June 2012

May, 2012Walk – ins: 935Phone calls: 579Mail outs: 25Visits to member web pages: 6,515

Chamber of Commerce:(970) 824-5689

Sportsman information:(970) 824-3046

Visitor center: 1-800-864-4405

Staff & board of directors:Visit www.craig-chamber.comand click “about the Cham-ber” for a listing of the cur-rent board of directors.

Your Chamber at work

In this issue:

Contact us:

ConnectionChamberYour guide to the business community & the Craig Chamber Of Commerce

Ribbon cuttings . . . . . .2

Events . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

New members, member spotlight . . . . .4

Business news . . . . . . .6

Legislative update . . . .6

Economic indicators . . .7

11 E. Victory Way, Craig, CO(970) 824-7000

See all listings at www.remax.com

THE DATESave

July 4 • July 4 paradeJuly 20-21 • Relay for LifeJuly 26 • Craig Chamber ofCommerce and Moffat CountyVisitor Center mixerJuly 28 • Mud Splash mud vol-leyball tournamentOngoing • Norman RockwellexhibitSee pages 2-3 for more events or go towww.craig-chamber.com/events.

Mud volleyballMark your calendar for July 28 and get prepared to

get dirty in Northwest Colorado’s only mud volleyballtournament, sponsored by the Craig Chamber of Com-merce.

This fun-filled event starts at 11 a.m. and goes untilthree teams have battled their way into first, second andthird place.

Round up six people to make up a co-ed team and takeyour shot at a trophy. The entry fee is $150 and includessix commemorative event t-shirts, a guaranteed twogames in the double-elimination tournament and a day offun. Additional t-shirts are $10 each.

The tournament will be held at Loudy-Simpson Parkwest of the soccer fields. Get a registration form on pageXX, the events page of www.craig-chamber.com or atthe Chamber offices, 360 E. Victory Way.

Craig Chamber of Commerce & MoffatCounty Visitor Center open house

Come see what all the buzz is about from 5 to 7 p.m.July 28 at the Chamber offices, 360 E. Victory Way dur-ing our annual summer mixer. There will be great food,

Mud volleyball, openhouse, appreciationday coming in July

Continued on Page 3.

June 28 ● Chamber mixerhosted by High Desert TimberFrames The Craig Chamber of CommerceAmbassadors invite you and yourstaff to a Business After-hoursMixer hosted by High Desert Tim-ber Frames. Great food! Stop byfor a little bit or stay the full twohours, either way you're sure tohave a good time. Time: 5 to 7 p.m.Location: High Desert TimberFrames is located twelve milesnorthwest of Craig on County Road7, take a left at the end of thepavement. The address is 101U.B.R. Lane.Contact: RSVP by calling (970)824-5689 or email office@craig-chamber.com.

July 4 ● 4th of July ParadeThe theme for the floats will bered, white and blue. Following theparade, there will be a free barbe-cue at Veterans Memorial Park.There will be games, egg toss,bouncey house, sack race moneypit hunt for the children and more. Location: Line up at the VFW, 419E. Victory Way. Contact: Johnny Garcia at (970)826-2627 or (cell) 629-3345Details: Line up at 10 a.m., pa-rade starts at noon.Fees: No float fee

July 20-21 ● American CancerSociety Relay for LifeAnnual Relay for Life to raisemoney for the American CancerSociety and to honor, support, andremember those who have beenaffected by cancer.Time: 6 p.m.-8 a.m.Website:www.craigrelayforlife.comLocation: Moffat County HighSchool, 900 Finley Ln.

July 28 ● Mud Splash - 2012The Craig Chamber of Commerceannual Mud Splash mud volleyballtournament is unique fun for agreat cause. July 20 entry dead-line.Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Location: Loudy-Simpson Parkwest of the soccer fields.Contact:(970) 824-5689Fees/Admission: Cost is $150per team and includes event t-shirts for six players. Additionalshirts available for $10 each.

Page 2 June 2012

EVENTSCalendar of CUTTINGS

Ribbon

High Desert Timber Frames

Craig Chamber of Commerce photo

Chamber of Commerce board and staff members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony forHigh Desert Timber Frames, located where the pavement ends on Moffat County Road 7. Usingthe beautiful blued beetle kill wood and other woods, High Desert Timber Frames creates customlogs for timer-frame homes, is a full-service sawmill and does custom-cut lumber. Call ownerTodd Bellio (pictured third from left) at (970) 824-6621 for more information.

MEEKER, Colo. - Colorado Parks andWildlife is inviting the public to discuss elkmanagement options for Game ManagementUnits 1, 2 and 201, recognized as prime hunt-ing areas in northwest Colorado. The units,also identified as Data Analysis Unit E-1, aremanaged to produce high-quality elk and re-quire many points to draw a license.

The presentation will take place Thursday,July 12, 6 p.m., in the Lodore Hall at theBrowns Park National Wildlife Refuge.

Wildlife officials will use the public's inputgathered at the meeting to establish popula-tion objectives and set the male-female ratiofor this herd.

“Because of the high-quality hunting inthese units and their importance to our localeconomy, landowners, sportsmen, outfitters,business owners, and anyone with a vested in-terest in this big game population should at-

tend and offer their input,” said Bill de Vergie,Area Wildlife Manger.

The benefits and drawbacks of variousmanagement alternatives will be discussed,including a status quo option. The public willhave an opportunity to indicate their prefer-ence through a survey provided at the meet-ing.

“We always merge the public's input withlandowner needs and our research and data tomake management decisions the public cansupport,” said de Vergie.

Lodore Hall is located in Browns Park Na-tional Wildlife Refuge - Take Highway 318,turn south at approximately mile marker 10.

To learn more about DAU plans, pleasevisit:www.wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/HerdManagementDAUPlans/Pages/Herd-ManagementDAUPlans.aspx

CPW hosts herd management meeting

June 28 ● Chamber mixerhosted by the Craig Chamberof Commerce & Moffat CountyVisitor CenterThe Craig Chamber of Com-merce & Moffat County VisitorCenter is hosting its annual sum-mer mixer. Great food, musicand door prizes! Time: 5 to 7 p.m.Location: 360 E. Victory WayContact: RSVP by calling (970)824-5689 or email office@craig-chamber.com

Ongoing ● Moffat County Li-braries Summer Reading Pro-gramMoffat County Libraries SummerReading Program encourages kidsto read during the summer. Signup anytime during the summer,.The more kids read the moreprizes they win. Contact: (970) 824-5116 orwww.colorado.gov/moffatcounty(click ''Departments'' then click ''Li-brary''). Details: Mondays, June 4-Aug. 20Fees: Free

Mondays ● Moffat County Li-braries- Craig Family GameNightYou bring the family, we'll pro-vide the games!Time: 5 - 6:30 PMLocation: 570 Green St.Contact: (970) 824-5116 orwww.colorado.gov/moffatcounty(click ''Departments'' then click''Library'') Fees: Free

Ongoing ● Norman Rockwell323 Saturday Evening PostCovers ExhibitMuseum of Northwest Coloradowill host a FREE exhibit featuringall of Norman Rockwell’s Satur-day Evening Post covers. Website:www.museumnwco.orgLocation: 590 Yampa Ave. Contact: Mary Pat Dunn at(970) 824-6360.

Every Saturday ● 8-Ball PoolLeagueAPA Pool League 8-ball pooltournaments, open to the public.Time: 7 to 9 p.m.Location: Mather's Bar, 420Yampa AveContact: (970) 824-9946Fees: $10

Get therecogni-tionyourevent de-serves. Post it onthe Craig Cham-ber of Commercecalendar of events- our secondmost viewedpage getting46,983 views ayear. Adding yourevent is easy!Log on towww.craig-cham-ber.com and click the“events” button.Choose “submit yourown event.”

YES, WE ARE LENDING. STOP IN AND MEET OUR QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED LENDERS TODAY.

June 2012 Page 3

508 Yampa Ave. ● 970.824.4455

Home of Moffat County’s #1 Realtor

EVENTSCalendar of

music and door prizes. Stop by for 15 minutes or stay for the entire

mixer and network for your business andenjoy our hospitality.

RSVP by calling (970) 824-5689.

Member Appreciation DayChamber members are encouraged to mar-

ket their business by including their own cus-tom-printed materials in a gift bag Chambervolunteers will hand-deliver on Member Ap-preciation Day, July 25.

No business cards or flyers may be submit-ted, but any item (pens, notepads and otheritems are encouraged) with your business logoor information may be included.

Craig Chamber of Commerce membersStatus Symbol Laser Engraving, TouchmarkPromotions, The Print Shop or The CopyShop can help you select and print items. Visitwww.craig-chamber.com and click “businessdirectory” for more information on these busi-nesses.

Submit 400 items to the Chamber by July20. Call (970) 824-5689 for more information.

Channel 17Optimum customers can find the most cur-

rent information on local events on Channel 17.Tune in for local calendar listings, informationon area attractions and business information.

If you would like your event featured onChannel 17, make sure that you’ve listed it onthe Craig Chamber of Commerce calendar ofevents at www.craig-chamber.com under the“events” key. Information from that calendar isused to create the programming for Channel 17.Contact the Chamber for more information.

Become an ambassadorAre you looking to make connections both

business and personal? Do you want to bemore involved in the community in a waythat’s fun for you and beneficial to Craig?Consider becoming a Craig Chamber of Com-merce ambassador.

Ambassadors are involved in a variety ofChamber and community events, get to meetgreat new people and are able to be meaning-fully involved without feeling like its a bur-den.

Call (970) 824-5689 for more information.

Community encouraged to submit events for Channel 17Continued from Page 1.

Business SPOTLIGHT

ANNIVERSARIESSeverson Supply & Rental 1983BLM Little Snake Area Office 1989Division of Wildlife 1989U.S. Forest Service 1989First National Bank of the Rockies 1992B & K Distributing, Inc. 1997Centennial Mall 1997KRAI FM & 55 Country 1997Pinnacle Peak Adventures 1998Atmos Energy Corp. 1998Kinder Family Clinic 2000Centennial Home Care 2004

IronClad Mobile Home Park 2007Yellow Book USA 2007Hampton Inn and Suites- Craig 2009Touchmark Promotions, Inc. 2009R & R Catering. LLC 2009Calicuras Outfitting 2009DMA Electronics 2009Lariat Lee Liquor 2009Lube Plus 2011Pankey’s Smoked BBQ 2011Pro-Auto 2011

May

Welcome

Angels In Your Cupboard Marcia AndersonP.O. Box 988, Craig CO(970) 326-8514Creating organizational systems for in-dividuals to reduce clutter in homes orat work. Also do event planning, down-sizing and organizing for estate sales.Alt. phone number (970) 756-3120.

Craig Taxi & Courier Service Soni Vice(970) 824-1998Craig’s only 24-hour taxi. Your ride isjust a call away. Limo service avail-able, call for more information.

Connections 4 Kids Michelle Balleck595 Breeze St.Craig, CO(970) 824-8282 ext. 47Connections 4 Kids’ mission is tostrengthen resources and services forchildren birth to age 8 and their families.

Walter & Marilyn Stevens Craig, COIndividual members

KS Kreations Craft Store & Bakery Kandee Dilldine523 Yampa Ave. Craig, CO(970) 824-2151Shop for supplies for your next proj-ect, order a custom cake for the nextparty & grab a cinnamon roll on yourway out. This bakery & craft storenow has a smoothie bar too, be sureto stop by.

Castle Ranch Steakhouse & SportsPage Bar 300 S. Highway 13Craig, CO(970) 824-4000Located in the Holiday Inn, the CastleRanch Steakhouse offers a full menuwith daily specials and Sports Page Baroffers a full bar.

NEW MEMBERS

Page 4 June 2012

Status SymbolsLaser Engraving

555 Yampa Ave. (970) 824-9477

Number of employees: 2Number of years in business: 1

What is your specialty?Laser engraving and/or cuttingof practically any material in-cluding wood, metal, glass,stone, rubber, leather, acrylic,plastic and more. For applica-tions such as trophies andawards, personalized gifts, petmemorials, glassware, customstamps… the list could literallygo on forever. Use your imagina-tion!

What is your business or organization philosophy?To provide quality engravedgoods and services at affordableprices to the residents of West-ern Colorado.

Is there something your business or organization offers that people don’tseem to know about?Our top of the line high poweredCO2 laser cuts intricate patternsand designs in a variety of ma-terials, such as plastic, acrylic,fabric, wood and more. We canengrave photographs on manydifferent materials.

Protect Local Character and ProsperityCraig, Colorado is unlike any other city in the world. By choosing to sup-port locally owned businesses, you help maintain our diversity and distinc-tive flavor. Moffat County businesses offer shoppers unique products andservices. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences andrespond more quickly to the need of local customers, stocking products tomeet the changing population needs.

For more reasons toshop local, log on to www.craig-chamber.com

withclass

Hair, nails,esthetics535 Yampa Ave.970.824.0341

www.stylz5thavenue.com

Colorado Congressmen to help small businesses

Highlighting the need for assisting Col-orado’s small businesses access capital, a bi-partisan partnership of ColoradoRepresentatives Mike Coffman (R) and EdPerlmutter (D) have introduced a bill to helpaccomplish this task

The bill, entitled “Small Business Lend-ing For Jobs Act of 2012” targets communitybanks with less than $10 billion in assets,while striving to “strike the appropriate reg-ulatory balance that will make credit avail-able to small businesses while preserving thesoundness and safety of community banks.”

As noted by both Representatives Coff-man and Perlmutter in a joint commentarythat recently ran in The Denver Post, “Smallbusinesses are the engines driving our econ-omy. Any economic recovery will be madein large part through increased hiring by ournation’s small businesses. According to theNational Federation of Independent Business,over the last 10 years, small businesses areresponsible for creating 60 percent to 80 per-cent of new jobs annually.”

These sentiments were penned by bothRepresentatives Coffman and Perlmutter,“Failure to strengthen our economy is not an

option. All solutions must be on the table. Oursmall businesses have always been at theforefront of innovation and leading the can-do spirit of the American people.”

Colorado Manufacturing Initiative moves forward

The U.S. House Committee on Educationand the Workforce approved legislation to fixthe nation’s broken workforce training sys-tem and help ensure workers have the skillsand education they need to succeed.

The Workforce Investment ImprovementAct of 2012 (HR 4297) will reauthorize theWorkforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA).The Act directs the use of public funds fordesignated programs in the Carl D. PerkinsVocational-Technical Education Act, TradeAdjustment Assistance and the Workforce In-vestment Act, to develop necessary skills

Of particular interest to manufacturers arethe amendments that focus on giving priorityto training programs that result in nationallyportable, industry-recognized credentials inan effort to address the “middle skills gap.”

Christine Scullion, Director of human re-source policy with the National Associationof Manufacturers (NAM), says the inclusionof amendments that support professional cer-tification programs is one of the most impor-tant provisions in the legislation.

In recent years, the workforce skills gaphas become an increasingly pressing issue formanufacturers, who cannot find qualifiedworkers to fill positions.

(Written by Angie Knepell, CACI Manu-facturing Initiative, (303) 866-9657.)

Small business call to armsEntrepreneur and creator of the Chicken

McNugget Ed Rensi is worried.The former McDonald’s CEO says small

businesses and entrepreneurs are being stran-gled by layers and layers of local, state andfederal regulations.

“We’re allowing the root system to rot,”Rensi said. “We’re denying opportunity to somany people. We need to be scared, people.”

After retiring from McDonalds, Rensiopened Tom and Eddie’s, a chain of four up-scale burger restaurants in Illinois, but notwithout running into bureaucratic hurdles.Rensi was passionate while talking about hisrun-ins with an architectural review commit-

tee that would not let him use his signatureorange-and-lime green color scheme for a lo-cation in a strip mall. “I thought I was dealingwith people who understood the free enter-prise system,” Rensi says. “If I had knownthen what I know now, I’d never have builtin that community.”

Small businesses have one big advantage:they’re collective voice, Rensi says. “Smallbusiness is where the solutions – the fuzzythinking – is going to be found.”

He urged small businesses to “quit sittingon your butt whining and do something.” Getinvolved in your local government, write aletter to your Congressman, get involved ineducation, but do something and make a dif-ference, Rensi said.

(Written by Sheryll Poe, U.S. Chamber ofCommerce)

Bill extends training for UI benefit recipients

Governor Hickenlooper has signed HB-1272, entitled “Enhanced Benefits Unem-ployed Workers in Training,” which willextend training for laid-off workers who arereceiving unemployment insurance benefits.

The Colorado Association of Commerceand Industry supported the measure. LorenFurman, CACI Senior Vice President, testifedthat several CACI members, who are manu-facturers, expressed their strong support forHB-1272 and said that they want the oppor-tunity to provide the skills training for job-ap-plicants that’s necessary for the positions thatthe manufacturers are trying to fill.

HB-1272 extends until June 30, 2014, en-hanced UI benefits for claimants engaged inapproved training programs. Currently theColorado Department of Labor and Employ-ment (CDLE) can spend $15 million over thethree-year period ending June 30, 2012, forenhanced UI benefits.

The CDLE reports the program has had asuccess rate of almost 75 percent in terms ofthe UI recipients finding jobs after they havecompleted training. HB-1272 instructs theCDLE to spend an additional $8 million forfiscal years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. HB-1272 expands the definition of approvedtraining programs to include employer-basedor entrepreneurial training programs ap-proved by the director of CDLE’s Division ofEmployment and Training.

June 2012 Page 5

(970) 824-3445105 E Victory Way,Craig, CO 81625

www.americannorthwestrealty.com

News forBUSINESS

State economists announced that Coloradowill end its current fiscal year on June 30 withalmost $240 million in more tax revenue thanprojected last March.

The causes of the higher-than-expectedrevenue were individual and corporate in-come tax revenue. Revenue for the General

Fund Budget is projected to be 7.8 percenthigher than for the prior fiscal year.

“This growth provides evidence that Col-orado’s economy is performing better thanexpected and has had more underlyingstrength than previously evident,” said Gov-ernor John Hickenlooper’s economists.

“The positive news about the state’sbudget situation should inhibit certain mem-bers of the General Assembly from consider-ing tax increases on Colorado businesses thatare now trying to recover from the recession,”said Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice Pres-ident, State and Federal Relations, “and wedon’t believe that any legislation should beproposed in 2013 that would increase taxesor administrative burdens on companies, in-cluding the suspension or elimination of busi-ness tax credits, exemptions or exclusions.”

The economists however, warned that the

national economy is slowing and Colorado’seconomy will likely slow down also.

For the 2012-2013 budget year, which be-gins July 1, the Governor’s economists wrote:“The lower growth rate is due to the slowingglobal and national economies, heighteneduncertainty and risks from the European debtcrisis, and unresolved federal fiscal issues.”

The legislature’s economists summarizedthe state’s economy this way:

The nation’s economy has slowed andColorado’s economy is expected to followsuit in 2012. The manufacturing sectors andreal estate market are gradually improving.However, gains in employment, income, andconsumer spending have slowed as banks,businesses, and households struggle with un-certainty about the European fiscal crisis, theslowing global economy, and U.S. federal fis-cal policy.

In theECONOMY

Page 6 June 2012

COURTESY OF YAMPA VALLEYDATA PARTNERS

For more Fast Facts or other economicindicators, visit

www.yampavalleypartners.com

EmploymentThe employment situation in Moffat and

Routt County continues to improve. In thelast FastFacts, Yampa Valley Data Partnerswas forecasting a strong rebound in employ-ment during the summer months of June thruSeptember. Like the local weather, summerhas come early. The rebound in employmentwill mean we will start to see labor shortagesspecific to the accommodation/food servicesand health care. The economic stress indica-tor due to unemployment is .012 in MoffatCounty and .026 in Routt. Levels above .025indicate that employers are beginning to havetrouble finding people to fill available jobopenings.

Retail TradeRetail sales in January 2012 were similar

to the same period last year. Food/Beveragesales, which are on average 10 to 13% of totalsales, declined in both Moffat and Routtcounties by 3% and 6% respectively. The de-cline is likely due to a slightly lower number

of visitors coming to the area compared to theprevious year.

Construction/RealEstate/Foreclosures

In April 2012, there were three new singlefamily residential construction permits issuedin Routt County. All of the new residentialconstruction permits (Jan-December / 2011)have been for single-family homes averagingabout $1 million each in construction values.It appears that this trend is continuing into2012.

The US Census Bureau released con-struction statistics for 2011 and both countiessaw an increase compared to 2010 in both thenumber of building permits and the value ofthe construction associated with those per-mits.

The pace of existing home sales in April2012 was identical to March 2012. Therewere only 17 single family home sales. Thisnumber is important because the ratio of sin-gle family homes sold to the number ofhomes listed for sale in Routt County is a keyfuture construction predictor. The ratio forApril was 1.7%. The ratio needs to be 2.5%+on a sustained basis for 18 months before it islikely that noticeable construction activity be-gins.

During April 2012, there was a decline in

the number of foreclosure notices filed onRoutt County homes compared to the annualaverage for 2011. The pace of foreclosure inFebruary nationally, statewide and locally hasslowed from the last six months of 2011.

Location Foreclosure RatioMoffat 1 in 1,549Routt1 in 541Eagle1 in 464Garfield 1 in 271La Plata 1 in 1,293Summit I in 1,765

In April 2012 both Moffat and Routt coun-ties saw an increase in the “for sale” inven-tory with both counties returning to levels oflast October. Although the increase wasslight, 10 homes in Moffat County and 41 inRoutt County, the inventory increase willserve to temper any increase in home prices.

The median listing price of homes is sta-bilizing in both counties. The median listingprice of a home in Moffat County in Aprilwas $188,000 and in Routt County it was$499,000.

EnergyNo new data this month. The data shown

in the Fast Facts tables is from March 2012.

May Fast Facts: Regional economic indicators

Although state revenue picture improves, slowdown is expected

.

W a on th lh t’s Up e Hi l

!Register Now for Fall

ulas t

Reg ar Fall cl ses s art August 20th

CNCC Craig Campus

North of Memorial Hospital Registration:824-1100 Information: 824-1101 Bookstore: 824-1124 www.cncc.edu

Celebrating 150 Year Anniversary: The Homestead Act & Moffat County Homesteads CNCC’s life-long learning students recently visited the Thomas Emerson unique rock homestead. Thomas’s Great-Grand Daughter, Beth Gilchrist, met with the group and shared family photographs, including a photo of the original homestead. The itinerary included touring the Hertzog, Brannan, and Lukas homesteads, Lay, Maybell Cemetery, Juniper Springs, and Juniper Mountain. For information about upcoming community education classes, call 824-1135 or email mary.morris@cncc.edu.*CNCC appreciates assistance provided by Beth Gilchrist and her family, Moffat County Tourism and Museum of Northwest Colorado

Beth GilchristGreat-Grandaughter

Thomas and Mary Jane Emerson Emerson Homestead Remains - June 21, 2012

CNCC Life-Long Learners June 21, 2012

Thomas and Mary Jane Emerson Emerson Homestead - late 1800’s

June 2012 Page 7

Page 8 June 2012

By Tom DonohueU.S. Chamber of Commerce

Many things could help bolster ourweak recovery, support growth, and cre-ate jobs—more exports of American prod-ucts and services, fewer onerousregulations, and greater certainty, to namea few. One factor often overlooked is in-creased productivity.

Greater productivity means higher me-dian income for workers, enabling themto buy and invest more, which leads to jobgrowth. It means that U.S. companies arebetter able to compete in a tough globaleconomy. It means lower inflation andmore available capital to invest. And itmeans a rising standard of living foreveryone.

We have several opportunities to pro-pel productivity. The energy sector is aperfect example. Natural gas was onceone of our costliest supplies. Thanks inlarge part to technology, we now have theability to more affordably extract and de-

velop natural gas at record rates. The re-sult is lower prices, a stable supply, morejobs, and a surge in revenues. The UnitedStates is now poised to be a net exporterof natural gas. Driving energy productiv-ity also gives energy-intensive manufac-turers reason to stay put, rather thanrelocate overseas where fuel might becheaper.

We could also increase productivity bymodernizing our infrastructure system andkeeping our supply chain seamless and ef-ficient. According to the Chamber’sTransportation Performance Index, failureto maintain our infrastructure will cost us$1 trillion in GDP by 2020. But removinginfrastructure inefficiencies and choke-points in the supply chain could drivedown consumer prices by reducing trans-portation costs.

Small reforms can make a difference.Virtually everything we buy is transportedon trucks, and we can make them moreproductive by letting the same engine pulltwo slightly longer trailers. Allowing

trucks to pull two 33-foot trailers, insteadof two 28-foot trailers, would increaseproductivity by 16 percent, without com-promising safety, impacting the conditionof our roads, or decreasing fuel efficiency.

But doesn’t increased productivitymean fewer jobs? That could happen forsome workers in some cases. In advancedmanufacturing, for example, automationhas displaced some assembly line work-ers. But new jobs will be created in tech-nology industries that enable thisautomation. Moreover, when companiestranslate efficiency gains into cost-savingsand pass them on to their customers, con-sumers will, in turn, spend their money inother parts of the economy. And that cre-ates jobs. Businesses may also opt to di-rect the money saved in one area into newjob-creating ventures.

One of the driving forces of productiv-ity gains is innovation. Next week I’ll dis-cuss the elements of the Chamber’sinnovation agenda and how they can drivegrowth and jobs in our economy.

In praise of worker, economic productivity in America