The plight of the local small business

"I can't get in to see the right person at ______ to talk with them about doing business." I've heard that comment dozens of times from local small business managers as they try to make a sale to purchasing decision-makers at local larger businesses/industry/organizations. Hopefully, we at the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce put a small but mighty dent in that plight last Thursday with the first "Owensboro Buys It!" expo.

An offshoot of the six-year-old "Owensboro Has It!" buy-local campaign, this event started early last summer when more than 100 small business Chamber members learned how to build their own two-minute "elevator pitch." They were then required to attend at least two Chamber focused-networking events to practice their pitch. About 80 businesses qualified to attend Thursday's expo and meet in five-minute, one-on-one meetings with purchasing personnel from nearly 30 large local businesses/industries/organizations that agreed to participate.

From most accounts, the small businesses appreciated the opportunity and many told me after their meetings that they expected to gain business from it. While that was music to my ears, comments I heard from the purchasers were more telling. "This went better than I expected," "I guess I didn't realize what we had here," "Next year we're going to bring more people," was what I heard. Put another way, many large companies with purchasing power to help local small businesses simply don't know what's under their nose. It's not just companies; many residents fall into the same category.

As the chamber of commerce guy, that fact of life makes me frown. Why do many people not look locally when they need a box of paper clips or an electrical contractor or a guitar? I realize this isn't just an Owensboro issue, but I do believe it's prevalent here. For those of you do think local when you buy, thank you. For those of you who don't, remember the plight of the small local business.

I appreciate BBQ more now

In my nearly 21 years in Owensboro, I've driven past many of the Saturday pit BBQ fundraisers and have occasionally stopped to buy a chicken. What I had never done was actually work in any capacity at one of them. That changed this past Saturday when my son, Reid, and I helped the OCHS band boosters with a BBQ chicken and rib sale at St. Joe & Paul Church on 4th Street in Owensboro.

Reid is an 8th grader and has taken to music like a duck to water; he's playing baritone and we're proud of him for working hard at it and actually practicing at home without having to be told to do so. He told me that if he gets good enough, perhaps he can get a scholarship to college so now I'm equally excited to play whatever part I can do. Last month, he sold soft drinks and water for what I'm told is a never-ending fundraising cycle. Saturday, it was BBQ time.

Reid and I arrived at 6 a.m. and along with about ten others were put to work dragging 150 rib slabs and 300 chickens to the pit. While others hosed the embers to keep them at the right temperature, I helped others turn the ribs over and over. The chickens went on and I helped turn them in the racks. It's not as easy as it looks, especially when thick smoke laps at your face and eyes. Eventually, the ribs were done and removed, placed on a long piece of aluminum foil where Reid dabbed them with a BBQ mop and I wrapped them in the foil to be placed back on the pit for their final broiling. As the morning wore on, more help arrived. A slab of ribs and a few chickens were declared samplers and we tasted our morning work. It was some of the finest meat I've ever tasted.

With plenty of workers now in place, Reid and I left shortly after the sales began. We had both worked our first ever Owensboro pit BBQ fundraiser and we enjoyed it. That's Reid in the photo learning how to spread the dip on the chickens. All in all, we had a good time and helped raise $2,300 for the band. I certainly have a new appreciation for what goes into an Owensboro pit BBQ fundraiser. I'll probably stop at more of them and enjoy the cuisine even more.

A more pleasant rebuild

I was sworn to secrecy awhile back, and the secret is finally out. Thompson Homes President Tommy Thompson announced today that his company is coordinating the construction for one of ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Editions starting September 5th, Labor Day Weekend. Tommy called it the "Super Bowl" for Owensboro.

One deserving family within a 20-mile radius of Owensboro will be the beneficiary of their dream home. Thompson has been busy gathering donated materials, building supplies and labor for the four-day build that will culminate with the family returning from a vacation on September 12th. The spotlight will be on Owensboro for that week and then again in late November or early December when the show airs to an audience of 14 million in the U.S. and abroad.

The coordination involved in the event is enormous. More than 1,000 volunteers are expected to help, the show itself will have 300 people in town, five meals per day will be served to people working on the home 24 hours per day. There will be a job for whoever wants to help. A rally will be held on Friday, August 28th at 8 a.m. to help explain the opportunities. Visit http://www.extremethompsonhomes.com/ to learn more.

In this community over the past nine years, we've rebuilt from two tornadoes, the mother of all ice storms, hurricane winds and more. This Extreme Makeover will be the best one yet.