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Volume 5, Issue 19                                                                                                                     Friday, February 1, 2008

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Preferred Staffing of Ohio

Chamber calendar

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.

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

 

The Small Business Center: Your One-Stop Shop For All Things Small Business
Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business

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 2008

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

 

 

 

Downtown revitalization

picking up more steam

CarlisleBy Marvin Jones

President and CEO

The onset of winter and the holidays slowed some of the efforts being made to implement portions of the HyettPalma Economic Enhancement Strategic Plan, but with spring only weeks away, the momentum is shifting into a higher gear.

At the regular meeting of the Downtown Chillicothe Partnership this week, reports of progress were coming from many quarters. City Council also was encouraged to begin looking at its role in making some of the changes recommended in the HyettPalma plan.

Progress reported at this week’s meeting:

  • The city administration is working on plans to return angle parking all the way on Paint Street from Water to Fourth streets, including in front of the Ross County Courthouse and across the street from it. This could add 80 spaces downtown. The city also is looking to acquire a hand-held computer for the parking enforcer, removing some traffic signals in favor of four-way stop signs and making street and sidewalk repairs.
  • The Downtown Associates are looking to keeping their street-level lights on longer for a brighter appearance. This retail group also hopes to better coordinate activities in the summer with the First Thursday programs and working closer with the city on street closure permit requests.
  • Tammy Eallanardo and Andy Tomlinson are the newest members of the Design Review Board. Both have residences and businesses downtown.
  • The next meeting of downtown property owners will be in March or April when more is expected to be known about a potential grant program for improvements and when guidelines are established by the Design Review Board for those improvements.
  • The Chillicothe Farmers Market is looking for a more permanent location, but for the meantime will remain in the parking lot of the Ross County Service Center off Western Avenue.
  • Flyers will go out by spring to business and property owners to let them know how they can economically enhance their properties, such as power washing sidewalks.
  • The Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio will use its database of developers and site selectors from around the state and nation to let them know of the renewed activity downtown.
  • The Partnership joined the national Main Street organization, making many of its resources (newsletter, books, etc.) available at reduced rates. So there is no confusion, Chillicothe is not an accredited Main Street community.
  • The www.downtownchillicothe.com website maintained by the chamber continues to have features added.
  • The Chillicothe Art League is looking not only at decorative benches, but also to the possibility of adding items such as sculptures.

Falcon’s home on the courthouse a godsend for downtown

When they took questions last year from citizens about getting rid of the pigeons (and their messes) downtown, Dolores Palma and Doyle Hyett said the city might want to think about getting a falcon, a natural predator of pigeons. Turns out we already had one and it’s making its home in or around the courthouse. Some county employees in the building across from the courthouse noticed the bird a few years back, but apparently it took up new quarters when the bell tower was being renovated. But it’s back and we hope we can depend on it doing its job of keeping the pigeon population in check.

 

Annual Dinner became a sellout in minutes

No sooner had the email gone out about last week’s newsletter item on the Annual Dinner that all seats were reserved. We apologize to those who can’t make the dinner next Thursday and hope to have space for everyone again next year. To those who are coming, the tickets are going in the mail today and Friday. If you haven’t received yours by Tuesday, give Rosie a call at 702-2722. The social hour starts at 6 p.m. at the Chillicothe Country Club with a cash bar (club members will be able to charge) and dinner starting at 7.

 

Directory cover2008 membership directories now available

Long Point Media did a great job again this year in putting together the chamber’s 2008 Membership Directory and Buyers’ Guide. Copies will be handed out at the Annual Dinner next week and others should receive their copies by mail in the next couple of weeks. To all of you who advertised in the guide, the chamber thanks you for your extra support.

 

As expected, profit drops for Kenworth’s parent

The slowing of sales for heavy-duty trucks in the United States in 2007 was the main factor behind a 31 percent fall in earnings in the fourth quarter by Paccar, the parent company of the Kenworth Truck Company. Mark Pigott, Paccar chairman and CEO, said the results were “remarkable” given a 46 percent drop in sales in the entire industry. Scott Blue, local plant manager, noted at the chamber’s Economic Forecast Luncheon that sales would be down, but that Kenworth was gaining market share from other manufacturers. Blue also said he’s optimistic there will be an upturn locally in employment at Kenworth by the end of the year.

 

Aid available starting next week to NewPage employees

Staff from the Jobs One-Stop and Ohio Department of Development start meeting next Wednesday with employees at the NewPage facility which is slated to close by the end of November. The workers will learn about applying for unemployment, resume building, interviewing skills, training and education available to them along with job search and placement skills. The Jobs One-Stop is seeking $600,000 to assist NewPage employees in finding new employers. Most of the funds would go toward training and education.

 

Interest earnings for all to take a slide

Ross County Treasurer Jerry Byers reported the county earned $992,374 from its investments in 2007, an increase of only 1 percent from 2006. Byers predicted those earnings will probably decline in 2008, thanks to the 1.25 percent cut in rates announced the past week by the Federal Reserve Board, including the 0.5 percent drop Wednesday. All organizations with savings will see a drop in earnings this year, unless the rate was locked in through a CD or other device.

 

Workshops offered to those seeking grant funds

Seminars devoted to those unfamiliar with writing grants and those who want to enhance their skills are being offered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Governor’s Office of Appalachia. Participants have their choice of attending the May 27-28 workshop in Burr Oak State Park in Athens or the May 29-30 workshop at the OSU Endeavor Center in Piketon. The cost is $100 ($75 if you live in Pike or Vinton counties) and registrations will be taken after March 28. To learn more: Wanda Hairston 614-644-9228 or whairston@odod.state.oh.us.

 

Help kids have fun at the Easter Egg Hunt

We Be Clowns will now take your donations to help fill the 10,000 eggs to be hunted by kids in Yoctangee Park on Saturday, March 22. Area merchants have made the annual event a success for We Be Clowns, sponsors of the event for kids ages 2-12. To help, call Bubbles or C-Pockets at 773-3789 or send your donation to 752 Erie Ave. in Chillicothe.

 

Safety includes having a health and wellness program

Lisa Barlage with the OSU Extension Office will address the benefits of employers having a health and wellness program at the next luncheon of the Ross County Safety Council. The event is Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Chillicothe Country Club and starts at 11:30 a.m. Register to attend: Safety Council luncheon

 

USEC reaches agreement; prepares for meeting

The agreement reached last week between USEC and its United Steel Workers union representing many employees provides the company with the flexibility it needs to get the American Centrifuge Plant up and running while the union’s employees get preference in being hired for new jobs created at the plant. The centrifuge workers will get a chance to vote on union representation. A separate bargaining unit from the one now representing workers at the current plant would be formed, if the vote is in favor of a union.  On Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a meeting open to the public at the OSU Endeavor Center near Piketon to discuss the status of USEC’s activities at the new plant.

 

Non-profits coming under new rules for filing Form 990

The Internal Revenue Service is changing the way non-profit organizations must file forms each year. The new forms don’t go into effect until the 2008 tax year, filed in 2009. Instructions for the new forms are expected to be released shortly. Organizations would be well advised to check with their Form 990 preparers to learn about the changes. Here is a link to give you an idea of what’s coming: IRS non-profit changes

 

Please welcome the chamber’s newest members:

  • Mona Lisa Café, 35 N. Paint St., by William and Lisa Cyrus, 779-3337.
  • Exit First Capital Realty, 44 E. Water St., by Bill Leib, 772-5700

Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor’s office:

  • Willow Station Gifts, 70 Sigler Road, by Debra Gillum.
  • Houser & Son Farm Equipment, 7918 Ohio 159.
  • Jade Marie, 70 Logan St., by Janette Taylor.
  • Skees Discount Auto Outlet, 1786 N. Bridge St.
  • Liberty Fitness, 62 Consumer Center Drive, by JK & GL Associates.
  • Nature’s Natural Pond Source, 2748 Egypt Pike, Rebecca Orem.
  • Glenn Hunter, 731 Whisler Road.
  • Videos and More, 35749 U.S. 50, by Sheila Sparks.
  • Hurst Services, 2150 Lunbeck Road,