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Copyright 2008

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

Survey shows we’re thankful

for what we have here

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

No doubt, times are tough and many in our community are anxious about what lies ahead in terms of their jobs and quality of life. But results from the mini-survey of chamber members this week show a level of optimism locally that might be greater than expressed elsewhere in the country.

The results showed a vast majority of chamber members feel it will be at least until October next year and into 2010 before the national economy begins to show sustained improvement. The survey was designed to gauge the perspectives and attitudes of our members.

Two hundred and four of you provided answers to the 10 questions. Fifty-six percent categorized themselves as service businesses while 46 percent had 10 or fewer employees and 22 percent more than 100.

Asked to rank the strength of both the local and national economies, 70 percent of you characterized the local economy as either weak or extremely weak compared to 88 percent for the national economy. On the local level, 26 percent said the economy was neither weak nor strong compared to only 10 percent for the national economy.

Other highlights:

• 65 percent said they planned to maintain the same level of employees in the next six months while 26 percent said they planned layoffs or a reduction of employees through attrition. Almost 9 percent said they planned to add employees.
• As for the last six months, 68 percent of you said you had maintained the same level of employees and 21 percent had fewer employees. 11 percent said they had added employees.
• 60 percent said you planned to delay spending on major capital expenditures in 2009.
• 53 percent said you had scaled back your plans for holiday parties this year.
• 60 percent said you personally planned to spend less on holiday gifts this year.

To view all of the results: Chamber business survey

Unemployment rate creeping up

Ross County’s estimated 3,100 people without jobs in October pushed the unemployment rate to 8.8 percent, up from last year’s 6.6 percent, according to seasonally unadjusted figures from the Bureau of Labor Market Information. Pike County’s rate of 10.5 percent was the highest in the state and represents 1,100 jobless workers. Here are the figures for area counties:

Adena providing real time information to families

Families and friends of surgery patients at Adena Regional Medical Center are now receiving status information quickly via electronic tracker boards in the waiting area. The board displays each stage of care: initial assessment, transfer to the operating room, when the surgery starts and ends, and post-operative care. A similar system in the emergency room waiting area started in April. The tracking systems are part of a system-wide electronic health record Adena plans to complete by late 2010.

Local SHRM chapter elects new officers

Bess Evans, the training manager for Honeywell Technologies Solutions, will be the new president of the South Central Ohio SHRM group in 2009, taking over for Trevor Kendall of Horizon Telcom. Other board members elected recently: Barbara Purdom of Adena Health System as president elect; Beth Mitten of Frontier Community Services as treasurer; Clare Schwemlein of Janney, Montgomery & Scott as vice president of membership; Julie Bolen of the Pickaway County Jobs One-Stop as secretary and at-large officers Cheryl Barlage of the Kenworth Truck Company and Valerie Dillon of Healthcare Logistics.

Expo/BAB photos now available online

More than 60 photos by Doug Etling of Vickers Photographic Studio from last week’s Business Expo and Business After Business are viewable online at the chamber’s photo site: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com. Photos from all BABs this year, the golf outing and Annual Dinner are available 24/7/365. And every ribbon cutting from back to 2003.

Pickaway-Ross center showing off its improvements

An open house and building re-dedication ceremony is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center. It’s a great chance to check out the $20 million in modernization improvements, including new labs and classrooms.

Townships squad to benefit from drive

Members of the Ross County Safety Council responded nicely to the initial call for the donations in a drive to raise up to $10,000 for equipment for emergency medical squads in Ross, Pike and Jackson counties. The council itself is matching donations, up to $3,000, to reach the goal. Donations are being received through Dec. 31. They should be mailed and dropped off at 45 E. Main St., Chillicothe, Oh 45601.

Newest chamber member:

• Atomic Credit Union, 1290 N. Bridge St., by Christy Kuhner, 775-6940, www.2mycu.com

 New chamber members cut ribbons this week

The Atomic Credit Union opened its new branch on North Bridge Street in front of Sam’s Club Monday while Penn Station East Coast Subs began serving customers in the former JR Valentines on North Bridge Street across from North Plaza Boulevard and near Marietta Road.