Business Development Center

Keep investing in Maine, expert urges at summit

AUGUSTA, Maine — The global economy may be in crisis.
The stock market might appear to be in a free fall.
And the Maine state government is facing budget shortfalls that will force lawmakers to make tough decisions about what programs to cut.
But this is exactly the wrong time to skimp on investing in a progressive vision of Maine’s future, argued an expert from a Washington, D.C., think tank Friday at the 2008 GrowSmart Maine Summit at Read the rest of this entry »

November 30, 2006 | Expert, Investing, Keep, Maine, Summit, Urges
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Small tweaks could boost your online sales, says business expert

Small tweaks could boost your online sales, says business expert
Bristol, UK ( ?NewDesignWorld ) October 29, 2008 -The secret to boosting online retail sales is putting in that little bit extra into customer service, just as you would in your “offline” store, according to ecommerce business expert Finlay Clark. Senior Retail Strategist at bigmouthmedia, Clark discusses a number of ecommerce tips and secrets on his latest business TV show on Read the rest of this entry »

November 30, 2006 | boost, Business, could, Expert, Online, sales, Says, Small, tweaks, your
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McCain quotes in ad are accurate, but they need context — Eye on Ohio

"Family," a 30-second television ad.
Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education. The union spent $2 million on ads in six states, including Ohio.
On television and above.
(Numerical rankings done by The Plain Dealer.)
"We have three kids. I like to send them to school looking nice, you know? Henry lost his job. What, 8 months ago? I work two shifts usually, and we're still behind."
"John McCain said, 'I know a Read the rest of this entry »

November 30, 2006 | accurate, context, McCain, need, Ohio, Quotes, THEY
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UPDATE 1-Bush says US moving quickly to solve market crisis

Thomson Financial News
UPDATE 1-Bush says U.S. moving quickly to solve market crisis
10.10.08,
12:24 PM ET
WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Friday the U.S. government was moving aggressively to address the financial markets crisis, but he acknowledged that anxiety was feeding on itself as stocks continued to plunge.
'The United States government is acting; we will continue to act to resolve this crisis Read the rest of this entry »

November 30, 2006 | Bush, Crisis, Market, moving, Quickly, Says, solve, UPDATE
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Economic Crisis Could Flatten Mobile Apps

, the
, the
, and others—prominently features some kind of application warehouse that promises to propel the handheld device to even greater heights of usability and entertainment. Yet although cell-phone companies may be cruising along the mobile revolution highway, they'll have a hard time steering around what may be a mojo-swallowing pothole for the entire mobile app business.
) on how cell-phone providers' insistence on high-priced Read the rest of this entry »

November 29, 2006 | Apps, could, Crisis, economic, Flatten, Mobile
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Bank of Commerce Holdings(TM) Adds New Consultant to its Financial …

Patrick J. Moty, President & CEO of Bank of Commerce Holdings

, a $630 million financial services holding company, and parent company of Redding Bank of Commerce(TM), Roseville Bank of Commerce(TM), Sutter Bank of Commerce(TM) and Bank of Commerce Mortgage(TM) today announced the addition of Jason R. Waybright, a licensed Financial Consultant.
Through Bank of Commerce's partnership with LPL Financial, our customers now have access to Read the rest of this entry »

November 29, 2006 | Adds, bank, Commerce, Consultant, Financial, Holdings
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Viacom Adjusts Earnings Downward

-- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/13/2008
Viacom updated its 2008 full-year business outlook based on "continuing difficult economic conditions." The company says it now expects to deliver growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share in a range of mid-single to lower double-digits for the full year. In 2007, it reported adjusted diluted earnings of $2.36 for the year.
Based on preliminary information, Viacom expects earnings for the third quarter to Read the rest of this entry »

November 29, 2006 | Adjusts, Downward, Earnings, Viacom
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Dupont expects earnings drop

, the Wilmington, Del., chemicals giant with two Buffalo-area facilities in Niagara Falls and the town of Tonawanda, has cut its 2008 earnings forecast.
For the fourth quarter, the company (NYSE: DD) said it sees earnings of between 20 and 25 cents a share, partially due to expected weakening demand in North America and Western Europe.
The revised forecast, which was a cut of $3.25 to $3.30 from $3.45 to $3.55, followed the company’s report Read the rest of this entry »

November 29, 2006 | drop, DuPont, Earnings, expects
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Deals of the day — mergers and acquisitions

Sept 8 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,
acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian
companies were reported by 0400 GMT on Monday.
(For Reuters columns on deals, click on [DEALTALK\]
** Origin Energy Ltd (ORG.AX:
,
,
,
), fending off an $11 billion
hostile bid from Britain's BG Group Plc (BG.L:
,
,
,
), has partnered
U.S. major ConocoPhillips (COP.N:
,
,
,
) to help develop its coal seam
gas through Read the rest of this entry »

November 29, 2006 | acquisitions, Deals, mergers
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State Chamber of Commerce legislative forum tackles road funding …

This year, the Legislature passed a bill changing the state's gas tax structure to provide additional funds for the state's cash-strapped Department of Roads.
It also agreed to use money from the state's cash reserves to help match needed federal highway funds.
Problem solved, right? Not exactly.
The Department of Roads is still almost completely limited to maintenance rather than expansion, and it'll be another year before the bill, introduced Read the rest of this entry »

November 29, 2006 | Chamber, Commerce, Forum, Funding, legislative, Road, State, tackles
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