Upcoming Events
Chamber-related links
Economic Development
www.edaso.org
Chillicothe Job Bank
www.chillicothejobbank.net
South Central Ohio
SCORE Chapter
www.southcentralohioscore.org
Downtown Chillicothe
www.downtownchillicothe.com
Chillicothe Jaycees
www.chillicothejaycees.org
Visitors Bureau
www.visitchillicotheohio.com
Area highway
construction projects
Follow the chamber on:
For previous newsletter editions, click here
Copyright
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722
VA Medical Center: An overlooked
jewel in our regional economy
By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
Almost quietly, north of Chillicothe, one of the largest job-creating engines in south central Ohio continues to crank out work for hundreds while providing essential services to this country’s heroes.
The Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center is in the middle of $105 million in improvements on the campus, or twice the amount of the recent huge expansion at Adena Medical Center. That’s for 82 individual projects that provide jobs for construction workers from all over the region.
In addition, the number of employees there has grown from just at 1,000 a few years back to 1,320 today. That’s like adding another YSK to our economy.
The growth at the VA can be attributed in great part to the leadership of Director Jeff Gering and his staff who spearheaded an effort that resulted in a master plan in 2008 that is being followed today and in the years to come. The projects on the list include:
- Initiation of a psychiatry residency program that will provide more mental health care for our veterans.
- Expanding and upgrading one building to what are called new Community Living Centers.
- Expanding and upgrading the nursing home in another building to the new standards.
- New parking lots.
- Replacing the 40-year-old central boiler plant with a biomass generator that will use wood chips from area logging businesses that will save nearly $900k in fuel costs yearly.
The local VA has been an integral part of our local economy for decades, using the same land that once was part of the World War I Camp Sherman training center. These new projects further the commitment of our federal government for decades to come.
BAB was a real family affair
Lora Anderson and her family personally took care of the Business After Business crowd of at least 200 Wednesday outside her Lucinda’s Fine Consignment Boutique on West Second Street. Hot dogs, hamburgers and sides went along with the lemonade and beverages. Door prizes from Kitchen Collection and Le Gourmet Chef complimented the ones from Lucinda’s. Photos from the event will be online soon.
Free memberships available to manufacturers
The South Central Manufacturing Network is offering up to 12 free memberships, valued at $500 each, which could help provide significant savings in the purchase of supplies and services. The network explores ways to use joint sales that provide savings a company might not normally achieve. Phone service, payroll service, fork truck leasing, office supplies and healthcare plans are a few of the items offered at discounts. To learn more about the organization and to obtain an application, call Mary Gulas at 740-289-2071 Ext. 132 or email her at gulas.3@osu.edu.
More turning to monthly tax payments
Ross County Treasurer Jerry Byers says one in four now pay their real estate taxes monthly, rather than two payments a year. For those thinking about switching, he said now is the time to sign up for the budget plan which begins with payments in August. Call 702-3080 or email rosstreas@bright.net for details. In the meantime, property owners should have received the latest bill by early next week.
Hiring tips from a small business owner
Jason Fried, co-founder of Chicago-based software firm 37signals, has his own philosophy of hiring the right people. In June’s Inc. magazine, he elaborated on his process. Some highlights:
- “Any company that hires people before it needs them is hiring for pleasure.”
- To know if you really need to hire someone, trying doing the job yourself first. “If you haven’t done the job, you don’t really understand the job. Without that fundamental understanding, it’s hard to judge what constitutes a job well done.”
- Ignore resumes (“They’re full of exaggerations, half-truths, embellishments – and even outright lies.”)
- Look at cover letters. “They say it all. … Spellcheckers can spell, but they can’t write. Wordsmiths rise to the top.”
- Find people who ask why, not how. “It signals a healthy dose of curiosity.”
- Read the entire article: Jason Fried in Inc.
Injector could be a game-changer
Also in Inc. magazine this month is a piece on Transonic Combustion that has come up with a superefficient fuel injector for conventional cars that got 64 mpg in one the size of a Toyota Prius hybrid that gets 48 mpg. The company is working with three major automakers and the first vehicles with the new injectors are expected in 2014.
Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:
- Rozelle Creek Market, 4152 Rozelle Creek Road
- Darrell’s Shooters Supply, 5440 Ohio 28 east, by Darrell Ross.