Chamber calendar

Thursday and Friday, November 22-23: Office closed for Thanksgiving holiday.

Monday, December 3: Chamber on the Sounding Board show, WBEX, 1490 AM, 8:35 a.m.

Thursday, December 6: YPN Holiday Social at the new Rooster's on North Plaza Boulevard; 5-7 p.m.; responsible for your own food and beverage charges.

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

Wednesday, December 12: Leadership Chillicothe Ross session, starts 7:45 a.m. at Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center.

Thursday, December 13: Ross County Safety Council, special holiday program, Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 a.m., Luncheon registration.

Thursday, December 13: Community Development and Advocacy Committee, 4 p.m., chamber.

Monday, December 17: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., chamber.

Wednesday, December 19: Business After Business at Rent-2-Own, North Bridge Street, BAB registration.

Thursday, December 20: Board of Directors, Kenworth Truck Company, noon.

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
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722

New, revamped websites

provide vital information on area

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

Three new websites launched in the past few weeks provide information to potential businesses and visitors to Chillicothe and Ross County. Another website continues to add to its content and is a major destination for both local folks and those planning to visit here.

There’s no doubt that having robust websites for various functions gives the community an ability to communicate well with those interested in what we have to offer from many different vantage points, be it tourism, economic development or segments of the community. You might want to bookmark each one, if you haven’t already, as they are resources you won’t find anywhere else. Here’s a look at the sites and what they have to offer:

www.edaso.org: From providing information on available sites for new or expanding businesses to demographics of the area, the website of the Economic
Development Alliance of Southern Ohio is a place where those interested in setting up shop in the area can come to explore what we have to offer. Maintained by the chamber in cooperation with Chris Manegold of the Alliance, the site will be adding more and more features in the coming months so that it will become a primary tool to attract new business and industry. It also is a great resource for existing business and industry needing information to complete grant and loan applications. This site and the one for YPN noted below were designed by chamber member Opulent Source.

www.visitchillicotheohio.com: Launched a few months back, this site of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau continues to grow every week. It has the most complete calendar of community events and should be consulted by anyone planning a function in the future to better ensure there aren’t major conflicts. Its information on tourist attractions and other places of interests also is the most comprehensive. Folks looking to find a place to stay, eat or play won’t find a better site. Chamber member Westside Media designed the site.

www.rosscountycfa.com: The Ross County Convention Facilities Authority was formed by the county commissioners for two main purposes: pay for the artificial turf at the VA Memorial Stadium and bring more groups to the community for overnight stays. This website is designed to help with the latter. Lissa Cleary, the only employee of the CFA and the former executive of the visitors bureau, launched the site and is pursuing the groups. Her targets include youth soccer, baseball and softball regional or state tournaments, skateboarding exhibitions and even the famous PBS Antiques Roadshow.

www.chillicotheypn.com: The Young Professionals Network chapter under the wing of the chamber is using the website to stay in touch with its local followers and attract new ones. In addition to listing upcoming events of the group, the site also serves to provide information of value to those in the 21-45 age group, spotlights on local YPs and other items.

Business Expo/BAB sets new standard

With nearly 60 exhibitors and 250 in attendance, last week’s chamber Business Expo and Business After Business set new marks and laid the groundwork for even more growth in coming years.

The spaciousness of Shoemaker Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe allowed both exhibitors and attendees more elbow room while the piping and draping added to the professionalism of the event. The number of exhibitors was double those in 2006.

That also meant more than double the door prizes that were handed out, adding to the attraction of the event for the public in addition to chamber members. For those who are into planning well in advance, next year’s Expo/BAB will be on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Check out all 52 photos from the Expo/BAB: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com.

Chamber board adding two new members

Vincent Perhach and Mike Throne join the chamber’s Board of Directors in January. Perhach is the founder/owner of the Opulent Source technology firm on East Main Street and Throne is the general manager of the Chillicothe Gazette. They will serve three-year terms and replace Ken Shelton of Preferred Staffing of Ohio and Steve Hummel of Transitions Unlimited, both of whom complete their second terms.

At last week’s meeting the board re-elected the officers for another year: Ed Behanna, retired from PPG as chair; Liz Corzine, Litter Quality Propane, as vice chair; Garry Mick, Kenworth Truck Company, as treasurer; and, as board officers, Lana Corcoran of ArtTech, Jim Butt of B&B Roofing and Henry Thrapp of G&J Pepsi. All of the officers and immediate past chair Bill Beatty comprise the Executive Committee.

YSK ADDING EMPLOYEES: The recent expansion at the YSK Corporation means the need for more employees next year for the auto parts manufacturer. A special Job Fair for YSK is planned for Thursday, Dec. 6 from 1-6 p.m. at the Jobs One-Stop at 150 E. Second St.

BWC LOWERS DISCOUNT CUT: A key committee of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is now recommending only a three percentage point reduction in the group rating discount program, rather than 10 percentage points. While that still will mean an increase in the rates charged to members of the third-party programs (such as the chamber’s Compensation Consultants Inc.), the increase will be much lower than what had been projected. Some businesses would have paid twice the amount next year in premiums. Group-rated businesses now will receive discounts of up to 87 percent in their premiums, down from the present 90 percent. The full BWC board is expected to approve the change at its meeting Wednesday.

RULES MAY CHANGE ON PREGNANCY LEAVE: The Ohio Civil Rights Commission proposes that all Ohio businesses with four or more employees provide 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave for pregnant employees and that the employees become eligible the day they are hired. The provision goes beyond existing state and federal regulations. Click here to access the Ohio chamber’s link to voice your opinion on the proposal, set to go before a full commission on Dec. 3: Pregnancy leave rule.

COMPLETE YOUR BUSINESS CENSUS FORM: If you haven’t already, you soon should receive your 2007 economic census form from the U.S. Census Bureau. About 880 businesses in Ross County will receive the forms for the census taken every five years. The data collected are used to help determine the gross domestic product national as well as provide reliable figures for businesses considering moving into new regions or markets. Here’s a look at Ross County’s numbers from the 2002 economic census: Business facts.

FEW TICKETS LEFT FOR HOLIDAY CONCERT: A sellout is expected for the John Berry Christmas Concert at the Majestic Theatre on Dec. 13, sponsored by WKKJ. Get yours by going to www.wkkj.com.

CHILLICOTHE SKIERS GET A BREAK: Mad River Mountain again is offering a discount to local skiers. For those interested, go to www.skimadriver.com and click on the link for MTM-Log in the bottom right of the homepage. The user name is Chillskier and the password is Chillskier.

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

• McCarty Associates, Hillsboro, by Ryan Jeter, an architectural, engineering and surveying firm.
• Susie’s Gifts for All Seasons, 14 S. Paint St., by Sue Jones, 772-2499 (see ribbon cutting below).
• Best Glass and Mirror, 15179 Pleasant Valley Road, by Don Fultz, glass and glazing contractors, 773-0172.
• Sandy’s Travel, 3333 Sugar Run Road, by Sandy Sexton, 887-2525.
• TCB Commercial Cleaning, 56 Star Drive, by Cindy Adkins, 253-3200.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken, Western Avenue and Plyley’s Lane, 773-6500.

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

• My Packrat’s Odysseys, 88 W. Water St., by Sharon Hille.
• Pence’s Traditional Construction & Remodeling, 670 Eastern Ave.

OUR CEREMONIAL SCISSORS GOT A WORKOUT LAST WEEK: Two new chamber members and another one celebrating major renovations and his ownership kept the crew busy snipping ribbons last week.

• Hocking Hills Hardwoods provides flooring, molding and other products from its facility on U.S. 56 just before you get into Laurelville. Bryan Davis renovated the outside of the main retail office and now employs nine people.
• Susie’s Gifts for All Seasons is the perfect place for those looking for special decorations for their homes for the holidays, including a great assortment from the Department 56 line. It is in the Foulke Block at 14 S. Paint St. Sue Jones is being helped by her husband Lew who just retired from decades as the Elder Beerman manager.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken stopped selling chicken on Mother’s Day from its old store on Western Avenue and just 72 days later began re-selling chicken from its brand new store.

There are now 45 photos from ribbon cuttings dating back to 2002 on the chamber’s photo website: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com.