“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
- John F. Kennedy
Featured Event
Bombers, Berries, and Brews
May 7th 5-8pm
Help support one of our area treasures - the Yankee Air Museum! One of the best fundraisers of the year!
Annual Economic Outlook
May 23rd, 11-12:30
Our annual event has 2 Powerhouse Speakers this year, and best part it is FREE to the entire community! We have room for about 50-60 in the Belleville Area Library.
Hear from 2 market experts, and learn how to plan for inflation and see what legislation might be coming. Our speakers are:
Leah Robinson, Director of Tax Policy and Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Josh Yafa, Vice President and Portfolio Advisor for Wellington Management
This is sponsored by the BACC and Edward Jones - Alicia McGovern.
Agenda:
10:30 - 11:00 Registration
11:00 - 12:00 Speakers
12:00 - 12:30 Q&A, Networking
This is an event that had 42 people virtually last year, and all stayed for the entire program! You will learn, and meet some really great folks! This year IN PERSON and before you ask, no it isn't recorded or available on ZOOM ... you need to be there!
Registration is free, but we need you to register ASAP - we will run out of spaces!
Combating Inflation: Making the Case that Businesses Are Not to Blame for Inflation
Efforts by policymakers and the administration to blame businesses for inflation ignores all evidence to the contrary. Policymakers should be focused on solutions such as easing regulations, reducing tariffs, and increasing domestic energy production. This is not caused by big business, big oil, or big pharma - this is what happens when you spend money you don't have - and just print more - ECON 101
Making the case:
If your customers are blaming you because of what they hear from the politicians, here are some points that you can make.
Businesses of all sizes are raising prices because of what is happening across the entire economy that is beyond their control, including supply chain disruptions, worker shortages, world events, and U.S. monetary policy.
On March 29, MetLife and the U.S. Chamber released the 2022 Q1 Small Business Index. The report found that while small business owners are feeling good about the health of their businesses and expectations for the future, concern for inflation soared.
The vast majority (85%) of small business owners are concerned about the impact of inflation, and 44% indicate they are very concerned, jumping 14 percentage points from 31% last quarter.
More than two in three businesses (67%) report having to raise prices to cope with inflation.
The survey also found that while COVID-19 remains a persistent challenge, inflation and supply chain issues are top of mind for most small businesses.
Setting the record straight:
Inflation is the result of supply and demand. Pandemic related shocks, a tight labor market, and loose monetary and fiscal policy have limited the supply of many goods and at the very same time boosted demand. This has created broad-based price increases.
Businesses raise prices when input costs rise, and they can either see their margins shrink and start losing money, or they can raise prices to offset those higher costs.
To shift the blame to businesses is misguided and only increases the likelihood that the real causes of inflation will not be addressed, prolonging and exacerbating higher prices for families and risking a recession.
Come out and welcome one of our newest businesses and members in town! Quality Care Rx, an Independent Pharmacist.
May 10th - 8:30am
Networking & Coffee Hour
News | Advocacy | Info and more ...
What You Told Us in Pre-Labor Day School Start Survey
We asked a few weeks ago what you and the rest of the state think about this issue ... It's always nice when we get results this quick! Take a look, I know a LOT of you clicked on the survey originally (and for you privacy hawks, I don't know who, just how many)
What do they need to show before they can get on a ballot?
The upcoming petition to change term limits in Michigan
You will be seeing a TON of advertising over the coming weeks / months to get this petition on the ballot. On the surface it sounds good (but that is marketing) there are things that aren't spelled out so clearly in the language. Before you sign anything, make sure you hear both sides of the story. We will be posting arguments from both sides - and there are a ton of them. This isn't as bipartisan as it sounds.
U.S. GDP Falls 1.4% as Economy Shrinks for First Time Since Early in Pandemic
As inflation rips away our purchasing power, and incomes don't keep up with inflation - this is what we get. The current administration is now proposing tax increases to solve this problem ...
Interstate 94 between Detroit and Ann Arbor could in the coming few years become the first major artery in Michigan designed for autonomous vehicles zipping up and down the road.
