Volume 2, Issue 33                                                     Friday, April 23, 2004

PITCH MADE TO CANADIANS: Your chamber was represented Thursday when a local economic development contingent made a pitch to members of the Central Ontario Export Club in Toronto. Heading the entourage was Chillicothe Mayor Joe Sulzer while providing support were his Economic Development Director Doug Corcoran, Community Improvement Corp. Executive Dona Smith and chamber executive director, Marvin Jones. Seeds were planted with companies that might be interested in expanding their operations in the U.S. Firms represented at the club included a manufacturer of a new all-natural fertilizer, an entrepreneur into generating electricity through windmill farms and a software developer. The group also accompanied the managing director of Ohio's Canadian Market Office to a truck show in which Kenworth of Canada was represented.

BUSINESS TAX REFORM, TAKE 2: While the state of Ohio contemplates a major overhaul of its business tax structure, it appears more tax cuts are on the way from the federal government. The Kiplinger Letter says the corporate rate will be cut to 32% from 35%, but not necessarily for all companies, and the tax credit for research and development will be extended. Stay tuned for more details, but Congress isn't expected to pass anything until late this year or early next. It is a presidential election year.

TOURISM ON THE FRONT BURNER: Lissa Cleary of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau will fill us in on the latest development locally in tourism at the Networking Luncheon Wednesday. It all starts with lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Chillicothe Country Club and will include the 30-second commercial for all who attend. The cost is $10 if paid at the door, $12 if invoiced and $15 for non-members. Please register by Monday, though. Networking Luncheon registration

BAB A CROWD PLEASER: Approximately 150 showed for the Business After Business Wednesday co-sponsored by USEC and Citizens National Bank. Chamber Board member Garry Mick was the high bidder for the Jim Tressel autographed print where the proceeds went to the bank's Relay for Life cancer team. Shown in the photo are USEC's Pat Musser at right and Citizen's Tom Beard in the middle. Next month there are two BABs: May 11 at the Deer Creek Resort in cooperation with the chambers in Fayette and Pickaway counties and on May 19 at Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio on West Second Street.

TIME TO TEAM UP: There's also still time to register for the next Workforce Academy which is Wednesday at the Ross County Service Center. Steve Hummel of Transitions Unlimited! will lead the morning discussion on the properties of groups and teams and an afternoon session on team dynamics. Lunch is provided for in the price and you can pick or choose one or both sessions. Details here: Workforce Academy registration

SEMINAR TO ZERO IN ON BONDS: Daniel J. Pederson, a nationally recognized savings bond expert and author, will keynote a seminar sponsored by the Huntington Bank Investment Company. It will be Tuesday, May 11 at 3 p.m. at the Chillicothe Country Club. Pederson will address the upcoming elimination of Series HH bonds and the latest changes on the new Series I bonds as well as other general bond advice. Call the local Huntington bank at 773-2575 to confirm your attendance.

TECH SEMINAR STILL HAS OPENINGS: The "Taking Charge of Technology" seminar at Ohio University-Chillicothe next Thursday is still taking reservations. It is being co-sponsored by the OSU Extension Service and Small Business Development Center along with OU-C and the chamber. It is 9-11 a.m. More information is available at http://southcenters.osu.edu.

VENDORS LICENSES: Here's who's received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:

GOLFERS NEEDED: It's less than three weeks before the special tri-county chamber Business After Business and golf outing at Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center. A "Get to Know Your Neighbor" pure scramble informal golf outing on Tuesday, May 11 will start around noon with the goal to have each foursome made up of business people from each county. Following the outing, the BAB itself will start at 5:30 near the lodge and feature foods prepared by the resort's award-winning chef. It's about a 40-minute trip up Ohio 207. To enter the golf outing, call the chamber at 702-2722. In May, the regular BAB will be May 19 at Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Ohio on West Second Street.