Decline in state’s September revenues darkens economic picture (Times-Dispatch)
Virginia’s revenue picture continues to darken, dropping 7.5 percent last month — just as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine started pruning state spending an additional $1.2 billion because of the continuing cash squeeze.
Ghent Station development project halted (Virginian-Pilot)
The sagging economy has claimed yet another development project in Norfolk – a $31 million office and retail project called Ghent Station that was proposed nearly two years ago for the western end of 21st Street.
UVa business school among Kindle testers (Daily Progress)
Darden was the only business school selected for the trial program, which includes several universities. Amazon’s one-pound, centimeter-thick device currently being tested is the third iteration of the device first introduced in 2006. Amazon wants feedback on the latest version, which is already on the market, to improve future versions.
At rescued banks, perks keep rolling (Washington Post)
Even as the nation’s biggest financial firms were struggling and the federal government was spending hundreds of billions of dollars to save many of them, the companies as a group were boosting the perks and benefits they pay their chief executives.
FDIC chief: Small banks can’t compete with bailed-out giants (USA Today)
Community banks are coming under intense pressure from a crumbling commercial real estate market, a weak economy — and lop-sided competition with banking goliaths deemed too big to fail, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said Monday.
Golf Courses Now Grow in Vietnam’s Rice Fields (NY Times)
It may be the most capitalist enterprise in Communist Vietnam — by the rich and for the rich: a proliferation of golf courses that is displacing thousands of farmers and devouring the rice fields the country depends on.
How to Launch New Products (Inc.)
One of the most gut-wrenching moments for an entrepreneur is the rollout of a new product. Unfortunately, after months or years of development, many discover that customers aren’t interested. That’s why some companies are trying another approach: marketing a product online first.
More Buck Than Bang (Entrepreneur)
You have to get the word out about your business somehow. That’s drilled into every entrepreneur’s head from the moment he plans on starting a company. Every business professor will tell you so. Every magazine or book on startups will swear by marketing. Even your grandma knows you have to market your company. But not every marketing technique is something you should try—especially not yet. Not now.
