You can post with your name or anonymously. I would like to see a thorough vetting of ideas about what the FEC's Mission should be. No idea should be considered too big, too small, or belittled. Let's mash up our thoughts and come up with something tangible we can sell.
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Sunday, June 28, 2009
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One thing I would like to see is a subgroup from the FEC (or Chamber) that goes out and tries to pool venture capital in the area. Maybe this is what Danny means when he is talking about the Chamber creating their own stimulus package.
ReplyDeleteI certainly know that a lot of people would be willing to borrow money at a higher interest rate than the banks are lending at (because banks aren't lending), if they believed they had a good opportunity to start a successful business and I believe people would be willing to invest in businesses, where there is a high likelihood of success, a credible business plan and model. Maybe the Chamber is already attempting to do this.
I would like to see a clearing house of information and voluntary financial advisers that would be willing to help get some of these ventures off of the ground. People don't really know everything that is needed to get a business off of the ground. Setting up mentors for these upstarts would help to increase their odds of being successful.
As far as long term, we need to change the way people think about financial matters and I think that starts with the schools. I think real internships and partnerships between businesses and schools would be beneficial, maybe with some local area businesses banding together to start schools of their own.
Those are just a few ideas. Beat them up or expound on them.
The following contribution was sent to me by Pat Appleson. The "post comment" is below and to the left of the dialogue box. Pat, Thank You for your input.
ReplyDeleteJames,
We do need a mission statement, that's easy. But then after that, is where the work starts. It seems to me that we're looking at things we can't change. That is when you're talking about sources of financing and schools.
There are plenty of venture capital firms. And the schools, can't teach capitalism or how to be an entrepreneur. The schools today have their own hands full with budgets, touchy-feely teaching techniques, and unions "helping" them along. Then they must keep Johnny from dropping out or they don't get the federal money. There's plenty wrong with the education system today, but I don't think our little group is able to help them. Besides, you can't teach entrepreneurship. I'm not sure if Henry Ford made it out of high school. Bill Gates is the perfect college dropout.
I think our FEC should preach to folks that the times, they have already changed. And let us help you get a grasp of what it will take to get more of any type of business in to the County. And that doesn't mean giving Apple 46 million dollars in tax credits. When I chose Hickory, neither the State or Kitty Barnes gave me anything. I had to purchase a business permit and pay taxes like every other little guy.
Personally, I don't care what it is, service, electronic, computers or my favorite, tourism/recreational. After all, this is the beginning of the "foothills". Folks come here on their way to vacation in the mountains. Hickory is kind of the "last chance for Gas" on the way there. Wouldn't it be great if we had a real race track. I mean, all the signs say: Hickory the birthplace of NASCAR. Why not build 10,000 hotel rooms, a monster RV park and run music festivals when the cars aren't racing like they do in Michigan? Why give them a reason to go to Blowing Rock? Now you got a resort town that just happens to make fiber optic cable and is higher tech than Santa Clara. It can happen.
Pat Appleson
Terry Bledsoe asked me to post this for him. I do believe that you can post anonymously if you don't have an account.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the purpose of the Future Economy Council? That is a question that has been nagging me for several weeks now and I’m not sure I have a good answer. Does anyone? I doubt it but that’s okay. There are some things that we do know. Catawba County is hurting. There are a lot of people out of work and there doesn’t appear to be many new jobs on the horizon. We have lost a lot of our industrial base and the reality is, most of that will not be coming back. We must face that and look for new opportunities.
We are not alone in our economic woes, the world in general is hurting. Countries that depend on the US for leadership and for their economy, all suffer when the US has problems. They too are looking for new opportunities.
Add to that the fact that the world has had unprecedented change over the last thirty years. The personal computer and all the technological advances that came after it has left many wondering when all this change will subside. Again reality tells us that the pace of change will only continue to quicken as one invention helps fuel the next one. That next invention may be our opportunity.
Intermixed with this is a world of social networks, tweeting, blogging, and texting that many cannot comprehend. A world where many can blossom and grow while others fret about its dangers but secretly fear being left behind. A world where guns and suppression may not be as powerful as a 140 character message sent out using a service with a cute little bird as its brand. Another opportunity? Maybe?
So what is the purpose of the Future Economy Council? I’ve painted a picture that seems depressing and almost hopeless. The message is far from that. If we stop and look closely, there is hope and a ray of sunshine in everything discussed above. We need to look for the new opportunities and quit concentrating on how it use to be. That will never return but if we look to the future with optimism, we may find a future that is even better than the past.
Could that be the purpose of the Future Economy Council?
I have fixed the settings so that you may post anonymously now.
ReplyDelete