Dr. Ray Perryman of the Perryman Group will deliver the keynote speech at the final membership luncheon of the Longview Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held Thursday, December 8 at 11:30 a.m. at Pinecrest Country Club.
Over the past three decades Perryman has made a career of assessing the economic impact of corporate expansions, regulatory changes, real estate development and public policy initiatives.  The subject of his address will be an analysis of every aspect of national, state, regional and local economies.  The Texas Legislative Conference recently made Perryman its Texan of the Year in recognition of his dedication to improving the Great State in every category.
This year’s program will feature a new Perspectives Panel made up of Longview Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Kelly Hall, Longview Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Susan Mazarakes-Gill and Longview Assistant City Manager Chuck Ewings.  This group will discuss and explain their panel’s part in furthering local economic growth, and explain specific economic issues with major impact on Longview’s financial stability.
Luncheon tickets are $25 for chamber members, and $45 for non-members.  Table sponsorships are $300. For more information on tickets and reservations please call (903) 237-4000 or visit www.longviewchamber.com.

The Kilgore College Small Business Development Center, Longview Economic Development Corporation, East Texas Regional Development Company, Capital One Bank and Accion Texas are teaming up to host a free seminar, “Straight Talk, Let’s Talk: Cash Flow and Access to Capital.”
The seminar will take place on Monday, November 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Registration and breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. at Maude Cobb Convention Center’s Eitelman Room.
Start-up business, entrepreneurs or  businesses  wishing to expand or grow are invited to the seminar.
Attendees will be provided with strategies to improve cash flow and discover options available for access to capital. There will also be discussions on ways to manage cash flow to improve liquidity.
Guest presenters include: Joyce Campbell, vice president, Community Development Banking for Capital One Bank; Catherine Pena, vice president, North Texas Region of Accion Texas; and Luke Kimbrough, director, public information and regional services,  East Texas Regional Development Company.
Seating is limited so early registration is recommended.
To register, contact the KC SBDC at 903-757-5857 or 1-800-338-7232.
Registration is also available online: www.KilgoreSBDC.com/registration.

Just-elected Kasha Williams and Wayne Frost (a returning councilman from District 4) recently took the oath of office at a specially called meeting of the Longview City Council.  Williams defeated opponents Victoria Wilson and Wray Wade to replace outgoing District 3 council member Ms. Sidney Bell Willis, who served on the Council for nine years.
Longview Mayor Jay Dean, council members and the city manager thanked Willis for her many years of service.  Each speaker shared a fond memory of Willis and recounted lessons they learned from this one-time music teacher.  Willis herself ended this touching occasion with a tearful farewell during which she thanked council members for their past support and encouraged them to keep up the good work now that the Council has new faces.
During her nine years on the council Willis worked with Future Planning, the Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO,) Litter and Beautification, and Streets.
She believes her replacement Williams is up to the task and wished her well.

City Council Woman District 3 Sydney Willis says her goodbye to the Council as City manager and Mayor Jay Dean look on.

Shelly Ballinger, city secretary, administers oath of office to newly-elected Kasha Williams as mother Kathy Williams watches.

City secretary Shelly Ballinger swears in City Councilman District 4 Wayne Frost.

Kilgore College’s Small Business Development Center (SMDC) is teaming with the Longview Mall and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide East Texas business people with a day-long seminar titled simply “Deal Day.”  To be held Thursday, October 28 it will be in the mall’s Sears Wing (the former shoe department) from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. There is no charge and it is open to the public. Local bankers will share information on how to obtain small business loans, info on SBA versus conventional loan programs and loan requirements, business planning development, plus much more.
Counselors from the Kilgore College SBDC will also attend to assist in the instruction.
Speakers will be Danville, California’s Susan Malone, who buy drugs without a prescription founded the organization Strategies for Small Business, SBA District Director Herb Austin, Supervisor of Lender Relations Perry where can i buy reductil Espie, and the SBA’s Project Chair for the SBDC Billy Medina.  All are looking forward to working with local lenders and their clients for future small business loans in East Texas.
Local bankers will also attend to share data on resources and offer assistance in general to local prospective loan applicants.  Attendees should bring general financial documentation, business plans, tax returns, P&L statements, driver’s licenses, social security numbers and anything helpful in establishing one’s qualification for a loan.  Anyone with a criminal history, or has defaulted on a government or student loan is ineligible to apply for loans.
For further information please call (903) 753-7878, (800) 952-2613 or visit www.LongviewUSA.com.

Contributing writer Kelly Bell

The Longview Economic Development Council (LEDCO) is riding a run of success stretching back several months.  It currently has 39 projects that are already operating profitably, and queries for new ones are coming in constantly.

Twenty-five local companies are using the highly successful WorkKeys program.  Also, LEDCO is helping the Workforce Solutions Center acquire new equipment for job seekers to use to take the WorkKeys Assessment.  AND the new North Business Park prescription drugs without a prescription is open and in operation.

The LEDCO Buy Local program has reached out to the I Shop Longview initiative to assist in its quest to convince local consumers over the counter cialis to spend their dollars locally.  If this program succeeds in transferring just 5% of residents’ out-of-the-area spending back to Longview it will circulate $225 million into the local economy.

LEDCO’s board of directors has voted in Susan Manzarakes, CEcD as executive director.  Manzarakes has been working with LEDCO for eight years, serving in the areas of workforce development, business retention, business attraction, and retail development.  She had served as interim director since December.