Team Northeast Ohio recently announced that it will recognize local economic development efforts that helped retain companies, create jobs and bring foreign investment to the region during the calendar year 2009 at the upcoming Team NEO Economic Development Plus Awards dinner being held June 23, 2010 at 5:30 pm at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio.

“In 2009, Northeast Ohio communities and economic development organizations completed 115 projects that created more than 3,200 jobs and more than $1 Billion in capital investment,” said Tom Waltermire, Team NEO’s Chief Executive Officer. “It is important to celebrate the ‘wins’ that are helping to diversify and advance our economy, and it is critical that the region honor the unsung heroes – the economic developers, communities, and non-profit organizations – who fight daily to make progress.”

Team NEO received a record 74 applications from 10 counties for the fourth annual celebration. The judging panel selected the following finalists:
Asset Creation
+ Canton Commerce Development, LLC, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, City of Canton, Stark Development Board – Project: Mills Business Park
+ Case Western Reserve University – Project: Advancing Biomedical Imaging Cluster
+ GaREAT Sports Complex – Project: Creating New Complex
+ Kent State University – Project: Centennial Research Park
Business Attraction
+ City of Cleveland – Project: Steel Warehouse
+ Team Lorain County, City of Oberlin, City of N. Ridgeville and Lorain County Growth Partnership – Project: GreenField Solar Corp.
+ Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, The City of Youngstown – Project: VXI
Business Expansion
+ City of Medina – Project: Sandridge
+ City of Orrville – Project: Orrvilon
+ City of Westlake – Project: Hyland Software

Business Retention
+ City of Cleveland, Village of Cuyahoga Heights, City of Independence and Cuyahoga County – Project: Alcoa
+ City of Hudson, Summit County, Greater Akron Chamber – Project: Little Tikes
+ Team Lorain County, City of Avon Lake, Lorain County Growth Partnership– Project: Immediate Pharmaceutical Services

Foreign Investment
+ Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center Project: 2009 Results

Fostering Entrepreneurship
+ City of Akron, University of Akron, Akron Global Business Accelerator
Project: 2009 Impact of AGBA
+ Braintree Business Development Center – Project: Expansion
+ University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF) – Project: Supporting University Ventures

Minority Business Development
+ JumpStart Inclusion Advisors – Project: New Minority Program
+ ShoreBank Enterprise Group – Project: Evergreen Cooperative Development Fund

Public-Private Partnership
+ Ford Motor Company, United Auto Workers, Cuyahoga Community College – Project: Training Program for Plant Workers
+ Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, City of Wooster, Ohio State University, Wayne Economic Development Council– Project: Quasar Energy Group
+ Vocational Guidance Center, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission – Project: Pathways II

Workforce Development
+ Alliance for Working Together and Lakeland Community College – Project: National Association of Manufacturers Credentialing System
+ Eastern Gateway Community College – Project: New College Formed
+ Lorain County Workforce Development Agency, Lorain County Community College, Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Employment netWork – Project: Make Your Layoff Payoff
All finalists will be recognized, and one winner in each category will be announced at the June 23 awards dinner. In addition, Team NEO will honor Dr. Roy A. Church with the annual H. Peter Burg Regional Vision Award at the event. The award honors a regional leader whose vision and collaborative leadership have significantly impacted Northeast Ohio’s economy. Dr. Church of Lorain County Community College will be honored for his commitment to maximizing our region’s resources, proven by his wonderful leadership of Lorain Community College and his impact on the entire Northeast Ohio region. Most recently, Dr. Church played a vital role in the creation of the Mahoning Valley’s Eastern Gateway Community College. The award commemorates H. Peter Burg, the late chairman and CEO of FirstEnergy Corporation, a regional leader who was the founding chairman of Team NEO.
Lorain County businesses and residents should be proud that the Lorain County Growth Partnership Team is being recognized for these outstanding achievements. The recognition of Dr. Roy Church of Lorain County Community College is also something to be proud of. Roy continues to work tireless to create a brand for Lorain County in the northeast Ohio region. We at the Chamber salute his achievements and consider him to be a true partner in our collaborations.

The Growth Partnership Team continues to create opportunities that are having a positive impact on Lorain County. The Lorain County Chamber is proud to be part of this stellar collaboration and continues to be engaged with the Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County Community College, Lorain County JVS and Team Lorain County to work to improve the opportunities and resources for the business community in Lorain County..
 

Be sure to stop by our website: www.loraincountychamber.com and check out our Digital Directory that goes with your printed 2010 Membership Directory and Resource Guide. This is a great way to find the Chamber Members you want electronically and it allows you to click on their email and their website and be instantly directed to their site. This includes all members who advertised in the directory as well. Just another benefit from your Lorain County Chamber of Commerce!

SAVE THE DATE!

Don't miss out one of the summers most exciting events.  Sign up to golf, be a hole sponsor, donate a door prize, or volunteer at a hole.  New this year is Expo on the Greens.  Showcase your business, products, and service on the greens.  Provide giveaways, have a cook out, raffle or play games.

Refer to our website for more information on this year's outing.

Thousands of Ohio employers find value and workers’
compensation premium savings by actively participating
in their local safety councils. And you can join them.
Get a 2-percent rebate on your premiums by becoming
an active member of one of 80 BWC sponsored safety
councils*. Reduce either the severity or frequency
of injuries in your workplace by 10 percent, or keep
both at zero, and you will earn an additional 2-percent
performance bonus rebate.
BWC Safety Councils can help you:
• Learn techniques for increasing safety in your
workplace.
• Learn how to better manage your workers’
compensation program.
• Network with other employers in your community.
• Access useful, money-saving workers’ comp and risk
management information.
For more information, contact Tony Gallo at the Lorain County
Which runs the Lorain County Safety Council.
To qualify for the BWC Safety Council rebate,
you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
1. Join your local safety council by July 31, 2010;
2. Attend 10 safety council meetings**;
3. Send a qualified senior-level manager to a
safety council sponsored meeting;
4. Submit semiannual workplace accident reports
for the 2010 calendar year.
* The rebate offer excludes self-insuring employers, state agencies and
employers enrolled in BWC’s group-rating and group-retrospective
programs. Limitations apply to a professional employer organization.
BWC encourages all employers to become active safety council members.
** At least eight through the local safety council. You can get credit for up
to two meetings through attendance at BWC’s safety training courses or
industry-specific training.
 

The 2010 MCO open enrollment period begins at 7:30 a.m. May 3 and ends at 5:30 p.m. May 28, 2010.
Open enrollment gives all state-fund employers (with an active workers’ compensation policy) an opportunity to choose a managed care organization (MCO) to help manage the medical portion of their workers’ compensation claims. A strong MCO-employer partnership also helps injured workers receive the treatment they need to get back to work as safely and quickly as possible. Your selection is for the next 2 years.
The Lorain County Chamber has again this year decided to endorse 1-888-OHIOCOMP as our preferred MCO. 1-888-OHIOCOMP returned the largest percentage of injured workers back to work following a lost-time injury in 2009 when comparing the largest MCO’s based on premium and claim volume. Plus 1-888-OHIOCOMP has the best nurse-to-claim ratio when comparing the largest MCO’s based on premium and claim volume. If 1-888-OHIOCOMP is already your chosen MCO, you need not do anything, as you will automatically renew under them. If you want to switch to 1-888-OHIOCOMP 1-888-OHIOCOMP contact them today and request an open enrollment form or go to their website at www.1-888-OHIOCOMP.com

Being a member of the Lorain County Chamber has many perks, and one of the most used of these benefits is the chance to reach out to your fellow Chamber Members with an email message or offer. The County Chamber is always happy to provide our members with the most up to date membership list for you to use to do this. However, we do ask a few things from you when using this list:

• Use the Blind Carbon Copy feature when sending out the emails. This is the Bcc button up where the “To” and the “Send” button are on the Microsoft Outlook email page. If the Bcc button is not showing up, check your “Options” tab and add it from there. By using the Bcc button, you also eliminate everyone accidentally hitting Reply All and everyone that you sent the email to also receives their response (good or bad).
• Also, please use the list we send you and then delete it from your computer. Our membership is a constantly changing list, with new people being added and deleted every day. People change jobs, get promoted and even die and sending an email to the wrong person is not going to help you sell to them.
• Avoid giant attachments that will slow down someone’s computer. If at all possible, put the information into the body of the email so the person receiving the email doesn’t have to click on a series of attachments, but can actually read it right there.
• Remember to use re-read the email and use spell check before hitting send. There is nothing more embarrassing then sending out an email with the wrong date or a word misspelled.
• Lastly, remember to not “spam” people with your offer. Our members are given the option to “opt out” of receiving emails from the County Chamber and when they do that, their name is removed from the list that we send out. Again, you don’t want to create enemies while trying to get new business. 

Project HIRE – Learn How to Get $6,000 to Hire and Train Dislocated Workers

Lorain County employers can find out how they can receive up to $6,000 for each dislocated worker they hire and train at several special events on Wednesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 27.

The Lorain County Growth Partnership is hosting these Project HIRE special events to outline how Lorain County businesses can participate in this program that provides an immediate financial benefit. At these events, you will learn about cost savings, tax benefits, how to qualify job candidates, and how to use the simple One-Stop process to start you on the road of savings.

It is vital to register today before funds are depleted throughout the State of Ohio. Join us at Lorain County Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center Wednesday, May 26th or at Lorain County JVS on Thursday, May 27th with morning and afternoon sessions to choose from at each location. Just one hour of your busy day could mean thousands in savings to your business.

Register now at www.lorainccc.edu/projecthire or call 440-366-4103.
 

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.

AFLAC- Megan Sroka
Alanod Westlake Metal Industries
Avon Boot Shop, Inc.
Bradley Bay Health Center
Carter Lumber Co. Sheffield
Costco Wholesale
Country Day School
Franchise Operations
JD Indoor Comfort, Inc.
Midway Muffler Inc., Tuffy Auto
Montrose Kia of Sheffield
Northwestern Mutual
Rino’s Italian Restaurant & Velvet Lounge
Stein Hospice
Stratos Wealth Partners
The Berry Company

Pictured above is Lauren Campana, Dane Zavodny, Krystina Bove from Northwestern Mutual who were at the recent CommStar BAH.

Masthhead picture courtesy of YMCA of Greater Cleveland.