Three more days. Do you remember being in school and looking forward to the end of the school year? That last week was always so exciting...and difficult! Every day seemed to drag on and on until finally we could rejoice that we had the next few months off. And we were convinced that there would never be a better summer. As we got older we merely traded going to school for going to our summer job, but when we were young, baseball games, swimming, riding bikes all over creation, lounging around -- these were the things summer was made of.
In our business, summer has always been the time for economic development wheeling and dealing. This is the time of year when companies make their move, when they buy ground, or lease a building, or order new equipment. This is the time of year when companies finally come to visit and narrow the list of communities down to the top three. This is the time of year to crank up the negotiations and close some deals.
But this year, clients seem to be holding their breath. They keep looking to Washington, D.C., or the state or the local community to try and get some semblance of predictability. As bad as the Health Care Reform Bill is for business, there was at least a decision made. That decision had consequences that we will feel for many years, but at least it was now measurable. Now, there are several more issues with unknown solutions and costs causing businesses to take their time making important decisions about growth.
We will still see growth in the market this year and next, but it won't be as robust as we would like to see. Instead of looking ahead "three more days," our clients seem to be saying "three more months," in the hopes that there will be some clarity after the November elections. The clarity we are all seeking comes down to this -- will the U.S., Nebraska and Omaha be supportive of business growth or not? So far the message from D.C. is not good. Nebraska continues to hold its own as elected leaders try to maintain competitiveness in the face of budget challenges. The next few weeks will tell the tale in Omaha as the mayor, city council, county board and local school boards make plans for dealing with their budget woes.
So, sometime in the next three days, weeks or months, we will know what kind of climate businesses will have to invest in. Let's take the same approach we did as kids on that first day of summer. Let's let optimism rule the day and assume that this will be the best summer ever! It can't hurt.
I hope all is going well with you and your business. Let us know how we can help!
Regards,
