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Copyright
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722
optimisim for the community
By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
It was a good week on the local jobs news front. About 100 new positions in the labor force will be available within a year, thanks to expansions at the DuPont plant south of Circleville and a new line of vehicles for the Herrnstein dealerships.
DuPont is expected to add 70-80 jobs when it completes its expansion to make more film for use in the solar panel industry (see next item). About 200 construction workers will build the expansion that is estimated to cost DuPont about $175 million. Tax and other incentives from the state helped seal the deal that also signals a stronger commitment by the company to a plant that has seen layoffs in recent years.
The Kia line of vehicles is being added to the Herrnstein dealerships that already sport Chrysler, Hyundai, Jeep, Suzuki and Mitsubishi. This means about 15-20 more jobs added to the 102 working there now. Kias will be sold at the Marietta Road location with Suzuki moving to the Hyundai location off U.S. 23 at the Ohio 207 connector.
At the press conference held in the chamber’s conference room this week, Bill Herrnstein noted the Hyundai dealership in 2009 was the leading seller of new vehicles in the marketing area and was seventh in the nation in sales efficiency, which is based on market share. He anticipated Kia sales will be 350 this year, rising to 470 in five years. Total sales for all dealerships is expected to be $55 million this year which means $825,000 in sales tax for the county.
Area farmers might be harvesting electricity soon
Community Energy, based in Pennsylvania, is looking to lease land from area property owners for what it hopes will be solar energy farms. Mardi Ditze is the business development representative for the firm that identified Ross and several other Ohio counties as prime prospects for the projects.
She said the company is looking to sign 25-year leases for as few as 60 acres and as many as 10,000 where solar panels can be built to generate electricity that will be sold to the likes of AEP and South Central Power. The company will provide all maintenance and develop access to the sites in return for the land owners receiving a price per acre that escalates each year.
The company now has wind and solar projects in New Jersey, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Ditze plans to hold meetings with interested land owners in the next couple months. To learn more: www.CommunityEnergyInc.com or email her at mardi.ditze@communityenergyinc.com
Chillicothe, county in national spotlight again
A little more than one year after his first visit, Robert Siegel of National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” program was back in town this week with his producer, Art Silverman, to check the economic pulse of the Midwest. The first visit in October 2008 was timed just before the presidential election in which Chillicothe and Ross County were considered a political bellwether.
This week, Siegel stopped by the chamber, then headed out to talk to the CEOs of three of our major employers as well as some of their employees. They got a chance to chat with Mark Shuter of Adena Health System, Scott Blue of Kenworth and John Blind of Glatfelter as well as the mayor and others.
They also stopped by the Business After Business at the Pump House Wednesday where they got a chance to chat with many others. The Chillicothe segment is expected to air Tuesday and can be heard on WOUB 91.9 FM or WOSU 89.7 FM from 4-7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the award-winning Siegel.
Pump House was packed for networking
Our thanks go out to the Pump House Center for the Arts, Corner Market, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Chillicothe, Kerr Wholesale and Classic Brands for pulling off a great Business After Business on short notice. The origami display at the art gallery was a perfect venue while the Corner Market put together a spread where no one left hungry. And, as always, the beverages were much appreciated by the approximately 150 who attended. On Feb. 17, the Elks Lodge hosts the BAB with co-sponsor slots still available for $250. Call Rosie at 702-2722 if you’re interested. Check out photos from Wednesday’s event: BAB photos
Business climate improves for the state
The start of a new year also marked the end to two of Ohio’s more repressive taxes, improving tremendously the climate for free enterprise here. Gone totally now are the corporate income tax as well as property taxes on business inventory, machinery and equipment while the personal income tax rate is down 16.8 percent from five years ago. The latter tax is scheduled to go down again in 2011, but the state’s fiscal crisis might prevent that from happening. The commercial activity tax replaces the other tax and remains a burden for many businesses, but the overall climate has improved.
Invite your friends to become “Friends”
While all of our regular chamber members have access to the many benefits of membership, we also have a good contingent of “Friends of the Chamber” who want to be a part of the organization and its mission while taking advantage of some of the benefits, such as this newsletter, access to BABs, and other functions. The main difference is that they can’t promote a business or organization. The cost is only $75 a year and we invite you to invite others, especially retired business people, to stay involved. Just complete and submit the application: Membership app
News and notes from and for chamber members:
- The organizational meeting for the “Get Your Library Back” levy campaign is Thursday (Jan. 28) at 5 at the annex (former Central School) of the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library. The objective is to urge voters to approve a levy that would re-open the Northside Branch, restore hours at the other branches in the county and restore the book purchasing budget.
- Junior Achievement has openings for volunteers at Chillicothe Middle School in February and March for its “JA Economics for Success” program. It runs one hour a week for six weeks on Thursday mornings starting Feb. 11. If interested: Kathy Litter Ray at 775-8420 or kray@bright.net
- Dr. Linda Bauer is the new project manager for LATA/Parallax which is handling environmental remediation work for the U.S. Department of Energy at the former uranium enrichment plant near Piketon. She replaces Bill Franz who is leading other LATA projects. She has more than 20 years of experience with DOE facilities.
- Monday, Feb. 1 is the deadline to submit entries for this year’s WesBanco Pitch Your Plan competition. The two divisions are technology ($10,000 grand prize) and new innovation or business ($5,000 grand prize). For more information: www.pitchyourplan.osu.edu
- Sprint is waiving text messaging fees for those making donations to the Haiti relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Text “HAITI” to 90999 and $10 will be added to your bill, but no messaging charge.
- Thinking of taking your company into the global marketplace? The Small Business Administration is holding a web chat Thursday, Jan. 28 from 1-2 for those interested in learning export basics and SBA credit programs. To access the program, go to www.sba.gov and click on “Online Business Chat.”
- TechGROWTH Ohio plans a month-long series of seminars focusing on business growth in southeast Ohio and new opportunities in advanced energy. Rep. Charlie Wilson is the keynote speaker at each of the six events. To learn more and to register to attend any of the six: www.techgrowthohio.com or 740-593-9588.
Newest members of the chamber:
- Dave Miller Rentals, 243 W. Second St., 775-4842.
- The Berry Company, Onalasko, WI, by Todd Jankowski, www.theberrycompany.com
- Lucinda’s Fine Consignment Boutique, 11 W. Second St., by Lora Lucinda Anderson, apparel, 773-5824, www.lucindasboutique.com
Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:
- Celebrations, Etc., 94 N. Paint St., by Samantha Rearly.
- Adena Mansion and Gardens Society, 846 Adena Road
Area business workshops and seminars:
- Small Business Tax Workshop: Thursday, Jan. 28, OSU South Centers, 1862 Shyville Road, Piketon; presented by the Internal Revenue Service and Ohio Department of Taxation; $15 for breakfast and lunch; register by Jan. 22; contact: Joy Bauman at jbauman@ag.osu.edu or 800-860-7232 Ext. 111.
- An Introduction to Government Procurement: Wednesday, Feb. 3, OSU Endeavor Center, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon; 1-4 p.m., $5 fee; by the Southern Ohio Procurement Outreach Center; contact and registration: Procurement workshop
- Taking Charge of Technology—Basic Website Design: 6-class course starting April 6 and ending June 15, from 9-2; $100 fee includes lunch and materials; contact: 740-289-2071 Ext. 111.
Have an item for the newsletter? Email CEO Marvin Jones at mjones@chillicotheohio.com.