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Copyright

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

Manufacturers’ leader headlines

chamber’s Annual Dinner Feb. 25

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

The executive vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers and Ross County native, Jay Timmons, will be the keynote speaker for the chamber’s Annual Dinner on Feb. 25.

Timmons, the son of former Chillicotheans Mickie and Warner Timmons, was chief of staff for former Virginia Gov. George Allen. His other positions include deputy director of public affairs for the White House Conference on Information Services during the administration of President George H.W. Bush and communications field advisor for the Republican National Committee. For a more detailed resume, click here: Timmons information

While Timmons will headline the Annual Dinner, the newest chamber Entrepreneur will be revealed, there will be an update on regional economic development activity along with a review of chamber activities in the past year.

The dinner again will feature multimedia presentations on giant screens on either side of the stage in Shoemaker Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe. Tickets are $45, the same as the past 10 years. Table sponsorships are available for $125 each. Online registration is now available: Annual Dinner reservations

New Year’s Eve celebration
was a blast

About 175-200 rang in 2010 at the chamber’s New Year’s Eve Celebration a week ago at the Elks Hall. The Gravity Cats provided the music for some great dancing and everyone gathered around the big-screen TVs to watch the Times Square ball drop at midnight. One participant even used the occasion to propose to his sweetheart just before the midnight hour. Check out photos from the event: New Year’s photos

Open house celebrates management change at Adena Mansion

Area history buffs get a chance Saturday to meet the new personnel and board managing the Adena Mansion and Gardens site at an open house from 10 a.m. to noon in the educational center on the site. Executive Director Nathan Anderson, assistant director Angela Proehl and grounds director Ed Detty are completing their first week at the restored home of Thomas Worthington. A short ceremony will acknowledge the transfer of management from the Ohio Historical Society to the Adena Mansion and Gardens Society.

No surprise: Local construction
took a dip in 2009

Final figures from the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments were proof of the slowdown in commercial construction activity last year. While combined there were six more permits issued from 2008, the value of the construction slid about 64 percent and it was the lowest total of the past four years.

The biggest effect on the difference came from the $45.5 million northeast expansion project at Adena Medical Center. The permit was issued in 2008 and work is winding up this year. Here are the biggest projects for which permits were granted in 2009 followed by the history of permits:

• Cross Creek housing on Frontier Drive off Clinton Road (50 units): $3.96 million.
• Ardmore Crossing (in photo) housing on Anderson Station Road (50 units): $3.4 million.
• Chillicothe’s new transit building at Seventh and Watt streets: $3.0 million.
• Hopeton Village renovations by National Church Residences on University Drive: $2.1 million.
• Certified Oil’s new store and station on North Bridge Street and Marietta Road: $1.5 million.
• Jane’s Corner Market at Charleston Pike and Blacksmith Hill Road: $1.2 million.
• Traditions adult day care center and offices at Western Avenue and University Drive, also by National Church Residences: $1.1 million

Foreclosures also tell tale of economy

While our region has been spared much of the misery of a total collapse in the housing market like Florida and Nevada, the numbers for Ross County didn’t turn a corner in 2009. Final figures from the website of the Ross County Clerk of Courts Ty Hinton show a 22 percent jump in foreclosure filings from the previous year, only three shy of hitting the 500 mark. The 497 total is a 73 percent increase from four years ago when 287 were filed.

Advocacy Committee to learn more about status of Smith school

Representatives from the Chillicothe Board of Education are expected to talk to the chamber’s Advocacy Committee next week about future plans for the former Smith Middle School. The board has indicated it wants to resolve the issue this year. If you’d like to attend and become a member of the committee, give us a call at 702-2722. The meeting is at 4 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 14) in the chamber’s conference room.

Nominations sought for Entrepreneur of the Year

For more than 20 years, the chamber has honored one of its members with its most prestigious award, the Entrepreneur of the Year. Jim Bambenek, who took one NAPA Auto Parts store and built it into Ohio’s largest dealer, is expected to announce this year’s winner at the Annual Dinner on Feb. 25. The chamber is taking nominations up until Jan. 14: Entrepreneur nomination form.

Ross, other jobless rate increase in October

The unemployment rate for Ross County was little changed in November from October levels, according to state figures. Ross County’s rate of 12.1 percent, or 4,200 out of work, is up from 11.9 percent in October. Here’s the breakdown for the county rates:

Other news to note:

• USEC is holding a Vendor Fair Wednesday (Jan. 20) “to identify vendors capable and qualified to execute construction work at (the Piketon site) over the next several months.” USEC will begin its presentations on the various projects starting at 1 p.m. in the OSU Endeavor Center on Shyville Road off U.S. 32. Here is a list of specific areas of interest: USEC Vendor Fair.
• An Akron Beacon-Journal writer dubbed it “one of the very best vistas in Ohio.” He was referring to Ross County’s Buzzards Roost Nature Preserve in an article in last Sunday’s edition. Check it out: Buzzards Roost article
• Customers of Universal 1 Credit Union are eligible to apply for one of two $1,000 college scholarships for their high school senior. Details and an application is available online: www.u1cu.org
• Wagners Rentals of Portsmouth is the new owner of Phillips Rent-All.
• Charles Delong is the new owner of C&D Continuous Gutters: 649-7740.
• Businesses looking for new employees might want to sign up for space at the “Hiring Event” Feb. 9 sponsored by the Jobs One-Stops of Ross, Pickaway and Fairfield counties.  The job fair runs 9-noon at the Amvets on Tarlton Road south of Circleville. To learn more and to register: Julie Bolen at bolenj@odjfs.state.oh.us or 740-420-7339.

New members who recently joined the chamber: JS Woods Electrical, 489 Cattail Road, by Justin Woods, 701-4733.

Commercial building permits issued recently by the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:

• Rosemarie Molnar, 19 N. Paint St., window repair, value $4,500.
• Horizon Chillicothe Telephone, 30 E. Main St., signage, no value given.
• TMS Wholesale, 79 N. Mulberry St., signage, no value given.
• Kunzelman Family Properties, 20 E. Water St., signage, no value given.
• Glendale Dreamland, 80 N. Paint St., window replacement, no value given.
• John Molnar, 98 N. Paint St., window repair, $8,000
• Robert Teague, 153 S. Paint St., signs, $75.
• Buena Vista Properties, 76 E. Second St., electrical upgrade, $3,200.
• Dane and Jodie Straub, 94 E. Water St. (Old Canal Smoke House), awning, $40,000.
• Hastings Electric, 66 W. Water St., roofing, $10,350.
• Walter Hess, 100 N. Walnut St., electrical, $500.
• Waterside Urban Renewal, 904 Washington Ave., demolition, $48,000.
• Bishop Flaget High School, 570 Parsons Ave., hood suppression, $2,717.
• Glatfelter, 401 S. Paint St., fire alarm system, $3,000.
• Community Recreation Council, 165 W. Fourth St., roofing, $88,000.
• National Church Residences-Hopeton Village, 153 University Drive, addition, $2.1 million.
• DDR Ohio Opportunity, 867 N. Bridge St., electrical, two permits, $59,235.
• Double D P/S, 1137 E. Main St., roofing, $56,214.
• Sam’s Real Estate Trust, 1270 N. Bridge St., signage, $365,000.
• Gary Fleshman, 63 N. Paint St., alterations, $3,000.
• Ross County Senior Center, 1824 Western Ave., HVAC, $12,150.
• Rozelle Creek Market, 4152 Rozelle Creek Road, canopy and electrical, $60,000.
• Open Door Christian, 3130 S. Bridge St., enclose breezeway, no value given.
• Lighthouse Youth Center, 1071 Tong Hollow Road, new gym with office area, $800,000.

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.
• 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.

Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• River’s Bend, 94 W. Water St., by Jaimie Sharp.
• McCloud’s, 1996 Orr Road, by Robin McCloud.
• Antiques & Primitives, 1273 Blacksmith Hill Road, by Tami Rainer.
• Magnetic Images, 96 Sharon Road, by Nancy Roberson.
• Boggs Automotive, 38 N. Main St., Kingston.
• Zendevor, 67 Star Drive.

Have an item for the newsletter? Email CEO Marvin Jones at mjones@chillicotheohio.com.