columbiatribune.com stories: Business

City’s first ‘certified site’ sold at foreclosure sale

Jacob Barker — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Three years after it won the distinction as Missouri's first "certified site," the 270-acre Ewing Industrial Park in north Columbia was sold at a foreclosure sale Tuesday. Economic development officials have touted the land for years as a prime spot for a data center, and local governments have passed special electric rates and tax abatement policies aimed to lure the huge server warehouses.

Praises sung for Opera browser well deserved

Scott A. May — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:44 -0500

When it comes to Web browsers, there's fast and lean, and there's slow and flashy. Combining the best of both worlds, Opera Software's award-winning Opera 11 surfs the Web in overdrive with style to spare. The best browser on the planet keeps getting better with each new release.

Housing index shows rising prices in cities

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:42 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) — Home prices rose in March from February in most major U.S. cities for the first time in seven months. The increase is the latest evidence of a slow recovery taking shape in the housing market.

Final push made to save Disney studio

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:37 -0500

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A group that has worked for 15 years to turn Walt Disney's first professional animation studio into an interactive historical site and museum is launching a final fundraising push amid talk of expanding its vision for the building in central Kansas City.

Samsung introduces new device in Europe

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:36 -0500

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest maker of mobile phones, said its third-generation Galaxy S smartphone went on sale today in 28 European and Middle Eastern countries, hoping to cement its lead over Apple's iPhone.

Europeans express euro ambivalence

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:26 -0500

LONDON (AP) — The debt crisis that has ravaged Europe for the best part of three years has exposed a dislike of the single currency but little desire to abandon it, a wide-ranging survey of public opinion found today.

BUSINESS CALENDAR

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:11 -0500

Columbia Chamber of Commerce events are scheduled for the following days:

IBM reports 349 workers at Columbia center

Jacob Barker — Sun, 27 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

IBM more than doubled the number of people working at its Columbia service delivery center during the final six months of 2011, according to records obtained from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

FINANCIAL DATABANK: MID-MISSOURI ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

PRICES AT THE PUMP and COLUMBIA’S 1 PERCENT SALES TAX TOTALS: February and COLUMBIA’S TOP SALES TAXPAYERS, BY INDUSTRY

TOP DRAWER

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

Kudos to Aaron Crews, Titta Samson, Tina McNeil, Phil Moss, Fei Ji, Ken Lyle, Phil Steinhaus, Clint M. Smith, Harriet Yelon, Rusty Elder, Margaret Campbell, Becky Clervi, Beth Leonard, Deb Duren, Caroline Bartek, Kirsteen Buchanan, Tony Coleman, Clay Stem, Michael Burke, Diane Cook, Kathryn Hart, Chris Herbold, Stephens Security department, Greg Mankey, Gena Boling, Rodney Carrier, Lita Pistono, Darren Gallup, Greg Mankey, Central Methodist University, Daniel Primm, Lauran Burgin, Laurin Hatfield, Merikate Novak, Knial Piper II, Heidi Pope, Deanna Quisenberry, Eldar Rizvanov, Adam Russo and Alicia Pigg

PUBLIC RECORD

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

The following information is compiled by Credit Bureau of Columbia based on information on file at the Boone County Recorder of Deeds office. Listed are the borrower, amount, lender and address when available.

Jobless rate isn't the whole story

Jeff MacLellan — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

Let me begin by saying I was very pleased with the Columbia City Council's decision to approve an advisory board that will work to further the process to establish an enhanced enterprise zone. It was the right thing to do considering this community needs to add quality jobs for our residents.

Greek drama plagues euro

By WALT BREITINGER — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

The euro currency continued sinking this week, falling to the lowest price since 2010. This price decline came as investors grew increasingly concerned Greece will abandon the euro currency to gain increased financial flexibility.  The Greek economy is extremely small compared to other European nations, but global investors fear the current Greek debt drama might soon play out similarly in larger nations such as Spain, Portugal or even Italy, the world's eighth-largest economy.  A Greek exit from the euro currency also could lead to Greece defaulting on its debt payments, further weakening Europe's already deteriorating economy.

Economy not looking good for all

Dave Griggs — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

Columbia's economy is looking up, but from whose perspective? Home sales are picking up nicely, but we must keep in mind that we might never see the building boom of 2003-2006 again.

Zenith Aircraft draws business from flying enthusiasts around the world with its assembly-kit airplanes

Jacob Barker — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

Bob Hannah works on airplanes for a living, but the mechanic from Rising Sun, Ind., has always wanted to build his own. At Mexico, Mo., Memorial Airport last week, in the only hangar with any signs of life, Hannah and his son, Tyler, finally began the project they had long dreamed of.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Don Shrubshell — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

Leawood Plaza, the new office building at Broadway and Stadium Boulevard, should be complete before the end of next month, developer Aaron Smith said.

BUSINESS LICENSES

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

GRAND OPENING: Oak's Clean & Repair

Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

Kerri Scherer started Oak’s Clean & Repair in March. She had worked in the construction industry and decided she wanted to start her own business focused on cleaning and small repairs.

Coleman working on another Parmley project

Jacob Barker — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

After coming out of retirement to become the managing partner of Stadium Grill, the restaurant attached to Dave Parmley's Hampton Inn and Suites at Stadium Boulevard and Rock Quarry Road, Ron Coleman is helping the developer on his next hotel's restaurant.

Consolidation strengthens pulse of 3M factory

Jacob Barker — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:00:00 -0500

The heartbeat of 3M's Columbia factory has gotten a little stronger over the past several months as it has consolidated the manufacturing of its Littmann stethoscopes at its Route B factory.