[share] Dr. Robert F. Graboyes, a Senior Fellow for Healthand Economics at the NFIB  Research Foundation in Washington, DC., is the featured speaker at the Industrial Association of Quincy 2011 Annual Meeting on Monday, August 15th. The luncheon will be held at noon in the Hall of Fame Room at the Quincy University Health and Fitness Center. Tickets are available by filling out and returning this reservation form or calling Great River Economic Development Foundation at 217.223.4313.

Dr. Graboyes will give a speech entitled, Healthcare Reform: How High’s the Water, Mama?. “The 2010 healthcare law is washing across American business and will profoundly complicate the relationships between employer, employee, and government,” said Dr. Graboyes. “I will talk about sandbags and high ground for the years ahead.”

In his role at the NFIB, Dr. Graboyes analyzes federal and state healthcare legislation from the perspective of small business. He also teaches health economics in master’s and doctoral programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, and George Mason University.

Previously, Dr. Graboyes was Chase Manhattan Bank’s economist for sub-Saharan Africa, economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and associate professor at the University of Richmond. In 2000 and 2007, he was Visiting Scholar at the Kazakhstan School of Public Health in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

He has a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, master’s degrees from the College of William and Mary, Columbia University and Virginia Commonwealth University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. His recent writings can be found at NFIB.com/DrBob.

Reservations for the August 15th luncheon at the Quincy University Health and Fitness Center Hall of Fame Room may be made by filling out and returning this reservation form or contacting GREDF, which serves as IAQ facilitator, at 217-223-4313 or gredf@gredf.org. The cost is $15 per person. Tables of seven are available.

[share] Unemployment rates in the region continued their downward trend in May.

Adams County currently sits at 5.5% which is 0.5% lower than April and 1.2% lower May 2010. Adams County is tied with Schuyler County for the 2nd lowest unemployment out of 102 counties in the State of Illinois, second only to Brown County.

City of Quincy unemployment rates for May sit at 6.0%. This is 0.6% lower than April and 1.5% lower than a year ago.

For a complete list of unemployment figures across the state, visit the IDES Local Area Unemployment Statistics website.

[share] The Quincy Area Safety Council (QASC) will sponsor OSHA General Industry Courses July 18 – 21 at Vatterott College in Quincy.  The OSHA 10-hour General Industry Course will take place from 8am-5pm Monday, July 18 – Tuesday July 19. The OSHA 30-hour General Industry Course will take place 8am-5pm Monday, July 18 – Thursday, July 21.

The OSHA 10-hour program is designed and intended to provide instruction on a variety of general industry safety and health standards to entry-level workers. The course emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention. Registration fees are $175 for members (with a $25 member discount for each additional student from the same employer) and $195 for non-members.

The OSHA 30-hour program is more comprehensive than the 10-hour general industry program. It is designed for anyone involved in general industry, especially personnel responsible for supervision, management, safety and the company’s employees. The course emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention. Registration fees are $425 for members (with a $25 member discount for each additional student from the same employer) and $450 for non-members.

Thomas Grey, CHCM, President, Grey & Associates, Champaign Illinois is the instructor. Tom Grey is a highly skilled trainer and coach in employer and employee development of safety performance. Tom has over 28 years of hands on experience as a former plant manager, safety manager, human resources manager and quality control manager in manufacturing, distribution and trucking industries.

Tom is a graduate from the University of Illinois and a US Army Veteran. He is a trained Industrial Designer, Humane Resources Generalist, Board Certified Hazard Control Manager (CHCM) and OSHA Outreach Trainer. Tom has been trained in the OSHA Outreach OSHA 501 General Industry 10-hour and 30-hour Trainer Program. He is also authorized to instruct for the National Safety Education Center and the OSHA Training Institute on the OSHA 511 General Industry Course and SHA 501 General Industry Train-the-Trainer Course.

Download the Registration Form. For more information visit www.qasc.org or call 217.224.0149 or email qasc@adams.net. 

The mission of the Quincy Area Safety Council is to improve safety in Quincy and the surrounding area through a network of safety-minded individuals acting to predict, prevent, and minimize accidents.

By Jim Foley, Director – Turner Center Operations
Illinois SBDC International Trade Center

[share] Selecting the right foreign partner in a new country is a critical marketing decision. The right partner can lead to new sales and profits. The wrong partner may mean significant lost sales, poor branding and ultimately withdrawal from the market. For most companies, their first foreign partner is their agent or distributor. As that partner will be doing most of the marketing activities in the country, getting the right partner is crucial.

A firm must begin by detailing what it wants from the foreign partner. How much of the sales and marketing burden will be pushed on to the partner? If the exporter is planning to open a distribution facility, then much of the logistics issues will be handled by the exporter rather than the partner. Similarly, if the exporter is planning to open an overseas sales/marketing office, there are considerably less expectations from the partner.

Following are some of the issues to consider when choosing a partner. These will help identify the potential strengths or weaknesses of each partner as well as the opportunities and threats they face in the country and industry in which they operate. These same strengths and weaknesses need to fit with the strengths and weaknesses of the exporter, and the opportunities and threats need to match with the international goals of the exporter. This may be difficult to achieve, which is why the selection of a foreign partner is most commonly selecting the ‘best’ partner among a list of considerations rather then finding the ‘ideal’ partner.

Product Lines Currently Represented: One of the best indicators will be the product lines (brands) the potential partner already represents. This reveals a great deal about their experience, strengths and focus. There may be some lines that would be competitive with the manufacturer’s product and preclude any potential for a representation agreement. This is particularly important for exclusive representation agreements. Manufacturers want to avoid ‘line collectors’ – companies that try to represent as many product lines as possible in hopes that ultimately one or two will be huge successes.

Industry Focus and Technical Knowledge: Most agents and distributors focus on particular industries. Though their focus may not be a perfect match, it can be used as a guide. If particular technical knowledge is required, such capabilities will need to be identified.

Years of Experience: Manufacturers are sometimes attracted to relatively new agents and distributors that may be more aggressive given their relative need to grow and succeed versus other competitors in the market. On the other hand, a mature, experienced partner may have the needed contacts to ensure greater success for the exporter.

Sales Structure: This is a critical indicator. It describes how the foreign company sells and to whom. For example, does the distributor only sell to retail locations, but never to the end-user? Does the distributor sell to large accounts?

Current Customers: If research has determined that particular customers are crucial, such as government agencies, some clarification by the company needs to be made to ensure they will be contacted.

Customer Support: If training, parts distribution or product repairs will be necessary, determine what customer support functions the company is able to provide.

Office Locations: The location of the main office and any other offices will indicate the geographical sales focus of the company. It will help determine what part of the territory it can effectively cover.  

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center can assist in finding suitable foreign partners. We subscribe to databases that list foreign companies by industry and sales activities. The State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment offers direct assistance in finding and vetting foreign partners, as does the US DOC Peoria Export Assistance Center within the U.S. Commercial Service. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for your next partner search. For more information, call (309) 677-3075 or email illinoissbdcitc@bradley.edu.

[share] Why Quincy?

We were recently asked to write a letter on behalf of a local business owner looking to attract more businesses to our area. She wanted us to answer the question, “Why should a business locate in the Quincy area?”. Writing letters like these and creating custom informational packets about the opportunities and benefits available in the Quincy area are a fun part of our job. It’s our chance to brag. 

Have you ever been asked this question? What is your answer? Here’s ours: 

To Whom It May Concern:

Quincy… Life is Good! This isn’t just our slogan, it’s a reality.

The largest city within 100 miles, Quincy, Illinois is the regional hub for commerce, education, healthcare, recreation and more. Quincy easily draws more than 600,000 people in a 75-mile radius who prefer to shop, dine, work and play in a community that is friendly, vibrant and easy to navigate.

The City of Quincy and the surrounding tri-state region have a low cost of living, great schools, low crime and excellent healthcare. We also have short commute times and affordable housing, just two of the factors that led to Forbes magazine ranking Quincy number 8 on its list of Best Small Cities to Raise a Family (October 2010).

We know life is good and we have the numbers to prove it.

• At 6.9%, Adams County ranked 3^rd out of 102 counties for the lowest unemployment (March 2011).
• Retail sales figures were up in 2010 and included a record-setting December when the City’s home rule sales tax was $1,027,336.
• Quincy home sale prices, which have remained strong throughout the recent economic downturn, rose 20% in the first 3 months of 2011.
• An on-going $100 million plus construction boom includes an apartment complex, university dormitory, Salvation Army Kroc Community Center, financial institutions and various retail establishments.

Thanks to transportation developments over the past decade, Quincy is at the center of 4-lane highways in all directions. The Avenue of the Saints passes just five miles to our west and is 4-lane from Canada to the Gulf and the newly designated Chicago – Kansas City Expressway (Route 110/CKC) offers a less-congested alternate route to these popular Midwest destinations.

Quincy is poised for continued growth. Our team of experienced economic development professionals stands ready to assist you in your site selection decisions. We invite you to visit our website, www.gredf.org for more information, or better yet, come visit us in person and experience for yourself how good life is in Quincy.

Sincerely,

Jim Mentesti
President
Great River Economic Development Foundation

Networking Opportunity for Individuals & Organizations Interested in Global Commerce

[share] As a result of recent discussions with Dan Chevelier of Gardner Denver and John Macdonald of Broadcast Electronics there is currently an effort underway to gauge the level of interest in starting an informal professional organization to exchange ideas, host presentations, and address topics related to international sales, import and export compliance, international finance, and other aspects of global commerce, initially meeting in Quincy. The idea would be to meet in an informal atmosphere once a quarter to start. Speakers, mentors, and other educational resources are available.

Sample topics might include:

– Getting started in overseas markets.
– Finding and developing distributors overseas.
– International logistics and freight forwarders.
– Developing and documenting an Import and Export Compliance Program.
– Resources for developing international sales- public and private.
– International transaction payment method options.
– Benefits of using Foreign Trade Zones and Subzones
– Trade potential and characteristics of specific countries and regions.

Individuals or companies new to global commerce would be as welcome as seasoned international trade professionals. If you or someone in your organization would find this networking opportunity of value please email gredf@gredf.org with your contact information under the email subject line; Tri-State Global Commerce Network.

Once we have a database of interested individuals and organizations, we will propose a date and venue for a kick-off meeting. For more information, please contact Charles Bell at 217.223.4313 or charlesb@gredf.org.

[share] The region continues to see a positive trend for unemployment with rates falling throughout Western Illinois in March.

Adams County is tied for 3rd lowest unemployment rate in the state at 6.9% which is a full 1.7% lower than a year ago. Quincy is 2 full percentage points lower than a year ago standing at 7.4%.

View the unemployment rate numbers around the state of Illinois for yourself at the IDES Local Area Unemployment Statistics website.

[share]Small Biz Leadership Luncheon

The Entrepreneurship Task Force of the Tri-State Development Summit will be holding a luncheon for small businesses and entrepreneurs on Wednesday, May 25th at Tiramisu Restaurant in Quincy. The event will be held from 11:30am – 1:00pm and will cost $15 per person which includes lunch.

The event will be the first in a quarterly series to rotate among Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. The objectives of the events are to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners with local economic information, business-related tips and advice and networking opportunities with other business owners and entrepreneurs. 

Speakers will vary from session to session depending on current events and current business topics.  The events will offer opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners to network with each other with the hope that they can collaborate, share business ideas and help each other with shared opportunities, concerns and issues.

For the first session, speakers will include Jim Mentesti, President of Great River Economic Development Foundation and Eric Thomas, President of ETC ComputerLand. Mr. Mentesti will speak to the group about the current economic environment of our region. He will also share updates on current significant projects impacting businesses in the tri-state region. Mr. Thomas will give a Social Media for Business presentation. The presentation will give businesses the basics of what social media is and how they should or could be using it to increase their visibility.

Registration will be $15 per person which also includes lunch.  Pre-registration is required by May 20th. The attached Registration Form should be sent to Megan Backs at GREDF at meganb@gredf.org. 

2011 signifies the 15th year for the Tri-State Development Summit. In the 15 years since the inception; the Summit Region has adopted numerous Task Forces and achieved many successes in each of those task force areas. The Summit Region now comprises 35 counties in NE Missouri, SE Iowa and Western Illinois.

Steering committee members have also announced that the 9th Tri-State Development Summit will take place October 5, 2011 in Quincy, Ill. The mission of the Tri-State Summit is to bring together leaders in Southeast Iowa, Northeast Missouri and Western Illinois to define common issues; to develop an on-going dialogue to effectively address those issues; and to improve the quality of life of the entire tri-state region through economic development activities.

Small Biz Leadership Luncheon Registration Form

[share] Thought we’d share the view from our office today. Construction workers are busy pouring concrete sidewalks outside the new Franklin Square Apartment Complex.

Company officials have told us the completion date is about a month away. For more information, call 319-415-7610.

Adams County continues to be among the lowest in the state when it comes unemployment numbers. February 2011 unemployment for the county was 7.3%. That’s down 1.9% from a year ago and makes Adams County the 3rd lowest county in the state behind Brown County (5.0%) and DuPage County (7.1%).

The City of Quincy was at 7.8% for the month of February, down 2.0% from a year ago.

See and compare the numbers for yourself at the IDES Local Area Unemployment Statistics website.