REDI Blog

https://www.columbiaredi.com/blog

ColumbiaREDI — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:34:30 +0000

https://www.columbiaredi.com/blog

Please join the discussion on REDI’s new website and blog!

Missouri Ranks 15th in Nation for Small Business

ColumbiaREDI — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:38:49 +0000

According to the “Business Tax Index 2011,” the 15 best tax systems are: 1) South Dakota, 2) Texas, 3) Nevada, 4) Wyoming, 5) Washington, 6) Florida, 7) Alabama, 8)Alaska, 9) Ohio, 10) Colorado, 11) South Carolina, 12) Mississippi, 13) Oklahoma, 14) Virginia, and 15) Missouri.

How is your small business doing?

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists

A Second Missouri Certified Site in Boone County

ColumbiaREDI — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:08:57 +0000

Congratulations to the City of Columbia on the designation of the Sutter Industrial property as a Missouri Certified Site. You are now the ONLY County in Missouri with TWO Certified Sites.

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists

Columbia Ranks in New U.S. News and World Report

ColumbiaREDI — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:39:49 +0000

Lower home prices and cheap mortgage rates have made home buying much more affordable than just a few years ago. For Americans looking to buy retirement property, Columbia, Missouri is a highly rated choice; number 8 to be exact. That’s where U.S. News and World Report has placed our exceptional community in their most recent Top 10 list of places where buyers can purchase property for less than $600 a month.

Tell us what YOU like about Columbia, Missouri.

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: affordable, Columbia, retirement, Top 10, U.S. News and World Report

Columbia MSA Up in the Milken Best-Performing Cities Index

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:35:40 +0000

The 2010 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. The Columbia, MO MSA is ranked #22 up from #51 in 2009.
How do you think Columbia is doing?

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: Columbia, jobs, Milken, technology, wage

Missouri Small Business Center gets $100,000

ColumbiaREDI — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:40:05 +0000

The U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded $100,000 to the University of Missouri Extension’s Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center to promote small-business technology research around the state. With the new SBA funds, the Columbia, Mo., center plans to offer a series of training events around the state for technology-oriented researchers.

Filed under: 1, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders Tagged: research, small business, technology

2011 INVESTMIDWEST ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:09:55 +0000

InvestMidwest: March 30-31 in Kansas City. InvestMidwest is accepting applications. Over 270 attended 2010 InvestMidwest, including 63 venture capital professionals and 44 companies representing 13 states from throughout the Midwest in the three industry tracks of life sciences, IT/general business and cleantech/alternative energy. InvestMidwest encourages high-growth companies (revenue projections of $20 million or higher within five years) from throughout the Midwest to apply.

2011 InvestMidwest Application Flyer

Filed under: 1, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders Tagged: energy, invest, Midwest

Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:43:35 +0000

Did you know that the University of Missouri, Columbia is one of only six labs in the USA that are part of the NIH driven Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer? Read all about the collaboration between Nanoparticle Biochem, Inc. (NBI) and Shasun Pharmaceuticals Limited. Lead by NBI founders, Kattesh Katti and Dr. Raghuraman Kannan, Shasun NBI LLC will proceed with plans for further development of NBIs lead molecule, NBI-29 for Prostate Cancer toward FDA approval.

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders

International State Officials Visit Columbia

ColumbiaREDI — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:00:57 +0000

On Thursday, September 23 REDI Board member Bob Black coordinated a visit to Columbia for the Missouri Dept. of Economic Development representatives from Europe. Ryan O’Lynn, of the London Office, and Sieb Hoogstra of the Brussels office toured the MU Incubator, Discovery Ridge Research Park, and visited the IBM project site. REDI has been focusing on the UK and Europe as targets for foreign direct investment, and Bob will continue the relationship by visiting with UK and calling on companies during a trip in October.

Filed under: Investors/Stakeholders

Fourth Year Running, Columbia ranks in Forbes’ Top Ten

ColumbiaREDI — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:43:03 +0000

Forbes Best Small Places for Business and Careers.

The ranking of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers looks at metro areas with populations of less than 245,000. Areas are ranked on 12 metrics including costs (business and living), job growth (past and projected), income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth. Quality of life issues like crime, cultural and recreational opportunities as well as net migration patterns are factored in as well. Lastly the percentage of subprime mortgages handed out over a three-year stretch is examined and the number of highly ranked four-year colleges in the area.

#8 Columbia MO
Metro Area Population: 166,000
Cost of Doing Business Rank Rank1: 35
Economic Growth Projected Rank2: 162
Educational Attainment Rank 3: 7
Income Growth Rank*: 60
Job Growth Projected Rank2: 39
Net Migration Rank*: 37

1: Index based on cost of labor, energy, taxes and office space. 2: 3-year annualized figure. 3: Share of Population over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher. * 5-year annualized figures. Sources: Moody’s Economy.com; Sperling’s BestPlaces; FBI; U.S. Census.

Filed under: Business Prospects

Annual Survey of Area Employers

ColumbiaREDI — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:33:00 +0000

Beginning in October, REDI will be conducting its’ annual survey of area employers, including a request for current number of employees. From this information, we compile the Boone County Top Employers List. We are always on the lookout for companies/organizations that we might be missing. Who do you think needs to be surveyed?

Filed under: 1, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders Tagged: employees, survey

AT&T Announces an Exciting Project

ColumbiaREDI — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:25:08 +0000

AT&T will be announcing an exciting project in our area that will tweak the interest of REDI’s High Speed Internet Task Force and citizens in Columbia. Join us on Thursday, September 9th at 10:00 a.m. at AT&T-Columbia, 1305 Grindstone Parkway, Columbia Missouri.

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: AT&T, Internet

2010 Missouri Technology Expo

ColumbiaREDI — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:50:17 +0000

Celebrate discoveries, inventions and innovations in the state of Missouri. Plan to exhibit or attend the 2010 Missouri Technology Expo on October 7th at the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center.

Do you plan to attend? Do you have something new to offer the world?

Filed under: 1, Entrepreneurs

2010 Best Cities for Job Growth

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:02:21 +0000

Columbia, Missouri is ranked #23 on the list of Best Cities for Job Growth in the Small Cities category by Newgeography.

The methodology for the 2010 rankings emphasizes the robustness of a region’s growth both recently and over time. It allows the rankings to include all of the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly employment data. The data reflect the North American Industry Classification System categories, including total nonfarm employment, manufacturing, financial services, business and professional services, educational and health services, information, retail and wholesale trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and government.

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists

Learn How To Pitch From The People Who Have Been There

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:25:59 +0000

YOU ARE INVITED: Workshop and Pitch Event on August 16-17, 2010 at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.

Who Should Attend? Anyone with a technology or media business proposal to pitch:

University of Missouri students
Students from other colleges
Missouri entrepreneurs and innovators

You will:

Discover resources nearby to help you develop your idea into a marketable proposal
Pitch your idea to a panel of investors with a chance to win a trip to a global competition that will select the 100 most innovative ideas in the world
Get a professional evaluation of your pitch to refine it for the next pitch

Best Student Pitch wins a trip to a National Pitch Slam Contest in New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco

Filed under: 1, Entrepreneurs

REDI and MURR attend 2010 Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting

ColumbiaREDI — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:14:49 +0000

REDI Vice President Bernie Andrews and staff from MURR (MU Research Reactor Center) recently attended the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s (SNM) 57^th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is considered the “premier event for educational and networking opportunities in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine.” SNM is an international scientific and professional organization that was founded in 1954 to promote the application and technology of nuclear medicine. For more information about the annual meeting, check out their website: http://www.eshow2000.com/snm/2010/welcome.cfm.

Attending the meeting really emphasized how important it is to promote and develop high-tech businesses. Establishing connections with area businesses, including those with a technology focus like MURR, is just one example of how REDI is taking strides to develop Columbia’s economy and encourage the expansion of high-tech companies. The MURR is the largest university-operated nuclear research reactor in the United States, and thus provides a great benefit to Mid-Missouri through its emphasis on research and development, education, and products and services that relate to biotechnology and nuclear medicine. The research reactor continues to investigate diagnoses and treatments of cancers and other diseases. MURR researchers and engineers have continued to work closely with the University of Missouri, particularly with the School of Medicine and College of Veterinary Medicine, in analyzing treatments that benefit humans and animals.

The economic feasibility that companies like MURR provides to Columbia is what REDI continues to obtain through attending conferences and trade shows. REDI’s participation in the SNM annual meeting is key to promoting the assets like MURR that Columbia currently has, as well as attracting similar businesses to develop in the area and positively impact the city’s economy.

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists

New Director of University of Missouri System Research Parks

ColumbiaREDI — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:02:53 +0000

Discovery Ridge Research Park has a new director! It was announced yesterday that Greg Williams, has been appointed the Director of the University of Missouri System Research Parks, including the Missouri Research Park in St. Charles County, the Research Park at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Innovation Park at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Discovery Ridge Research Park here in Columbia. Discovery Ridge Research Park is central Missouri’s newest research park and currently has two tenants that have nearly 300 employees.

These research parks are a viable asset to the university and the state of Missouri overall. As Mike Nichols, Vice President of Research and Economic Development for the University of Missouri System, states, “these parks…[are] key to enhancing the university’s public/private partnerships and spurring the state’s economy. These parks help start-up and established businesses bring innovations to the marketplace that result in more jobs and new tax revenues to the state.”

With experience as the Senior Vice President of Economic Development for Springfield and Executive Director for the Randolph County/Moberly Economic Development Corporation and Brookfield-Marceline Economic Development Council, Mr. Williams’ leadership is sure to expand the current area’s development and enhance the strong relationship that the research parks have with REDI. We look forward to working with Mr. Williams on fostering the growth of the research parks and continuing the emphasis on technological innovation for the area.

Welcome to Columbia, Mr. Williams!

Filed under: 1, Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists

Press Notification

ColumbiaREDI — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:09:53 +0000

Linen King, an Oklahoma-based provider of laundry services to the healthcare industry will be opening a 52,000 square foot facility at 2600 Maquire Boulevard in the LeMone Office and Industrial Park.

Linen King is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare laundry group in the region. With four healthcare-specific industrial laundries, Linen King has the capacity to process almost 75 million pounds of laundry per year and will employ more than 200 people for fiscal year 2010 with revenues approaching $20MM. Linen King provides laundry service for rental and customer-owned goods accounts, as well as distribution, facilities management and consulting services. Linen King focuses on specialized, unparalleled customer service, and strives to create raving fans out of its customer base.

This is accomplished by hands-on, owner-involvement and the development of fantastic workers in a safe and relaxed environment.

Linen King expects to hire 30 people over the next 6 months, and has the capacity to grow the facility to close to 100 employees in less than 5 years. Applications for employment are anticipated to start being accepted in early July, 2010. The details of how to apply for an open position will be communicated through local media and on the internet in the coming weeks.

“This is more great news for our community,” said Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid. “Linen King will diversify our economic base in a way that’s been missing for awhile. I am very excited for the people who will fi nd work at that organization.”

A Grand Opening event is planned for sometime in August.

Filed under: 1

Performance Excellence

ColumbiaREDI — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:56:30 +0000

“If you want to take your organization from good to great, you’re going to need a management framework that will help improve performance. The Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence is that framework; and working with the Excellence in Missouri Foundation and Missouri Quality Award Program is the best way to get you started on the journey from good to great!” Larry Potterfield, Founder/CEO of Midway USA – Columbia.

Larry Potterfield is a National Baldrige Award winner and Missouri Quality Award winner.

The Excellence in Missouri Foundation, established in 1992 can provide personalized consultations and customized services to increase productivity and efficiency in communication, management, customer relations, human resources and more.

REDI believes in the principles set forth by the Excellence in Missouri Foundation and is a foundation member.

Whether you are a seasoned business or entrepreneur just starting out, we encourage you to attend one of their workshops and gain the insight and tools to make your business great!

Please contact Raina Knox, President, Excellence in Missouri Foundation for information on the next Columbia workshop.
Raina.knox@mqa.mo.gov
www.mqa.org

Filed under: Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders

Press Event Notice – Monday May 17th at 1:15 pm

ColumbiaREDI — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:37:02 +0000

REDI, Regional Economic Development, Inc., is pleased to invite you to join in celebrating an announcement of significant impact to Columbia and Boone County, on Monday, May 17th at 1:00 p.m. on the plaza of the New City Building, at the corner of 8th & Broadway.

The Governor and company officials will be joining us in Columbia on Monday at 1:00 p.m. to make the announcement. Please respect the integrity of the process as non-disclosure agreements prevent any further information to be released.

The announcement does represent the single most significant impact in private sector jobs for mid-Missouri in the history of Columbia.

We welcome you to join us, and look forward to seeing you Monday.

Filed under: Business Prospects Tagged: Economic Development

A Great Entrepreneurship Resource

ColumbiaREDI — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:03:35 +0000

Being in Columbia and right next to a top research university let’s us have easy access to a variety of resources. The most important being the University of Missouri itself. The University of Missouri School of Journalism’s librarian, Dorothy Carner, is hard at work putting together a resource database for journalism and media entrepreneurs. This site includes everything from idea generation to financial problem solving techniques and intellectual property issues. Check out her great work: Entrepreneurship@Journalism.

Filed under: Entrepreneurs

REDI participating in BIO convention

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:19:00 +0000

Today through Thursday, the global biotechnology community is meeting in Chicago, and we are attending the convention along with the Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO).

The convention will help shine the spotlight on groundbreaking biotechnology in the midwest. The theme of this year’s BIO International Convention is “Fulfilling the Promise: Heal, Fuel, Feed the World,” highlighting the diverse practical applications of biotechnology.

Chicago last held the conference in 2006.

This conference will feature keynote speakers and more than 1,700 exhibitors. More than 500 are expected to be from outside the U.S. The convention will also hold more than 125 breakout sessions in 17 tracks focusing on top industry issues and trends, research and development, partnership opportunities, and new business models required to meet global health challenges. New tracks for 2010 include Delivery and Manufacturing of Biologics, Global Drug Development and Marketing, Innovations in Vaccines, and MarketPlace Watch.

REDI is a member of moth MOBIO and BIO.

Read more about the convention here or share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Filed under: Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: BIO, biotechnology, global drug development, health, innovation, MOBIO, REDI, vaccines

Congratulations to Newsy.com!

ColumbiaREDI — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:05:40 +0000

Back in 2008, REDI helped bring San Fransisco-based Media Convergence Group’s start-up, Newsy.com, to Columbia. Newsy’s founder Jim Spencer hooked up with REDI when he was looking for a location that would allow Newsy to grow. We were able to help the company relocate to downtown Columbia. This partnership allowed Newsy easy access to the one of the world’s top schools of journalism and made sense for the company financially.

Since then, Newsy partnered with the University of Missouri School of Journalism, raised over $2 million in funding and released highly successful iPad and iPhone applications. The company promises to change the way we view news by providing multiple perspectives from multiple sources in short video segments for mobile consumption.

Most recently, Newsy’s iPad application has been ranked in the top 50 of all free iPad apps in the iTunes store. This is quite an accomplish considering the thousands of apps iTunes offers.

Check out this iPad demo from Newsy! And Download the app in the iTunes store!

Filed under: Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: Columbia, ColumbiaREDI, iPad, Jim Spencer, Media Convergence Group, Missouri School of Journalism, Newsy, Newsy ipad, newsy.com, REDI

Columbia among best small places for business

ColumbiaREDI — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:27:16 +0000

Forbes.com released its ‘Best Small Places For Business and Careers’ last Wednesday, and Columbia was #8 overall on the list. Columbia also ranks #7 in educational attainment. This is the fourth consecutive year that Columbia has made the top 10!

Share your thought about Columbia as a place for business and careers in the comments section below.

View the full report here.

Filed under: Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: business, careers, Columbia, educational attainment, Forbes.com

Columbia REDI launches into social media

ColumbiaREDI — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 05:25:07 +0000

Welcome to REDI 2.0′s blog.

We are working to improve communication with our clients and business people in the Columbia area. We have created a Twitter account, a Facebook page, and now this blog. We developed the blog to encourage discussion on important local economic issues. You will find that there are four categories – stakeholders/investors, entrepreneurs, business prospects, and site consultants/relocation specialists. The tabs are specialized with news and information geared towards you. We would appreciate feedback during this process, so please comment below if you have thoughts or suggestions for us.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Become a fan of ColumbiaREDI on Facebook, and if you have Twitter follow @ColumbiaREDI.

Filed under: Business Prospects, Entrepreneurs, Investors/Stakeholders, Site Consultants/Relocation Specialists Tagged: 2.0, Columbia, ColumbiaREDI, communication