(KFVS) – The Missouri Department of Transportation is looking to its industry partners for ways to make its operations faster, safer and less expensive.

This is the second year for MoDOT’s “Call to Industry” competition, which asks for innovative ideas to make the department a better organization.

“This year, we are interested in innovations related to customer and employee safety, customer service, customer mobility, and road and bridge maintenance,” said Mike Shea, MoDOT Maintenance Liaison Engineer. “Our focus is to find new innovations that save money, save time, simplify work or improve safety.”

With the holidays coming up fast, Black Friday will be here before we know it.

Every year we hear about the craziness at big name stores like Walmart, Target, etc. As a change of pace, we want to hear from local, small businesses and others in the community!

Will you be having any Black Friday sales or deals? If so, what are they? What are some tips you can give to people in your community wanting to shop more "local?"

If you're a local restaurant, will you have different hours and specials to cater to the Black Friday shoppers?

Is anyone in the community: churches, community centers, etc. offering babysitting for those that will be out in the early a.m. for shopping?

You can e-mail Amber Ruch, County News Web Producer at aruch@kfvs12.com. The information you provide will be featured online and on-air. Make sure to include a picture or two of your business!