Chamber calendar

Tuesday, September 2: Ribbon cutting at iForce, 82 Consumer Center Drive, Shawnee Square, 10 a.m.

Thursday, September 4: Deadline to submit application for matching grant for downtown owners. More info ...

Tuesday, September 9: Membership and Events Committee, chamber, 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, September 11: Ross County Safety Council, free picnic lunch, speaker and special appaearance by MedFlight of Ohio, Yoctangee Park, 11:30 a.m., Safety Council registration

Wednesday, September 17: Business After Business, sponsored by Glatfelter at the Adena Mansion and Gardens, 5-7 p.m.
BAB Registration

Thursday, September 18: Executive Committee, chamber, 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

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

Local SCORE branch hopes

to assist small business operators

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

One-on-one assistance from veteran business people will be available soon to local small business owners who are hoping to get an enterprise off the ground or who need help with specific issues. The chamber is facilitating the start of a local branch of SCORE and is hosting a breakfast to recruit volunteers.

If you’d like to help counsel local small business people, consider coming to the session on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 a.m. at the chamber to learn more about becoming part of the local branch. The session will last no more than 45 minutes.

The SCORE Association is a national nonprofit organization with a public service mission. SCORE’s more than 10,500 volunteers provide small business counseling and training through a network of 389 chapters, 800 branches and its Web site, www.score.org. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE has served more than 7 million entrepreneurs since 1964. SCORE currently serves about 500,000 entrepreneurs annually.

If you plan to attend the session or would like more information about the local branch, call the chamber at 702-2722 or email mjones@chillicotheohio.com.

Entrepreneurs have chance to win ‘seed’ money

In another partnership to promote new jobs and businesses, the chamber is teaming with the Small Business Development Center at the OSU South Centers on the “Pitch Your Plan” competition in which one winner will receive $10,000. The competition will span 10 counties in southern Ohio and will include an area competition just for Ross and Pike counties. Winners will be decided in two categories: Innovation/New Technology and Business. Those planning to compete are highly encouraged to attend a training workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 9 a.m. at the Ross County Service Center on Western Ave. Complete details of the competition are available: www.pitchyourplan.osu.edu.

College has plans to grow in coming years

Don Taylor said plans call for Daymar College in Ohio to grow from its present 500 students to about 700 by the end of 2009, an increase of 40 percent. Taylor has overseen the transition of the college since Daymar acquired it earlier this year and changed the name from Samuel Stephen College. Next month, William Ward becomes the executive director of the college that has added massage therapy and criminal justice to its offerings at the facility off Ohio 104 north. Taylor led the dedication ceremony earlier this week.

Two added to chamber Board of Directors

Andy Tomlinson and Lew Jones were elected Thursday to fill vacancies on the chamber’s Board of Directors. Tomlinson several years back joined the family business of Tomlinson Insurance on West Second St. He has been active in the Chillicothe Jaycees and is a member of the Downtown Chillicothe Partnership. Jones and his wife, Susie, started Susie’s Gifts for All Occasions on West Main Street shortly after he retired after many years as manager of the local Elder-Beerman store in Zane Plaza. Jones is no relation to chamber President and CEO Marvin Jones.

Short takes from here and there

• A free showing of “Iron Jawed Angels” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 at the Majestic Theatre is made possible by the Chillicothe Business and Professional Women in conjunction with the Ross County League of Women Voters and the Chillicothe Social Society. The film depicts the women’s suffrage movement from 1912-1920 and stars Anjelica Huston and Hillary Swank. Doors open at 6 and refreshments will be available.
• The Southern Ohio Storytelling Arts and Music Festival adds a tent venue near the Pump House in Yoctangee Park in addition to the Majestic Theatre to help celebrate its fifth year. Nationally known artists again will be on hand Sept. 5-6. Advance tickets are available at the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.sostoryfest.com
• Chillicothe Day means free tickets for chamber members going to the Ohio University-Buffalo football game on Tuesday, Oct. 28 in Athens. Members and all city employees can get one free ticket to the game and buy additional tickets for only $7 each. You must pre-order tickets, though. Here’s the form: Chillicothe Day at OU
• Gregg Drury is now handling business accounts for National City locally and in several other southern Ohio cities. He moved to southern Ohio from Arizona where he was a senior national account manager for a leasing and working capital investment firm in Scottsdale. He can be reached at 702-2014 or gregg.drury@nationalcity.com.

Newest members of the chamber:

• Arrow Title Agency, 30 E. Main St., by Chris Moore, 772-4660, www.arrowtitle.com

Vendor licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• Chillicothe Mattress Factory, 1696 Western Ave., by Jeff Wood.

Workshops, seminars, etc.

• “Drop the Data” national tour to educate small and medium size businesses about the risks of retaining prohibited credit card data and how to protect your business from having the data stolen; Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8:45-10 a.m., Columbus Athletic Club, breakfast served, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Visa, no charge, RSVP by Sept. 10 to Angie Bowen at 614-228-4201 or abowen@ohiochamber.com.
• “Your Employees Financial Literacy and Why You Should Care,” sponsored by Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Department, 8:30-noon, Thursday, Sept. 25, Ross County Service Center, 3 SHRM credit hours available; $10; RSVP to Cari Steinbrook at 702-2722 or csteinbrook@chillicotheohio.com.
• “Money for Small Business,” by OSU Small Business Development Center, 8:30-2, Thursday, Oct. 2, Scioto County Welcome Center, Portsmouth, $20, call Joy Bauman at 800-297-2071 Ext. 111 or register online: www.southcenters.osu.edu/benet/events.htm
• “Pitch Your Plan Training Workshop,” 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, Ross County Service Center, required to enter competition, www.pitchyourplan.osu.edu