VISTA Today’s Business Briefs keep you up to date with what’s happening around Chester County. This Morning:

InvestorPlace Examines Donald Trump’s Wealth History if Invested in Vanguard 500 Index

InvestorPlace takes a look at how Donald Trump’s net worth could have grown if he had invested his money in a passively managed index fund like Vanguard 500 Index, instead of going primarily for real estate development deals.

The slightly tongue in cheek article takes the position from 1982, when Trump was worth around $200 million as determined by Forbes magazine. If the businessman turned politician had invested that amount into the Vanguard 500 Index, the only Vanguard fund available at the time, it would have grown to more than $8 billion today.

Considering that Forbes puts Donald Trump’s current net worth at $4 billion, the $8 billion he could have been worth by basically doing nothing is almost double the amount he achieved through his astute business acumen and shows the potential of passive investment management.

For the full analysis, visit InvestorsPlace here.

Four More Downingtown Restaurants to Participate in FallFest

Four additional restaurants have decided to pick up the mantle and join the fun of the Downingtown Fall Festival. Station Taproom, Bakers of Buffington, Green Street Grill, and Pomodoro Pizza & Italian Restaurant have joined Amani’s BYOB, P. J. Whelihan’s Pub & Restaurant, and Victory Brewing Company in the seasonal celebration that will last from September 19 until September 26.

Emphasizing the culinary creativity and diversity of Downingtown’s restaurants, each establishment will have to incorporate a mandatory ingredient, this year is squash, into one of their two special festival dishes with the other one a “Chef’s Choice.”

“I’m glad the list of participating restaurants is growing,” said Bill Covaleski, President of Victory Brewing Company and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Downingtown Main Street Association. ”This is a great way for new patrons to experience our fine restaurants.”

Over 200 Athletes Completes First Red, White, and Brew Run

Over 200 athletes completed the first annual Red, White, and Brew Run which was held at the Phoenixville Foundry on September 13, with many more participating in the race and the Family Fun Walk held in scenic Phoenixville.

Carl Blickle and Josey Rupert won the overall male and female awards on the course which started and ended at the Foundry and ran through the town and along the Schuylkill River trail. The run was held for a good cause as a portion of the proceeds went towards Activate Phoenixville, the Phoenixville YMCA and the Phoenixville Jaycees.

Participants who were over 21 years of age were able to reward themselves after the race and partake in the post-race beer and wine festival.

The organizers were thrilled with the success of the event and expect thousands more to come to Phoenixville for next year’s event.

Meritorious Budget Award for 3 Chester County School Districts

Downingtown Area School District, Great Valley School District and Owen J. Roberts School District were among the recipients of the Association of School Business Officials International’s Meritorious Budget Award.

The Award is designed to recognize school districts with the best practices in budgeting that are used to improve accuracy, transparency, sound fiscal management and communication in order to build district stakeholder confidence in each district’s finance office.

Eight years’ worth of data is required to be able to apply for the award which consists of four sections, and breaks down the budgeting process for taxpayers to clearly show how their district’s resources were spent.

“It is a much more comprehensive process than a normal budget would be,” noted Richard Fazio, chief financial officer of Downingtown Area School District. “You look at financial information, statistical data and performance data on the school district as well as academic performance.”

Beautification Committee Established by Coatesville City Council

At Monday night’s meeting, the Coatesville City Council voted unanimously to form a beautification committee which will oversee beautification efforts throughout the five wards of the city.

While only three council members are officially appointed to the committee, additional council members can still help out with its work and Coatesville residents are also invited and encouraged to participate and get involved in the process.

Arvilla Hunt, Carmen Green and Marie Lawson, members of the Coatesville City Council, expressed their interest in serving as official members on the newly formed committee.

“We want to establish a beautification committee, and we want to not only have council but also residents so we can be a little more hands-on with whatever’s necessary in regard to the appearance of the city,” said Council President Linda Lavender-Norris of the new committee.