Two local banks took money from Fed
Data released by the Federal Reserve Wednesday show that two Columbia banks took advantage of one of the programs established by the central bank to pump liquidity into the ailing financial system. First National Bank & Trust Company, which reorganized as Landmark Bank early last year, and Shelter Financial Bank both took advantage of short-term Read More …
By: admin
one responseState tax credit trims not enough to stop higher ed cuts
Recommendations from the Missouri Tax Credit Review Commission could save the state $220 million annually, but they are still not enough to stave off big cuts to higher education funding, said commission member Craig Van Matre. Missouri has 61 tax credit programs, and since 1998, total tax credit redemptions have grown by an average of Read More …
By: admin
Don’t Sanitize the Mess
‘When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love’ (Marcus Aurelius) Joy. Peace. Noel. Words that come easily to mind this time of year. We may even have these words gracing the fireplace mantel as we decorate for Read More …
By: Cathy Atkins
2 responsesCity finance director gives final budget briefing
In a farewell address of sorts, Columbia Finance Director Lori Fleming gave the City Council one last overview of the budget Monday night before she heads south of the border to take a job with the U.S. Treasury Department in Honduras. Fleming, whose last day is Friday, has been Columbia’s finance director since 1995. In Read More …
By: admin
one responseHertwig-Hopkins in running for Virginia city manager job
Columbia Assistan City Manager Paula Hertwig-Hopkins confirmed today that she was a finalist for the job of city manager in Charlottesville, Va. Media reports in Charlottesville said the City Council there had picked a new manager from three finalists, one of which is Hertwig-Hopkins. The council declined to disclose their decision to local media pending Read More …
By: admin
UM’s change to student IP rights nets grant
The University of Missouri’s push to commercialize more intellectual property bagged it a $100,000 grant from the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the country. The Kauffman foundation, which promotes entrepreneurship, awarded the grant to help MU advance student entrepreneurship. As part of the grant, the Reynolds Journalism Institute Read More …
By: admin
Mediacom founder taking company private
Publicly traded Mediacom Communications Corp., long Columbia’s largest cable operator, is likely to be bought by its Chief Executive Officer and founder, Rocco Commisso, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. Commisso values the company at $600 million and is offering shareholders $8.75 per share — 28 percent higher than the stock’s closing price Friday. What Read More …
By: admin
Roots ‘N’ Blues study provides much needed benchmarks
If you use the economic impact studies that Roots ‘N’ Blues ‘N’ BBQ Festival organizer Thumper Entertainment gave to the City Council in the summer of 2009, the popular Columbia event attracts no where near the crowds it used to. But if you look at this year’s economic impact study for what it most likely Read More …
By: admin
Downtown drinking problems
Even if you haven’t been downtown on a weekend at 1:30 a.m. recently, you probably still have some idea of the shenanigans that occur around that time. The Columbia Police Department knows all too well, and they’re trying to get that boozing between Thursday and Saturday under control. “Our primary problem downtown has been overservice,” Read More …
By: admin
3M reports strong earnings in third quarter
3M’s third quarter earnings, released yesterday, point to good prospects for the Columbia plant. The company reported third quarter earnings of $1.1 billion, or $1.53 per share, compared to $957 million, or $1.35 per share, in last year’s third quarter. For the first nine months of the year, 3M’s has posted profits 40 percent higher Read More …
By: admin
one responseStart with “Why”
Thanks to Dave Ramsey, I was recently introduced to the work of an author/speaker named Simon Sinek. After watching a video presentation on his concept of “The Golden Circle,” I knew you needed to see it, too! In Mr. Ramsey’s email, it states, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” I Read More …
By: Joe Schmitter
Missouri ranked 16th in business tax climate index
The Tax Foundation, a think tank that researches U.S. tax policy, ranked Missouri the state with the 16th best business tax climate. The paper accompanying the annual index notes that, in terms of attracting and retaining businesses: “State lawmakers are right to be concerned about how their states rank in the global competition for jobs Read More …
By: admin
Making sure the charrette isn’t a charade
At their first meeting since the downtown charrette was released a little over two weeks ago, the Downtown Leadership Council sat down to figure out the hardest part of any plan: implementing it. The charrette is a planning document for downtown, born of an intense planning exercise overseen by professional consultants and downtown stakeholders. What Read More …
By: admin
Hubbell’s good results don’t extend to Centralia
Hubbell Incorporated released good news to investors today. Its plant in Centralia is the largest industrial employer in Boone County and one of the last union shops in the area, employing roughly 585 people. But, looking at the company’s earnings more closely, the news is not as peachy for the region. Hubbell Incorporated reported third-quarter Read More …
By: admin
Columbia housing permits stabilize
National housing data released yesterday contained some good news: single-family home starts in September rose 4.4 percent from August, to an annual rate of 452,000. For the Midwest though, the picture wasn’t great. The region saw overall housing starts (which includes multiple-family homes) fall 8.2 percent from August. Single-family housing permits in Columbia, an indicator Read More …
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