Chamber calendar
Wednesday, December 19: Executive Committee, 8 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.
Wednesday, January 9: 2008 Economic Forecast Luncheon, featurig industry CEOs and economic development officials; 11:30 a.m., Chillicothe Country Club, $15 members, $25 non-members; Luncheon registration.
Thursday, January 10: Ross County Safety Council, Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 a.m., Luncheon registration.
Chamber-related links
Economic Development
www.edaso.org
Downtown Chillicothe
www.downtownchillicothe.com
Chillicothe YPN
www.chillicotheypn.com
Visitors Bureau
www.visitchillicotheohio.com
Chamber event photos
www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com
Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business
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Copyright 2007
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722
New and proposed laws, regulations
could hit business where it hurts
By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
Recent activity on a statewide level could serve to dampen the bottom lines of businesses all across Ohio, including here in Ross County and surrounding counties. The defeat of one potential regulation provides at least one glimmer of hope.
The ball got rolling in November 2006 when voters across the state approved not only a rather large increase in the state minimum wage, but also yearly increases based on the rate of inflation. That alone should have acted as a wake-up call to all legislators who refused to consider an adjustment after too many years of keeping the minimum too low.
A similar issue is surfacing now. Petitioners apparently have gathered enough signatures to ask the General Assembly to enact legislation mandating employers provide no fewer than seven sick days per year to all full-time employees. If legislators fail to act, the petitioners need only to get a few more signatures and the issue will go on the statewide ballot in November 2008 when we vote for a new president. To learn more about the potential effects of this proposal: www.OhioBusinessVotes.org.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation apparently was successful in reducing the discount for businesses enrolled in a group rating program, such as the one with the chamber’s partner, Compensation Consultants Inc. The discount goes to 85 percent of the premium from 90 percent. The impact could be huge for some companies, maybe even doubling their premiums.
Good news, though, came when a regulatory board shot down the proposal of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission forcing nearly all Ohio employers to grant a minimum of up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave for female employees. Gov. Ted Strickland asked the commission to hold off on a decision for a month so it could be better evaluated, but it forged right ahead, costing the chairman her position. The provision went far beyond what already is mandated by the federal Family Medical Leave Act.
Doing business in Ohio can be a tough proposition and laws and regulations certainly are necessary to protect employees from a safety standpoint and to keep companies from polluting our air and water, but when there are absolutely unnecessary intrusions into the operations of business by government, then businesses –and their jobs -- look to go where the regulatory environment is more friendly.
Ohio Chamber chief to speak at Annual Dinner
Andrew Doehrel, the president and chief executive officer for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, will be the featured speaker for our chamber’s Annual Dinner on Feb. 7. Doehrel has been with the Ohio chamber for nearly 25 years, including the last 14 as its chief.
The dinner, on a Thursday evening, is set again for the Shoemaker Convocation Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe. The evening will conclude with the naming of the chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Nominations for the honor are still being taken. More information and reservation forms will be available in early January.
New benefit added for all chamber members
Arriving in your mailbox early next year will be the first edition in your free one-year subscription to Inc. magazine. The chamber has entered into an agreement with the publisher to provide the subscription at no cost to you.
Called the “small business bible” by the New York Times, Inc.has timely articles on financing, the law, marketing, taxes and management. If you already subscribe, you’ll be credited with an additional year. Inc. assures us it will not sell our member list to a third party and that it will not contact members based on your affiliation with the chamber.
BAB host to help promote that holiday spirit of giving
Rent-2-Own is putting everything in place to make the next Business After Business a truly joyous affair. With Accurate Mechanical as a co-sponsor, the two will hand out an iPod Nano, a bookshelf stereo with iPod inputs, a digital camera and a GPS device to the holders of the lucky door prize tickets on Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 5-7 p.m. The Old Canal Smokehouse is providing the food and Classic Brands the beverages. The prizes will be awarded throughout the night. Make sure to sign up to attend: BAB registration
For your safety, don’t sweat the small stuff
Dr. Stephen Douglas delighted the crowd of more than 130 Thursday at the holiday gathering of the Ross County Safety Council at the Chillicothe Country Club. The main speaker had the group in stitches in driving home his point about getting too caught up in the small irritations in life. Before his presentation, Tim McDermott of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation explained the change the bureau is making in the structure of the group rating program and the decrease in the premium discount.
Economic forecast luncheon approaching
What’s the plan for 2008 for the area’s largest employers? What other economic trends might we see? Answers are expected to be provided at the chamber’s second Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Scott Blue from the Kenworth Truck Company, John Blind from Glatfelter and Mark Shuter from the Adena Health System will provide details on their operations while Chris Manegold of the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio and Marvin Jones from the chamber cover other aspects of the economy. Check here to sign up and for more details: Forecast Luncheon
Oak Hill replenishes Crime Stoppers’ fund
The Oak Hill Financial Charitable Foundation recently awarded a grant to the Southern Ohio Crime Stoppers. These funds will support operations and replenish the tip fund for those tipsters who are eligible for a reward. Through this organization, citizens of southern Ohio can provide information to law enforcement while remaining anonymous. As a vital three-way link between law enforcement, the media, and the general public, Crime Stoppers provides opportunities to solve homicides, rapes, burglaries and other serious crimes.
Commercial building permits issued by the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:
- Adena Regional Medical Center, 446 Hospital Road, temporary electrical service, value $34,000.
- St. Margaret’s Cemetery, 510 Worthington Ave., new pole barn, $10,000.
- Crop Productions, 103 E. Fifth St., Bainbridge, new fertilizer storage building, $160,000.
- Kingston IGA, 9277 Ohio 159, hood suppression system, $3,000.
- Kenworth Truck Company, 65 Kenworth Drive, two permits for alterations for a new dock door and a conveyor foundation, total value $97,000.
- North Fork Animal Clinic, 2260 Anderson Station Road, new building for dog daycare, $60,000.
- WRH Corporation, 206 Kenworth Drive, electrical service, $5,000.
Vendor licenses
Here’s who received a license recently from the Ross County Auditor:
- All State Fire and Security, 49 N. Plaza Blvd.
- McMahan Archery Products, 315 W. Hydell Road
- Redbox Automated Retail, 850 N. Bridge St.
New weekly feature
Weekend events, as provided by the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau. For the complete calendar: www.visitchillicotheohio.com
- Saturday: “See the Stars 5th Street Tour- 2007” 2-5 p.m. This tour benefits the Chillicothe Restoration Foundation which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This tour will begin at the Lucy Hayes House and continue on to several historical homes and bed & breakfasts on 5th street. Take a carriage ride, or enjoy refreshments, all included in the ticket price of $10 for adults and $5 for students or $20 per family. Tickets may be purchased at the Pump House Center for the Arts; the Majestic Theatre or the Ross Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information please call Kevin at 740-775-4036. Major sponsorship by Adena Health System; co-sponsored by the Chillicothe Restoration Foundation.
- Saturday: The Nutcracker at the Majestic Theatre, 7 p.m. on East Second Street. Tickets are $8 adults and $5 for children. The Columbus Youth Ballet will perform this Christmas classic that tells the story of the little girl Clara and her Christmas Eve dreams about her beloved Wooden Toy Soldier and his war with the “Mouse King”. For more information call 740-772-2041 and visit www.majesticchillicothe.org.
Leadership class gets tied up in knots
Facilitator Steve Hummel used one of his patented rope exercises with blindfolds to drive home the point of cooperation, clear instructions and similar traits with the Leadership Chillicothe Ross class this week. The group met at the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center and in the afternoon toured the Adena Regional Medical Center, hearing about the center's revolutionary EMT training program, the new medical education center and the heart catherization program. It’s not too early to think about signing up for the next class that begins in September 2008: Leadership application.