Chamber calendar
Monday, July 28: Downtown Chillicothe Partnership, 8 a.m., chamber.
Wednesday, July 30: Celebrations Etc. ribbon cutting, 86 W. Water St., noon, followed by free lunch.
Monday, August 4: Chamber on the Sounding Board, WBEX, 1490 AM, 8:35 a.m.
Monday, August 4: Ohioans to Protect Jobs and Family Benefits, local organizational meeting, 4 p.m., Ross County Service Center, Western Avenue, mjones@chillicotheohio.com
Saturday, August 9: Downtown Gallery Stroll, 6-10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 13: Downtown Property Owners and interested parties, on city revitalization grant, 11:30 a.m., 17 East Restaurant.
Wednesday, August 20: Business After Business, at Milestone Lodge and Camping (former Mead Foreman's Lodge) 464 Debord Road, 5-7 p.m.
BAB Registration
Thursday, August 21: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m.
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
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
On state sick leave proposal,
businesses must step up to the plate
By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
To defeat the mandated sick leave proposal expected to be on the ballot statewide in November, all businesses need to take an active role in the upcoming 
campaign. Too often, business owners and managers shy away from becoming involved in the political process. This is not a time to be timid.
Area business owners and managers can start to become involved by attending or sending a representative to an organizational meeting on Monday, Aug. 4 at 4 p.m. at the Ross County Service Center. The chamber is taking a leadership role in the local campaign, but representatives from the private sector are necessary to deliver a countywide victory in November.
Keith Shoemaker, a son of the late long-time state representative and lieutenant governor Myrl Shoemaker of Bourneville, is expected to be on hand to talk about what’s being done at the state level and how our local organization can help. Shoemaker is working for the newly organized Ohioans to Protect Jobs and Family Benefits.
According to a press release, the group, “representing a broad coalition of individual employers, trade associations and business organizations, said it intends to educate voters about the devastating effects the proposed state mandate will have on individual employers, their workers and the Ohio economy.
"Few people in Ohio are against sick leave," said John C. Mahaney Jr., treasurer of the group. "But Ohio's struggling businesses - particularly our small businesses - can't withstand provisions in this proposal that threaten pay, benefits and jobs."
"To make things worse, the proposal also severely penalizes employers who already provide sick leave by imposing rules that will make it much more expensive to operate assembly lines and facilities like hospitals and nursing homes," Mahaney added.
Mahaney said the mandate will brand Ohio as a "job-killer" in the eyes of businesses nationwide at a time when the state is in desperate need of new jobs.
"This proposal will make Ohio the only state in the union with a mandated paid sick leave law," he said. "It will significantly drive up the cost of doing business when we can least afford it, and it will kill our job-development efforts."
Fundraising goal met; center now seeks artwork
Having succeeded in meeting its goal to raise $5 million, the Adena Health Foundation now is seeking the work of local artists to display in the soon-to-open PACCAR Medical Education Center. Above is a shot of the staircase inside the Great Room.
Michael Haller, a co-chair of the campaign along with Larry Gates, said, “This really is an historic event. It’s the first capital campaign for Adena Health Foundation; it’s the first time in Ross County that a charitable organization has raised $5 million; and it’s the first time since the 1940s that the hospital has asked the public to support a capital project.” The $15 million center is slated to open on Sept. 4.
Dr. John Gabis, director of the center, is hoping to use the work of local artists to help decorate the center. He said artists can donate works for permanent display, have them on loan to the center for a specific time or have them on loan and available for purchase from the artist. If you’d like any of your work or that of an artist you know to be considered, get in touch with Dr. Gabis at jgabis@adena.org.
Thursday last day to sign up for Safety Council benefits
Next Thursday (July 31) is the deadline for companies to become members of the Ross County Safety Council AND become eligible for up to a 4 percent premium discount. Membership currently stands at 94 and at least 82 will receive a rebate check in the fall for meeting all of the criteria from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. These companies saved at least $200,000 combined in premiums. To learn more or to sign up, call Rosie Daughters, the chamber’s Safety Council manager, at 702-2722 or email her at rdaughters@chillicotheohio.com.
Downtown property owners in line for funds
The city is closer to obtaining a $400,000 grant from the state that would go to help owners in the downtown district improve their properties. Owners could be eligible for a 50-50 grant, if the funding becomes available later this year. Owners and interested parties are invited to a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 17 East Restaurant on Main Street. City representatives will be available to provide details and answer questions. Reservations are not required and each person is responsible for their lunch.
Short takes from here and there
- Correction: In the newsletter two weeks ago, it should have been noted the value of the building permit for Walgreen’s at Western Avenue and Plyley’s Lane is $2 million, not the figure used. That makes it the second largest project in the city in the first six months of this year, behind the $4.5 million for Menards.
- Soon, many of you will be looking at setting up your budgets for 2009. It’s a great time to consider using more of your chamber membership benefits. By taking out a premium membership, you get reduced rates for space at the annual Expo, the golf outing and more exposure for your firm. And don’t forget the Email Blasts which remain a huge bargain at only $50.
- Shred It Day by the Scioto Valley Association of REALTORS is set for 1-4 p.m. Wednesday (July 30) in Central Center. Donations for the group’s scholarship fund will be accepted.
- More guests coming in August: You might want to consider marketing opportunities when more than 600 visitors descend on the county Aug. 13-18 for the American Legion Regional Baseball Tournament followed Aug. 18-20 when about 350 are expected for the summer conference of the Ohio County Commissioners Association. Call the visitors bureau for more details: 702-7677 or email at info@visitchillicotheohio.com.
- Watch those lights! The equipment is going up around town to catch those who speed through intersections on a red light. Signs will provide a warning.
Newest members of the chamber:
- Waters Edge Canoe Livery, 10807 Ohio 772, by Dwayne Seeling, 779-3339, provides rentals of kayaks and canoes, transportation to put-in sites, http://www.horizonview.net/~watersedge
- Celebrations, Etc., 86 W. Water St., by Sandy Thompson, 772-1216; wedding planner, event designer, caterer; ribbon cutting Wednesday (July 30) at noon followed by a free lunch; www.clebrationsetccatering.com
- Wise Medical Staffing, 76 E. Second St., by Cheryl Richards, 775-4108.
Building permits issued recently by the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:
- Theresa Kerr, 353 Douglas Ave., HVAC, $3,680.
- 653 Central Center, signs, $14,000.
- Loren and Diane Mead, 72 N. Mulberry St., roofing, $3,000.
- Henry and Sherry Mullins, 787 N. Bridge St. (Penn Station subs), alterations, $120,000.
- Shawnee Lanes, 1660 N. Bridge St., roofing, $9,000.
- Scioto Oil Company, 1070 Western Ave., signs, $20,000.
- John Molnar, 32 W. Main St., stucco, $18,000.
- Rosemarie Molnar, 19 N. Paint St., stucco, $23,400.
- John Molnar, 98 N. Paint St., stucco, $6,800.
- Sherri and Ron Rutherford, 95 W. Main St., fence, $1,100.
- Mike Meade, 105 S. Paint St., roofing, $35,000.
- The Church in Chillicothe, 2004 Western Ave., new church, $400,000.
Vendor licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:
- She Said Yes Bridal and Formal Wear, 91 N. Paint St., by S&C Newman Enterprises.
The next Weekly Update will be Friday, August 8