Nationally, regionally and locally, policymakers are in an ideological conflict in which a solution built on compromise and collaboration with “the other side” is tantamount to abdication rather than being seen as statesmanship. It is time we let our elected policymakers know the only way to sustain a recovery and to remove the uncertainty haunting our businesses is by working together. And we need to let them know that is what we expect. Anything less should trigger new faces in those policymaking positions when voters are given opportunity.
Regional economic vitality starts with a robust business community. It is the businesses who create the jobs so crucial to any sustainable economic growth. However, without meaningful collaboration on issues of planning, taxation and compliance (which ultimately allow for a level of predictability) the economic vitality we all want will be nothing more than a pipedream.
Only when these policymakers figure out a way to work together for the good of our community will our local businesses resolve their angst and aggressively push for growth that the region is demanding.
There is local evidence the recovery is in play. Last night at our annual Business Growth Awards, we honored nine businesses profiled in today’s edition as representative of business growth happening across the region and in many of our business sectors. Their growth is the result of very deliberate, focused effort, driven by sound business plans.
A few of these companies were literally born in the recession, choosing niches they knew offered opportunity. Others, in an effort to survive those down economic years, re-organized and re-structured and have emerged stronger than ever.
While our panel of business consultants and educators faced the difficult task of selecting a small group of finalists for “Fastest Growing” recognition, let us not forget that there are many businesses not recognized in this edition that are growing and finding success in our region.
For many of these thriving companies, growth has come from within the confines of a much smaller and leaner operation than what may have existed prior to the recession. Consequently, staffers in businesses across the region are each wearing multiple hats within their organization, making it that much more of a challenge to make time for anything but pursuit of their mission.
We remain committed to drawing attention to these smart, focused and growing businesses as a way to counter the lingering uncertainty that remains a pall hanging over what would otherwise be a full-blown recovery.
