EDITOR'S NOTE
Real estate is bouncing back
During the past few years certain terms have entered the popular lexicon that we’d just as soon see go away. Things like “short sale,” “under water,” “strategic default” and “foreclosure glut.” All those phrases have been around a long time, probably, but when they all come up in just about any conversation about real estate, you know things are not good. READ MORE »
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Why fruit must have sticklers
Here’s the extent of my expertise on the business of tree fruit:Buy some land. Plant some fruit trees.
A destination with a destiny
There’s something special happening in downtown Wenatchee that could enhance the tourism dynamic for the entire region. Construction workers at Pybus Public Market are working hard to prepare the former metal fabrication building near the Columbia River into a shiny new 25,000-square-foot market. The goal is to be open by May 11.
We’re here, there and everywhere
We live in a relatively isolated part of the state and country but much of what we do here is far from disconnected from the outside world. We are a part of the global community in many ways, including and perhaps especially, in regards to business. In this issue of Business World we look at our region’s international reach, be it the products we grow and manufacture, finding customers in far-away continents or foreign companies finding this a desirable place to do business or even set up operations.
This month, we’ve got a very big Act to follow
Officially called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the health care overhaul signed into law in 2010 and more commonly referred to as Obamacare is about to become a huge part of the American landscape. The Act, after overcoming constitutional challenges, is being slowly phased in, but this year and next we will be getting our first big taste of what it will mean for businesses, health care providers and individuals.
Ready or not, 2013 is here
Having escaped the great Mayan Calendar Scare of 2012, we can look forward to 2013 with little fear of an apocalyptic ending, unless the Mayans made a rounding error. Hmm. Anyway, most businesses began preparing for this new year long ago, despite any ominous apocalyptic warnings. They set their budgets, made decisions on capital expenses and prepared, we hope, for a successful new year.
We owe much to our NCW nonprofits
You might not look at people and organizations dedicated to doing good things as part of the business community but they are. In a big way. Hundreds of nonprofits employ thousands of people in our region. Those employees are hired to fulfill the missions of their organization first and foremost but they also play a substantial role the economic vitality of our region.
What’s in store this Christmas season?
The Christmas shopping season is a key gauge of the economy. After a couple of very bad years, the spending trend for the shopping season has shown slow improvement, with more expected this year. While people may lament the commercialism of the season, it is extremely important to the merchants of our towns.
Running for office comes with a cost
Even if we sometimes find it a bit discomforting, there is little doubt money drives politics. First, the money the candidates receive as campaign contributions, then the money the successful candidates spend on our behalf.
New varieties are fruitful endeavor
The tree fruit industry may seem like one of those legacy businesses where you do things pretty much the same way year after year and enjoy a stable, steady income. You take care of the trees, they grow the fruit, you harvest the fruit and people buy the fruit. Of course, it’s far from that simple.
Harvest work is quite the handful
Journalists like to call a newspaper “the daily miracle.” From the outside it seems daunting, creating that newspaper. Each day we sit down with a bunch of blank pages and proceed to fill them up with advertisements, news stories, photos, charts, cartoons and more that together equal enough content to fill a small novel.
We hope you enjoy this ‘pub’-lication
This should be interesting. That was my first thought when Business World reporters Christine Pratt and Mike Irwin suggested writing about starting a small business from a first-person perspective. Or first-people perspective, I guess.
Construction work ahead
Almost all areas of the economy have been hit in some fashion by the economic downturn of the past four-plus years, but it has been especially hard on the construction industry. As the housing market suffered varying degrees of damage throughout the country from the recession, homebuilding slowed to a crawl. Large tracts where once huge neighborhoods were envisioned now sit untouched, some with infrastructure in place and others with one or two of those new homes, sitting in neighborhoods with few, if any, neighbors.
Another one for the ages
Last year, we at Wenatchee Valley Business World decided it would be a good idea to identify and honor some of the best and brightest young people of our region. We asked employers, friends, family and the public for nominations and received more than enough suggestions to fill our special 30 Under 35 section. Narrowing the list to 30 winners was the difficult part. Then, we held a gathering to recognize the winners. It was an evening of recognition that had a very special feel and energy.
Why we have a reason to celebrate
Sometimes they seem incredibly grand. Other times they seem quaint. And sometimes they just seem odd. Maybe interesting, but odd. They are the community festivals that pop to life each year in communities big and small throughout North Central Washington. Well, actually throughout the country.
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