| The United States has more than 450 military installations, and all of them are development magnets to some extent. All federal agencies awarded $178.6 billion to small businesses in 2023, up $15.7 billion from 2022. Closer to home, Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, reported in October that the AFMC Small Business office set a record of $10.2 billion obligated, an increase of $500 million over fiscal year 2023. Clearly, being close to military bases can pay off. That insight was celebrated at the Dayton Convention Center this week. Coalition hails ‘impact of proximity’ in annual meeting Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave remarks, Wed. Feb. 5, 2025 at the Dayton Development Coalition Annual Meeting and Economic Review for a look back on the economic wins in 2024 and the economic landscape for 2025. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF Location, location, location: Being close to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base —where the future of the Air Force is researched and planned — has tremendous value, attendees agreed at the Dayton Development Coalition’s annual meeting this week. Convergence: Getting even closer — in fact, on federal land itself — should pay greater dividends, said Jerad Barnett, chief executive of Beavercreek’s Synergy Building Systems, who was part of a local team that drafted plans for a $250 million research park on base land — land he called “beachfront property on speed and innovation.” Read the story. A third downtown hotel is now open Hotel Ardent, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, has opened at 137 N. Main St. in downtown Dayton. CORNELIUS FROLIK / STAFF What happened: A 118-room hotel has opened in downtown Dayton, close to the city’s performing arts centers and other destinations. Hotel Ardent, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, at 137 N. Main St., is across from the Victoria Theatre and a block from the Schuster Center. What’s ahead: Downtown now has three hotels open and in operation, but three more are under development. Read the story. Dual Moraine manufacturing plants slated to close Miller Consolidated Industries Inc. Citing “challenges in the business environment,” Wilse Inc. is telling customers and employees that two plants in Moraine will close by Feb. 14. Impact: Employees told me that nearly 50 employees are affected. A letter from the company to customers says plants at 2221 Arbor Blvd. and 2671 E. River Road will shut down. What they’re saying: A letter on Wilse Inc. letterhead shared with this newspaper states: “For the last several months, Wilse has experienced financial difficulties due to economic changes within our industry. In the past years we have taken action to adapt to this new market with our product and process. Unfortunately, this action has not increased profitability.” Read the story. Eggs-perts agree: Egg surcharge is a big deal. The Waffle House located at 1107 E. Dayton Yellow Springs Road in Fairborn has a sign posted on the front door saying that they've added a temporary 50 cent per egg surcharge due to the nationwide rise in cost of eggs. NATALIE JONES/STAFF Credit: Natalie Jones When you sell 272 million eggs a year, that gets pricey. Especially these days. This story was everywhere this week, from CNBC to the New York Times: Waffle House is passing on the high cost of eggs to customers. No yolk: According to the restaurant’s website, Waffle House has more than a dozen family-operated farms supplying eggs. Rose Acre Farms in Indiana supplies more than half of the eggs consumed at Waffle House. The numbers: The average price of a dozen eggs hit $4.15 last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In December 2023, a dozen of eggs cost $2.51. Read the story. Dayton Art Institute: Changes are pledged. The Dayton Art Institute and partially reflected in the Pathway sculpture. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF Not every day is the public told that top executives will have their compensation reduced. But that was part of the message recently when the institute sent a letter to supporters. The museum also pledged to update its financial reporting schedule and search for cost savings. Our reporting: A recent Dayton Daily News investigation found the museum has been in the red for five years. It recorded several millions of dollars in losses those years, its board of trustees gave two of its executives salary increases of up to 80% the year after it saw a $2 million loss in revenue and it reported different revenue numbers on a community report and its federal 990 tax form in at least two recent years. Read the story. Contact me: Thank you for reading, as always. You can tell me about your business at tom.gnau@coxinc.com. You can also send me DMs on X, and I’m on LinkedIn and at our Dayton Business page, with my busy colleagues. Quick hits UD beats Davidson: Some takeaways. ‘Pay what you can:’ For this local cafe’s spaghetti dinners. Respiratory illnesses: Are on the rise. Could you rise to Roma’s challenge? Me? Not a chance. But maybe my boss could. Downtown NATO security zone: Here’s what you need to know. | 