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Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Endorsements by the chamber Board of Directors: Vote Yes on the Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center levy Vote Yes on the Western Avenue rezoning referendum Vote Yes on State Issue 1 Vote No on State Issue 3 Vote No on State Issue 5 | ||
 | Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce Weekly Update
Mission statement: The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce promotes economic and community development by addressing issues important to business.
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Volume 4, Issue 12 Friday, November 4, 2005 This Week's Sponsors
(Your ad here for just $30 per edition. Email us by clicking here.) What's happening in Ross County this weekend, this month, this year? Click here. Chamber Calendar Monday, November 7: The chamber on the radio, 1490 WBEX, 8:35 a.m. Wednesday, November 9: "How to Start Your Own Business" seminar by the Small Business Development Center of the OSU South Centers; 9-11 a.m., $40 registration fee (limited scholarships available), contact Kelly O'Bryant 740-289-3727, Ext. 111 or obryant5@ag.osu.edu Wednesday, November 9: Leadership Chillicothe Ross session, 7:45 a.m., Lighthouse Youth Center near Bainbridge. Thursday, November 10: Executive Committee, 8 a.m., chamber. Thursday, November 10: Ross County Safety Council, "Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Automatic External Defibrillators in the Workplace," Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Safety Council registration Tuesday, November 15: Leadership Chillicothe Ross Steering Committee, 3:30 p.m., chamber. Wednesday, November 16: Business After Business and Business Expo sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Best Western Adena Inn, 5-7 p.m.; Click here to learn how to reserve your space and for more details. Thursday, November 17: Board of Directors, noon, Ross County Service Center. Thursday and Friday, November 24-25: Office closed for Thanksgiving holiday. Thursday, November 30: Networking Luncheon featuring Brad Cosenza on his work for the American Red Cross in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, 11:30 a.m., Chillicothe Country Club, Networking Luncheon reservations You are receiving this newsletter as a benefit of your membership in the chamber. If you wish not to receive it, please reply to mjones@chillicotheohio.com and write "Unsubscribe" in the subject. |
LOCAL ECONOMY CHUGGING ALONG: Two barometers
that give insight into the health of the local economy -- sales and income
tax collections -- show that the area continues to grow, albeit slowly, but it is growing. Retail
sales tax collection by the county is up 1.85 percent to last year by the latest figures. A
breakdown shows sales by "big box" retailers are up a healthy 6.2 percent,
but only 0.11 percent by smaller retailers. Vehicle sales tax revenue is
down 10.7 percent, providing some concern on the part of local auto dealers.
Revenue from the piggyback sales tax represents 60 percent of the county's
General Fund money, according to county Auditor Steve Neal. Chillicothe's
income tax collections are up about 3.5 percent against last year which
means the "economy is chugging along," according to city Auditor Bill
Morrissey.
$8 MILLION INVESTMENT NEARLY COMPLETE: The new Readiness Center and barracks for Company A of the 216th Engineering Battalion of the Army National Guard off Narrows Road is tentatively set to be dedicated Dec. 3. The replacement for the old state-owned armory in Yoctangee Park includes the 35,000 square foot center and barracks which is 10,800 square feet. The new facility is federally financed. A WHOPPING SHOT IN THE ARM: Employees from the Kenworth Truck Company and the Paccar Foundation boosted the United Way's annual drive by $61,500 and $219,000 respectively at Thursday's report meeting. Both gifts are well above last year's donations and brought the campaign to 67 percent of its $675,000 goal. Some companies are just now getting their in-house campaigns going. Learn more: www.unitedwayross.org. NEW PRODUCT LINE: Frankfort Florist and Gifts recently purchased the grave blanket/pine wreath making business of Joyce Ford who operated out of her home on Huntington Lane for 17 years. Dennis Ray said the business supplied the products to Waverly, Jackson and Washington Court House in addition to Chillicothe on a wholesale basis as well to retail customers in the area. NEW BROCHURE AVAILABLE: If you're engaged in trying to lure new business to the area, particularly retail and service, the chamber has revised and updated its brochure, "If You're Not Doing Business in Chillicothe, ... then You're Missing a Real Opportunity." It helps make the case for the city as a hub for shopping, dining and entertainment. If you'd like copies, stop by the chamber office. The same information is also available on our website: Doing business in Chillicothe UPDATED INFORMATION AVAILABLE: Need to get demographic information on Chillicothe and Ross County quickly? How about business information such as number of businesses, employees by segment and business starts? It's all available from the chamber's website. The Ohio Department of Development just updated what it calls its county profile for Ross. It's a 6-page PDF document that's easily printed or saved to your own computer. If you forget, it's always available from the Economic Development link. Check it out: Ross County profile THREE HIT MILESTONES: Accurate Heating and Cooling is honoring three employees who marked their 25th anniversaries with the company lately. Chuck Martin is operations manager, Jim Collins is the commercial installation supervisor and shop supervisor and Mitch Higgins is the residential sales manager. OUTSTANDING CITIZENS SOUGHT: The Chillicothe Jaycees are now taking nominations for the annual Citizen of the Year award. It's the highest honor given by the Jaycees. Forms are available at the chamber and Chillicothe Gazette as well as online: http://www.chillicothejaycees.org. The deadline is Nov. 14. NEWEST MEMBER: Joining the chamber recently was the Ross County Community Action Commission at 603 Central Center, 702-7222 with Wayne McLaughlin as director. www.rossccac.com. OHIO IN TOP 5 FOR BUSINESS: Site Selection magazine moved the state to No. 4 on the listing of best places to do business after dropping to No. 8 last year. Rankings are based on pro-business measures taken by the state, capital investment, recent business expansion activity and related costs. A month ago, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranked Ohio 40th on its Small Business Survival Index.
VOINOVICH HAS NEW OFFICE: The senator recently opened an office at 78 W. Washington St. in Nelsonville which will serve Ross County. The phone is 740-441-6410 and email is voinovich_southeast@voinovich.senate.gov. "SHOCKER" THE PRIZE AT SAFETY LUNCHEON: An automatic external defibrillator is the door prize for Thursday's luncheon meeting of the Ross County Safety Council. Ed Feil from Leading Edge Medical will discuss the use of the heart-shocking devices in the workplace. Make sure to make your reservation: Safety Council registration
VENDORS LICENSES: Here's who's received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:
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For previous editions, click here Copyright 2005 Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
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Tuesday is Election Day
ANOTHER
RIBBON IS CUT: Spaulding Family Chiropractic and Sports Therapy made it
official this week when Brandi and Joe Spaulding, with scissors, invited
friends, family and clients to the ribbon-cutting ceremony at their offices
on Woodbridge Avenue next to Rathkamp Financial Services. 
HEAR
A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT: Brad Cosenza will detail the devastation and chaos
caused by Hurricane Katrina two months ago on the Gulf Coast as the guest
speaker of the chamber's next Networking Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The
director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department will talk about his
time there as a Red Cross volunteer. He'll also compare the efforts
following the storm with those when he helped in New York following the
Sept. 11 attacks. Sign up now: