Chamber calendar

Wednesday, Sept. 19: Business After Business, Advantage Data Systems, 33 N. Plaza Boulevard, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration

Wednesday, November 14: Annual combined Business Expo and Business After Business, Shoemaker Convocation Center, Ohio University-Chillicothe, 5-8 p.m., registrations to be taken shortly.

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

You are receiving this newsletter as a benefit of your membership in the chamber. If you wish not to receive it, please reply to mjones@chillicotheohio.com and write "Unsubscribe" in the subject.

Copyright 2007

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722

Mayoral candidates express

different approaches for downtown

Mayor Joe Sulzer said his administration has sub-committees working on various segments of the HyettPalma downtown strategic plan while challenger Diane Carnes, presently an at-large City Council member, said the chamber should be the primary driver for the initiative.

The two voiced their opinions on the downtown plan at the chamber’s Candidates and Issues Night Thursday at the Ross County Service Center. The chamber’s Community Development and Advocacy Committee sponsored the event.

A large crowd was on hand to hear the debate by the mayoral candidates and to hear presentations by candidates for City Council, Chillicothe school board, Municipal Court judge, law director and the two county-wide ballot issues. The Ross County Senior Citizens Center and Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library both have tax issues on the ballot on Nov. 6.

All candidates for council and law director were asked, in advance, to include their thoughts on the HyettPalma plan in their remarks. All but one expressed some level of support for the recommendations and strategies in the plan, except council at-large incumbent Cindy Henderson. She said she did not support the plan, but did support the work of the local organizations, including the chamber, that are using the plan to enact changes in the historic downtown business district.

In addition to the downtown plan, the mayoral candidates were asked about dealing with stagnant tax revenues, how they were addressing the top issues in the city and how the city can aid in recruiting new smaller businesses and helping grow the ones here now.

LOCAL PPG OPERATIONS TO CHANGE HANDS: The more than 250 employees at the Southern Avenue distribution center of PPG soon will have new owners. Platinum Equity of Beverly Hills, CA is buying the automotive glass business from PPG for $500 million. The local employees are among the 4,400 in the U.S. and Canada affected by the sale. PPG management said the original unit of the company was sold to allow it to concentrate on more lucrative parts of its business, such as coatings, aerospace, optical products and expansion in Asia. PPG’s plant in Circleville is not part of the sale. Platinum Equity is listed No. 22 on the 2006 Forbes magazine list of the Largest Private Companies.

SUBPRIME MORTGAGE MESS HITS HERE EARLY: Based solely on figures from the website of the Ross County Clerk of Courts, it appears the fallout from the so-called subprime mortgages hit Ross County a year earlier than in other parts of the nation. The sadder news is that it appears to be continuing here. According to the filings through September 1, there has been a 3 percent decrease in the number of foreclosure actions from the previous year. Compared to 2005, though, the number of foreclosures are up 41 percent. The actual numbers: 247 so far this year, 254 at this time in 2006 and 175 in 2005.

NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS: Ann-Marie’s Children’s House of Clothing on North Paint Street plans to get back to its roots, said owner Heidi Parks. Signs went up in the windows announcing a store closing, but she said she is selling the entire present inventory so she can pull back to the original location to offer specialty, niche children’s clothing, such as pageant outfits, and begin marketing an embroidery service.

HIGH-TECH PRIZES FOR THE BAB: Advantage Data Systems will be giving away two Dell laser printers, two Canon digital cameras, a gift certificate for a chiropractic visit, two flash drives, a wireless mouse, antivirus software and merchandise from the caterer, Rooster’s Road Show, at Wednesday’s Business After Business. The event is in the new home of ADS at 33 N. Plaza Boulevard, across the street from the Christopher Conference Center. It runs from 5-7 p.m. and we’d appreciate if you’d let us know if you plan to attend by signing up here: BAB registration. ADS celebrated the opening of its offices with a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this week. Founder and owner Roger Veach is wielding the scissors.

USEC CENTRIFUGE PROJECT HITS MILESTONE: The American Centrifuge plant in Piketon started operations of the centrifuge machines in a cascade configuration which is an important step in the company’s ongoing integrated testing program. “Moving to the next phase of our integrated test program is a crucial step in the process toward deploying the American Centrifuge Plant,” said USEC President and CEO John Welch.

PACCAR SPLITS ITS STOCK: Owners of Paccar, the parent company of the Kenworth Truck Company, will get one more share of stock on Oct. 9 for every two you own on Sept. 25. And, on Dec. 5, you’ll get an 18-cent dividend on all shares. The Paccar board announced the 3-for-2 stock split this week.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM UNDER WAY: The 17 participants in the Leadership Chillicothe Ross program of the chamber completed their two-day orientation session at InfoSight on Thursday. The group took part in icebreaker exercises and learned the results of their MBTI survey in addition to hearing from InfoSight owner and founder, John Robertson. The group now will meet on the second Wednesday of each month (except November) through next May.

CLARIFICATION ON MUSEUM NUMBERS: Tom Kuhn of the Ross County Historical Society reports that the number of visitors to the museum this summer held steady, but that some extraordinary events are the reason for the overall decline reported in last week’s newsletter. He said in 2006 the grand opening of the new heritage center meant 500-600 more people and that the Franklin House has been closed for major renovations in addition to the Knoles Log House.

SPONSORS SOUGHT FOR WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: A special conference for women veterans is set for Saturday, Oct. 20 at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County. The purpose is to provide women veterans with information and resources and to honor and recognize their service to their country. To help sponsor the Ohio Women’s Veterans Conference 2007, contact Stacia Ruby at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center at 772-7080.

SAFETY YEAR OFF AND RUNNING: Chillicothe Fire and Security provided the annual certified training on fire extinguishers at the picnic lunch of the Ross County Safety Council Thursday at the Milestone Lodge. It was the first session of the new program year for the council where members can become eligible for the premium discount program of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

HUNTINGTON SUPPORTING MEDICAL EDUCATION CENTER: Citing the “enormous potential to improve the job market, professional education and healthcare in the area,” Delbert Bochard, community president of the Huntington Bank, said the bank’s $50,000 gift to the Paccar Medical Education Center is a way of showing support to the Adena Health System. Ground is expected to be broken shortly on the center and classes are slated to begin in the fall of 2008.

DON’T FORGET THE EXTRA TAX EXEMPTION: If you’re at least age 65, or your parents or neighbors meet that requirement, don’t forget that Oct. 1 is the deadline to apply for Ohio’s new homestead exemption on property taxes. Those eligible and who apply don’t pay property taxes on the first $25,000 of the appraised value. The exemption was designed to encourage more senior citizens to consider voting yes on school and other property tax issues. Call 702-3080 or visit www.rosstreasurer.com for more information.

NEWEST MEMBERS: Here’s who’s joined the chamber recently:

• Countryside Rentals (Rent-2-Own), 1653 N. Bridge St., by Jeff Borders, 779-3522, www.r2o.com.
• R.D. Zandi & Associates, Columbus, by Robert Tatman, engineering/survey firm, 614-486-4383, www.zande.com.
• Chillicothe Town Money Saver, 1994 Massieville Road, Suite 201, by Max and Michelle Erwin, advertising mailer, 258-3828, www.townmoneysaver.com.

VENDORS LICENSE: Here’s who received a license recently from the Ross County Auditor:

• Wanda’s Treasures, 34 W. Second St., by William Mitchell.