As we look at winding down 2010, I thought that I’d look back on a few of the activities that the Chamber has been involved with this year.

• In the area of Small Business the Chamber has been working with our partners to redesign the delivery of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to more reflect the needs of the existing business community in Lorain County. The SBDC will still focus 30% of its effort on new business development, but will now focus 70% of its efforts on existing businesses that are in need of assistance in marketing and market research, advertising and sales promotion, financial planning and cash-flow analysis, accounting and record-keeping, loan proposal preparation, access to capital, taxes, licensing procedures and regulations, personnel recruitment, benefits and policies, exporting and federal contracting. If you are in need of any of these services please call the SBDC offices at the Chamber at 440 328-2324 and ask for Glen Wilson for a free assessment.

• The Chamber has also continued to work with our partners at the Lorain County Growth Partnership to refine our retention/expansion program, Business Connects . Team Lorain County and the Lorain County Chamber have stepped up to coordinate and realign this important economic development program. We still have targeted 100 Lorain County companies for visitation to retrieve business trends, issues and concerns for remediation. The new program will report out every Monday to a team of the Chamber, Team Lorain County and the County Economic Development Department members that will review the previous week’s visits and will be responsible for identifying issues and concerns and implement remedies and solutions that will help solve problems impacting companies from remaining competitive. This program has also been integrated with the SBDC so that we can connect small business resources to businesses with concerns.

• The Lorain County Chamber has also played a major role in the redesign of the Workforce Development system in Lorain County over the last 18 months. As the Chairman of the Workforce Investment Board, I have been helping to redirect resources and redesign job descriptions to better reflect the workforce needs of the 21st Century Lorain County business community. We have also spent time on redefining the delivery of services to youth as it relates to education and employment skills. Over the next 5 to 7 years the Lorain County business community employment needs will grow exponentially as the “baby-boomers” will be approaching retirement age and the need to develop a high skilled replacement workforce will be critical. Secondly, companies are requiring worker to have a higher skill-sets than they have had in the past to fill their employment needs. As we continue to develop a worker pool for the future the Chamber recognizes that we will solve this issue together with our partners.

These are just a few programs that the Chamber has been involved in over the past year that helps us continue to focus on developing resources that help Lorain County businesses remain competitive. The Lorain County Chamber’s program of work will continue to develop resources targeted at improving the environment for business community success.

Wishing you a Peaceful Thanksgiving …
 

The Lorain County Chamber is proud to be a part of NOACC and PartnerShip’s discounted shipping via FedEx. This includes FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery and LTL Freight for outbound and inbound shipping. You need to complete an enrollment form to be eligible for the discounts and as long as you are a Lorain County Chamber Member, there is no additional cost to be eligible for these exclusive discounts. Go to the Lorain County Chamber website and download the Enrollment Form today! Remember, enrollment is free and there NO obligations or NO minimum shipping requirements. You can also enroll at www.PartnerShip.com/89NOACC . Be sure to put Lorain County Chamber down as your Local Chamber.

Two Hour Safety Training for 2010 Policy Year

Employers participating in a 2010 group rating or group retrospective rating plan who had a workers’ compensation claim within the past two years will need to complete two hours of mandatory safety training during the policy year ending June 30, 2011. This requirement, adopted by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation applies to any claim – regardless of size or severity – with a date of injury between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. The Lorain County Chamber’s third party administrator is CCI and through their safety partner, RiskControl 360, there are a variety of web based training courses available at a cost of $40 and that are industry specific: Manufacturing, Construction, Commercial & Service, and General. The BWC also offers training classes that meet the two-hour training requirement most of which are free. There are also webinars and attendance and/or participation at the Safety Congress that can be used toward your 2 hour training. Should you attend the BWC training, a certificate of completion will be given to you that is required for you to submit to your Group Rating administrator. You can go towww.riskcontrol360.com or www.ohiobwc.com to check out specific dates and times for the training classes. Or contact CareWorks Consultants at 1-800-837-3200 ext. 2371 with any questions.

The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce once again this year is proud to participate and promote the annual Chronicle Telegram’s Not Forgotten Box campaign. This campaign has been something that the C-T has done for over 50 years. The County Chamber will gladly take any toys that you may want to bring to any of our remaining Chamber events or drop them off at our office as well. We encourage companies that do office “Secret Santa’s” to instead buy a toy for the Not Forgotten Box and help to make a needy child’s holiday better . So when you sign up to attend the Holiday Reception on December 2, be sure to bring a new, unwrapped toy with you that night. We will even do a special drawing for everyone who does! Go to the Chronicle’s website to see what is most needed this year - http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/not-forgotten-box/

We are officially one week before Thanksgiving and the holiday rush will soon begin. Here at the Lorain County Chamber, we are still busy putting the finishing touches on our 2010 Calendar and busy working on our 2011 Calendar to make it top notch for all of our members as well.

The end of October kept us very busy here. The Lorain County Beautiful Awards took place at LCCC and many of our County Chamber Members were nominated for awards. While not everyone is able to win, the audience was filled with Chamber members all supporting one another. At the end of the evening, Lorain County as a whole was the big winner with the new and amazing buildings that have contributed to our changing landscape. Congrats to everyone who was nominated. Two days later, we were glad to have our own Michael Bracken accept the award for Chamber Bright Star that NOACC puts on each year. Michael, owner of Lux Strategic Marketing has been strategic in having many members join the Lorain County Chamber and benefit from what we have to offer. Thanks for your continued support MB.

November began with the elections and we whole heartedly supported our friends at LCCC on their levy passage. Everyone here at the Chamber offices worked on their own time to volunteer and lend a hand and we were glad to see LCCC passed the levy and will continue to offer much needed services to the students, businesses and residents in and around Lorain County.

Our friends at Lorain National Bank had an early morning breakfast to help set the stage for their annual Economic Forecast. The audience was diverse in nature and curious to see what Dr. Ken Mayland had to say regarding the local economy. While the news was not nearly as intimidating as it was at last year’s event, improvement will take place slowly and methodically here and across our region. At least things are looking up! That same evening, we had an amazing turnout for our November BAH at Quarry Lakes in Amherst . The staff welcomed the over 100 Chamber Members and guests in the community room at the new residential development located off of Cooper Foster Park Road. Great food and beverages were provided via Pink Peppercorn Catering and there were many potential members and guests who got to see firsthand what the networking at the County Chamber looks like. We will keep you posted on how many join! Many people stayed long after the door prize drawings to continue to network and to eat the great food.

A ribbon cutting took place at the new Dollar Bank in Avon, so congratulations to Martin DeVries, the new Branch Manager. A few days later, an Open House took place at the Key Bank near Midway Mall. The Key Bank event was very cozy and intimate, mostly because there was a power outage that took place right before it was to begin. As most of you already know, we Lorain Countians are a hearty lot and people were not thrown off by a lack of light – not when there are food, beverages and networking to be done – even if it was done by candlelight!

Our November Safety Council meeting was held at the Inn of Elyria and while not a “fun topic”, it was certainly very relevant as we head into winter and the holidays. Thanks to Barb Furst from the Nord Center who spoke on the Workplace Depression and Suicide. The presentation was informative and her Power Point presentation is available on our website.

With Thanksgiving next week, our annual Holiday Reception on December 2 will be here before you know it. Be sure to sign up and bring some co-workers and friends to THE event of the season. And remember to keep December 16 open for our Coffee, Tea and Contacts at Panera on Oakpoint Road. Enjoy your Turkey!

The Lorain County Chamber is pleased to announce and welcome the following new members that have joined recently. Please be sure to introduce yourself and make them feel welcome at one of our upcoming events.

Staging by Marydale LLC may be a new County Chamber member, the owner is none other than Marydale Rogan, long time County Chamber supporter, seen here in this picture with her husband Mike Rogan from Wesleyan Village.

Cobos Insurance Center
Erieview Title Agency, LLC
FoxCreek Golf and Raquet Club
INVENT2DAY
Messaros Photography
Staging by Marydale, LLC
T&M Technology Solutions, Inc.