Chamber calendar

Monday, May 28: Office closed for Memorial Day.

Tuesday, June 5: HyettPalma unveils five-year downtown economic enhancement strategic plan, 7-8:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, Main and Mulberry streets, www.downtownchillicothe.com

Tuesday, June 12: Membership and Events Committee, chamber, 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, June 20: Business After Business at Chillicothe Fire & Security, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration.

Thursday, June 21: Chamber Annual Golf Outing, Dogwoods Hills Golf Course off Debord Road, 9 a.m. shotgun start, scramble format; Golf outing registration.

What's happening this weekend? Check out the community events calendar.

Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business

Check out photos from chamber events at any time by going to www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com.

For previous newsletter editions, click here

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Copyright 2007

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Downtown, growth

top issues on chamber agenda

True to our mission statement, the chamber in the coming months and years will advocate for issues members identified as being important to them and the community as a whole.

Since January, the Community Development and Advocacy Committee of the chamber worked to identify the top priority issues. The Board of Directors approved the following position statements at its meeting Thursday:

Downtown revitalization: Work with local governments and organizations to implement all recommended courses of action from the 2007 HyettPalma Economic Enhancement Strategy for Downtown Chillicothe and communicate progress to members and the community on a regular basis.

Economic growth: Collaborate with the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio to create an even better environment where job growth is achieved through the expansion of existing industries and businesses and the attraction of new ones.

Land-use planning: Encourage city government to update the zoning code and commend to county government the benefits of hiring or contracting for the services of a professional planner.

Healthcare costs: Emphasize to local, state and federal government representatives the need to provide the best possible healthcare for private sector employees at reasonable and predictable rates.

Try first to buy locally: Promote efforts by private and government sectors to make local purchases when possible to provide support to local employers and employees.

In coming months, the committee will work on ways to push the chamber’s agenda. The staff will look for opportunities to push the issues on a day-to-day basis. The issues themselves will be reviewed on a periodic basis and changes made as the staff, committee and board deem appropriate.

MARKET HAS NEW WEBSITE: The Chillicothe Farmers Market is increasing its visibility to the world with a newly designed website: www.chillicothefarmersmarket.org. The site was developed by Melissa Victor. Don’t forget that the market in the Ross County Service Center parking lot is now open and runs every Saturday from 8 to noon.

TRUCK DOWNTURN CONTINUES: According to “Today’s Trucking Online,” orders for Class 8 trucks (the ones built at our Kenworth Truck Company plant) were down 35 percent overall compared to 2006. The good news is that Paccar, Kenworth’s parent company, had the smallest decline at 33 percent compared to 82 percent for Volvo and 43 percent for Freightliner. The bad news is that the article cites a trucking industry analyst for Bears Stearns who said, “the current 2007 downturn is deeper and will last longer than most industry insiders originally expected.”

TWO MEMBERS REPORT NICE ORDERS: Aadvantage Tent Fittings and Advantage Data Systems this week are reporting some major boosts to their businesses. Entrepreneur of the Year Mike Hall said his firm on Pleasant Valley Road was awarded a contract from the Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia to provide 36-inch wooden stakes for military tents used all over the world, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. The contract could run for as long as five years. ADS is working with the Mark H. Zangmeister Center in Columbus to create a paperless record-keeping system for its new full-service cancer treatment facility opening next week. The medical charts and records of the more than 16,000 annual patients will be digitized and filed electronically in secure document management software provided by ADS.

CITY’S STUDENTS GET NEW LANGUAGE CHOICE: Chillicothe middle and high school students will get an opportunity to learn the language of one of the fastest growing economies in the world – Mandarin Chinese. The district applied for the program funded by The College Board and will host a Chinese guest teacher next school year. It means students will be eligible to take four years of Chinese and take the Advanced Placement Test recognized by colleges. The new offering is in addition to the Latin, Spanish and French now taught in the district.

BRIDGE-WATER CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING: The addition of turn lanes on Bridge Street at the Water street intersection begins next week. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions on Bridge between Second and Water streets. The work includes left-turn lanes, curbs, sidewalks and new signals. Work is scheduled to be done by Sept. 30. Access to all businesses in the area will be maintained.

BONDING WORKSHOP NEXT WEDNESDAY: A two-hour seminar for small businesses interested in becoming bonded is set for Wednesday at Shoemaker Convocation Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe. The event, costing $10, is by the Lawrence Economic Development Procurement Outreach Center and is especially designed for small construction or contracting firms. More information is available at 800-408-1334 or by emailing lsamek@zoominternet.net.

CHAMBER CO-SPONSORING SBA LOAN LUNCHEON: Grab your lunch and head to the Ross County Service Center Thursday from noon to 1 to learn how to obtain an SBA-backed small business loan. An SBA representative will be on hand to discuss apply for loans ranging from $5,000 to $2 million. Registration is free, but you must reserve your spot by calling Robin at the SBA at 614-469-6860 Ext. 282 or by doing it online at www.sba.gov/oh/columbus. The OSU South Centers SBDC and Columbus district office of the SBA are co-sponsors.

ACADEMY ADDRESSES ‘THE GAP’: Getting twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings and over 40-somethings working well together and pulling in the same direction can be a real challenge for companies of all sizes. The Workforce Academy on June 28, sponsored by People Plus of Ohio, is designed to help employers and employees find bridges between the generations and utilize the strengths of each one. The event runs 8:30-noon at the Ross County Service Center and is $10. Call 702-2722 to register or click here: Workforce Academy.

BUILDING PERMITS: Here’s who’s been issued a commercial building permit recently from the Chillicothe Building Department:

• Chillicothe Baptist Church, 14100 Ohio 104, electrical and fire protection, value $4,400.
• Shawnee Lanes, 1700 N. Bridge St., electrical, $1,000.
• Gary Lynn Free, 233 Renick Ave., commercial structure, $185,000.
• Barber Spring, 387 Wetzel Drive, electrical service upgrade, $50,000.
• Children’s Network Properties, 43 S. Paint St., signs, $900.
• William Hirsch, 68 S. Paint St., electrical, $300.
• Horizon Chillicothe Telephone, two permits for electrical service, 48 Fruit Hill Drive and 659 E. Fourth St., $50,000.

VENDORS LICENSES: Here’s who’s received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:

• The Shepherd’s Bench, 155 Rogers Parkway, by Barbara Ault.
• Health Food Cupboards, 30 Consumer Center Drive, by Mary Cline Enterprises.
• Frankfort Auto Sales, 6687 County Road 550, by Douglas Shaffer.