Chamber calendar
Monday, January 28: Downtown Chillicothe Partnership, 8 a.m., chamber.
Thursday, January 31: Board of Directors, noon, sponsored by and held at Huntington Bank.
Monday, February 4: Chamber on the Sounding Board, WBEX 1490 AM, 8:35 a.m.
Thursday, February 7: Annual Dinner featuring Andrew Doehrel, president/CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce; 6 p.m., Chillicothe Country Club; Annual Dinner reservations
Tuesday, February 12: Membership and Events Committee, 11:30 a.m., chamber.
Wednesday, February 13: Leadership Chillicothe Ross session, 7:45 a.m., start at First Presbyterian Church, Belleview Avenue..
Thursday, February 14: Ross County Safety Council, Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 a.m., Luncheon registration.
Wednesday, February 20: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., chamber.
Wednesday, February 20: Business After Business, Curves on Western Avenue, 5-7 p.m.; BAB registration
Monday, February 25: Downtown Chillicothe Partnership, 8 a.m., chamber.
Wednesday, February 27: YPN luncheon featuring Phil Satterfield of the Ross-Pike Educational Service Center on future trends, noon, Chillicothe Country Club, www.chillicotheypn.com.
Thursday, February 28: YPN social at Schlegel's Coffee House, North Paint Street, 5-7 p.m. www.chillicotheypn.com
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
For previous newsletter editions, click here
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Copyright 2008
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722
Construction activity could be
harbinger of things to come
By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
A 35 percent decline in the value of commercial construction projects in Ross County in 2007 might portend more tough times ahead. Or, it could mean only that 2007 was a tough year and in 2008 we’ll see a rebound.
The raw figures from the Building Departments of the city and county:
- Chillicothe: 202 commercial permits in 2007 with a value of $10.6 million against 194 permits with a value of $14.6 million in 2006, a 27 percent decline.
- Ross County (which does not include the city): 170 permits for a value of $24.5 million in 2007 against 117 permits with a value of $39.2 million in 2006, a 37 percent decline.
The average value of the permits combined slipped 45 percent to $94,478 last year compared to $172,974 in 2006. Of course, one very large project, like a new high school or medical education center, can skew the averages and the overall totals in any given year.
The city is off to a good start with the application Wednesday for a permit to build the new Walgreens pharmacy at Western Avenue and Plylely’s Lane, valued at $2 million. The Shell Oil and Skate-A-Way structures will come down to make room for the second Walgreens in Chillicothe. Click here to see the original site plan filed by the developers: Walgreens plan.
It's official: Annual Dinner is now a sellout
Ohio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Andrew Doehrel will face a packed house of more than 200 when he keynotes the Annual Dinner of our chamber on Thursday, Feb. 7. The switch of sites to the Chillicothe Country Club restricted seating. We now are at capacity and putting people on a waiting list. A cash bar social hour will precede the dinner to be followed by the program that also includes announcement of the 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Local subprime mortgage woes leveling off
It appears the number of foreclosures in Ross County is leveling off, according to online records from Clerk of Courts Ty Hinton. A search of the records showed 399 foreclosure actions were filed in 2007, down only 1 percent from the 405 filed in 2006. Last year’s total, though, was a 39 percent increase from 2005. In the last five calendar quarters, the third quarter saw the largest number of filings with 149.
Wisconsin city plans redevelopment on former Glatfelter site
The city of Neenah in Wisconsin reached an agreement with Glatfelter officials to acquire the seven acres vacated by the company that moved some of its papermaking operations to Chillicothe when it closed its Neenah mill two years ago. The site sits on the edge of the downtown district where local officials feel there can be significant new development. Read more about the proposal: Glatfelter property
Sick leave proposal could force changes on employers
This from the Ohio chamber: The “Healthy Families Act” would require Ohio employers to provide a minimum of seven paid sick days for full-time workers and paid time off for part-time workers. It also allows an employee to sue for lost wages and benefits, reinstatement or equitable relief. The union supporting this measure has already gathered enough valid signatures to present it to the General Assembly. If the legislature takes no action, the union can then gather additional signatures and put the issue on the November 2008 ballot. We urge our members to get in touch with state Sen. John Carey and state Reps. John Schlichter and Clyde Evans to urge them to take action, otherwise a ballot initiative could prove much more draconian on business and industry.
Kiwanians looking to recognize a difference-maker
Nominations now are being accepted by the local Kiwanis Club for its annual Statehood Day Achievement Award. Nominees should represent the “Spirit of Ohio” and made a difference in the lives of Ross County residents. This year’s winner will be announced at the annual breakfast on Saturday, March 1. To get a nomination form: Bob Sigler 774-4299 ksigler@roadrunner.com or Carolyn Ault 773-3461 cdault@roadrunner.com. Deadline: Feb. 11.
Weekend, evening nursing program offered
The Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center on April 2 will begin offering a program leading to a practical nursing degree by taking courses in the evening and weekends. The two-year, part-time program is being held at the VA Medical Center and is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Dennis Franks, director of adult education at the center, said applications now are being accepted. Call 642-1440 for information. Franks said the center plans a close working relationship with the new Paccar Medical Education Center of the Adena Health System.
Photographer’s print gets international attention
The “Autumn Falls” print of Kevin Mears of Mears Photography will be included in a collection of about 600 images after its designation as a “Loan Print” by the Professional Photographers of America. The print was chosen in a competition in Florida recently.
Please welcome the chamber’s newest members:
- Conductive Machining Company, Hilliard, by Kelly Giany, 614-529-1142, manufactures metal/solar heat
Commercial building permits issues by the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:
- Open Bible Baptist Church, 901 Toledo St., electrical upgrade, value $800.
- Charles Crawford, 133 N. High St., electrical, $3,500.
- New Walgreens, 1070 Western Ave., $2 million.
- John and Sue Harper, 982 N. Bridge St., signs, $3,000.
- White Castle, 1000 N. Bridge St., hood, $4,633.
- Clarksburg High School, Ohio 138 and 6th Street, install masonry monument, $25,000.