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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

Chamber’s plans for 2009

include serving members better

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

In these tough economic times, the chamber is working on ways to help its members better weather the storm and position them to emerge stronger than ever. The staff and volunteers have a few things we're working on now.

• SCORE: Right now, we have about 12 volunteers available to provide counseling on a one-on-one basis to area small businesses. And, we already have four clients who are being helped on a confidential basis. The plans for the year include recruiting more volunteers so we can serve more clients in addition to getting the word out to the business community that yet another resource is available to them. If you are interested in serving as a counselor or you want some help for your business, call 779-0845 and we will get you the information you need. In the meantime, you can visit the national website to learn more about the organization: www.score.org.
• Ambassadors: Robert Newton, this year’s Volunteer of the Year, is a perfect example of a chamber ambassador. He helps at the events we have and helps other members become acquainted with chamber programs. Next week, the Membership & Events Committee will work on drafting the details of a new ambassadors program that would replace the committee. If you are interested, plan to attend the meeting Tuesday at 11:30 at the chamber office.
• More help sessions: Whether in the form of a coffee klatch or a luncheon or other venue, your chamber wants to provide programming that will help you run your business. This new ambassadors group will be instrumental in developing the sessions and taking care of the details to ensure they are serving your needs. We are very interested in hearing your thoughts on some of the topics and ways we can better serve you. Email me with your thoughts: mjones@chillicotheohio.com
• Surveys: We plan to ask you more than several times this year about the status of your business and your thoughts on some key issues you might be facing. This way, you’ll know what other chambers are feeling and thinking and you might provide some tips to help them better survive and/or thrive.

Those are just some of the programs we’ll pursue in the coming months. If you have some other thoughts or ideas on programs you’d like to see, by all means get in touch with us. It’s going to be a tough road ahead and, if we can help make it smoother, then all the better.

Five sponsors for the next BAB

Taking advantage of our program to offer the February Business After Business to our smaller members resulted in five becoming sponsors for the Wednesday, Feb. 18 event. The Elks Lodge is providing the venue as a sponsor as well as Lem Ott to handle the musical chores. JoRo Catering plans the usual appetizer spread. When you attend, make sure to check out the other sponsors: Theta Pro2Serve, Atomic Credit Union, Centers for Hand and Physical Rehabilitation and the LEAD program of Ohio Dominican University. You can sign up to attend now: BAB registration

Tidbits from here and there:

• Next Friday (Feb. 13) is the deadline to submit your nomination for the Ohio Statehood Day Achievement Award to be handed out during the annual breakfast of the Kiwanis Club on March 7. For a nomination form: kaybob40love@horizonview.net or call 773-3461.
• Ross County’s unemployment rate in December hit 9.4 percent, up a full 2 percentage point from a year ago. Pike’s rate of 13.0 percent was the second highest in the state.
• The low interest rates on investments are expected to yield the county’s General Fund only $155,000 this year, down from more than $800,000 in both 2006 and 2007, according to Treasurer Jerry Byers. Last year’s investment income was down 42 percent to $578,128.
• Menards plans to open to the public Wednesday (Feb. 11), according to sources. The home improvement store on North Bridge Street has more than 200,000 square feet for customers to roam.
• TechSolve and the OSU South Centers are sponsors for Thursday’s (Feb. 12) free interactive videoconference by Bill Quirke on how better to use internal communications to achieve your goals. The session in Piketon runs 8:30-11 a.m. and includes a continental breakfast. To register: www.techsolve.org or call 513-948-2116.

Employer Open House planned @ Jobs One-Stop

Workforce Development welcomes employers to the Jobs One-Stop, 150 E. Second St., for an Open House Thursday, Feb. 19 from 4-6. This will feature a facility tour, presentation of the free services available to any employer, Work-Keys pre-employment testing presentation from Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center and a roundtable discussion on the current issues faced by employers. Contact Cari Steinbrook, csteinbrook@chillicotheohio.com for more information and visit www.chillicothejobbank.net for complete event information. Register here to attend: Open House

Spaces available now for the next Job Expo

The 2009 Job Expo will be Thursday, March 26 at OU-C Shoemaker Convocation Center. Businesses, organizations, education & training providers and staffing agencies are welcome. Click Here to register or contact Cari Steinbrook csteinbrook@chillicotheohio.com for more information.

CiCi's Pizza Buffet and Take-Out celebrates

Jim Kattell, his staff and chamber volunteers celebrate the remodeling and re-grand opening of the restaurant in Zane Plaza recently.

Welcome to the chamber’s newest members:

• Chillicothe Signs and Screen Printing, 2217 Sullivan Road, by Gary Shreck, 663-7023, offering signs, banners, car magnets and full color printing. Shreck already is taking advantage of the chamber’s free Hot Deals benefit by offering discounts to chamber members on certain purchases and full-color business cards. Check them out: Hot Deals The link always appears in this newsletter and on our homepage for the best possible exposure.
• Insight Bank, 37 N. Paint St., by Rich Borland, who is returning to the Chillicothe area where he was a mortgage broker for years.
• Brooke & Schafer, based in Cincinnati, by James Fritz Schafer, 513-325-2809, financial services.

Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• Wilson’s Automotive Service, 636 N. High St., by Jami and Dustin Bethel.
• The Hangout, 3213 Trego Creek Road, by Robert Violette.
• Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library, five locations.