Weekly 5: Chicago committee votes to require E15
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Chicago committee votes to require E15
Chicago could become the first major city to require some gas stations to carry 15-percent ethanol blends under a plan approved Monday.
The city’s Finance Committee voted Monday to require stations that pump more than 850,000 gallons a year to use E15. That represents about a quarter of all stations in the city, the Chicago Tribune reported, but exempts marinas.
The plan must now go to the full city council for consideration on Wednesday.
2. National Park Service considering fee increase for Keys parks
The National Park Service will hold public meetings on proposed fee increases for Everglades and Dry Tortugas in the coming weeks, the Florida Keys Keynoter reported.
The fees increases cover a variety of activities, including boating. It would be the first fee increases for the parks since 1997.
3. Small businesses drive job recovery
The U.S. economy added 321,000 jobs in November and small businesses once again led the way, the Small Business Administration reported.
In fact, about 7 million of the 10.9 million jobs added since the recession have been small business jobs.
4. Best year for job creation since 1999
And it’s not only small business adding jobs. At the pace through November, the economy would add 2.89 million jobs this year, making it the best year since 1999 for job creation.
5. Consumers prefer email for marketing
Here’s some important info to keep in mind: a recent survey shows that consumers prefer to receive marketing and offers through email versus other media – although half would prefer not to be contacted at all.
Text messages were a distant second to email, followed by snail mail and social media. Most customers also said they would choose email as their top choice to address customer service issues.
