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When Manufacturing Jobs Leave, What do They Take With Them?
Otabo
LLC, of Pampano Beach, Florida, was started up by Howard Shaffer a few years
ago to use imaging technology to fit customers for high-end, customized shoes
and manufacture them at $450 and more per pair.
Although he was well capitalized, and was able to create demand, he soon
discovered that the supply chain for small-scale producers is lacking at best,
and nonexistent at worst. Skills were
lacking in the workforce, and technicians had to be flown in to fix specialized
machinery. Components were customized
and made from high-quality materials, in batches smaller than could be
obtained. A few years ago, the supply
chain wouldn't have been an issue in America; Mr. Shaffer would have had no
trouble obtaining the workforce skills and supplies he needed. The
manufacturers of shoelaces, eyes, and specialized soles that remain in the U.S.
couldn't justify a run in the relatively small volumes needed by Mr. Shaffer,
whose customers demanded many options. He
has since gone out of business. What
happened?
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Kolzow's Book Now Available
in Hardcopy and pdf Download
 Dr. Dave Kolzow's new book, A Strategic Approach to Economic Development, is now available in pdf download format. Economic developers looking for professionally designed and tested questions for online surveys will find great value in the Appendix. Kolzow provides a compendium of over 130 questions that have been used successfully in dozens of online surveys of community leaders, citizens and business owners.
Click here to purchase either version.
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Alternative Energy Workshop in N LA a Success
Taimerica's recent workshop in North La. titled "Alternative Energy in Economic Development: A Toolkit for Recognizing and Capturing the Best Opportunities" was a big success. Comments included:
"This ... was one of the best Master Classes we've
offered in several years. And Taimerica
is uniquely qualified among ED consultants to deliver on energy issues."
Kurt Foreman
President, North Louisiana Economic Partnership
"The Alternative Energy workshop put on by Ed Bee and Charlotte
Batson of Taimerica was a fantastic encapsulation of the various forms of
alternate energy options that economic developers need to know about... Traditional
business development opportunities have changed and alternative energy projects
are moving to a higher level of importance for employment and tax base
stability in the future."
Frank Crockett, CEcD
Manager, Economic Development, AEP/SWEPCO
Call 985-626-9868 today or email Charlotte at cbatson@taimerica.com to schedule a workshop in your region.
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Taimerica Assists With International Strategies
Taimerica has recently begun two projects, one for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and the other for the Brunswick/Glynn County (GA) to help them with their international development efforts. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and recognizing the importance of global markets is critical to success in economic development.
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