Chamber calendar
Saturday, April 19: Leadership Chillicothe Ross class erecting benches on floodwall hiking/biking path.
Saturday, April 19: Chillicothe YPN conducting Shred-It-Day in the parking lot next to the swimming pool in Yoctnagee Park, 10-2; www.chillicotheypn.com
Thursday, April 24: Board of Directors, Huntington Bank, noon
Monday, April 28: Downtown Chillicothe Partnership, Chamber conference room, 8 a.m.
Wednesday, April 30: Chillicothe YPN network bowling, Shawnee Lanes, 5:30 p.m., www.chillicotheypn.com
Thursday, May 8: Ross County Safety Council, fleet safety, Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 a.m. Luncheon Registration
Friday, June 6: Annual Golf Outing, Jaycee Golf Course; 9 a.m., 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
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
It’s that time of year
to roll out the red carpet
By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
With San Diego-style weather gracing our area the past few days, it never hurts to remind ourselves of the economic impact of one of our biggest industries – tourism and hospitality. Then there’s the impact it has on the image of the community as a whole as our visitors go back to their homes and relay their thoughts and opinions about Chillicothe and Ross County.
On the economic side, the latest report (2005) commissioned by the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism showed 2,800 employees in Ross County were directly dependent on the 1.3 million tourists and visitors for their jobs. That’s about equal to the combined number of employees at Glatfelter and Kenworth. Those employees generated $45.2 million in wages, which generated $3.7 million in local taxes. Another 1,300 employees indirectly had their jobs tied to the tourism industry, generating another $33 million in wages.
The average overnight visitor spends $175 a day and the day-trip visitor about $98 a day, according to the study.
One of the county’s crown jewels in terms of tourism, Adena Mansion and Gardens, escaped major cutbacks announced this week by the Ohio Historical Society. A search is on for the new site manager and the restored home of an Ohio governor opened on time a couple weeks ago.
With no seeming end to the rise in the price of gas, this could be a key year for all attractions, including “Tecumseh!” and the Hopewell national site, as the hope would be that families within driving range still make it here to maybe make up for those further away who curtail their driving this summer. And, it’s always a good time for local folks to become re-acquainted with their heritage.
To stay abreast of all local attractions and events: www.visitchillicotheohio.com
Big Saturday in store for chamber groups
Five new benches for travelers on the hiking/biking path will be completed and everyone gets a chance to safely destroy sensitive and confidential records Saturday, thanks to two groups affiliated with the chamber.
The Leadership Chillicothe Ross class partnered with the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Department to provide the five benches along the path from Pine Street west to the city limits behind Neenah Gardens. A dedication ceremony is set for 11 a.m. at the Pine Street parking area off Piatt Avenue. Some preliminary work was handled earlier this week, as shown in the photo.
The Young Professionals Network is coordinating the 2nd Annual Shred-It Day from 10-2 in the city pool parking lot. Last year’s leadership class started the program that now coincides with Earth Day. For more information: www.chillicotheypn.com
Ohio 104 widening, bike bridge moved to 2009
Original plans called for construction on the widening of Ohio 104 to four lanes to start this year, but it now looks like it will be early summer of 2009 before it begins, according to District 9 of the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT is wrapping up the final details on rights-of-way and design plans and hopes to award a contract next March. The bridge over High Street to link the hiking/biking paths also has moved to next year. Plans call for a contract to be awarded in January and construction done by around August 2009. For a complete list of District 9’s projects for this year and 2009: Highway projects
Golf outing approaching; promotional items sought
More than 100 golfers are expected again this year for the chamber’s Annual Golf Outing at the Jaycees Public Golf Course on Friday, June 6. Registrations are now being taken (click here) as well as items for door prizes and the “goodie bag” for each golfer. If you have pens, magnets, tees, golf balls, discount coupons, Polo shirts, umbrellas or anything else with your firm’s name you’d like to give to a worthy golfer, let us know and we’ll take it from there. Just give Rosie or Elizabeth a call at 702-2722.
On the development front
- Rumor control says a Sonic restaurant is headed to one of the lots in front of the new Menards store on North Bridge Street. Ironically, almost across the street from our landmark curbside service restaurant, the Sumburger.
- Scioto Shoe Mart apparently is adding to its parking area. The tanks were removed and all will be level at the former Starfire gas station at Western and Woodbridge.
- Goodwill Industries is NOT putting up a new structure on East Main Street as reported in the building permits last week. Apparently WRH is rebuilding on the lot where the former railroad storage depot burned a few years back, next to Goodwill at the overpass.
- Steven Newman, Paul Phillips and Clifford Bugg have merged their offices downtown on North Paint Street.
- Non-members can get a look at what members enjoy when Sam’s Club celebrates its 25th anniversary Friday through Sunday with an Open House. Plenty of food and dessert samplings are promised as the store also stocked up on all sorts of other items.
More accolades and dollars for Adena
The PACCAR Medical Education Center got another boost financially this week when it was announced it would receive $250,000 toward the state-of-art human patient simulators. Sen. George Voinovich announced the funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help train nurses and other health-related professionals.
The Adena Health System also was recognized as a “Laureate” for its video conferencing system with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. The award came from the Computerworld Honors Program. It was in recognition for the system that allows pediatric specialists in Columbus to make more accurate diagnoses, fully participate in treatment and preserve space at Children’s. The system allowed Adena to cut in half the number of children who were transferred to Children’s.
USEC taps local man for position
Pike County native and former president of Waverly City Council, Larry Cutlip was named director of centrifuge manufacturing for USEC’s American Centrifuge Plant near Piketon. He previously served in several operations and engineering management positions in his more than 25 years at the site.
Another glimmer of hope for Carlisle owners
Two developers in Cincinnati filed an action this week with the Ohio Supreme Court, seeking to force the state’s Department of Development to resurrect the historic preservation tax credits program approved by the General Assembly. The law called for 100 projects to be approved each in a two-year period without regard to its cost. The administration canceled the program after awarding credits for only 37 projects, mostly in Cleveland. It was this program the owners of the Carlisle Building hoped to use to help finance restoration of the fire-ravaged building at Paint and Main streets downtown. A decision by the court is expected in two months.
Alert for bosses: Special day next approaching
The Gift Post is reminding all bosses that Wednesday, April 23 is Administrative Assistants Day. Special baskets are available at The Gift Post which is waiving the $3 delivery charge just for chamber members. Call 773-7368 to place your order.
Perfect weather brought a crowd to the BAB
The Chillicothe Paints and Classic Brands couldn’t have ordered up any better weather than what they had for Wednesday’s Business After Business. A real throng took advantage to come to VA Memorial Stadium to soak up the sun and picnic fare while also getting a chance to take in a college baseball game. The Nourse Family of Dealerships will be hoping for the same weather when it hosts the next BAB on May 21 on North Bridge Street.
What’s your vision for the area?
The Ross-Chillicothe League of Women Voters invites folks to its “Give Us Your Two Cents’ Worth” town meeting on Tuesday, April 29. Intended as a way to hear from people about their ideas for improving the community, the meeting is not a “gripe session,” say league officials. It starts at 7 p.m. at the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue.
Local SHRM chapter honored
A 2007 Merit Award was given recently by the national organization to the local chapter of the South Central Ohio Human Resource Council in recognition of its achievements and commitments to providing meaningful programs.
Welcome to the newest members of the chamber:
- Telepage Communication Systems, 8 Erin Court, by David Daughters & Steve Showalter, paging systems, 774-4701, www.telepage.us
Building permits issued recently by the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:
- Gayle Liston, 110 S. Paint St., stairs and deck, value $6,000.
- Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library, 550 Buckeye St., roof repair, $1,000.
- South Central Ohio Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 173 W. Second St., electric, $1,000.
- No owner given, 14 S. Paint St., air conditioning, $3,200.
- Brookside Church, 2215 Egypt Pike, kitchen hood, $2,500.
Vendor licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:
- Joan and Lee Stephens, 631 Keiser Road.
- Mama Jama Gifts, 1639 Sulphur Lick Road, by Helen Pat Harris.
- Real Life Café, 221 E. Main St., by Tabernacle Baptist Church.
- Your Style Invitations, 1355 Western Ave., by Teshia Polley.
- Leslie’s Expressories, 192 St. Andrew’s Blvd., by Leslie Buchanan.
Seminars, workshops, etc.:
- Tuesday, April 22: “Doing Business with China: Exporting Basics,” OSU South Centers, Piketon, $30, details and registration: www.buyusa.gov/greatlakes/doingbusinesswithchina.html
- Wednesday and Thursday, May 7-8: “Crucial Conversations” program presented by Horizon Telcom and OU-C; to register: www.chillicothe.ohiou.edu/forms/crucialcon.htm
- Thursday, May 15: Seminar for minority and female business entrepreneurs, 8-4, Verne Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth; for information: karthur@shawnee.edu.