The Un-Bacon? For real?

CHICAGO (PRNewswire)  ̶  Schmaltz Products LLC announced Tuesday it is launching Schmacon™, Smoked & Cured Glazed Beef Slices, an innovative alternative to pork bacon with smokey and sweet flavor and a meaty and crisp texture.

Schmacon is whole muscle beef seasoned with a proprietary spice blend and cure recipe inspired by its Inventor Howard Bender's deli roots. It fits right into the food trend landscape of unusual and adventuresome meats and unexpected blendings of flavors and textures, the company said in a news release.

"Schmacon is delicious and unlike anything else on the market," saysHoward Bender, CEO of Schmaltz Products. Bender is theCulinary Institute of America-trained chef and deli entrepreneur behind this unique product. "Beef factors heavily into deli menus, and seeing what was going on with bacon I envisioned a beef product that could capture some of the same magic," he said.

The company said Schmacon tastes indulgent, but in fact it is lower in fat, calories and sodium than traditional bacon. The carefully-trimmed beef that is used has little fat and a patent-pending process is responsible for the crispy finish that rivals that of pork bacon. It comes ready to crisp and serve and can be prepared in a variety of ways including the oven, microwave and stove-top.

“The result is an easy to prepare, delicious to eat, take on a traditional food favorite that provides an alternative for those who do not eat pork products or are watching their diet. And it's a welcome, tasty option for people who simply love meat,” the company said.

Schmacon can stand on its own or amplify the flavors of breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more with a smokey-sweet boost. "Food trends right now are all about contrasting flavors and textures like sweet and salty. And crispy is huge as well," says Bender. "Schmacon makes it really easy to get that kind of flavor and texture layering. Of course it's a winner on a plate of eggs as well."

Schmacon makes its official debut at the National Restaurant Association Show on May 17-20, where it will receive an innovation award. Foodservice distribution giant Sysco has picked it up as have some major universities, restaurants and clubs. It is currently available through online retailerschmaltzonline.com and plans are in place for retail distribution before year's end.

Census Bureau: Bicycle commuting on the rise

Many U.S. cities are seeing an increase in bicycle commuters, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released this week.

Nationwide, the number of people who traveled to work by bike increased roughly 60 percent over the last decade, from about 488,000 in 2000 to about 786,000 during the 2008-2012 period. This is the largest percentage increase of all commuting modes tracked by the 2000 Census and the 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

The Census Bureau also released a new commuting edition of the interactive map Census Explorer, which gives Web visitors easy click-and-zoom access to commuting statistics for every neighborhood in the U.S. It also shows how commuting has changed since 1990 at the neighborhood, county and state level — including how long it takes to get to work, commutes longer than an hour, and number of bikers. This edition of Census Explorer uses statistics from the American Community Survey, the best national source of commuting statistics down to the neighborhood level.

"In recent years, many communities have taken steps to support more transportation options, such as bicycling and walking," said Brian McKenzie, a Census Bureau sociologist and the report's author. "For example, many cities have invested in bike share programs, bike lanes and more pedestrian-friendly streets."

While bicyclists still account for just 0.6 percent of all commuters, some of the nation's largest cities have more than doubled their rates since 2000. Portland, Ore., had the highest bicycle-commuting rate at 6.1 percent, up from 1.8 percent in 2000. In Minneapolis, the rate increased from 1.9 percent to 4.1 percent.

The report also looks at the number of people who walk to work. After steadily decreasing since 1980, the percent of people who walk to work has stabilized since 2000. In 1980, 5.6 percent of workers walked to work, and that rate declined to 2.9 percent by 2000. However, in the 2008-2012 period, the rate of walkers remained statistically unchanged from 2000. Among larger cities, Boston had the highest rate of walking to work at 15.1 percent.

The report, "Modes Less Traveled — Bicycling and Walking to Work in the United States: 2008-2012," highlights the trends and socio-economic and geographic differences between motorized and nonmotorized commutes. This report — the Census Bureau's first focusing only on biking and walking to work — is one of many that examines specific aspects of commuting, including workplace location, working from home, long commutes and specific travel modes.

Biking to Work Highlights

• The West had the highest rate of biking to work at 1.1 percent, and the South had the lowest rate at 0.3 percent.
• Among large cities, Portland, Ore., had the highest bicycle-commuting rate at 6.1 percent.
• The median commute time for those who bike to work was about 19.3 minutes.
• Men were more likely than women to bike to work. The rate of bicycle commuting for men was more than double that of women, 0.8 percent compared with 0.3 percent.
• Those with a graduate or professional degree or higher and those with less than a high school degree had the highest rates of biking to work, at 0.9 and 0.7 percent, respectively.
• 1.5 percent of those with an income of $10,000 or less commuted to work by bicycle, the highest rate of bicycle commuting by any income category.
• African-Americans had the lowest rate of biking to work at 0.3 percent, compared with some other race or two or more races who had the highest rate at 0.8 percent.

Walking to Work Highlights

• The Northeast showed the highest rate of walking to work at 4.7 percent of workers. Several of the places with high rates were "college towns," including Ithaca, N.Y., where about 42.4 percent walked to work. The South had the lowest rate at 1.8 percent. Among large cities, Boston was one of the highest walking-to-work cities at 15.1 percent.
• Workers living in core cities walked to work at a rate of 4.3 percent, compared with 2.4 percent for workers in suburbs.
• The median commute time for those who walk to work was 11.5 minutes, and they left their home at later hours than other modes.
• Men walked to work at a rate of 2.9 percent compared with 2.8 percent for women.
• Those with less than a high school degree had the highest rate of walking to work at 3.7 percent, followed by those with graduate or professional degrees at 2.7 percent.
• 8.2 percent of those with an income of $10,000 or less walked to work, the highest rate of walking to work by any income category.
• Asians and workers of some other race or two or more races had the highest rate of walking to work at 4.0 and 4.2, respectively. 

About the American Community Survey

The figures in this release come from data collected from questions in the Census Bureau's 2008-2012 American Community Survey. The questions asked include:

• How did this person usually get to work last week? If this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark (X) the box of the one used for most of the distance.
• How many people, including this person, usually rode to work in the car, truck, or van last week?
• What time did this person usually leave home to go to work last week?
• How many minutes did it usually take this person to get from home to work last week?

Organizations use the statistics from this question to design programs that ease traffic problems, reduce congestion and promote carpooling. In addition, police and fire departments use the statistics to plan for emergency services in areas where many people work. The American Community Survey provides local statistics on a variety of topics for even the smallest communities.

For more information, visit http://www.census.gov/acs/www/data_documentation/documentation_main/.

Spirit of Peoria ready to set sail for the season

A new season aboard the Spirit of Peoria is underway and the paddlewheel boat will again offer some of the most unique entertainment to be found in central Illinois.

With some new events planned, including themed cruises with flowing juices, owner and Capt. Alex Grieves believes this could be one of the Spirit’s best years on the Illinois River.

Thanks to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, one of the nation’s farthest reaching newspapers, the Spirit is hearing from future customers from across the United States and even from Europe, keeping phones as busy this early in the season as he’s seen it, Grieves said.

“We’re underway and set to go for another summer. We’re excited to get going, especially after the long, cold winter we just went through,” said Grieves, who is in his 21^st year at the helm of the boat that is now in its 26^th year docked at the foot of Main Street in Peoria.

After a few private cruises in April, including a prom or two, the Spirit of Peoria started its regular sightseeing cruises last weekend. With its first themed cruise of the season tonight (May 9, Rock and Roll) and its Mother’s Day cruise on Sunday, “we’re really getting ramped up quick.”

Grieves said there will be more themed Moonlight Cruises on Friday nights throughout the summer, including a craft beer tasting cruise, a wine tasting cruise and a bourbon tasting event. Others are a Ragtime Dinner Cruise, a couple murder mystery cruises, Jimmy Buffet Night cruises titled “Tropical Rock & Roll for Your Soul,” and PianoStravaganza featuring Johnny Maddox.

For the 19^th year, Riverlife Gospel Cruises sponsored by Hands of Love Ministry and hosted by The Kramers are scheduled several times during the summer.

Live music will be performed on many cruises, including known performers such Barry Cloyd, TJ Jones, Brian Fox Ellis, the Brazillionaires and others.

“We’re really going to have some fun events this year and I think we’ll appeal to a lot of people.

Again this year the Spirit will have several multiple-day trips, including two to St. Louis, a couple to Starved Rock State Park, and one to Hannibal, Missouri, which Grieves said was a popular excursion last year.

Numerous single-day trips also are scheduled throughout the summer.

The season will end with the Spirit of Peoria’s participation in the Centennial Festival of Riverboats Oct. 14-19 in Louisville, Ky. Grieves said boats were invited to participate in the event, which is to celebrate the Belle of Louisville’s 100^th birthday.

The Festival will include a riverboat race, hot air balloons and fireworks.

“We are very excited about that event and feel honored to be invited. It’s going to be a great event,” Grieves said.

While he said the Spirit of Peoria itself is in great shape, Grieves said he plans to take advantage during the trip home from Louisville to stop at the shipyard in St. Louis for some maintenance work and repairs to keep it ship-shape. It will be the largest amount of work done of the Spirit since it was built 26 years ago in Paducah, Ky.

For more information about the Spirit of Peoria’s schedule, including more details about the cruises, visit www.spiritofpeoria.com.

Citibank survey shows small business owners feel better about conditions

Half of all U.S. small business owners say business conditions are good or excellent, the most since at least 2010, according to the findings released today from Citibank® Small Business Pulse.

The results mark a steady rise in outlook, up from 48 percent reporting the same in Spring 2013, 43 percent in Spring 2012, 32 percent in Spring 2011, and 24 percent in August of 2010, when the survey was first fielded. Similarly, 44 percent expect to grow their business in the next 12 months, up from 37 percent two years ago.

"The improved outlook among small business owners matches what we have seen on the ground," saidRobert Kleiber, head of Citibank Small Business. "As small business owners have increasingly looked to invest in and grow their operations, Citi has stepped up to help. We lent small businesses$9.2 billionin 2013, up from$4.5 billionin 2009 and$6.0 billionin 2010. Still, owners are facing real challenges, with many citing an unprepared workforce as a major obstacle to hiring."

Despite the positive outlook on current business conditions and higher growth expectations, 75 percent of small business owners do not plan to hire in the next 12 months – similar to last year – and only 17 percent plan to hire full-time employees. When asked to describe the current hiring environment for their business, 37 percent said applicants are not qualified and 31 percent said applicants' skills do not match the open positions. And while half of small business owners say on-the-job training is the best preparation, many see an educational opportunity to improve workforce preparation: 59 percent say trade schools and apprenticeships should receive greater emphasis in schools.

One year ago, 22 percent of small business owners said they intended to grow by increasing their use of online sales (Citibank Small Business Pulse,May 2013). Today, 42 percent report having some online sales and 18 percent earn more than a quarter of their total sales online. More than half (52 percent) say they plan to make use of new technologies or applications for smart phones or tablets in the next 12 months to market or expand their businesses.

Owners are using the internet in numerous ways, including customer communication (70 percent), marketing and sales (57 percent) and professional networking (55 percent). When asked how the internet and social media has benefited their businesses, owners cited improved sales and lead generation (60 percent), market insight (48 percent), increased visits to their location (47 percent), greater customer loyalty (43 percent) and reduced marketing expenditures (36 percent). Even with increased use and greater realization of benefits, most small business owners (51 percent) do not rigorously monitor or manage their businesses social media activity with 28 percent not monitoring it at all.

Small business owners play a major role within their communities, according to the Citibank Small Business Pulse. Many contribute to local organizations (69 percent), support local youth sports and extracurricular activities (61 percent) and belong to local service organizations (41 percent).

Over the past year, more than half (51 percent) of small business experienced some impact due to inclement weather. Nearly a third (29 percent) said the weather caused customers to stay home, 23 percent had to close the business at some point (average closure: six days), 20 percent saw a decrease in workforce productivity and attendance, and 17 percent say they lost sales that they will not be able to make up. Still, just eight percent say they plan to adjust their operations next year because of the weather, with another 11 percent saying they will wait and see. Of those that will adjust, 42 percent will adjust inventory and expenses, 32 percent will establish emergency closing procedures for customers and employees, and 30 percent will increase advertising and customer communication. Seven percent of owners said the bad weather improved their business.

Despite the challenges of starting and operating a small business, owners are glad they did it. When asked if they would decide to do it again, 77 percent said they would, and the same percentage said they would recommend owning a small business to their children. They say the top benefits of owning a small business are being your own boss (79 percent), independence (77 percent), having the ability to make strategic decisions (77 percent) and relationships with customers (73 percent). If they could change one thing, 42 percent said they would have started the business earlier in their career and 12 percent said they would change nothing.