale, Pa. -

As development of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas grows in Pennsylvania, business people statewide are being invited to a series of breakfast seminars to learn how it may create opportunities for their businesses.  Energy firms are flocking to the Commonwealth to extract natural gas from Marcellus, and are creating significant business opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs. 
Workforce Wayne, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, WEDCO and Penn State Extension are hosting "Your Business & Marcellus Shale," an educational program at the Wayne County Park Street Complex, 648 Park Street, Honesdale.   This will help entrepreneurs and established small-to-medium sized businesses understand and respond to Marcellus Shale related business opportunities. The series will consist of five weekly, early morning, webinars with sessions including: how businesses can establish working relationships with natural gas and service companies, how other businesses are already responding, and business planning skills necessary to evaluate and implement possible new business ventures.
The series is co-sponsored by a consortium of universities, Chambers of Commerce, local planning commissions and regional economic development boards from across the commonwealth, with leadership from Penn State Cooperative Extension.  Presenters and panelists will include successful local businesses, a natural gas industry representative, and experts from Penn State. 
The first four 90-minute sessions will meet on Wednesdays beginning at 8 a.m. on Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4.  In observance of Veteran's Day, the final session will be held on Tuesday Nov. 10.  Cost to attend the five part series is $20.00.  Checks should be made payable to Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. Please mail registration information and payment to Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, 32 Commercial Street, Suite 200, Honesdale, PA 18431.
For more information about the series, contact Dave Messersmith at 253-5970 x 4110, Jennifer Porter at 253-5334, email membership@waynecountycc.com or see the "Your Business & Marcellus Shale" website, at http://www.economicdevelopment.psu.edu/marcellusbiz/.

Business Twitter hub in progress - Hattiesburg American

Posted: 27 Sep 2009 04:23 AM PDT

I confess I'm a Twitter user and not just to keep up with friends. I use Twitter for on-the-spot news, links to coupons and keeping track of business, food and fashion trends.

I received a tweet from the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association drawing my attention to an article in The Wall Street Journal about how entrepreneurs use Twitter to get through a crisis.

The National Restaurant and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant associations stress that Twitter is a powerful tool for small businesses, especially during any sort of customer-service or public-relations crisis. However, I see an opportunity for Hattiesburg businesses to use Twitter not only for crises but to use it as a public relations machine, as well as to keep up with business articles in the Hattiesburg American.

I'm thinking of starting our own Hattiesburg business Twitter to keep all businesses and customers up-to-date with sales, holiday closings, hiring fairs and special events. Send an e-mail my way if you want to take part or even if you have ideas on how to run it and work out the kinks.

Openings

  • The Grill and Grocery, 121 E. Pine St., opened next to Go Young Fashions. The G&G is a combination convenience store and a grill/takeout eatery with a very interesting menu. The G&G is open Monday through Saturday. Details: 336-7986.

  • Elements Salon is moving to Canebrake Country Club, 1 Cane Drive, and will reopen as Elements Salon and Spa at Canebrake. The salon, with full spa and massage, has a tentative opening date of Sept. 30.

  • Topher's Rock 'n' Roll Grill will open in the old Ray Ray's Fried Chicken building, 5252 Old U.S. 11 in Hattiesburg. The family-oriented, fast food restaurant plans to open Oct. 1. Owned by the parent company that also owns The Bottling Company and Mugshots, the restaurant promises tasty burgers and vintage music memorabilia. Details: 336-7418 or visit www.tophersgrill.com.

  • Gatti Town is slated to open this fall. It is located between Best Buy and Toys 'R Us.

  • Qdoba Mexican Grill is expected to open Nov. 1 on Hardy Street between Applebee's and Wachovia Bank.

  • Auto Barn is being built at the corner of Emerald Lane and Broadway Drive. No completion date was given.

  • An independently-owned burger shop is being built in the former Popeye's on U.S. 49 location. No completion date was given.

    Events

  • The Kitchen Table will host Young Chefs with Julia at 4 p.m. Sept. 28. Participants will learn to cook pasta jambalaya, white chocolate bread pudding with white chocolate sauce. Cost: $35. Details: 261-2224.

  • Curves is offering a free 30-day diet program for Hattiesburg-area women Sept. 30 at Curves of Hattiesburg on the corner of Hardy Street and North 25th Avenue. Details: 450-2878 or visit www.curves.com.

  • The Tish Gammill Home, 3820 Hardy Street, will host a book signing by Catherine Strange and John David Williams for "Fearless Flowers" 4-6 p.m. Sept. 30. Details: 264-3326.
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    contact business - Hudson Reporter

    Posted: 27 Sep 2009 03:12 AM PDT

    Tias Place Boutique, Designer Clothing, Jersey City NJ 07302

    Have a question? Want more information? Contact this business using the form below.

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