The Evolution of Retail Under Pressure
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of retail in 2020—and possibly forever. Unprecedented challenges led to adopting new trends throughout the industry and strengthened or sped up the adoption of others. From a major spike in e-commerce and contactless shopping to the development of new retail technologies, shopping in 2021 is an evolving experience that promises to continue to push the envelope to deliver what today’s consumers expect and demand.
The Plight of Essential Workers in the Time of COVID
Among COVID-19’s many new categories of reality are “essential workers”. They were the ones thrust into the front lines when the economy was all but brought to a halt, responsible for the immediate needs of both economy and community.
Mighty Expedite
Mighty Expedite is an aptly named freight brokerage that’s relatively small but revolutionizing the trucking industry with its newest innovation. FreightNav is an app that does a remarkable job of getting freight where it needs to go faster and easier and so at the best possible rate.
Tompkins Robotics
Serving with Tompkins Robotics as President since its 2017 inception and named Chief Executive Officer earlier this year, Mike Futch is seeing the company advance beyond anyone’s expectations despite the pandemic.
Blendtec
There is nothing ‘square’ about Blendtec design apart from its FourSide blender jar. At a time when consumers are valuing improved health alongside saving time and money, the company is packing a powerful punch in the restaurant and home cooking markets with innovations that tick all those boxes and more.
Bay Future, Inc.
In a state that is known for its automotive history, leading the charge to drive the local economy forward in Bay County, Michigan is Bay Future, Inc. The economic development organization has found ways to rally communal support for the local economy and community well-being at a time when it was needed most, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
City of Green Bay, WI
It’s an exciting time in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a city that has been successfully redeveloping in ways that so many cities struggle to achieve – paying homage to its industrial past while focusing equally on the needs of its environment, its residents, and its business community.
City of Winter Garden, FL
A silver lining to the pandemic is the new-found viability of remote work. As we discover that work may be performed from anywhere, where we live becomes more important than ever. In Central Florida, a community that’s both new and historic is offering the opportunity for better, simpler living.
Amherst Madison Real Estate Advisors
Headquartered in Idaho’s bustling capital city of Boise and with a location in the charming suburb of Eagle in the foothills of Boise, Amherst Madison Real Estate Advisors is one of the state’s most respected real estate firms. Featured on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, for three years in a row (2018, 2019 and 2020), this independent, full-service business keeps growing to meet the needs of its clientele, and is well-known as “Idaho’s locally-owned and globally-connected real estate brokerage.”
The Intersection of Retail and Art
Increasingly, discerning consumers looking for unique apparel and home décor products are turning to print-on-demand (POD) manufacturing businesses partnered with independent artists. We decided it was time to find out what the buzz is all about.
How Work-From-Home Employees Get More Done
Office work is so 2019.
City of Cibolo, TX
One of the safest and most livable cities in the State of Texas, the City of Cibolo in Guadalupe County, south central Texas, is bordered by the I-10 to the south and I-35 to the north. Cibolo is successfully attracting diverse new residents with its outstanding work, school and leisure opportunities.
City of Moscow, ID
If you’re looking for a great place to visit, live, or work, the City of Moscow, Idaho, boasts impressive amenities including access to international airports, strong broadband, a fantastic live music scene, and stellar restaurants – just to name a few.
The Town of Davie, FL
A spirit of community and growth pervades the Town of Davie, located in Broward County, Florida, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The Town responded decisively when the virus struck, protecting residents and helping businesses. Now that the worst of the pandemic has hopefully passed, Davie is eager to finish a series of large capital projects and launch new developments.
Shawnee Forward Inc.
Located just thirty minutes from the greater Oklahoma City metro area and Tinker Air Force Base, Shawnee enjoys an ideal balance between urban advantages and rural living. A thriving downtown, university, regional airport, multiple tribal facilities, and a number of large industrial employers provide plenty of opportunities within the city limits.
City of Brownsville, TX
As the second most historic city in the state of Texas, Brownsville has old roots and modern, forward-thinking industries. This community of both the past and future enjoys the unique position of being the only city in the world with five methods of international trade: air, sea, road, rail, and space.
City of Keller, TX
Although the City of Keller is less than 20 miles from the heart of Fort Worth, life couldn’t be more different. Compared to the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington’s population of 7,500,000, Keller is at 45,400 and expected to cap at around 51,000 – which is just fine with this historic Texas city.
The Greater San Marcos Partnership
Got an innovative organization? These San Marcos, Texas ingredients will set it up for growth: strategic location, skilled workforce, new recruit pipeline, affordable living amongst beautiful amenities. And how about the famously delicious pies, or crystal-clear rivers?
New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (NBEDC)
New Braunfels was booming when Business in Focus profiled the Central Texas city in November 2019. The boom has not subsided despite COVID-19, and the city continues to attract new residents, new construction, and new developments. Over the past three years, several major companies have either expanded operations in New Braunfels or announced plans to set up in the city.
The Biosciences Industry and the COVID-19 Crisis
The life sciences industry has taken a remarkable journey over the last year. From rapid adaptation at the outset of the global pandemic to unprecedented vaccine advancements, the sector has been at the forefront of the fight. COVID-19 created new challenges—and opportunities—that will leave a lasting mark on the industry and continue to push it forward.
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A Look at Perinatal Care in Canada
Canada is recognized as part of the developed world where quality of life standards are high, but this reputation is slowly (or quickly, depending on your experience) sinking into decline. This is true of social determinants of health like education, housing, food insecurity, and especially health care, particularly for women, women of colour, and low-income individuals.
WBE Canada
Dedicated to enabling and supporting the growth of women entrepreneurs, Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization that is opening doors for Canadian women-owned businesses to supply chains across Canada, North America and globally.
Calhoun Super Structure
From a single concept to an international manufacturing company specializing in engineered fabric buildings, Calhoun Super Structure provides more than a century of collective expertise from a team of experienced professionals who bring leadership and accountability to every project.
Mack Kirk Roofing & Sheet Metal
Christina and Gino Laplante, owners of Mack Kirk Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. bring passion to their team and customers. The results prove that nothing wins in life like being genuine.
Netchem
In the world of international specialty chemical procurement and distribution, Netchem Inc. serves hundreds of manufacturing customers, from independently-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Netchem enables its customers to build and expand solid supply chains, striving to act as an extension of their procurement and distribution departments. And while bigger competitors had difficulties during the supply chain nightmare of recent years, Netchem fulfilled many urgent requests for material while increasing its standard three-month inventory holding period to support customers’ production schedules.
ArquitectonicaSTUDIO
Despite its relatively young age, ArquitectonicaSTUDIO is an established, interdisciplinary voice on the Miami architecture scene that has proven to be a dynamic and capable collaborator across a host of project types and sizes, unafraid of exploring creativity and novelty. As part of Arquitectonica, the ArquitectonicaSTUDIO team specializes in boutique-style projects incorporating interior and landscape design while benefitting from being an integrated part of the greater ecosystem and community creativity of its parent company.
