Chamber calendar

Monday, July 14: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., chamber

Wednesday, July 16: Business After Business, at Herrnstein Chrysler Plymouth Mitsubishi on Marietta Road, co-sponsored by Huntington Bank and Herrnstein Hyundai, 5-7 p.m.
BAB Registration

Thursday, July 24: Board of Directors, noon, Chillicothe Country Club.

Chamber-related links

Economic Development
www.edaso.org

Chillicothe Job Bank
www.chillicothejobbank.net

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 2008

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

Fewer, but pricier projects

under way in the city, county

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

If it appears there is less commercial construction activity in Ross County than a year ago, you’d be correct. But don’t let appearances fool you.

According to the first-half figures from the Building Departments of the city and county, there has been a 17 percent decrease in the number of commercial building permits issued, but the value of the construction they represent is a 106 percent increase to the first six months of 2007.

Inside the city limits, the Chillicothe Building Department shows 95 permits issued from January through June at a total investment of $9.34 million. In all of 2007, the value of the investment was $10.6 million. The Menards home improvement store project on North Bridge Street alone represents about half the investment.

The amount of residential construction in the city also is down to last year. The number of permits issued for new homes and alterations to existing ones were down 14 percent with a decline in the value of that construction by 46 percent. Residential building permits are not required in the county.

The Ross County Building Department issued 59 commercial permits the first half of this year representing an investment of $18.3 million. That’s compared to 79 permits worth $6.3 million in 2007. The start of the expansion at the Adena Regional Medical Center was the largest project at $2.9 million. Eventually, the hospital plans to spend $45.5 million on the expansion. All of the permits for the $15 million PACCAR Medical Education Center were issued in 2007.

Here are the five largest projects for which permits were issued the first half of this year:

City of Chillicothe:

1. Menards home improvement store on North Bridge Street: $4.5 million.
2. IHOP (alterations to former Fazolis in Shawnee Square) on North Bridge Street: $842,387.
3. Englefield Oil for new BP station at High Street and Safford Avenue: $500,000.
4. Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ addition: $300,000.
5. Walgreens on Western Avenue at Plyley’s Lane: $200,000.

Ross County:

1. Adena Regional Medical Center expansion: $2.9 million.
2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints new church on North Bridge Street: $1 million.
3. Vitatoe Industries new manufacturing building on Chamber Drive: $305,400.
4. Bainbridge village government alterations to building on Dewey Street: $250,000.
5. Adena Regional Medical Center alterations to ICU waiting room: $168,000.

PPG operations getting new owner

The local PPG Automotive Glass Distribution Center on Southern Avenue will become part of a new company to be formed when PPG Industries completes its agreement with a private equity firm, Kohlberg and Company. PPG is divesting itself of all its automotive glass and service business. The deal announced this week is expected to result in PPG receiving $270 million in cash and a 40 percent stake in the new company. The local center has about 120 employees while another 40 or so work in an adjacent accounting center.

Foreclosures take a jump

The decline in foreclosure filings experienced a year ago unfortunately has reversed itself. According to the website of the Ross County Clerk of Courts, there were 218 filings in the first six months of this year, up 19 percent from last year, 12 percent from 2006 and 65 percent from 2005. In all of 2007, there were 399 foreclosure filings, down from 405 in 2006.

City closer to getting funds for downtown

The city learned this week it is eligible to apply for $400,000 in grants that would go toward improvements in the downtown district, including matching grants to private property owners who plan to renovate their buildings. Matt Allen, chief of staff for Mayor Joe Sulzer, said the Ohio Department of Development notified the city of its eligibility late this week. The city has until October to submit its proposal. Downtown property owners need to begin considering now what renovations they would like to undertake. More information on the revitalization grant will be available shortly.

Parking lot to get a makeover

A streamlined and more appealing parking lot is planned by the city at the northwest corner of Fourth and Paint streets. As noted in the diagram, the only entrance and exit will be off the Fourth Street side as a brick-and-wrought-iron wall will close the openings now on the Paint Street side. The plans are up for approval by the Design Review Board next week. The project will be bid as part of the city’s street and alley program this summer. The lot improvement is the result of the city Engineering Department working with a sub-committee of the Downtown Chillicothe Partnership.

Herrnstein, Huntington ready for BAB

A popcorn popper from Kitchen Collection, a basket of freshly baked cookies from Linda Herrnstein and other prizes from the sponsors will be handed out at the Business After Business next Wednesday (July 16) at Herrnstein Chrysler at 133 Marietta Road. Huntington Bank and Herrnstein Hyundai also are sponsors of the event that runs 5-7 p.m. Make sure to let us know you’re coming: BAB registration.

Short takes from here and there

• It’s now the Baymont Inn and Suites on East Main Street. The former Holiday Inn Express has changed affiliations.
• Our best wishes to Debi White, the former executive director of the YMCA of Ross County, who is now the director for the Y in Clermont County, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. Debi is a graduate of the chamber’s Leadership Chillicothe Ross program.
• Saturday from 6-10 p.m. is the next Gallery Stroll downtown with new exhibits and works of art in several locations.
• Homeland Credit Union is building a new branch in Waverly at 801 W. Emmitt Ave. Construction is expected to cost $400,000.
• Glatfelter announced this week it plans to upgrade a paper machine in its plant in Germany that will allow it to make filter papers for coffee and tea.
• PACCAR, the parent of our Kenworth Truck Company plant, is increasing production at its DAF plant in the Netherlands by 5 percent in September to meet increased customer demand. Also, the firm’s new parts distribution center in Hungary has started service to customers in central Europe. To help boost the value of its stock, the board of directors authorized this week buying back $300 million of its shares.
• Stone Johnson is the featured band for Free Concert Friday this week at the Majestic Theatre courtyard from 5-8 p.m. as part of its capital fundraising campaign.
• Kiwanis is serving up breakfast Saturday at its Doc Garrett Shelter in Yoctangee Park until 1 p.m. All-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages for $6.
• The Bob and Betty Jones Scholarship Fund is the recipient of the proceeds from the raffle of two OSU football tickets by the Ohio State University Alumni Club of Ross County. Tickets are $25 each. Call Jerry Phillips at 775-8200.

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

• First Baptist Church, 71 W. Fourth St., signage, no value given.
• Masonic Temple Association, 59 E. Main St., awning, $600.
• Jean Blair, 67 N. Paint St., signage, no value given.
• Mark and Pam Justice, 95 E. Water St., landscaping and signage, no value given.
• Menards, North Bridge street, demolition.
• North Bridge Development, 200 N. Plaza Blvd., HVAC, $4,370.
• Zane Plaza, 1080 N. Bridge St., sign, $3,500.
• Englefield Oil Company (BP station), 741 Safford Ave., signs and demolition, $40,000.
• Icebreaker Development (for IHOP), 10 Consumer Center Drive, alterations, $842,387.
• Bruce and Carolyn Arnold, 71 S. Walnut St., concrete repair, $1,265.
• Central Center, stucco façade, $6,420.
• John and Cynthia Sharp, 490 W. Fifth St., electrical and kitchen exhaust hood, $8,400.
• Chillicothe Country Club, 800 Arch St., addition and HVAC, $36,000.
• Zane Plaza, 1080 N. Bridge St., alterations, $100,000.
• Marilyn Vaughn, 1251 N. Bridge St., sign, $600.
• Merit Properties, 1230 N. Bridge St., alterations, $70,000.
• St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 126 Church St., alterations, $109,700.
• Vinton County Bank, 222 E. Main St., curb replacement, $2,000.
• Homeland Credit Union, 310 Caldwell St., HVAC, $5,850.
• North Star Development, 1290 N. Bridge St., sign, $1,000.
• Sam Cydrus, 3595 Ohio 207, new golf cart building, $40,000.
• Village of Frankfort, 94 S. Main St., electric at water plant, $2,500.

Vendor licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• Employee vending at the Ross Correctional Institution, 16149 Ohio 104.
• W&W Dry Cleaners, 199 W. Main St.
• Crystal Park, 551 E. Main St.

Seminars, workshops, etc.

• “Tolerance in the Workplace – Management vs. Employees,” by the local SHRM chapter; presenter Scott Warrick, Thursday, July 17, Ross County Service Center, 8-noon, cost $45; for information and reservations by July 11: Mechelle Spellman spellm01@odjfs.state.oh.us

Weekly Update is taking a one-week hiatus. The next edition will be July 25.