Chamber calendar

Tuesday, June 17: Town Hall meeting on downtown, 7 p.m., former Central Elementary School, West Fifth Street.

Wednesday, June 18: Business After Business, at Horizon Chillicothe Telephone, co-sponsored by the Building Industry Council of South Central Ohio, 5-7 p.m.
BAB Registration

Thursday, June 19: Executive Committee, Chamber Conference Room, 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, June 19: YPN Social, Buffalo Wild Wings, 5 p.m.

Monday, June 23: Downtown Chillicothe Partnership, Chamber Conference Room, 8 a.m.

Tuesday, June 24: Special forum by the Community Development and Advocacy Committee on the mandatory sick leave proposal, featuring Tony Fiore of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ross County Service Center, 4 p.m.

Thursday, June 26: Board of Directors, Ross County Service Center, noon.

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

Use the search feature below to find references to words or topics on several local websites.

Construction season now

in full swing in the area

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

Despite what can be kindly termed a sluggish economy, signs of progress in the form of new construction abound in Ross County and the area. The upshot will mean more jobs and a better tax base. Neither will come too soon.

A snapshot of some of the larger projects:

• Adena Health System’s $45 million expansion of the northeast section of the hospital is now in high gear, what with the high-rise crane dominating the skyline in that area. Across the road, workers on the $15 million PACCAR Medical Education Center rush to have the facility open in time for the first classes in September.
• Demolition of the former Accurate Heating, Cardinal Carpet and other buildings on North Bridge Street this week made way for the preliminary work to bring the Menard’s home improvement store and a couple of outlots. The more than 200,000 square foot store will open in early 2009.
• Walgreen’s is finally coming to Western Avenue and Plyley’s Lane, according to some sources. The sign’s been up for months, but it seems actual construction is expected to begin very shortly.
• The corner of High and Orange streets will be the site for a larger BP station and convenience store when it’s finished in a few months.
• The final touches are being put on the CIC’s shell building in the Gateway Interchange Industrial Park off Ohio 104 and a tenant or two are actively being sought.

HyettPalma – one year later

People interested in the progress made since the June 5, 2007 release of the HyettPalma Downtown Chillicothe Economic Enhancement Strategic Plan will get a chance to hear from those who have been working on aspects of the plan. A town hall meeting Tuesday (June 17) at 7 p.m. in the former Central Elementary School Building on west Fifth Street includes presentations by groups and individuals involved in the revitalization effort, including representatives of the developers of the Carlisle Building. Following the presentations, the floor will be thrown open for questions.

Wednesday’s BAB will be a veritable feast

The Business After Business at Horizon Chillicothe Telephone’s parking area at 68 E. Main St. includes fish and tenderloin dinners with all the usual sides catered by the Evening Lions Club, the usual beverages from Classic Brands and Chillicothe Pepsi, lemon shakeups for sale with proceeds going to the downtown mural committee and giveaways including an iTouch and tickets to the Cincinnati Reds. The Home Builders Association of South Central Ohio is co-sponsoring to make it all possible. Horizon also will make an announcement concerning a new service at the event. Hours: 5-7 p.m. BAB registration

Board member’s team wins outing

Chad Walters, in striped shirt, put together the winning team for the chamber’s annual golf outing, held Friday at the Chillicothe Jaycees Golf Course off Pleasant Valley Road. His teammates of Jamie Hawk, Bobby Kearney and Drew Prater scored 16 under par in the scramble event that had 29 teams. Second place went to the Classic Brands team of Jon Lodge, Butch Hellyer, Mike Strausbaugh and Brian Collins on a scorecard playoff against the Jaycees No. 1 team of Seth Brown, Matt Sutherland, Jeremy Forcum and Phil Adkins. Both were 13 under par. About 60 photos from the event, including all 29 team shots, are available on the chamber’s photo site: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com

Planning group getting new executive

John W. Hemmings III becomes the new executive director of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission on Aug. 1, replacing the retiring Jeff Spencer who is leaving after 30 years. Spencer has aided nearly all – if not all -- of the communities and governments in the 12-county district in obtaining federal and state grant and loan funds for major infrastructure and other projects over the years. It’s a well-earned retirement. Hemmings has been with OVRDC for 17 years, including assistant director since 1999. He has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in business administration.

Gallery joins Gallery Stroll

The new Park View Gallery at 38 E. Water St. is joining the lineup of places open for the monthly Gallery Stroll downtown this Saturday. Live entertainment is featured at the Mona Lisa Café on North Paint Street and all events are free and open to the public. It runs 6-10 p.m.

Short takes from here and there

• An estimated 250 Ross Countians could be eventually affected by the planned closing of the ABX Air cargo facility in Wilmington, according to some sources. Package carrier DHL announced it was entering into an agreement with rival UPS to handle some of its package business, effectively eliminating the need for the Wilmington site.
• The press that used to produce the Chillicothe Gazette is being dismantled and shipped out this week. Production of the paper moved to near Lancaster earlier this year when Gannett purchased the Advertiser products and plant.
• Apparently a drive-through pizza parlor and fast-food restaurant are planned for the southwest corner of Main and Rose streets, but a request to rezone the area from industrial to commercial was tabled at Wednesday’s meeting of the city Planning Commission when no one appeared to answer questions about the issue.
• Our Goody’s store in the Chillicothe Mall was spared when the parent firm announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and planned to close 69 underperforming stores, including ones in Marion, Defiance, Piqua, Bowling Green and Massillon in Ohio.
• If you’re a former employee of the Chilpaco mill, you might want to check out the photo-heavy website put together by Dick Rundels and Jim Davis: http://chilpacomemories.roxer.com.
• Chillicothe’s Dave Medert had the distinct honor to be chosen as one of the few to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery in Washington on Memorial Day. First in line, of course, was President George Bush.
• Preferred Staffing of Ohio did some hiring of its own recently to accommodate a growing business. Scott Shepard and Brooke Hamilton are new staffing specialists while Chloe Crabtree is the new receptionist.
• Family Vision Center is moving one door up to 612 Central Center, effective July 1. The mailing address of P.O. Box 453 does not change.

Roll out the welcome mat

According to the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau, here’s who’s planning to pay us a visit in the coming weeks:

• June 16: Happy Wonders Tour Group from Cardington, about 42 people.
• June 17-20: Ohio Recorders Association Summer Conference, being hosted by Ross County Recorder Kathy Dunn.
• June 23-25: Great Day! Tours, about 50 people.
• June 25-26: AAA Mansfield Seniors Tour, about 50 people.

Last calls for chamber magazine advertising

Representatives from CommunityLink might be giving you a call for a last opportunity to advertise in the chamber’s 2009 combined magazine and directory. Heidi Robson is accepting placements until this Friday and can be reached at 703-7746. Or, if you’re interested in advertising, get in touch with the call center at 800-317-9840 toll free.

Newest chamber members to welcome:

• Affordable Air Heating and Cooling, 28459 U.S. 50 East, by Shane Shaw.

Commercial building permits issued recently by the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:

• Seventh Day Adventist Church, 510 Metzger Ave., fire protection, value $5,585.
• William Hirsch, 68 S. Paint St., sidewalk and curb, $400.
• Herrnstein Chrysler Plymouth, 133 Marietta Road, electrical, $2,500.
• Kmart, 1470 N. Bridge St., electrical, $8,000.
• Adena Regional Medical Center, 272 Hospital Road, shell building, $2.93 million.
• Verizon Wireless, 1212 Musgrove Road, new tower and facility, $75,000.
• Frontier Community Services, 12125 Pleasant Valley Road, new ADA ramp, no value given.
• Adena Regional Medical Center, 272 Hospital Road, fire suppression in kitchen, no value given.
• Safe Haven Child Care, 1555 Rozelle Creek Road, alterations for change of use, $100.

Vendor licenses issued by the Ross County Auditor:

• Debra Morgan, Yoctangee Park.
• SERS of Stoney Creek, 4746 Stoney Creek Road, by Small Engine Repair Services of Stoney Creek.
• Kids Kloset N Plus Seconds, 631 Central Center, by Michelle Bennett and Amy Blair.

Seminars, workshops, etc.

• “Are You Prepared for a 401k Plan Audit?”; by the South Central Ohio Human Resource Council chapter of SHRM in a joint partnership with Merrill Lynch and the Department of Labor, 2 HRCI credits available; Thursday, June 19, 8-10 a.m., Christopher Conference Center, reservations required: Mechelle Spellman, 772-7547 or spellmo1@odjfs.state.oh.us.
• Mandatory Sick Pay Proposal, by the chamber’s Community Development and Advocacy Committee, 4 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, Ross County Service Center, no reservations required.