Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
Weekly Update
Mission statement: The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce promotes economic and community development by addressing issues important to business
Volume 4, Issue19
Friday, January 12, 2007
This week's sponsors:
Community Events Calendar
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Copyright 2007
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
Major employers point
to good news in 2007
Three of Ross County’s largest employers are predicting bright futures while chamber members are optimistic about the coming year.
Those were the headlines from Wednesday’s 2007 Economic Forecast Luncheon sponsored by the chamber. The CEOs of the Kenworth Truck Company, Glatfelter and Adena Health System gave the 80 who attended an update of their operations and a glimpse of things to come.
Here’s a synopsis of the presentations at the Chillicothe Country Club:
Scott Blue, Kenworth: Said 2006 was the best year ever for Kenworth and the local plant which produced more than 25,000 trucks. He noted the plant employs 1,770 while its local suppliers have jobs for about another 500. He said the recent announcement to reduce the build rate to 92 trucks a day (from 102) as well as laying off about 160 was “a temporary bump in the road” for about 6-9 months. The truck market, because of new emission standards which mean heavier and more costly trucks, will be down 30-40 percent this year, but that Kenworth hopes to gain in market share. A new model will be built at the local plant starting in February and the company is “moving rapidly into robotics.”
John Blind, Glatfelter: The local plant is now responsible for about 150,000 tons of book publishing paper a year and that “very good progress” is being made. A goal for the company in 2007 is to see “significant operational improvement in Chillicothe,” which represents a third of all Glatfelter business, he said. A major achievement in 2006 was the ratification of contracts with the three unions which used a new collaborative approach. Another goal, he said, is for all employees to know that “we’re Glatfelter now, not Mead.”
Mark Shuter: Adena Health System: A five-year, $180 million expansion will mean 240 more beds along with renovation into private rooms of the existing 260 beds, major construction for quarters for family physicians next to the Urgent Care on Western Avenue, a new educational building to train new nurses and provide continuing credits to staffers and the addition of 600 full-time employees. He said a nine-month strategic planning process yielded the expansion strategy that was in keeping with Adena’s mission to “be the best healthcare system in the nation.” He said Adena added 200 jobs in 2006. Others “centers of excellence” in the plan are for cancer treatment, women and infants and heart care.
Christopher Manegold, Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio: This area is blessed because it has such diversity in its economy, citing the fact there are five separate employers who have more than 1,000 employees each (VA Medical Center and the two prisons added to the three above). He noted a spec building will be going up in the Ohio 104 industrial park by the CIC and that the Alliance’s website will feature links to the county’s GIS system to help outside developers get a look at prospective sites. He noted the Alliance will be in its first full year of operation and that it is trying to reach a regional, national and international audience.
Marvin Jones, Chamber: Results from a recent survey of members showed:
- 70 percent expect to have a better year in 2007 than in 2006; 77 percent said that in 2006 their business did the same or better than in 2005.
- 60 percent said the minimum wage increase would have no effect on them.
- 77 percent said the state’s new commercial activity tax (CAT) has had no effect on their business.
- 80 percent said the local economy is headed in the right direction and 77 percent said the same of the national economy.
Other barometers for the local economy came from Ross County Auditor Steve Neal who is predicting a 2.2 percent increase in the sales tax, the same as in 2006 while Chillicothe Auditor Bill Morrissey factored in only a 1 percent increase in the city’s income tax, the same as last year. Neal also noted real estate transactions were down 8 percent in 2006 to the previous year.
NEW PLANT NOT COMING HERE: On the same day Kenworth Plant Manager Scott Blue spoke at the chamber luncheon, his parent company, Paccar, announced it will build a $400 million manufacturing facility to build engines for its Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. While it didn't pinpoint the location, Paccar said the plant would be built in the southeast U.S. and that it was working with several states.
BAB NEXT WEEK AT THE CLUB: The culinary skills of Chef Sean Immell will be on display at Wednesday's Business After Business at the Chillicothe Country Club from 5-7 p.m. HRTwentyFour is co-sponsoring the event. Sign up now: BAB registration
CHAMBER CO-SPONSORING VETERANS WORKSHOP: Small businesses owned by veterans and disabled veterans are eligible to attend a workshop to learn more about doing business with the federal government. The event is being conducted by the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation Procurement Outreach Center from South Point. Speakers will be from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the VA and other organizations. The workshop includes a procurement fair with representatives coming from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Department of Energy, Postal Service and several others. The workshop costs $20 and runs 8-4 in Shoemaker Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe. To learn more or to register to attend, call 740-377-4550 or email Kelly Lawhorn at klawhorn@zoominternet.net.
AGENCY SETTLING INTO NEW HOME: People Plus of Ohio, with AJ Henderson as the local manager, cut the ribbon on its office downtown in the Foulke Block this week.
COLLEGE TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL: College and other officials are expected to be on hand when the ribbon is cut on the new campus of Samuel Stephen College. The event is tentatively set for 2 p.m. next Friday, Jan. 19.
WORKFORCE ACADEMY A TIME SAVER: Helping you navigate a busy schedule and being as efficient as possible is the goal of the Jan. 23 workshop at the Ross County Service Center. It runs 8:30-noon and the cost is $10 per person. Workforce seminar registration
ENTREPRENEUR DEADLINE IN ONE MORE WEEK: January 19 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for the chamber to receive nominations for the Leo and Julia Blackburn Entrepreneur of the Year award that will be announced at the Annual Dinner on Feb. 15. Fill out the easy online form: Entrepreneur nomination form
JUDGE GIVES LEADERSHIP CLASS A LESSON: Common Pleas Judge Jhan Corzine gave participants in this year's Leadership Chillicothe Ross class a lesson in court procedures as part of the government-centered class on Wednesday. The class also toured the city Administration Building and Law Complex, including the jail.
TAX BILLS IN THE MAIL: Residential and business property owners will get the windowed envelope this week with the firs thalf tax bills from Ross County Treasurer Jerry Byers. He reports a majority will see a 2 percent increase from last year from the new levy for the Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center while the largest increase comes in Bainbridge where voters approved a 13 percent increase. The deadline to pay is Feb. 9.
IS NASCAR NEXT?: David Pinkerton, owner of Advanced Services, chills out by racing around area dirt tracks in his company-sponsored vehicle. Check it out at www.fireballpinkerton.com.
EFFICIENCY GOAL OF SEMINAR: "Lean Operations for the Office" is designed to make companies more efficient through changes in processes. The seminar, sponsored by the OSU South Centers Business Development Team, is Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the center's office in Piketon. The cost is $99. For more information or to register, contact Joy Bauman at 740-289-2071 Ext. 111 or email her at jbauman@ag.osu.edu.
NEWEST MEMBERS: Here's who's joined the chamber recently:
- Kiwanis Club of Chillicothe
- Bernard McNeely as a Friend of the Chamber.
VENDORS LICENSES: Here's who's received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:
- Jo-To Catering, 1 Coloment Drive.
- RC Pro Shop, 67 Star Drive, by Macy Bergoon.
Calendar of Chamber events
- Tuesday, January 16: Leadership Chillicothe Ross Steering Committee, 3:30 p.m., chamber.
- Wednesday, January 17: Business After Business, Chillicothe Country Club, co-sponsored by HRTwentyFour, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration
- Thursday, January 18: Executive Committee, 8 a.m., chamber.
- Friday, January 19: Samuel Stephen College ribbon cutting, 2 p.m., Ohio 104 north.
- Friday, January 19: Deadline to receive nominations for Entrepreneur of the Year, 5 p.m., Entrepreneur nomination form
- Tuesday, January 23: "Don't Let 2007 Manage You!" Workforce Development seminar featuring LaTanya Webb of OU-C and Brian Blasko, 8:30-Noon, Ross County Service Center, $10 per person; Workforce seminar registration
- Thursday, January 25: Board of Directors, noon, Adena Regional Medical Center.
- Thursday, February 15: Chamber Annual Dinner, Shoemaker Convocation Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe, social hour at 6, dinner at 7; online reservations to be available shortly.