Gerald McSwiggan, Senior Manager of the Business Civic Leadership Center's Disaster Assistance and Recovery Program, appeared on CNBC this morning to talk about how businesses can recover from Hurricane Irene.

As Hurricane Irene bears down on the East Coast, weather predictions show landfall near the Outer Banks, North Carolina, this weekend and New England at the start of next week. But the time is now for businesses and individuals along the entire Eastern seaboard to prepare for the potential damaging effects of the storm.

When we saw how badly a tornado devastated Joplin, MO in May, we knew Americans would come together to help the community rebuild. The Chamber's Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) was one of many organizations who lent a hand.

by Stephen Jordan

Crossposted on BCLCblog.com

The boss is wheels down in Japan this morning – at least for the next +/- 24 hours – for what can only be described as a whirlwind trip around the world to lend the Chamber’s support for one of the worst natural disasters in history.  Tom Donohue dropped into the Land of the Risi

After a month where we’ve seen a massive outpouring of support by the U.S. business community for Japan’s tsunami and earthquake victims, the Chamber’s Business Civil Leadership Center is taking its leadership to another level by announcing a partnership agreement with the U.S.

The Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) and Siemens recognized the 2011 Siemens Sustainable Community Award winners at an event I attended last night along with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.  The accomplishments demonstrated by this year’s winners are truly impressive.  The communities honored last night showcase resilience, integrity, and ingenuity.  Their success in creating environmental and economic solutions at the local-level, have made their cities models of the 21^st century.  I

As the business sector’s ‘keeper of record’ in times of disasters, the U.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) keeps up-to-date contributions for Japan.  Today we are happy to report that the business community has made cash and/or in-kind contributions of more than $200.8 million. 

Last night, I had the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at the Ethisphere Institute’s annual dinner honoring the World’s Most Ethical Companies. This year’s honorees earned top marks in seven categories: corporate citizenship and responsibility; corporate governance; innovation that contributes to the public well being; industry leadership; executive leadership and tone from the top; legal, regulatory and reputation track record; and internal systems and ethics/

Cross-posted from BCLCBlog

It's been only three full business days since the devastation began in Japan. Already, companies have pledged $110 million in cash and in-kind donations. The pace of business assistance to Japan is rapid; the scope, generous. 

Business aid for Japan has been rapid and generous. In the two business days since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, almost $40.1 million has been pledged by the global business sector. Goldman Sachs and Mitsubishi have each contributed $6.1 million; General Electric, $5 million; and Panasonic, Sony and Toyota each committing $3.67 million.

Cross-posted from BCLCBlog

//Editor's Note: On March 8 BCLC and the UN Office for Partnerships will host "Investing in Women & Entrepreneurship: Addressing MDG 3."

cross posted from BCLC Blog

What is it about Haiti that keeps philanthropists and investors alike coming back? 

One year after the devastating earthquake, Haiti still captivates the interest of many in the United States. Outside of Hurricane Katrina, this is rare for disasters.

An Unconventional Disaster Response

One of BCLC's most highly anticipated announcements of the year took place this morning. The energy around this announcement kicked off my day to a great start!

Hurricane season is once again upon us. Forecasters are predicting that the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season has the possibility of being one of the worst seasons in history. Current meteorological conditions this year mirror 2005 which was a record-breaking year that spawned 27 named storms, including 15 hurricanes – four of which reached Category 5 status.

With the possibility of such a severe hurricane season, I thought it would be important to go over a few facts about hurricanes and hopefully dispel some myths.

With the march of specialization and productivity going double time the connection between production and consumption grows more abstract. This has broad implications for a society trying to find some grounding in a complex and dynamic world.  In the Washington Post today E.J. Dionne illustrates this point well in looking at an area where the gap may be widest -- between those who defend our Nation and those who enjoy this protection:

Small businesses and their communities must partner together to prepare for disaster relief and recovery and economic development, according to panelists at the breakout session sponsored by the U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center here at America’s Small Business Summit.  The session was moderated by BCLC’s Benjamin Erulkar.

Please give in anyway that you can.  For information follow @chamberBCLC on Twitter for the latest on the business communities response to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and bookmark the Haiti page on BCLCblog for updates. Recent posts:

Although this has been a difficult year for American families and businesses, the economy is finally turning the corner. There is still much to be done, but as we gather to celebrate this season of hope, we can be confident that things will get better in 2010.

Many experts are predicting that the H1N1 flu will peak in the United States in mid-October.  To prepare for this, the Business Civic Leadership Center is hosting a free webinar Tuesday, September 29, 2009 2-2:30 p.m. Eastern that is designed to give companies and local chambers of commerce a unique look at the H1N1 threat through the eyes of a company on the front line of tackling the challenge.

The webinar will provide you with:

If you are going to read one book this year, make it Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It is a an extraordinarily clear and comprehensive statement of the costs – economic, social and moral – of the oppression and mistreatment of women around the world.

On this National Day of Service and Remembrance American businesses and employees are joining thousands of community volunteers in service to help those impacted by the economic recession.  This impressive display of service, along with the expansion of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Together For Recovery campaign, is a response to President Obama’s 81-day "United We Serve" campaign.

5th post in a series on our journey to create ARAMARK Building Community, the company's signature community initiative to strength the capacity of the country's local community centers.

As word spread throughout the company about the ARAMARMK Building Community pilots locations, employees, from executives to hourly workers, became eager to participate.  Momentum was on our side.

by Joanna Augustynski, Allstate Insurance Company

by Raju Doshi, Intel Education - Communications Manager

Last week, I attended a private sector roundtable with the new FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate. The fact that FEMA hosted a roundtable for stakeholders from the private sector is an encouraging sign. It shows that FEMA understands the importance of the private sector in the response and recovery process, and that they are willing to work together to improve the way our nation handles disasters.

Here are a few takeaways from the roundtable:

4th post in a series on our journey to create ARAMARK Building Community, the company’s signature community initiative to strength the capacity of the country’s local community centers.

As a new administration begins to unveil new policies and organizational structures, we are finding new opportunities for growth and new appointees for leaderships.  As we still wait for the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Administrator for USAID to be named the State Department has recently named Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, Special Representative for Global Partnerships at the US Department of State.  This position is a new post in the State Department and reflects their commitment to work with private sector partners to push forward on an innovative aid agenda. 

This week was a tale of two events that underscored a tension many people in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) world face – are we in philanthropy and humanitarian assistance or are we in development?  Are we giving out fish or are we teaching people how to fish?  Are we prioritizing business or society?   How can we do both most effectively?

3rd post in a series (see one and two) on our journey to create ARAMARK Building Community, the company’s signature community initiative to strength the capacity of the country’s local community centers.

Measuring what matters. That's the goal behind a new initiative here at City of Issaquah, which is a 2009 Siemens Sustainable Community program honoree.

Called the "Sustainability Sounding Board," a group of community leaders appointed by Issaquah's mayor, recently unveiled its long-term vision for a sustainable Issaquah, as well as recommendations for how the community can begin to measure its progress toward that goal.

How often do you think about helping communities that have been devastated by disasters?  Many company foundations and community relations staff members think about this topic every day, and even more so now that hurricane season is upon us again. 

From a six passenger plane, I gazed over the rainforest canopy through white clouds and sunlight to see gray rain in the distance not far from where we would soon be landing.  My colleagues and I were speechless at this vision of an endangered landscape.

2nd post in a series on our journey to create ARAMARK Building Community, the company’s signature community initiative to strength the capacity of the country’s local community centers.

Armed with our research on our existing community activities and our decision to create a signature community initiative for ARAMARK, our team began to formulate the program development strategy.  

Yesterday, Capital One’s Small Business division sponsored a terrific webinar on the importance of making your small business an attractive loan candidate, a great place to work and an online marketing success story. Every small business faces a multitude of challenges during these economic times, but taking an account of these three important resources in your business may save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

1st post in a series on our journey to create ARAMARK Building Community, the company’s signature community initiative to strength the capacity of the country’s local community centers.

On Thursday, May 14, Florida Governor Charlie Crist awarded the Office Depot Foundation the Governor’s Hurricane Conference Corporate Award. The award acknowledges the Office Depot Foundation "for contributing generously to hurricane relief agencies in Florida for 15 years and promoting important new strategies for recovery, rebuilding and mitigation."

There are a couple things to note from this. 

Project HOPE, in close collaboration with China’s Ministry of Health, officially launched the China Rehabilitation Medicine Program in Beijing on Tuesday (post here). This comprehensive three–year program is addressing the need of rehabilitative services for those recovering from injuries suffered during last year’s earthquake.  At t

It was 100 years ago that Daniel Burnham, Edward Bennett and the Commercial Club of Chicago established the now world renowned "Burnham Plan" for the future growth of Chicago. With that historical backdrop, it was fitting that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gathered CSR leaders in the windy city to talk about 21st century plans for corporate community investment.

May 12, 2008 will never be forgotten by the Chinese people.

When companies participate in community investment, are they interested in bringing about marginal change, or systematic change? That was the provocative question which keynoter Michael Gallis posed to attendees during the first morning of the BCLC National Conference on Corporate Community Investment in Chicago.  In Gallis' comments and focus on how to think about change, this audience member couldn't help but hear a version the Bill Clinton presidential campaign catch-phrase of 17 years ago: "It's the systems stupid!"

by Michele Weingarden

As BCLC kicked off our 2009 Corporate Community Investment Conference in Chicago, Michael Gallis, Founder, Gallis and Associates spoke to the crowd of over 300 businesses, nonprofits and governments about the future of strategic development domestically and globally.

By Kitty Taylor
 
This morning in Chicago, BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan and Director Katie Loovis unveiled Together for Recovery -- a national initiative to connect Americans with business resources and services that help fight the recession and accelerate long-term recovery.
 

As Americans we are resilient, unless ill with the H1N1 flu virus we will go about our normal lives despite what Joe Biden says -- I kid, Mr. Vice-President, thank the President for the shout out -- and continue to fly on planes, take public transportation and eat our BLTs!  Below is some recent news about the H1N1 virus.

Even in the midst of implementing their own continuity of operations to prepare for the H1N1 flu, companies are finding opportunities to help those affected.  Take the following three examples:

1. Abbott has sent more than $860,000 in antibiotics, pain medication and pediatric and adult nutritionals to Mexico through its partners AmeriCares and Mexican Order of Malta.

2. Merck's Mexico office made a donation of 80,000 doses of PULMOVAX (local brand of Pneumovax to treat secondary lung infections following swine flu infection) to the Mexican government.

by Stephen Jordan

//All H1N1 update posts

Encourage your Employees to Plan

The Business Civic Leadership Center has collected many stories, some posted today, on business...well...civic leadership. This is in the run-up to their National Conference on Corporate Community Investment starting in Chicago on Sunday. They are great stories, which need to be told, as pointed out today in the Wall Street Journal by Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League and Janet Murguia, presiden

by Lucy McGovern

With more than 97,000 people now sickened by the cholera epidemic plaguing Zimbabwe, the partnership between UPS and Oxfam, an international relief and development organization, to deliver portable water filters couldn’t have come at a better time.  As part of its effort to slow the spread of the deadly, waterborne disease, Oxfam purchased 450 of the filters, and in early April UPS shipped them to the southern African country for free!

On Tuesday, April 28, I had a perfect view of President Barack Obama as he honored the 2009 National Teacher of the Year – Mr. Anthony Mullen, a 9th through 12th grade special education teacher at The ARCH School, an alterative education branch of Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn.

The challenge of rebuilding public trust in business has perhaps never been harder. The chips are down in communities across our nation, and the bad or misguided decision-making by a few companies has tarnished the reputation of all companies. While some people want to charge all free market activity "guilty" by association, President Obama said yesterday that we can’t allow the "recklessness of a few to threaten the prosperity of all."

With the historic signing of the Serve America Act, more individual Americans than ever will answer the call to service in the coming months and years.  What role can and should the business community play in answering this call?  We know nonprofits need funding; it’s no secret that many are struggling to fill the gap between increasing community needs and decreasing cash donations.  But corporate donors have another worthy asset to offer:  the skills of its workforce. 

by Ann Beauchesne

//All H1N1 update posts

Border Restrictions: Not an Effective Means of Preventing the Spread of Swine Flu

//All H1N1 update posts

As the H1N1 virus continues to cause harm and concern here are the quick four tips from the CDC to stay healthy:

by Ann Beauchesne

//All H1N1 update posts

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues to monitor the increase of human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and across the world.

Sustainability is a favorite topic of mine because it helps promote sound planning processes and it can be reflected in everything we do.  One perfect example is water.  Green Bay’s water utility has been recognized for water quality and system performance at the national level, and in a water taste contest through the US Conference of Mayors, Green Bay was in the top ten cities in the country.  Recently, I heard that about 90% of water bottles go straight to the landfill, which just astounded me. 

//All H1N1 update posts

Collective action is the next-generation way for business to achieve real impact against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.  It can help you get visibility of grand proportions for your CSR efforts.  And it can help you to attract new co-financing partners that will improve your ROI.  By sharing costs, and blending the competencies and resources of multiple companies, multilaterals, governments and community organizations into a single, coordinated effort, we can save the lives of more people and more communities.

This month I had the pleasure to conduct a Q&A with Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation, which in its last fiscal year contributed more than $423 million to communities in the U.S. and abroad.  I asked about recession-time giving, nonprofit partnerships, and the foundation’s long-term vision. Here's what McKenna had to say:

By So Young Kim

One of BCLC's member companies is tackling the arduous challenge of stopping the spread of malaria, which mostly affects people in under-developed and low-income countries.

Here's what GlaxoSmithKline is doing:

Monday’s Washington Post ran an article about steps being taken by both government and the business community to educate the public about the importance of financial literacy. Visa and the Federal Reserve Bank held a conference in Chicago last week to specifically address the growing need for a more financially literate society and recommendations for the public in these uncertain economic times.

One of the most dangerous ideas to come out of our current economic crisis is the dream that a shared prosperity is best achieved by punishing success. Last month the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy sought to build on this theme by suggesting that the best way to help the poor and minority populations in our country is to punish generosity.  Not all kindness, mind you, just charity which they don’t find acceptable.

Tonight CBS will air "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," the true story of a Polish social worker who, along with members of a secret organization, spirited 2,500 Jewish children out the ghettos of Poland and safety from the Nazis. She risked her life to save the lives of thousands of children destined for death in the gas chambers of the infamous Treblinka concentration camp.

Here is another excellent post by McDonald’s VP and CSR blogger Bob Langert, titled “Why NGOs Are Your Best Friends."  His post shares the McDonald’s perspective on business and society relations, and uses a helpful top 10 list from an essay by Peter T. Knight of Context America to help corporate citizenship professionals think through NGO engagement in a positive and productive light. From Mr. Langert:

by Taryn Bird

In the midst of the current financial environment, many organizations and individuals have bunkered down to focus solely on “our issues” -- things that affect them in the immediate future. One has to ask, in these situations how will the emerging economies around the world that depend on ODA (overseas development assistance) and FDI (foreign direct investment) be affected? How will the development agendas of corporations, nonprofits, and aid agencies fair in this global economic situation?  

As we approach BCLC’s annual Conference on Corporate Community Investment in May, we want to note a great article in this week’s The Economist entitled, A Service Nation. On the heels of the passage of the "Serve America Act", the article outlines the increase in volunteer activity not only among non-profits, but also within the private sector, including companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers, Timberlan

We still are in the public comment period for our new study on "State Government Policies to Reduce Losses from Extreme Events and Help Communities Recover." In my last post  I outlined three policies meant to reduce the impact of extreme events. Now I'd like to direct your attention to policies #4 and #5, focused on how states can respond effectively when disasters happen:

by Michael Gallis,  Michael Gallis & Associates

Columnist Victor Davis Hanson says it’s hard to decide who is more at fault for the financial crisis, Democrats or Republicans. After recounting how each party made fatal mistakes, he ultimately decides the fault lies in us. He writes:

Last week I attended the Disaster Recovery Journal conference in Orlando, FL.  Around me were over 500 business continuity and disaster recovery experts from companies all across the U.S.  It was an impressive group of professionals whose purpose in companies is to make sure that business operations are maintained or quickly recovered after a disaster. 

BCLC has often been asked what some states do well in disaster recovery, especially since other states seem to sputter in their response efforts. BCLC has forged new research to find out.

Professor Emeritus Daniel Alesch, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, is the lead researcher on this project and is one of the nation’s top experts in the effects of disasters and community recovery. He has pinpointed 10 policies that every state should have to become more disaster-resilient and to recover quickly.

On Thursday, I had the pleasure to speak at the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business Social Enterprise Symposium titled A New Way of Doing Business. About 300 graduate students attended this meeting organized by the Terp Changemaker, a group of U of M students dedicated to building awareness about innovative corporate citizenship strategies.

by Michael Gallis - Michael Gallis & Associates

In the past two weeks, I have described examples of the private sector, in partnership with public and nonprofit sectors, working together to address challenges in global development.

So far in this series I’ve examined the fallout of the current economic situation and discussed several of the ways corporate citizens are stepping up to cushion the blow and help jump-start the recovery.

We Are In This Together

BCLC has identified five basic areas where companies are committed to minimizing the impact of the crisis:

In yesterday’s post, I examined the impact and fallout of the current economic situation. So what are corporate citizens doing about it?

During this economic crisis, corporate citizens are operating at multiple levels. 

Taking Stock of the Current Situation

The data is grim at every level -- local, state, and national.  Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the House Majority Whip, says that unemployment is hitting close to 24% in Sumter County, SC.  Michigan has over 11.6% unemployment. 

This month I interviewed Jeff Shuman, vice president of human resources and corporate relations for the Harris Corporation.

In my post last week, I gave just a few examples on how partnerships with private corporations have been key to achieving

In preparation for the G20 summit in the UK on April 2, G20 finance gurus (Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors) met in Horsham, England on March 14th.  With the world economy in crisis, dramatic cuts in exports by China, Japan and Germany and a massive loss of job opportunities in the West, the need for a dramatic stimulus to world demand is the center-piece at the talks.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, also known as MDR-TB, is a form of tuberculosis (TB) that develops as a result of resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid, the two strongest treatments for TB.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated half a million new cases of MDR-TB are diagnosed every year, and in 2008 the rate of MDR-TB was the highest ever recorded. 

by Kitty Taylor

by Taryn Bird

In a meeting held on March 11th in Washington, DC, acting CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Rodney Bent, discussed the MCC agenda for FY 2009 and the longer-term role the agency has in the Obama Administration.

In April, members of the U.S.

We need to stop saying it’s not our fault there is no infrastructure to deliver healthcare and start saying, 'Who can we work with to ensure that the infrastructure does exist?'

Powerful words from a company that is not just talking the talk but walking the walk. 

President Obama has nominated Craig Fugate to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  Craig’s background includes time as a firefighter, a paramedic, and as a local and state emergency manager for over twenty years.  He is a very capable leader and has been through a wide range of disasters as the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.  He led the state’s response to four major hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne) in 2004, and again in 2005 during Hurricanes Dennis and Wilma. 

"What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more."  (President Obama in his address to Congress; 02/24/09)

With a name like Greensburg, you could say the town was destined to be green. And on Tuesday night during President Obama’s address to Congress, the small Kansas town received high honors for rebuilding better and smarter after the devastating EF5 tornado that struck in 2007.

The National Governors Association conference this week in Washington, D.C., was all about bringing the public and the private sectors together to meet our nation’s urgent needs.

Now, more than ever, businesses are trying to identify ways to save money.  In her latest Charlotte Business Journal article, Ruth Kinzey writes about how innovative green-friendly efforts  can quickly boost the bottom line.

David Brooks’ recent op-ed in the NYT discusses the rise in popularity of some American cities and the decline in interest in others. "Americans want to go someplace new," he writes. "The powerhouse cities of the 20th century — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago — are much less desirable today than the ones that have more recently sprouted up." City dwellers tend to be least happy about where they live, while --and this may surprise some of you-- rural Americans seem to be the most happy.

We want to make sure our members are aware of this recognition opportunity from Business Week. The magazine is launching a search for the top 25 for-profit companies that create positive social impact, whether in the United States or abroad. The nomination form is online and entries are accepted until Feb. 20th. From their website:

Has the debacle in the global financial markets soured the public’s trust in the business community, leading them to put more faith in government?  Do people now believe that government can solve the important issues of our time?  Not so fast.

Bob Langert, a McDonald’s VP who works on corporate responsibility, always has interesting information on the company’s sustainability journey. “It's much better to have sustainability viewed as something positive,” he says. In his most recent post on Open for Discussion, the McDonald’s CR-focused blog, he offers 10 tips for developing a sustainable supply chain. His post is timely and interesting, and it can be found here.

In a day enraptured by financial rescue and economic recovery news, technology-giant Intel announced on Tuesday it will build advanced manufacturing facilities that will support 7,000 high-paying jobs in Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico. The company is "investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation," according to president and CEO Paul Otellini. Kudos to Intel. The investment is worth $7 billion to be spent over the next two years.

There is little doubt that the lack of responsibility in markets by some have led to today's current financial turmoil and recession in most international markets. The private sector has taken a huge blow but we cannot return to central control. CSR provides the elements of a solution.

As our country and countrymen face hard times in 2009, this challenge echoes across the world.  From factories in Detroit to Germany and farms in Illinois to France, times are tough. So what does this mean for corporations, governments, NGOs and individuals work ing on development initiatives in emerging and low-income markets? It means it’s time for serious collaboration efforts. 

Just a few weeks into a new year and already Americans are facing challenges that this nation has not faced in generations. As the new leadership assumes power in Washington and works to develop solutions to these economic and environmental challenges, it is important to remember that the solutions developed in Washington will not solve all of the problems facing local communities across the country. Ultimately the responsibility to promote growth and development strategies falls on the local communities themselves.

by Kitty Taylor

I recently approached a number of business officials to get their thoughts on Secretary Clinton's "Smart Power" policy agenda (the three-legged diplomacy, development, defense stool). Specifically, I asked what they would say to Sec. Clinton if they had the opportunity to help shape the future of global development. Here is a rather thoughtful response from Kim Kotnik at Booz Allen Hamilton.

What global development needs...

"May you live in interesting times."

It’s an old Chinese curse that has seldom been more true than today.  In one day, more than 70,000 job cuts were announced. The stock markets are down nearly 40% from their high water marks.  Bankruptcies are up, investment is down. A quick survey of the rest of the world yields everything from wars and recession to pestilence and famine. At least we don’t have to deal with locusts…yet.

So these are the steps BCLC is taking:

Ok, I’m not sure this is a good idea.

A new "revolutionary" bill is on the way. One senator has come up with a bill that will compel every company in Nigeria to devote 3.5 per cent of its gross profit to what he terms "corporate social responsibility".

In other words, after carrying out their business and paying all the taxes that are required of them, companies will also be required by law to build roads, provide electricity, build secondary schools and execute all other such activities under a legally binding scheme. - Osebumere Odia, AllAfrica.com

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also draw your attention to the hard work taking place to rebuild Greensburg, Kansas. This small town was leveled by a tornado in May 2007, and recovery and rebuilding efforts are still unfolding.

Yesterday’s post on the Disaster Safety Blog, hosted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety, highlights the process behind rebuilding smarter after disasters. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the subject of this post.

As we head into February here are some of the stories BCLC followed in January:

Massive economic development: Kroger Co. plans to invest $75 million in "a massive economic development initiative" in the Fort Wayne, IN area.

Steadfast companies: A number of companies see corporate responsibility as all the more important given the financial crunch, even as they reduce spending elsewhere in their businesses.

Even in the offseason, hurricane preparation continues. BCLC staff and working group members saw this first hand during two tours that were part of our Disaster Relief and Recovery forum this month.

The first tour was an educational walk through the Disaster Survival House.  Originally built by State Farm and currently owned by the City of Deerfield Beach, FL, this house can withstand Category 5 hurricane force winds. 

by Kathryn Traver 

As the festivities die down from Barack Obama's historic inauguration, his new development team is starting to take shape. BCLC is committed to keeping you informed of the latest nominations, confirmations and appointments that relate to our programming. 

Each year during tax season, businesses and their community partners promote the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable credit that helps millions of workers keep their jobs. Annually, it puts more than $43 billion in the hands of more than 22 million “frontline” workers, or those who are likely working in the retail and service industry. The current economic situation makes it even more imperative that we reach out to those people who may be newly eligible for this important tax credit.

A panel of 15 leading experts in CSR met in London this month to discuss where they thought CSR and business would be going in Europe during 2009. The main points that came out were:

Right now Tom Donohue and I are sitting in the front row at a session on how philanthropy can survive during the economic crisis. The panel: former President Bill Clinton, Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, international film star Jet Li, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Matthew Bishop, and Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

In a recent post I mentioned the role of CSR/corporate citizenship professionals in these tough economic times. As the keepers of stakeholder relationships, I argued, these professionals can bring long-term vision and value to their companies. Needless to say, I think CSR/corporate citizenship is going to be really big in 2009. So do the "corporate do-gooders" featured in this recent Fortune article.

On January 13, Ambassador John Danilovich gave his last speech as CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.  The Center for Global Development hosted the Ambassador’s last public appearance and discussed some of MCC’s greatest accomplishments and needed areas for improvement.

In this Charlotte Business Journal article, Ruth Kinzey writes:

The situation in the Gaza Strip changes at every moment. One moment there is some ceasefire, the next there is not. Aid agencies often seem more concerned with getting headlines than they do with actually helping people on the ground.

In this post Edward Glaeser asks if businesses can do well and do good. The answer is, of course, yes. This is a no-brainer; or rather, businesses have to embed "goodness" in their business practices in order to succeed.

• GE Foundation, recession - The foundation arm of General Electric Co., because of the recession, is changing its philanthropic focus to basic needs
• Intel, State Department - Intel has partnered with the U.S. State Department to provide IT skills and training to teachers in India and Azerbaijan.
• Novartis, EQ relief - Novartis received the China Charity Award in recognition of its assistance after the May 12th earthquake

In light of the great post on our awards this morning, I thought I would encourage everyone to visit BCLC TV for some great videos from the 9th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner. Watch, email, embed, or link to the videos of your choice.

One of the wonderful aspects of the holiday season is the emphasis on giving to those in need. It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of modern life, but each December we are reminded that some things are more important than the next corporate earnings statement or the must-have product. This is a time for lifting up those less fortunate—a time to remember the importance of service.

Microsoft, Target and Wal-Mart do a great job making a positive difference in their communities, according to their peers in the business community. In total, 19 companies were identified as "doing the best job of investing in the communities in which they operate" by respondents to a business survey BCLC recently conducted.

The 9th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards was held Tuesday, November 18 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.  The celebration was emceed by White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino and featured distinguished speakers and presenters like U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Chamber President and CEO, Thomas J.

Over the last week we’ve had a number of exciting developments happen with the 2008 Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner. First of all, two high-profile government officials have agreed to be part of the evening’s activities: Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary, will emcee the program and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez will offer remarks.

by Kitty Taylor

We are deeply saddened at BCLC to hear about the recent and untimely death of Stephen Vance, an employee of the global-development organization CHF International.  He and his driver, another CHF employee, were shot to death in Pakistan’s FATA region, where Vance directed the organization’s USAID-funded job creation and workforce development project.

Two weeks ago tomorrow, October 17, was a big day for the City of Galveston.  The Galveston Chamber of Commerce hosted a recovery expo for local businesses to receive disaster related information from all the relevant organizations. The traditional groups were there, like FEMA, the Small Business Administration, insurance representatives, lawyers, and small business development centers; but there were also representatives from Congressman Paul’s office, companies like Best Buy to discuss how they can help affected businesses, and local chambers of commerce from around the Gulf Coast. I was

As we look back at 2008, we've seen three bubbles pop: housing, energy, and finance. We’ve had an unusually heavy disaster year, with wildfires in southern California, floods in the Midwest, hurricanes affecting the Gulf Coast, and an earthquake and cyclone hitting China and Myanmar, respectively. We’re also in the midst of an election year and an incipient recession.

Justly or not, our political and economic leaders all are suffering from historically low approval ratings.

Yesterday the federal government offered a new online resource for citizens and businesses dealing with the economic downturn. EconomicRecovery.gov presents in one place the various tools for assistance provided by the White House, Small Business Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the departments of Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, and Housing & Urban Development.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I attended the International Economic Development (IEDC) conference at Atlanta’s downtown Hyatt Regency. For those of you who missed the event, here’s what I think you should know.

There are right ways and wrong ways to handle the stress and turmoil that come with today’s economic environment. And then there’s Andrew Lahde’s way. From the Financial Times:

New studies and reports have been released regarding the many natural disasters that have occurred in 2008 globally.  As the hurricane season winds down, The Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado is predicting greater hurricane activity in October than in previous years.  Additionally, the GAO has written a report for the Senate based on their insights from past disasters and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) based in Brussels has released a report outlining the impact of the 2008 disasters around the world.

For the first time, FEMA invited a private sector organization -- namely BCLC -- to sit in a Joint Field Office as they coordinate the response to a major storm, in this case, Hurricane Ike.  So Ollie Davidson and I jumped on a plane on a Tuesday and went down to Austin where the JFO is headquartered.

Congress has passed two major bills to assist victims of the 2008 disasters. The disaster-related provisions were embedded in H.R. 2638 - Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009  and H.R. 1424 - Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. 

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, "Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works," will focus on solving problems that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, is an example of problem-solving.]

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, is an example of those factors.]

Business bashing has long been a favorite pastime by many in the mainstream media. The business community has its share of rotten apples like any other profession, and the media are right to report on them, even if their coverage is often sensationalized. But the media have a responsibility to report both sides of every story—something they fail to do with business. In fact, they virtually ignore the enormous contributions businesses of all sizes make to society every day.

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, is an example of those factors.]

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, is an example of those factors.]

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, is an example of those factors.]

[Editor’s Note: Jessica Jackley Flannery will be the keynote speaker at BCLC’s Global Corporate Citizenship Conference on Sept. 18-19.]

About four and a half years ago, I was on a plane to Kenya, about to begin a new job doing microenterprise development throughout East Africa.  The next three months would change my life, as I’d meet over 100 entrepreneurs whose stories would inspire the creation of Kiva.

by Israel Moreno Barceló

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, is an example of those factors.]

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, provides an example of those factors.]

by Scott Noesen

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report, Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. The following article, an excerpt from the report, provides an example of those factors.]

by Justine Frain, Ph.D.

[Editor’s Note: On Sept. 18 & 19 BCLC will host its annual Global Corporate Citizenship Conference at the U.S. Chamber headquarters. The conference and its corresponding report Development 2.0: Changing the Way Globalization Works, will focus on factors that affect global development. This article, an excerpt from the report, is one example of those factors.]   

At the World Economic Forum earlier in 2008, Microsoft’s Bill Gates thoughtfully commented that the world’s problems are far too big for philanthropy and that business would itself have to be a force in solving the problem of global poverty.

"We have to find a way to make the aspects of capitalism that serve wealthier people serve poorer people as well ... I like to call this idea creative capitalism."

We’re now five weeks away from BCLC’s Global Corporate Citizenship Conference, "Public-Private Partnerships for Emerging Market Development." Our staff is getting increasingly excited for this event — we hope you are, too.

Iowa's late-spring disaster began with severe storms and an F-5 tornado in Parkersburg on May 25. It continued with unrelenting flooding.

In wake of the natural disaster, BCLC and its National Help Desk for Business staff began monitoring the events in Cedar Rapids. On June 13, Ines Pearce, who manages the help desk, contacted local organizations, including the Cedar Rapids Chamber, the state homeland security and emergency management office, and the Safeguard Iowa Partnership, to address the needs of impacted residents and businesses.

Concerned about differences in levels of disaster preparedness in the U.S., Allstate has awarded the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) $100,000 to identify and benchmark effective disaster assistance and recovery practices across states. The study will help state and local governments and businesses enhance their ability to withstand and recover from disasters. 

Today we traveled into the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans to visit a Habitat for Humanity Site.  It was an eye opening and breath-taking experience.

Interesting new public-opinion findings are out about the role Chinese citizens believe corporate citizenship by multinational companies should play in earthquake recovery. Here are two, specifically:

Businesses today encounter a myriad of challenges. First, they face an uncertain economic climate, which comes along with difficult operational choices as they evaluate methods to cut expenses and maintain profit margins. Commodity prices are also on the rise at the same time that the nation's credit condition deteriorates, applying pressure to consumers and businesses throughout the United States and the world. Many businesses are evaluating and adjusting their core competencies to compete in an inter-connected world.

Earlier this week the U.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) co-hosted a sustainability conference in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. Back in April, BCLC honored the local chamber and the community it serves as an inaugural winner of the "Siemens Sustainable Community Award."

The latest National Workplace Ethics Survey, released by The Ethics Resource Center (ERC), indicated just 20% of the American public had trust in the business community.  However, in many ways companies are more involved in doing public good than ever before.  The ERC, a U.S.-based research organization, and the U.S.

Trust is becoming ever more important to business strategy. Trust affects brands and sales, new products and ventures, and protection against fraud and misrepresentation by outside parties.

Scandals and low public reputations have led to increased regulation and penalties, which have affected not only the individuals or companies involved, but entire industries and the encompassing business community. 

If the last several weeks have been any indication, we could be in for a very busy disaster season. The U.S. alone is in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, as well as the season for wildfires and tornadoes.

Credit the Office Depot Foundation for having the foresight to fund a program that activates a disaster Help Desk for businesses to support recovery in areas affected by disasters.

BCLC issued a new report yesterday, offering expert analysis, lessons learned, and recommendations for a better disaster management system. 

"On the Brink: Re-Engineering the Nation’s Disaster Response Processes" is a collection of 27 articles by emergency-response professionals. Writers represent corporations, local chambers of commerce, federal and local government, academia, and humanitarian-aid organizations. 

Last fall, Cisco was selected as the International Community Service Award winner for its Least Developed Countries initiative, within its Cisco Networking Academy - an innovative education program that provides Information Technology skills to students globally to improve their career and economic opportunities.

By Kitty Taylor

Presidential candidate John McCain today announced he wants to create a $300 million governmental prize for anyone able to develop a car battery that allows future automobiles to outperform today’s commercially available hybrid and electric cars.

by Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director, Community Affairs, Microsoft

Microsoft was honored to be selected as the 2007 Corporate Stewardship Award for Large Company which recognizes a company for their total performance and contribution to economic, community, and social progress.

The U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center is calling for nominations for the 2008 Corporate Citizenship Awards.  The deadline for nominations is June 27.  To nominate your company, visit www.uschamber.com/bclc/awards

by Brad Peck

Paulson on role of the Fed (Washington Post):

The U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center is calling for nominations for the 2008 Corporate Citizenship Awards.  The deadline for nominations is June 27.  To nominate your company, visit www.uschamber.com/bclc/awards

When ChoicePoint was honored with the 2007 Corporate Stewardship Award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center for our contributions to economic, community and social progress it was a validation of our holistic giving program, ChoicePoint Cares.

The U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center is calling for nominations for the 2008 Corporate Citizenship Awards.  The nominations deadline is June 27.  To nominate your company, visit www.uschamber.com/bclc/awards

My son is graduating from Pre-Kindergarten today; and as a member of a generation which takes great pride in its cynicism, I am having a hard time reconciling that I have "Sunrise, Sunset" stuck in my head.  I would like to chalk it up to irony, another favorite, but the fact is his school and teachers have been wonderful.

On Friday, June 6, the U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) hosted a meeting among President George W. Bush and leaders in the business and nongovernmental communities to discuss aid and reconstruction after the May 12 earthquake in China.  Co-hosts for the meeting were the American Red Cross and the Business Roundtable.   

Seventy officials from businesses, chambers of commerce, humanitarian organizations, and federal, state and local emergency management agencies last week participated in a two-day workshop to improve business continuity and long-term recovery after a pandemic flu outbreak. Convened by BCLC and held at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters, the workshop challenged participants to reduce the barriers to coordinating an effective, cross-sector pandemic flu response.

"The bluest sky you've ever seen is in Seattle!" Those were the words of the theme song from a 1960s hit ABC TV series. In 2008, the Puget Sound area is more known for innovation, investment, and an intense drive toward philanthropic leadership.

The region is home to 3.5 million people and 1.7 million jobs. CNN Money recently named Bellevue, Washington, (home of Symetra Financial) the #1 place to live and launch a business for its talented workforce and burgeoning downtown.

Amid the angry political debate swirling around the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, there is a real concern that people may lose sight of some of the positive contributions multinational companies are making to the region.

Just as critics would ask that criticisms of the Colombia FTA be taken seriously, it only makes sense that the positive side of the argument also be taken seriously. Colombia is making a great deal of progress, and there is clear evidence that some companies are making a significant effort to improve socioeconomic conditions.

For example:

This morning the Washington Post covered the significant mobilization of business aid for the disasters in China and Burma.  The Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) has been coordinating and tracking donations since Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on May 2 and the 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook central China on May 12.   

by David Chavern

I usually try to avoid using blog posts to highlight dumb ideas – simply because it tends to draw more attention to such ideas than they deserve. However, some things are so misguided that they deserve special attention.

Current estimates put the number of displaced people at 1.5 million, but the number is expected to "rise to a massive total as assessments continue."  The death toll is expected to exceed 100,000 as hunger and disease spread throughout the region. Yesterday the military junta in Myanmar finally allowed the United States to deliver our first shipment of relief aid to the cyclone-stricken region. Two more U.S. aid shipments have been cleared for today.

The situation in Myanmar is very delicate, and much care should be taken when companies are deciding whether to donate. There is no doubt that this is a major humanitarian crisis, but the Myanmar government continues to erect obstacles that prevent both the U.S. government and U.S.-based NGOs from providing adequate aid.

Thomas Friedman had a column in The New York Times yesterday saying there is a real hunger in America for nation building – but nation-building for this country, not others. Writes Friedman:

What does sustainability really mean and what does it look like?  This was the question that led BCLC and Siemens to come together to establish the Sustainable Community Awards.  And now, we have three excellent examples for companies and communities to study.

Last night, U.S. Chamber President & CEO Thomas J. Donohue and Siemens Foundation President James Whaley honored three communities: Albuquerque, NM; Chapel Hill-Carrboro, NC; and Kingsport, TN; as the winners of the inaugural Siemens Sustainable Community Awards.

by Eva Blum

When The PNC Financial Services Group started PNC Grow Up Great (www.pncgrowupgreat.com), we thought about the impact of putting the power of such a large company behind the issue of early childhood education. If our employees really got behind this program, we could move mountains.

Business representatives from Europe and America discuss how they view the CSR landscape
cross-posted from EthicsWorld.org

By Taryn Bird

American Idol has taken America by storm and entered the homes of 30 million every week. But who thought that a show that promised the American dream to one lucky contestant would be giving back so much more?  Idol Gives Back aired on Fox on Wednesday, April 9 and raised more money in one night than many organizations and companies can hope to raise for their philanthropies in one year.

Long-time friend, advisor, and contributor to the BCLC Don Eberly has just written a book titled "The Rise of Global Civil Society".

By Rhonda Mims

It's hardly news that consumer mistrust of American business remains frustratingly high. That's a bitter pill to swallow, particularly with corporate giving at record levels. What's the point in giving away all this money if customers are thinking less of us? Where has Corporate America gone wrong?

The answer is a lack of focus.

by Gerald McSwiggan

Yesterday, the Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) launched the National Disaster Help Desk for Business (1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP), a resource brought to you by the Office Depot Foundation.  The Help Desk is designed to enhance community economic recovery after a disaster.

The Help Desk will provide on the ground coordination of information among businesses, local chambers of commerce, nonprofits, government, and disaster recovery specialists. 

Last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Emergency Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing about businesses working with government. 

On Friday, February 29, BCLC hosted a webinar entitled, “The Image of American Business in a Globalized World.”  GlobeScan Inc. presented their findings based on research in over 50 countries around the world.  Here are some of the findings of interest to the business community:

by Stephen Jordan

While the Bush Administration has received its share of criticism after Katrina, at least one federal government official genuinely deserves to be recognized for his service to the people of the Gulf Coast and our country. 

Just a reminder, you have until March 11th to submit a nomination for the Inaugural Christopher Columbus Foundation–U.S. Chamber of Commerce Life Sciences Awards.

Click on the appropriate Award below to start a Nomination.

by Mark D’Alessio

As the home mortgage crisis continues to be front page news, it is important to note that businesses are contributing in positive ways to help prevent as many foreclosures as possible.

The Aspen Institute and World Learning recently conducted a poll that found that “a vast majority of Americans are concerned about the continuing decline in the United States’ reputation overseas.” Specifically, 36 percent of Americans believe that negative attitudes about the US could prompt boycotts of American products and retailers.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation (“Foundation”), a Federal government agency, to create and present four new Life Sciences Awards.  “Life sciences” refers to industries dedicated to testing, manufacturing and marketing of biomedical products for human health. This includes drug, biologic, vaccine, medical device and diagnostics manufacturers, as well as supporting venture capital companies.

Michael Hill's op-ed in the Wash Post on February 11 provided a much needed perspective on our current housing market crisis. While the current public debate has focused on the crisis of credit posed by subprime mortgages, Hill argues that there has been too little focus on the underlying problem of housing affordability in America's high-cost markets.

One of the best aspects of capitalism is that if you have the vision, the will, the capacity, the drive, and the chutzpah, you can create value anywhere. I sat in on a briefing yesterday where John Orrison, an assistant vice president at BNSF Railway, talked about creating a $1 billion railway to connect landlocked Rwanda to the African coast and global markets.

Colleen Bramhall, 29, recently told an Associated Press reporter, “I used to be the one that was working for the man, the one with the corporate job that was the sellout, and now I think my friends are looking at Accenture in a different light, as a sort of corporate citizen.”   

What is the best way for businesses to invest in their communities’ sustainability?

• Support local green initiatives
• Support initiatives that create new jobs
• Get involved in transportation issues
• Adhere to recognized standards, codes of conduct, and regulations
• Support housing affordability initiatives

Take our short poll and let us know your vote!

At last month’s meeting in Davos, the United Nations made an announcement about a collaboration of competitors (UPS, TNT and Agility Logistics) to address logistical issues in the face of humanitarian disasters. 

The idea seems like a no-brainer. By working together in lock step, the companies would collectively make a bigger impact at times when results are measured not in volume or revenue, but in children fed and lives saved.

Easier said than done.

Utah tops the Beacon Hill Institute’s 2007 State Competitiveness Rankings, passing last year’s leader, Massachusetts, which moved into second place this year.

The rankings show which states have better policies in place for sustaining high levels of per capita income and continued economic growth. The biggest gainers, Idaho and Wyoming, moved from 14th to 5th place, and 24th to 10th place, respectively.

Bill Gates recent speech in Davos sure generated its share of mixed reactions. 

Larry Kudlow completely trashed him, while ivory tower economists gave him a skeptical thank you.  Every pundit worth their punch went to Bill “White Man’s Burden” Easterly for a negative comment, and Bono just ate it up with a spoon.

The president and CEO of Siemens Corporation published an op-ed yesterday in the Washington Business Journal ("Math and Science: It's up to Business" ), describing how social investments by companies can have a bottom-line impact on the future of the business. In Siemens' case, the company is dependent on smart scientists and engineers in order to remain successful over the long term, so they’re investing company resources (money and volunteers) in education today.

By Kitty Taylor

I’m sitting in BCLC’s global corporate citizenship seminar on “Exploring the Linkages Between Aid and Trade.” The 20 or so participants include leaders from Abbott, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Creative Associates International, as well as the USAID Global Development Alliance, the U.S. Trade Representative, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the International Finance Corporation.

From The Wall Street Journal:

In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the software tycoon plans to call for a "creative capitalism" that uses market forces to address poor-country needs that he feels are being ignored.

Last week the BCLC, held a unique forum bringing together constituents from the public, private sector and academia to tussle with the challenges and opportunities associated with recovery efforts associated with the California wildfires.  Through the course of sharing research, economic assessments, best practices and local/state concerns, it became, not surprisingly, clear the need for a framework for collaboration/communication across public and private sector entitie

After the fires in southern California in October 2007, I traveled to San Diego alongside the Small Business Administration to help facilitate recovery in the region. What struck me was how well the response was going.

What also struck me was how little most people know about recovery. 

Disasters are sporadic. This, of course, is good since disasters adversely affect almost every part of a community — from the economy to people’s way of life.

Over the past few years, the disaster response process had become very “front-loaded” – focused on mobilizing resources for the emergency response and relief activities, while recovery was kind of an afterthought.

Next week on January 17, we are going to host a forum in San Diego to capture lessons learned from the San Diego wildfires.  Registration for this event is open.

You’ve probably seen the media coverage of Intel and nonprofit organization One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). Intel and OLPC agreed in July 2007 to work together to get cheap laptops into the hands of developing-world children as a way to improve teaching and learning. Intel gained a seat on the OLPC board in the process, as is common in many strategic business-nonprofit partnerships.

For some reason, if all you saw was political news, you would think that the pharmaceutical industry was made up of inhuman robots who only care about vacuuming up gold ducats wherever they find them.  The rhetoric – even coming from some supposedly responsible presidential campaigns – is so overheated and so does not square with my personal experience, that I felt like surely someone would set the record straight.  However, I have yet to see anything that really does the job, so until the definitive rebuttal comes along, here is my two cents.

A Chamber Member's Story

David Powers Jr. (l.) and David Powers Sr. lead a successful multigenerational family-owned awning business.

A Chamber Member's Story

Founded in 1929, Toledo Metal Spinning has had its fair share of ups and downs as a business. But nothing could have prepared owners Ken, Craig, and Eric Fankhauser for the call they got from their plant's security company the night of February 4, 1998.

Prepare for the Unexpected

By Ricardo Harvin

How  would your business recover if you lost your computer systems or data? Having a good disaster recovery plan lets you gauge how long it would take to replace any lost systems and how much of your information you could recover.