Since October of 2008, we have witnessed a very volatile economy. A tightening of lending policy, a collapse in the real estate market and a lack of consumer confidence has put the business community in the most precarious position since the Great Depression. There is certainly enough blame to go around and as we continue to sort out the causes and solutions to our circumstances we must keep an eye to the future and position ourselves for success in the coming years.

This economy has not only affected the business community but it has put a major strain on local government. Many communities in Lorain County are feeling the impact of a loss of revenue. A loss, whether due to plant closings or layoffs, causing a tightening of consumer spending or the loss of shared revenue from federal and state programs designed to supplement local resources, has created a hardship on all of Lorain County.
 

The Lorain County Chamber is right in the middle of this situation. As we work to provide a business climate free of obstacles for our companies to succeed, we are also interested in assisting local government in identifying economies in their service delivery that will aid in the development of a nimble partner as we move forward together.

Building a desirable community to invest in is also a goal of the Lorain County Chamber. As we move forward it will be incumbent on us to support the passage of ISSUE 4 the ½ % sales tax enacted earlier this year by the Lorain County Commissioners. We cannot afford to close a wing of the county jail releasing hundreds of criminals that will avoid jail or get out too early. That’s not an advantage of a desirable community. We cannot afford to lay off more deputies that will cause fewer patrols and slower response times, as safety services include a jail of 445 inmates and 5,000 Sheriff’s arrests and over 17,000 cases per year. That’s not an advantage of a desirable community. And we cannot afford to reduce prosecutors and court employees causing our courts to jam up so suspects will be on the street and civil, family and other cases will be delayed. These are not things that happen in desirable communities.

Another risk of the budgetary constraints if ISSUE 4 does not pass will be the reduction of economic development resources brought by of the Lorain County Commissioners through the Lorain County Growth Partnership. We will lose more transit routes, we will experience delays in storm water control projects, we will miss opportunities to develop additional environmental programs designed to provide jobs for Lorain County citizens and we will see a loss of aid to local communities to assist in regional projects that create jobs and investment in Lorain County. We cannot afford to create financial obstacles that will prevent future growth for Lorain County.

The Lorain County Chamber’s Board of Directors understands the critical nature of the passage of this important issue as it will provide us an opportunity to get our resources in front of the curve as our economy begin to recover. Because of this the Chamber Board is on record as supporting ISSUE 4. We will continue to work with our partners in government to eliminate waste and develop delivery services that are business friendly. We urge you to help us work towards the creation of a desirable community that meets the needs of 21st Century business and our Lorain County citizens. Vote YES on ISSUE 4. 

Trade shows are designed to allow businesses to meet many potential customers face-to-face in a brief period of time inexpensively. Exhibiting at a trade show offers you one of the best ways to get in front of a lot of customers and prospects in a relatively short amount of time. Trade shows give you the opportunity to not only show your product or describe your service, but also create that all important first impression. According to a Simmons Market Research Bureau study, 91% of respondents ranked trade shows as "extremely useful" as a source for product purchasing information. This was higher than any other source, including on-site visits from reps. Also, nearly half of the respondents had purchased products or services at the trade show. (from How Trade Shows Work by Lee Ann Obringer)

On October 22,  from 4:00pm - 7:00pm the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce will host the Table Top Networking Expo at Midway Mall.  Please join the exhibitors below or come as an attendee to this event.   

Bean Coffee Café
CenturyTel
CGI Group Benefits
CommStar Credit Union
GenWorth Financial
Holiday Inn
Kingston of Vermilion
Lorain County
Mark Advertising
Midway Mall
Send Out Cards 

TheLorain County Chamber of Commerce is glad to be a partner again this year with The Lorain County Growth Partnership, Lorain County Community College,Lorain County Joint Vocational School and Team Lorain County on the Take Five Free Breakfast Series. Take Five begins its second year in October and will continue through June 2010. The seminars focus on HR, Personnel, Banking and Finance Topics and again will be co-sponsored by our partners at Ogletree Deakins, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP and First Place Bank. We invite small and medium-sized business owners and leaders to attend the next free breakfast. Seminars begin promptly at 8 and will end no later than 9:30 a.m. and will take place at the EII Center located on the campus of LCCC at 151 Innovation Drive in Elyria.
Upcoming topics include:

• October 27 – Employee Disloyalty, Departures and Unfair Competition; Protecting Your Business Assets
• November 17 – Reductions in Force
• December 15 – What every Business Owner Needs to Know About Intellectual Property and IT Contracting
• January 26 – Economic Outlook
• February 23 – Social Networking and its Related HR Issues for Businesses
• March 30 – Wage and Hour Pitfalls
• April 20 – Protecting your Business from Fraud Pt. 1
• May 25 – Protecting your Business from Fraud Pt. 2
• June 29 – Buy or Lease? Business Considerations When Establishing or Changing Spaces 

The seminars are held on the campus of LCCC in the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center. Register now at www.lorainccc.edu/takefive 

Starting with this e-Newsletter, the Lorain County Chamber will be providing information on Safety programs or safety related items that are going through our Lorain County Safety Council. While many of our members already participate in our Safety Council, this provides us with another avenue for providing you with safety information that will help keep you and your company working without incident or injury.

Safety Management Systems – Key Safety Program Parameters: Implementation of an integrated safety management system can reduce and control injury rates as well as related expenses. Following are the key parameters of a safety management system.

1. A written Safety and Health Policy
2. Visible Senior Management Leadership
3. Employee Involvement and Recognition
4. Safety Communication
5. Orientation and Training
6. Documented Safe Work Practices
7. Safety Program Coordination
8. Early Return to Work
9. Internal Program Verification
10. OSHA Required Training Programs and Training

Each of the above talking points are written about in greater detail on our website and a copy of the flyer is available to download for your Safety Program as well. Go to www.loraincountychamber.com/safety for more information. The Lorain County Safety Council meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Elyria-Lorain Holiday Inn. The October 21 program will feature Dr. Paul Miotto from EMH MedWorks.  

The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District, a department under the Lorain County Board of Commissioners is having its first Business Roundtable Meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

A letter was sent out to area businesses serving all local industries inviting them to participate in a “roundtable forum” to discuss concerns regarding the efficiencies of waste management and plan for possible new programs. Each meeting will have a featured guest speaker. These meetings will focus on issues such as:
• Innovative recycling processes and applications in the business community
• Solid waste and recycling contracts and cooperatives
• The role of recycling and waste reduction in economic development

Please direct questions or comments to Tiffany Barker, Solid Waste Specialist at 328-2368.
 

Colin MacLean and Elyria Hyundai cordially invite the Lorain County Chamber members to a VIP reception to see the brand new 2011 Hyundai Equus on Monday, October 19, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This preview showing is the only one in the Midwest and Elyria Hyundai is one of only 2 dealerships in Northeast Ohio that will have the Equus to sell. This vehicle is top of the line and has been compared to Mercedes S Class, Lexus LS and BMW 7 series. RSVP’s are needed so please contact Elyria Hyundai at 324-7700 if you are able to attend. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Elyria Hyundai is located at 845 Leona Street in Elyria.

The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce is extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication that we receive from our Board of Directors. Our Board consists of 24 business people, across all areas of the county and industries. We thank them for donating their time and energy into helping us make Lorain County a great place to live, work, play and pray. As an ongoing feature in our e-Newsletter, we will highlight our board members so you are able to know who helps steer our organization.

Board Member Kevin Flanigan

Kevin Flanigan is the owner of General Plug and Manufacturing and the co-owner of the Unicorn Restaraunt. He also owns a cable company, two metal finishing companies and is a real estate developer.   He has been on the Chamber Board for over 25  years.  He also serves on the board for Team Lorain County, Lorain County Community College,  and EMH Regional Medical Center.  He and his family reside in Grafton.