You know, when you think about it, healthcare is a little like a fire hydrant; you never realize it’s there until you need it, and it’s then that you really understand its true value. The questions now faced by our country (one that has some of the best healthcare in the world) are these: will healthcare be available to all United States citizens and will it be cost-effective?

Having a seat on the National Small Business Association (NSBA) board, I find providing healthcare is a problem that affects all of us. It has become one of the main items on the plate of small businesses and needs to be solved in order for us to stay profitable. Will we get solutions that are cost effective for everyone? I think we will. The only way for the proposed healthcare reforms to really work is to have everyone involved.

Healthcare has gotten very expensive, but it has accomplished its mission and I think you are going to find in this issue there are a great number of professional companies working at these issues, to provide healthcare to us all at a price we can live with. The Legislature and the President have been trying to tackle this for years; our governor, legislators and small business associations have been working hard on this matter as well.

Thanks to all who attended last month’s Business + Sports Luncheon. Gary Danielson did an excellent job and we want to offer thanks to the luncheon sponsors: Dean Trailways, Eagle Eye Golf Club, Greater Lansing Sports Authority, Shaheen Chevrolet, DBI Business Interiors, McLaren Health Plan, TalkLansing.net, Ingham Regional Medical Center, Capital Region International Airport and WILX TV-10.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 2010 Greater Lansing Business Showcase on October 28th. This year’s theme will be “Rooted in Community, Cultivating Growth,” and we’ll have over 125 exhibitors, tours of the new Lansing city market, a networking luncheon with Crain’s Detroit Business publisher Mary Kramer and more—we hope to see you there!

As always, I wish you a prosperous month.

		Chris Holman Publisher