2014 Par Busters Golf Tournament

The Longview Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Par Busters Golf Tournament, is set for September 8th at Oak Forest Golf Club. The field of 200 golfers is made up of some of the most influential members of the local business community, as well as dignitaries from the surrounding area.

Only nine teams are available for AM tee time!!!

Get your team today before it is too late.

We are in need of volunteers and door prizes.

This is a great way to get your company name in front of this group of business leaders!!!

What kinds of Door Prizes do we need?  Be creative…think of what your company can offer…

Folding Chairs, Restaurant Gift Certificates, Golf Clubs, Golf Gloves, Shirts, Jackets, Golf Tees, Club Head Covers,  Luggage, Duffle Bags, Pens and Papers, Memorabilia, Game tickets, Retail Gift Certificates, Trips, Umbrellas….

Please contact Melissa Saunders or Diana Velazquez at 903.237.4000 for more information.

Transportation Open House

We need your input for the comprehensive transportation planning for the greater Longview area. The Longview MPO has scheduled a Transportation Open House on Wednesday, July 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Jo Ann Metcalf Municipal Building, 300 W. Cotton St. The MPO is conducting an on-line transportation survey to solicit public input on transportation planning documents.
Please take the survey at http://www.LongviewMPO.com/

U.S. Shopping Center Development, Redevelopment Quietly Ramp Up

One of the main takeaways from last week’s ICSC RECon conference for Matt Winn, global retail COO in Atlanta for Cushman & Wakefield, is that retail developers are back in business in the U.S and around the world.

“For the first time in a few years, large scale mixed-use projects seem to be getting traction,” according to Winn. “In the U.S., there is no doubt that they are more confined to the smile markets of the East and West Coast as well as the Sun Belt. But they are definitely there.”

U.S. shopping center completions increased for the first time since 2007 last year, with nearly 400 new centers totaling more than 129 million square feet delivered, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Shopping Center Development Report, issued in Las Vegas last week. Canada also saw a dramatic increase in new shopping center deliveries in 2013 following six straight years of declining construction volume.

Granted, the numbers are low compared to history, with growth in GLA (gross leasable area) at roughly early 1990s levels. However, deliveries constituted a 12.7% increase over 2012, accounting for roughly 18% of total new space put in place since the economic downturn in 2008.

New development and redevelopment were buzz words on panels and in the hallways and exhibition halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center last week. Activity at present is more of a ripple than a wave due to a lack of high-quality assets and construction lenders who remain wary about financing ground-up projects, panelists at the Marcus & Millichap Retail Trends 2014 in Las Vegas agreed.

http://www.costar.com/News/Article/US-Shopping-Center-Development-Redevelopment-Quietly-Ramp-Up/161025

Think Mobile First

Conducting Market Research

Marketing research can give a business a picture of what kinds of new products and services may bring a profit. For products and services already available, marketing research can tell companies whether they are meeting their customers’ needs and expectations. By researching the answers to specific questions, small-business owners can learn whether they need to change their package design or tweak their delivery methods–and even whether they should consider offering additional services.

“Failure to do market research before you begin a business venture or during its operation is like driving a car from Texas to New York without a map or street signs,” says William Bill of Wealth Design Group LLC in Houston. “You have know which direction to travel and how fast to go. A good market research plan indicates where and who your customers are. It will also tell you when they are most likely and willing to purchase your goods or use your services.”

 

For more information go to http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217345

Longview sets forum on adopting codes

If you are thinking about expanding your business, are in the commercial construction business, or are looking to open a business in Longview; this applies to you!

 

Longview Development Services and the Fire Marshal’s office will discuss possible code changes during a community forum from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday. The meeting will be in the Eitelman Room at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide builders, developers, design professionals and the community at large an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns about proposed changes to building and fire codes.

Significant changes were presented to the Construction Appeals and Advisory Board on March 6. The board will study the changes and make recommendations to the City Council.

 

Please make plans to be there!  You’re input is important!

 

For information, contact Building Official Skip Whittle at (903) 237-1056.

10 Keys to a Successful Business Plan

Kilgore and Longview Chambers of Commerce Team up for Elected Officials’ Forum

The Longview Chamber has hosted annual elected officials’ forums for a number of years. Due to the successful partnership with Kilgore Chamber on advocacy trips to Austin, it was decided to host joint events when it was in the best interest of the county. This is the FIRST joint elected officials’ forum hosted by the chambers.

This is a county-wide event and all candidates for Gregg County Commissioners Precincts 2 & 4 have been invited to participate. Scheduled for February 11th, the forum will be held at Maude Cobb Convention Center

The program will begin with introductions at 5:30 p.m. The forum will use a structure that has proven successful historically. Moderators will welcome the audience, recognize sponsors, explain ground rules, and briefly introduce candidates. Gregg County Precinct 2 candidates will speak beginning 5:45 and last for one hour until 6:45p.m. There will be a 15 minute break followed by Precinct 4 candidates from 7:00p.m. until 8:00p.m.

For more information, please click on the link below:

http://longviewchamber.com/news-releases/kilgore-and-longview-chambers-of-commerce-team-up-for-elected-officials-forum

Business Beat: Small business center’s impact in the millions – Longview News-Journal: Business

The Kilgore College Small Business Development Center helped close to 2,000 people during the 2012-13 budget year, through business counseling…

via Business Beat: Small business center’s impact in the millions – Longview News-Journal: Business.

To get more information about the SBDC, you can contact them at:

Kilgore College SBDC
911 NW Loop 281, Ste. 209
Longview, TX 75604
(Austin Bank Building)

(903) 757-5857
Toll Free: (800) 338-7232
Fax: (903) 753-7920
Website:  kilgoresbdc.com

 

Social Media 2013

If you are still debating whether your company should have a social media presence,

check out these statistics.

 

Infographic source: Visually