Leadership Washington County’s Post

Curious as to what is in store for economic development, job creation, and business growth in the next few years? Join us on March 27 as Secretary Anderson shares his vision for the MD Department of Commerce and highlights opportunities for Washington County. GRAB YOUR TICKET HERE: https://lnkd.in/eZCeDXtN As the state's primary driver of economic development, the Department of Commerce plays a crucial role in stimulating private investment, fostering job creation, and supporting businesses. Discover more about its initiatives, including attracting new enterprises, promoting the growth of existing companies, and providing workforce training and financial assistance to Maryland-based businesses. Learn how Commerce actively advocates for the state's commercial strengths and exceptional quality of life to catalyze economic development, international investment, trade, and tourism.

Tomorrow at 10am EST, I’ll testify before the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Bowie State University. We’ll discuss the importance of supporting minority-owned businesses. With their significant contributions and untapped potential, we need targeted policies, like expanding federal programs and enhancing financial support. Agencies like the Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce Development Agency and programs like U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program are crucial for leveling the playing field. Let’s ensure equitable opportunities to bridge the racial wealth gap and foster overall prosperity and diversity in the American economy. Here is the link to the hearing: https://lnkd.in/ep9Hr-ve

Do you like panel discussions? You know, as opposed to presentations. It's a sincere question. . . I often find that I'm disappointed that they are so rushed; you just wish you could hear more from every panelist. That said, I'm impressed by how much our 2024 Economic Outlook panel covered yesterday! In 45 short minutes, we covered: 🔹Why consumer sentiment matters so much for Ohio's 2024 economic forecast 🔹 Which jobs are most likely to be eliminated by AI 🔹 How Ohio is "portfolio state," with many smaller economies within the state, and how this relates to regional economic resilience 🔹 What Ohio needs to be doing differently with workforce development 🔹 Top 3 challenges in real estate financing and housing affordability (aka what would be needed to get us back to "normal" affordability of housing) 🔹 Top trends to look out for in 2024 for food and agriculture (this one was me!) I only got to one of the 6 trends I identified when preparing for the panel. So, I'll put all 6 trends into a blog next week! Working title for the blog is: 6 trends we're paying attention to in 2024 for Ohio-based Food and agriculture businesses. Thanks to Amanda Weinstein for being a rockstar moderator for the panel. You kept it light while still keeping a bunch of verbose economists focused. _____________________________________________ Hi, I'm Elizabeth, an agricultural and environmental economist. Feel free to follow along if you want to hear about data and strategy - and to make sure you see the new blog when it comes out.

As an entrepreneur, you know the importance of financial empowerment. It’s not just about knowing your numbers—it’s about making informed decisions that drive your business forward. But what if you could combine financial knowledge with the power of networking? We hope you enjoyed last Thursday's Black Business Owners & Financial Professionals Networking Event, brought to you by the Black Entrepreneurs & Businesses of Canada Society (BEBC) & Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP). As you continue to grow your network, here are 3 ways to boost your financial empowerment: 1️⃣ Learn from Peers: Engaging with other entrepreneurs gives you insight into how they handle their finances, navigate challenges, and seize new opportunities. 2️⃣ Access New Resources: Through networking, you can discover financial tools, advisors, and products you might not have been aware of. 3️⃣ Collaboration Opportunities: Strong business connections often lead to collaborations that can boost both your revenue and your financial expertise. Interested in more events like these? Stay up to date with upcoming events on our socials and join our growing community today: https://lnkd.in/e-dvaAb3

On April 24, 1984, President Ronald Reagan held a brief signing ceremony in the Grand Ballroom at Chicago’s Conrad Hilton Hotel. Flanked by Illinois Governor Thompson and the state’s congressional delegation, Reagan celebrated the signing of Senate Bill 746, establishing a “National Heritage Corridor” encompassing the route of the Illinois & Michigan Canal from Chicago to LaSalle-Peru. Reagan would later call national heritage areas such as this “a new kind of national park” which, unlike traditional nature-focused parks with well-defined boundaries, would instead incorporate entire regions, communities, natural spaces and historic sites--recognizing working rather than static landscapes. He noted that the juxtaposition of outdoor recreation and cultural heritage in these new parks “will stimulate tourism, jobs, and economic growth." Since that April afternoon in 1984, Congress has designated 62 National Heritage Areas across 36 states and territories. And for the past 40 years, our National Heritage Areas have been the proving grounds for regional approaches to leveraging cultural and outdoor assets for economic growth. While the outdoor economy is finally getting well-deserved national attention, the origins of publicly-funded regional outdoor economy planning may very well be found in that ballroom in Chicago in 1984. And the successes and failures of National Heritage Areas during the past four decades can inform the ways in which we approach regional outdoor economy strategies today.

Heritage Areas have been leading regional outdoor economy strategies for decades by recognizing and leveraging the inextricable relationships between natural and cultural landscapes in promoting recreation and fostering resilient economic growth. As the national outdoor economy enjoys its (hopefully lengthy) moment in the sun, we should recognize the legacy of Heritage Areas in this work and take advantage of their lessons learned over the past 40 years.

Expert economic analysis for your business, networking, food & drinks, and Eastman House museum access afterwards… A once a year event.

Southern California Equity is well positioned to navigate challenges within the creative economy. Watch below and gain a deeper insight from the team at SCE!

If Amira Kohler is willing to leave paradise for this masterclass, it has to be worth considering a trip up the motorway for, eh? #performancemanagement #performance #performancemasterclass #masterclass

Why are people and businesses moving away from Massachusetts? How can we reverse this trend and strengthen our competitiveness? Join us on October 9 for a discussion of the recently released Massachusetts Competitiveness Index with Doug Howgate, President of Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, followed by a panel discussion on actionable strategies to keep our state thriving. https://lnkd.in/eBDBNkKN Read the full Massachusetts Competitiveness Index Report now: https://lnkd.in/e7cvpui5