WF Chamber of Commerce hosts State of Economy forum: discuss growth, opportunities, and connection
It was a packed house inside the Sikes Lake Center as city leaders, business owners and many others joined together to talk about growth for the City of Wichita Falls.
Ron Kitchens, president and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, said the event is vital for change.
'[It's] critically important to celebrate success. We have to craft a vision each year, and then we all got to make a commitment,' Kitchens said. 'We can either be victims of change or victors of change. Today was about creating victory for the future.'
Kitchens also said strengthening connections with MSU and Sheppard Air Force Base would also be vital for the growth of Wichita Falls.
'Between MSU and Sheppard Air Force Base, that's about 60 percent of our local economy. They're critical not just today for jobs, but they're critical to our future,' Kitchens said.
Kitchens said the Wichita Falls economy has been thriving over the past two years.
'You know, the national hiccups going on. We've got, you know, a $.5 billion in investment going on now. We've had $1 billion investment in the last 30 months,' Kitchens said.
Kitchen mentioned that there are new jobs and significant announcements on the way for the city.
Also at the event, Carol Wagner and Richard Bundy were named Wichitans of the Year. That is an award to recognize those who help shape the city.
The chamber's next big event, Leader Fest 2025, is coming up in August. Click here for more information on how to get your tickets.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Fed's Goolsbee is concerned about inflation, not jobs, hinting at high bar for rate cut
A Federal Reserve official on Aug. 13 said he's more concerned about last month's rise in underlying inflation than an unusually weak jobs report, hinting he may not be inclined to support an interest rate cut in September as many economists expect. 'If we start getting more reports like the latest one on overall inflation… that would be more concerning,' Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a voting member of the Fed's interest rate setting committee, said at a forum by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce in Illinois. Goolsbee's remarks are noteworthy because he's generally considered one of the more 'dovish' members of the Fed's rate setting committee. That means he may be more inclined than others to reduce rates to head off a recession then raise rates or keep them higher for longer to bring down inflation. His views appear to conflict with those of many economists and investors, who viewed the July jobs report as dismal and the inflation reading as relatively mild. Earlier Wednesday, Fed futures markets figured there was a nearly 100% chance of a September rate cut. Like many Fed officials, Goolsbee has favored holding off on rate cuts until the Fed can assess the affects of President Donald Trump's tariffs on consumer prices. At a news conference that followed the chamber event, Goolsbee said, 'The most concerning thing in the (inflation) report was services.' Underlying services prices rose sharply because of increases in categories such as airfares and dental services. Goolsbee said he was worried about the reading because it reflected a potentially persistent trend, rather than a one-time bump from tariffs. He said he's also worried about Trump's plans to impose a 100% tariff on semiconductors, which could affect a wide range of technology products and ripple through the economy in a more sustainable way. Overall inflation held steady at 2.7% in July but a core measure that strips out volatile food and energy items rose from 2.9% to 3.1%, reflecting the rise in services price, according to the consumer price index, released Aug. 12. At the same time, Goolsbee also said he wasn't worried about the disappointing 73,000 jobs U.S. employers added in July and the downward revision of 258,000 jobs for the previous two months. The numbers left employment growth averaging an anemic 35,000 the past three months. But Goolsbee said Trump's immigration crackdown likely has affected population growth and the jobs numbers, but that doesn't mean the labor market has substantially weakened. He noted job opening and hiring rates are comparable to prepandemic levels. And the unemployment rate, at 4.2%, remains historically low. 'I think it's a bad idea to (overinterpret) from one variable,' Goolsbee told reporters. "We don't know what the immigration flows are." Goolsbee also said at the chamber event, "The state of the labor market is pretty strong, pretty solid." He said he wasn't ruling out a September rate cut, noting Fed officials will review the August inflation and jobs reports before making a decision at a mid-September meeting. 'It depends on what the numbers show,' he said, adding he hasn't made a decision. 'I consider all the meetings the Fed has to be live meetings.' (This story has been updated with new information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Fed's Goolsbee said about a September interest rate cut Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber to Host 2025 State of the Valley Luncheon on September 4
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 13, 2025-- The Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its 11th Annual State of the Valley Luncheon on Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. This highly anticipated event brings together business, civic, and elected leaders from across the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles region for an in-depth conversation on the most pressing policy issues affecting the local business climate and regional economy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Councilmembers representing the San Fernando Valley participate in the signature fireside chat at the 2024 State of the Valley Luncheon, hosted by the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce. From left to right: Council President Paul Krekorian, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, and Councilmember John Lee. The 2025 State of the Valley Luncheon will take place on September 4, 2025, at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. To register, visit: The event's signature fireside chat will feature the six Los Angeles City Councilmembers who represent the San Fernando Valley, offering their insights on timely topics including: Returning as moderator is Alex Cohen, National Political Anchor for Spectrum News 1, who will guide a candid discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the Valley portion of the City of Los Angeles. 'This event is more than just a conversation — it's a critical touchpoint for anyone invested in the Valley's future,' said Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, President & CEO of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber. 'It gives business leaders direct access to the policymakers shaping our region, and fosters collaboration across sectors.' The State of the Valley Luncheon is expected to draw over 250 attendees, including executives from major employers, small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and officials from all levels of government. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information, visit or contact the Chamber at (818) 989-0300. View source version on CONTACT: Nancy Hoffman Vanyek President & CEO, Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce [email protected]| (818) 448-1766 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SAFETY STATE/LOCAL BUSINESS SMALL BUSINESS SOCIAL SERVICES SOURCE: Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 08/13/2025 12:08 PM/DISC: 08/13/2025 12:08 PM
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce shuts down due to financial challenges, changes post-COVID
The Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce shut down operations in August, after nearly six decades, due to financial challenges and changes post-COVID, according to the CEO and president of the group. Active members were referred to nearby organizations, including the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce. The organization had been supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs since it opened in 1966. According to President and CEO Brent Howard, the chamber faced challenges as businesses moved toward virtual and digital marketing and networking services following the COVID-19 pandemic. "The organization, in terms of how it was structured, wasn't viable in the same way post-COVID in how members are interacting and what their needs are," President and CEO Brent Howard said in a statement. Howard said memberships declined from more than 400 people in the 2010s to less than 200 in recent years. Some major companies, including Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), McCormick & Co., and T. Rowe Price Group, were among the chamber's members, according to Howard. Headquartered in Towson, the organization provided networking opportunities and resources for business owners with the goal of fostering diverse and sustainable businesses. "Baltimore County is not lacking for leadership at this particular level. When we fall off, it's not like no one else is there," Howard said. According to Howard, current chamber members can move to other local organizations, including the Towson Chamber of Commerce, the Hunt Valley Business Forum, the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber, and the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce. The Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce has already made plans to welcome Baltimore County members and has been identified as a popular landing spot for many of the members, Howard said. The Greater Baltimore Chamber has more than 300 members and covers Owings Mills, Reisterstown and Northwest Baltimore. The organization rebranded from the Pikesville Chamber in 2021.
