Chamber calendar

Tuesday, October 9: Membership and Events Committee, Chamber, 11:30

Wednesday, October 10: Leadership Chillicothe Ross, 7:45 am, Ross County Heritage Center

Thursday, October 11: Safety Council Luncheon, Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 am

Thursday, October 11: Community Development and Advocacy, Chamber, 4 pm

Monday, October 15: Board Development Committee, Chamber, Noon

Wednesday, Oct. 17: Business After Business, Samuel Stephen College, Ohio 104 north, 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., click here to reserve space for your exhibit: Expo 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.

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Copyright 2007

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

Economic development CEO

meets with YSK officials in Japan

Christopher Manegold toured the facilities of the YSK Corporation during his visit to Japan recently as part of the delegation headed by Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher. During a dinner with YSK officials, Manegold, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio housed in the chamber offices, relayed the appreciation of the Chillicothe community for the company’s nearly 20 years in Ross County and for its recent expansion that will add even more employees.

He was one of 59 delegates from 40 organizations on the trip to explore new investment opportunities in Ohio by Japanese companies as well as avenues for export for Ohio companies. In addition to the lieutenant governor, the delegation included representatives from other economic development organizations, bankers, labor leaders, attorneys, utility companies, universities and railroads.

Manegold (left) is pictured with Fisher in Nagoya at the NGK Insulators plant. Behind them is a 50-megawatt “battery” using proprietary sodium sulfur technology. Manegold said he was told a city the size of Chillicothe “could run for hours and hours” from this battery in the event of a total electrical blackout.

In addition to Nagoya, the delegation visited Tokyo and Osaka, including the Midwest U.S. – Japan Association annual conference. Ohio’s delegation was the largest of the 10 states participating. Japan is Ohio’s largest single-country source of foreign direct investment, with more than 300 facilities employing 60,000 Ohioans.

CHAMBER ENDORSES LIBRARY, SENIORS ISSUES: The Board of Directors, meeting at YSK, voted unanimously Thursday to endorse passage of both the library bond issue and senior citizens levy that will be on the ballot for all Ross Countians in the Nov. 6 election. The votes came following recommendations from the chamber's Comunity Development and Advocacy Committee which heard from both parties earlier in the month and following presentations at the chamber's Candidates and Issues Night on Sept. 13. The Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library is seeking a 0.49-mill, 28-year bond issue that will help pay for an expansion at the main library on Paint Street, expand programming and renovate branch libraries in Bainbridge and Frankfort. The Ross County Committee for the Elderly has a 0.5-mill, five-year levy on the ballot to prevent further cuts in services to senior citizens. The group has been hit with rising costs to serve the 700 meals each day, offset the increase in the minimum wage and a 23 percent increase in health insurance costs the last two years. This is in addition to income cuts in several programs.

BIG CHANGES IN FUTURE FOR OU-C?: “The regional campuses of Ohio’s universities are incredibly underutilized,” said Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents and the one in charge of developing a new University System of Ohio. “They (regional campuses) have incredible facilities, and there’s no reason they can’t be used in partnerships with other institutions,” Fingerhut said in a story in the Columbus Dispatch. The goal of the initiative coming from Gov. Ted Strickland is to provide a high-quality, affordable college education to every interested Ohioan and to boost enrollment by 230,000 students in the next 10 years, according to the Dispatch. Fingerhut made his remarks Wednesday at Ohio University in Athens.

YPN REPRESENTED AT NATIONAL SUMMIT: Chillicothe YPN Steering Committee members Chad Walters and Cari Steinbrook represented Chillicothe at the 2007 YPO Summit in Louisville earlier this month. They had the opportunity to meet and brainstorm with representatives from other young professional organizations from all over offering ideas and support for groups in all stages of development. Established YPs described ways they impact communities and regions with their organizations. Be ready for some new events and opportunities from YPN in the upcoming months! The next YPN meeting will be Thursday, November 8 from 5:30-7 p.m. featuring an auction to benefit the Chillicothe Jaycees’ Special Santa project and a presentation by Dr. Mike Chester.

SOUTHERN EXPANSION: Glen Acord has opened his second location in southern Ross County with Acord’s Pizza Sub & Pub at 2254 Blain Highway. He said the new site will feature in-house dining, carryout and delivery. Two large-screen TVs, two pool tables and two pinball machines will provide entertainment. Check it out at 663-5444.

BEWARE MAP SOLICITATION: If you receive a phone call from someone soliciting advertising for a “chamber map,” it’s not the real deal. Sales for the chamber-authorized map ended months ago and the maps are now being distributed. If your business could use a few maps to hand out to visitors, give us a call at 702-2722.

RE-REGULATION NOT THE GOAL OF NEW ENERGY POLICY: Alan Schriber, chief of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, told an audience Tuesday of business, government and other officials that Gov. Ted Strickland “has no intention of re-regulating” the electric industry in Ohio with his new energy policy now headed to the General Assembly to become legislation. Schriber spoke at a briefing at the National Guard Armory on Narrows Road. When de-regulation became law in 1999, Schriber said the assumption was that there would be an open market for electricity. That hasn’t happened. He said he doesn’t want to see huge increases in electric bills for Ohio residents and businesses, which has been the case in other states which de-regulated the industry. “We want rates that are fair and just. … We aren’t telling you, though, that rates won’t go up. Our job is to mitigate the increases.”

GRAND CELEBRATION FOR ANNIVERSARY: Litter Industries took over the Ross County Fairgrounds Sunday with a family-oriented celebration for its 75^th anniversary. Local organizations manned the various activities available to the kids, benefiting from the proceeds. The Old Canal Smokehouse provided the food from its new kitchen-on-wheels and several area bands provided the entertainment along with the Four Lads.

CANDIDATES SOUGHT FOR CHAMBER BOARD: Earlier this week, an email and fax went out to members soliciting candidates to serve on the chamber’s Board of Directors. If you missed, it, here’s the link with the information: Nomination form. The deadline for submissions is noon, Oct. 15.

CHILI CHAMP TO BE CROWNED SATURDAY: The competition will be stiff for those to earn the title of Chillicothe’s best chili when the Chillicothe Social Society holds its fourth annual Chili-Fest on Second Street Saturday. Teams start cooking at 9 and the public is invited to begin sampling at noon. Live music and a big-screen TV for the OSU-Minnesota game are part of the festivities that have a $5 entrance fee.

HR SEMINAR SET FOR PIKETON: Representatives from several federal agencies, including the Department of Labor, will be on hand Friday, Oct. 19 for an all-day seminar on wage and hour, safety and other regulations. It runs 9-3 at the Ohio State University Endeavor Center and costs $25. For more information or to register to attend, contact Joy Bauman at 740-289-2071 Ext. 111 or jbauman@ag.osu.edu.

RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE SET FOR NOVEMBER: The OSU South Centers, Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission and Ohio Cooperative Development Center are teaming to provide a conference on options concerning grain-based ethanol and biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol and woody biomass. The session will be at the Comfort Inn in Piketon on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The cost is $20 which includes lunch. Contact John Hemmings to register or to learn more: 800-223-7491 or jhemmings@ovrdc.org.

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

• Barbara Pocock as a friend of the chamber.
• Tradesmen International, Cincinnati, by Jeff Keller, providing construction, industrial and manufacturing labor support, www.tradesmeninternational.com.

BUILDING PERMITS: Here’s who’s received permits recently from the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:

• The Foulke Block, 22 S. Paint St., alterations, value $10,000.
• Damon’s of Chillicothe (for the new Roosters), several permits for alterations and fire protection, total value $108,060.
• Amvets Post 4, 317 E. Main St., partition wall, $200.
• Paul Hager, 38 E. Water St., roof replacement, $6,500.
• 53 W. Main St., shelterhouse, $3,000.
• GMRI, 1417 N. Bridge St., hood suppression, $2,000.
• Paint Valley Mental Health Center, 394 Chestnut St., fire suppression, $6,111.
• Kenworth Truck Company, 65 Kenworth Drive, signage, $15,000.
• Dee's Family Raceway, 906 Charleston Pike, electrical, $6,500.
• Lighthouse Youth Center, 1071 Tong Hollow Road, shelterhouse, $12,000.
• Community United Methodist Church, 8585 Ohio 180, fire alarm system, $9,554.

DOING OUR PART DOWNTOWN: Former chamber board chairman Bill Beatty has taken it upon himself to make the sidewalk area in front of the chamber an example for others downtown to follow. He removed, renovated and replaced the bench, power-washed and applied a sealer to the brick pavers and trimmed around the trees. Property owners downtown are reminded that they are responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks in front of their properties. For tips on how to maintain your sidewalks, give the chamber a call at 702-2722.