Reserve Rates, New Kansas Unemployment Benefits, Holiday Retail Tips

In this edition:

Celebrating you (seriously, talking to you)
Kansas agrees to new unemployment assistance
Federal Reserve Rates
Exiting news for retail to use for holiday shoppers
Time Management Tips
Spooktacular

Labor Day

Attention -- this is for you!!!!

It is easy to just blow this off at another holiday that only stands out for the three day weekend, but I challenge you to really consider the meaning and intent this holiday was founded on: unifying union workers, reducing work time and celebrating the achievements of the American worker. You had a rough year and deserve to take a moment to breath and appreciate the hard work you put into keeping your business thriving in Coffeyville!!!

Kansas may be participating in the expanded unemployment benefits program.

Governor Kelly announced that Kansas will be participating in the federal program, Lost Wages Assistance. It will provide those out of work with an extra $400 a week (down from $600 that expired in July). This will provide much needed assistance for many out of work but may bring challenges to many employers. Let us know your thoughts on if it will impact your business.

News & Strategies

Business News

USDA Rural Development offering support for small business

If you haven't checked out some of the resources from US Dept of Agriculture, here is an overview of some opportunities and resources that might benefit your business.

Using Multiple Powerpoints?

Ever needed to pull up multiple powerpoint presentations or wanted to reference another presentation? Check out this guide on how to link one presentation to another. Read more.

Reserve Rates to Stay Low

The Federal Reserve said they will keep rates ultra low even after inflation picks up. Find out about this change was recently announced.

Retail & Business Strategies

Holidays Could Pay Off

Although challenges from this year will impact holiday shopping, there is some really good news for retailers. Read more on some holiday predictions, or this cheat sheet for your holiday planning.

What do consumers value now?

With the pandemic brought a few changes to what we as consumers value. Check out this study from Resonate and find ways for your business to shift from "playing not to lose" to "playing to win".

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Strategy Spotlight

Check out our business resource page for this weeks spotlight strategy:

Time Management Tips for Business Owners

To Spook or not to Spook?

We are in the planning stages of Spooktacular and making the tough decision on whether to move forward. We would love to hear your thoughts!

If we move forward, is your business interested in handing out Candy this year? Our goal is to set up a specific traffic flow pattern so the kiddos are not clustered together as much. Businesses will be required to wear masks and gloves and hand out candy. Children will not be allowed to touch candy bowls. Again, we are weighing the pros and cons and will make a decision soon. Email Candi your thoughts to help us make this decision.

Last Chance- Share the CENSUS with your employees!

The great news is that Kansas is near the top for total household count

"As August came to a close, 92.1% of Kansas households have been counted in the 2020 Census. That number is a combination of the state's 68.7% self-response rate combined with the 23.4% of households having been contacted and counted by census takers involved with Non-Response Follow-UP (NRFU) operations."

Great news, but we can't be complacent. Now is a critical time to ensure Coffeyville is protected!

Final Note...

Are you talking to the Chamber?

The good news is that as a Chamber member, venting is free! I jest a little but my point is that I encourage every member to stay in touch with the Chamber. Call when you want to brag about something new. Call if you are struggling with a challenge. Call when you need to get something off your chest. The point is, communication is important for us to support you effectively. This is how we learn:

if multiple businesses are experiencing the same challenge
if our state or city representatives need to be aware of our needs in Coffeyville
what innovation is happening in our community

And maybe you just need a safe place to vent. My door is always open!!

Sincerely,

Candi Westbrook

Executive Director

Have a topic you want us to research and share? What challenge or need do you have? Send us an email with your questions!