business relationships Archives

St. Louis area businesses support community after school shooting

No matter who you are or where you were when the news dropped, you likely felt a human connection. Now the business community is saying it’s time to help our own.

ST. LOUIS — Businesses all across the St. Louis area are joining forces to support the victims and survivors of this week’s tragedy. Some of them are asking their customers to chip in.

No matter who you are or where you were when the news dropped, you likely felt that human connection. Now the business community is saying, it’s time to help our own.

At Altered State Comics, it’s not just business as usual. Workers are still agonizing over Monday’s St. Louis school shooting.

“No kid should feel scared to go to school, go outside, walk to school, anything like that,” owner Brandon Forrest said.

It’s why he feels compelled to act, especially after he learned something about one of the teenage shooting survivors.

“He’s a big Manga fan, he’s our people. We know exactly what he’s talking about,” the comic enthusiast said.

So his comic store is teaming up with four others across the area to donate a portion of all proceeds throughout the weekend directly to those impacted. Those stores include Comic Headquarters in south St. Louis County, STL Comics in St. Charles, Apotheosis Comics in St. Louis and All American CCG in Waterloo, Illinois.

“That money is going to see it to the right place,” Forrest said.

They’re not alone in this mission.

“When I heard

Iowa organic soybean business loses state licenses, files bankruptcy

A north central Iowa organic soybean business filed for bankruptcy Monday, saying it owes at least 100 creditors $10 million. It’s the state’s second grain business to run into financial insolvency this year.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture suspended the warehouse and grain dealer licenses of Global Processing Inc. of Kanawha earlier this month, saying the company failed to “have sufficient funds to cover producer grain checks” as well as to file monthly financial statements as Iowa law requires.

The loss of state licenses means Global Processing is no longer able to accept grain in Iowa. The company says online that it process food-grade organic soybeans, with locations in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota.

More:Iowa farmers caught in grain firm’s bankruptcy can seek to recoup nearly $1.3 million in losses

A north central Iowa soybean company, Global Processing Inc., has filed for bankruptcy protection, saying it owes at least 100 creditors $10 million.

Global Processing said in its bankruptcy filing Monday that it owes between 100 and 199 creditors from $10 million to $50 million. The company estimated it has the same amount of assets as it has liabilities.

Ron Martin, a Cedar Rapids bankruptcy attorney representing Global Processing, said Tuesday he couldn’t immediately comment as the company works to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections.

The state agriculture department said Tuesday it did not know how many farmers might be caught in the company’s financial troubles. It urged farmers to file claims through a state grain indemnity fund, which may reimburse growers for 90% of their losses up to $300,000.

In August, the department suspended the grain and warehouse licenses of

Website at helping small businesses find opportunities with town

Brookline is encouraging small business owners from what the town called historically marginalized groups to find procurement opportunities by using its “Work With Brookline” website.

The website is intended to support small businesses, and provide owners with guidance on how to establish companies, according to a town statement.

The site is specifically at helping small businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, the statement said.

“This portal is a key part of Brookline’s outreach efforts to individuals of historically marginalized groups,” David Geanakakis, Brookline’s chief procurement officer, said in the statement. “The overall goals of the site are to increase diversity and equity opportunities, make procurement of goods and services more accessible, and provide easy access to information that is usually difficult to find.”

Business owners are encouraged to sign up on the website and use its Quick Start Guide to receive a customized checklist with advice on how to grow their companies and work with the town. It also offers access to local, state, and federal resources that offer entrepreneurial support.

For more information, visit workwith.brooklinema.gov.

John Hilliard can be reached at [email protected].