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Copyright

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

More and more information

becoming available on new health laws

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

With health care reform now a reality, chamber members and individuals alike are trying to determine how it will affect them. Answers are starting to emerge.

Many small business owners and tax-exempt organizations, like the chamber, received a postcard from the Internal Revenue Service this week letting them know they might be eligible to receive a credit on next year’s taxes of up to 35 percent of the amount they paid for health insurance premiums for their employees. Tax-exempt organizations could see a 25 percent credit.

The maximum credit goes to employers with 10 or fewer employees paying average wages of less than $25,000. The credit is phased out for those with more than 25 employees or if average wages exceed $50,000. For those with part-time employees, there is a calculation to determine full-time equivalents.

The health care issue is one of the questions on the chamber’s survey and preliminary results show many of our members are unsure how this massive new reform bill will impact their business. To get started to understanding the new law, we encourage members to visit www.irs.gov where you can find a simple worksheet to determine if you will be able to claim the credit.

Your chamber is working to develop a workshop or seminar that will help you navigate this issue. More details to follow in the coming weeks.

For all employers, help also is available from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the form of information to help you decide future courses of action as it relates to health insurance and a timeline when various provisions of the new law become effective. Click here for printable copies to read and share:

• U.S. Chamber on the new realities
• U.S. Chamber implementation timeline

Form now available to claim HIRE tax credit

For employers trying to take advantage of the new Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, the IRS now has a form that needs to be completed by all new employees who previously had been unemployed for at least 60 days. Employers taking advantage of the incentive could be eligible to claim a credit equal to the amount of the Social Security tax they pay on those new employees. For more information and to download the form: IRS form for HIRE

BAB held at site for future business

Landmark Properties used a soon-to-be-filled space in Shawnee Square shopping center to host Wednesday’s Business After Business. Jeff Bennett from the Pittsburgh-based company told the crowd that a business catering to children and family activities would be coming to the center soon, featuring inflatable playground equipment, bumper cars and other entertainment in addition to food service. He said the recent emphasis on filling the storefronts was on local and area businesses. Click here to see more photos from the event: BAB photos

Leadership class celebrating project

Health screenings, family activities and other events are set for Domestic Violence Awareness Day Saturday, May 1 in Yoctangee Park, ccordinated by members of this year's Leadership Chillicothe Ross class. It runs 10-1 in the Lions Shelter in the park and will include a special tribute to the chamber members who supported the class project of a new security system for the Phoenix House.

Jobless rate eases slightly in Ross, other counties

About 4,800 are without a job in Ross County, according to the latest figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ross’ rate of 13.3 percent in March was down from 13.7 percent in February, but ahead of the 11.6 percent rate at the same time a year ago. All contiguous counties posted slight declines in March from February.

More news of note

• Following today’s ribbon cutting at 1, Gerlach, Lear & Associates planned an open house at its new office in the Foulke Block on South Paint Street in Suite 32. The company offers employee assistance programs and counseling services. The open house with refreshments runs until 5 p.m.
• Trent Hacker is the new customized office skills coordinator for the Business and Industry Team at the Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center. He replaces Tonya Bess who is becoming the ACT coordinator, taking over for Nancy Heskett who is retiring next week. Hacker can be reached at 642-1285 and Bess at 642-1263.
• Kevin Mears won the region’s Culver Environmental Portrait Award recently at the Professional Photographers of Ohio Print Competition with his work featuring Marty Dunn of Chillicothe High School.

Newest chamber members:

• Energy Solutions Inc., 104 Thornton Drive, Piketon, manages waste and involved with the decommissioning of the uranium enrichment plant with 98 employees in southern Ohio; www.energysolutions.com
• The Center for Dental and Facial Restoration, 245 E. Eighth St., by Dr. John Patterson, 775-0095, www.jhpatterson.com

Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• Porter’s Custom Metal Fabrication, 108 Steiner Road, by Tim Porter.
• Unique Boutique Hair and Tanning Salon, 388 Steiner Road, by Traci Henness and Tami Hutchinson.
• Zion Ink, 135 Teatsworth Drive.
• Elliott Feed and Supply, 4988 U.S. 50, by Everett and Tina Elliott.
• Paul Kendall, 15 N. Main St., Frankfort.