Futures Lab Update #120: Collaborative Photo Apps; Automated Sports Stories

Four years after the pandemic led to a surge in remote work, employee preferences are settling in to a somewhat surprising new normal — a dynamic with big implications for employers.

Small businesses account for most U. S. firms and nearly half the nation’s jobs; a recent survey by Pew Research Center found that Americans overwhelmingly (86 percent) view small businesses in a positive light. Still, today’s business environment isn’t easy to navigate, with challenges such as a tight labor market, rapidly changing technologies, lots of marketing noise and elevated interest rates. Three Kansas City-area experts offered insights into current issues for small businesses.

Sarah Haston, economic development director, city of Lebanon, explains why Lebanon, Tennessee, is the intelligent choice for growing your business through relocation or expansion.  Lebanon is a thriving community nestled in the heart of Tennessee. With its rich history, diverse culture and unwavering spirit of innovation, Lebanon is the perfect destination for businesses and corporations looking to grow and prosper.  If you are a business owner or corporate executive searching for the ideal location…

Over 200 years ago, the then-newly formed Wilson County needed a county seat. When surveyors found an artesian spring, they are believed to have exclaimed, “This is the place.” Staying true to its founding, Lebanon became a place where people invest personally and financially. Lebanon has long held a strong business community.

Imagine an opportunity for children to build robotic Mars rovers out of Legos, write computer code to operate them, and then run them on a simulated Mars landscape. Or an opportunity to create a podcast with family members. Or take a rigorous walking history lesson up and down the steps of Pittsburgh’s historic South Side Slopes. Multiply these unique learning experiences by about a thousand, spread them over several weeks and countless learning venues in Pittsburgh and beyond, and one begins…

As a small business owner, you have a lot on your plate, from strategic decision making to day-to-day operations. When you have limited resources and personnel, it can be especially difficult to balance your to-do list. When it comes to your employee benefit package, it may feel like it’s just one more thing you need to manage.