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August 30, 2012
The Numbers: Signs of Slight Economic Expansion, but Consumer Confidence Slips

CHICAGO — Non-manufacturing sector shows growth for 31st consecutive month

CHICAGO — THE LATEST BEIGE BOOK REPORT, compiled by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with data from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts, shows that the U.S. economy continued to expand slightly in June and early July. Eleven districts noted expanding economic activity.

Early August brought news that the current administration had awarded $9 million in the multi-agency Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The program is designed to spur job and economic growth in rural regions. Economic development partnerships and initiatives in a dozen states—Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia—will receive awards. Last year’s winners generated millions in matching funds, and their projects are expected to create thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new businesses, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

April 4, 2012
Thum Elected President of Southwest Drycleaners Association

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Thum, co-founder and president of Five Star Cleaners, was recently elected president of The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA)

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Thum, co-founder and president of Five Star Cleaners, was recently elected president of The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA) at its annual convention.

The regional trade association, with more than 300 members, is an affiliate of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI). The 96-year-old association serves the professional dry cleaners of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Thum served as first vice president of the organization last year, and has served on the SDA board in various capacities for 28 years.

He launched Comet Cleaners in San Antonio in 1981 along with his wife, Sharlene, and the name was changed to Five Star Cleaners in 2004. The Thums own 11 locations across San Antonio.

Thum holds a bachelor of science degree in real estate finance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and has a real estate broker’s license in Texas.

July 9, 2010
Sam’s Club to Provide SBA Loans

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Small-business owners and entrepreneurs finding it difficult to get credit will soon be looking in an unlikely place — Sam’s Club. The sister company to Wal-Mart announced this week that it is testing an online program to make loans of $5,000 to $25,000 to qualifying members.

May 26, 2009
Magnolia Cleaners Offers Free Cleaning to Jobless

ATHENS, Tenn. — Magnolia Cleaners in Athens, Tenn., is the latest operator to win positive press for providing free cleaning to the nation’s growing ranks of unemployed.

Magnolia launched its “Get Working” program last month, after the area’s unemployment rate hit 13.8%. Owner Michael Priest will clean up to $25 worth of business clothing per week free of charge so that customers can make a better impression in interviews, or about two men’s two-piece suits.

July 14, 2008
HMC Adds Conveyor Partners

HMC Solutions announced it has reached agreements with Allied Conveyors Ltd. and Railex Corp. to produce custom overhead conveyors for its automated systems. North Little Rock, Ark.-based HMC produces Fetch! 24/7 kiosks and ADAC automated-assembly systems.