The Associated Press has created an interactive map that can be used as a resource in determining where economic pressure is the greatest and least across the country. The map calculates a stress index for the current month and compares that figure to October 2007 figures for unemployment, foreclosure, and bankruptcy rates.

In his introductory comments, author Ted Anthony stated:

• “Places with large numbers of government jobs – state capitals, university towns, communities with concentrations of hospitals – remain fairly recession-proof. These are places like Columbia, Mo.; Madison, Wis.; the Raleigh, N.C., area; and Athens, Ga.”
• “State government is not hurting that much – at least, not yet.”

Those two statements lend additional support to MCH’s position that institutions are the B2B Growth Markets of 2009!

President Obama has made it clear that the administration will not tolerate waste or frivolous spending of stimulus funds. As the nation’s mayors gathered at the White House, the President issued stern warnings:

“If a federal agency proposes a project that will waste that money, I will not hesitate to call them out on it.” and

“…if a local government does the same, I will call them out on it, and use the full power of my office and our administration to stop it.”

In keeping with President’s goal to make government more transparent, the administration’s new website Recovery.gov has been designed to help Americans track how stimulus funds are being spent. Be sure to check it out!

NPR’s Martin Kaste reports on Washington state’s stimulus czar Dick Thompson, and the frustrations felt by some state governments that much of the stimulus funds are directed to existing funding mechanisms. This means that the states don’t get to use discretion to pick from their laundry list of possible projects.

Kaste reports: “What people don’t understand, Thompson says, is just how little control the state will have over the money. Instead,… Congress seems to be channeling most of the money into specific uses — K-12 education, Medicaid, transportation — following pre-established guidelines. The money almost spends itself, and the states are left with control over a lot less money.”

In other words, much of the money is flowing down to school administrators, library boards, city and county directors, and other local decision makers to support their objectives. The piece points out that many firms are lobbying the state governments to get their project supported, but in fact there will be little flexibility at the state level.

MCH recommends targeting your marketing efforts to the local administrators who will decide how to spend their increased funding. We are currently drafting our recommendations related to the major funding areas. If you would like recommendations from MCH on marketing data related to your line of business, you can request a quote using this form.

Free MCH Webinar – Stimulus Marketing: Thrive in ’09
Is your company ready to lead the economic recovery?
February 18th, 11:00 a.m. Central Time

The federal government is providing hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus funds for institutions including local governments, schools, and healthcare systems to spend with America’s businesses. Are you and your company in the best position to capitalize on these emerging opportunities?

This webinar will help you follow the money and identify:

• Which agencies will be receiving the money.
• Which decisions makers will spend those funds.
• How the term “use or lose it” can be a golden revenue opportunity.
• How your company can benefit.
• Why NOW is the time for institutions.

Join us on Wednesday, February 18th at 11:00 central for this free webinar. MCH presenters are John Hood, President and Kirk Chritton, Director of Marketing & Product Development.

Why should you attend?
After our previous webinar, 90% of survey respondents said they would change their 2009 marketing strategy based on the information presented.

“I have referenced the webinar to my clients…the information is a literal goldmine for the business I’m in.”

“We were looking for some direction on who to target in 2009…this webinar helped to clear some of the questions.”

Who should attend?
CEOs, CMOs, B2B Sales and Marketing VPs, Directors, Managers, Circulation Directors, List Brokers, and anyone whose company needs to thrive in ’09.

Click here to register for the Free February 18th webinar!