ChamberLink

Featuring top news from the Columbus region and the Chamber, ChamberLink is published quarterly in Columbus Business First. Read our current issue below, or download previous issues from the ChamberLink archives provided to the right.

March 2010

Economic Future Topic of Columbus Chamber Annual Meeting

New vision built on collaboration and support for existing business

More than 1,100 business and community leaders attended the Columbus Chamber's Annual Meeting, held Feb. 24. The event focused on economic development plans for the Columbus region, including a vision for 2020 and the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to retain and expand existing businesses in central Ohio. The Columbus2020! strategy is designed to take this region to the next level, using the basic elements of economic development – attraction of new companies; expansion of existing companies; creation of new companies; and the enhancement of workforce, infrastructure, and quality of life.

“The Chamber is pleased to be an integral part of the Columbus2020! strategy. Retaining and growing existing businesses is our highest priority, as these organizations create 60 to 90 percent of all new jobs,” said Ty Marsh, president and CEO, Columbus Chamber. “Moving forward, the Chamber is eager to bolster our programs that provide assistance to both large corporations and small companies across the region. It is our mission at the Chamber to help them succeed and prosper.”

Columbus Award
Michael Morris, chairman, president and CEO, AEP, received the Columbus Award, the most prestigious award given by the Columbus Chamber, recognizing an area business professional for outstanding business and community leadership.

Morris received a unique piece of art created exclusively for the Columbus Award by Dawson Kellogg, assistant professor, dimensional studies program, the Columbus College of Art and Design.

The Columbus Chamber 2010 Annual Meeting was presented in partnership with State Auto Insurance Companies. Event partners include Leaders Columbia Gas of Ohio and Columbus C.E.O. Magazine and Patrons Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Schneider Downs, Sophisticated Systems, Steptoe & Johnson, and Agil IT. Additional support is provided by Columbus Chamber Partners Anthem and CompManagement, Inc., with media promotion provided by Bartha Audio Visual, 99.7 the Rock, Classic Hits 103.9, and WMNI AM.

Check out our news release to read more about the Annual Meeting and view presentations from the post-meeting sessions.

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Small Business Support at Heart of Chamber’s Mission

Small companies—nearly 40,000 of them—are the foundation of the economy in the Columbus region. In fact, nine out of 10 Columbus Chamber members run small to mid-size enterprises. Serving small business members is more than just a program for the Chamber; it’s the foundation of the Chamber’s mission. Every day the Chamber is at work helping small business grow and prosper. A few of the ways the Chamber helps small businesses include:

• Contacts to Contracts – Small business owners are connected with large corporations for contract opportunities through this program. By organizing a clearinghouse event for these two groups to meet, the small business owners are given a “foot in the door” they might not have had otherwise, and the larger corporations are given a more cost-effective and convenient local contract solution instead of seeking assistance outside of the region.
• Business Retention and Expansion services – The Chamber helps all size businesses, from entrepreneurs to major corporations, who need business analysis expertise. Chamber staff consults with members and provides advice about growth, products, opportunities, and how to overcome barriers to success– anything to help them successfully launch or expand their business.
• Economic Development – Through another initiative, organizations that are new to Columbus or looking to expand here can turn to the Chamber for assistance with site location, community connections and advice on how to obtain financial incentives from local and state government.
• Small Business Council – The Chamber’s Small Business Council makes sure that small businesses have a big voice at the Chamber. Before the Chamber takes a position on a policy issue or introduces a new benefit program, the business leaders of the Small Business Council are consulted.
• Advocacy – Advocacy on behalf of businesses is a core focus of the Chamber. Working with city, state, county and federal government leaders, the Chamber promotes a pro-business legal and regulatory environment in which small business can grow and thrive.

In the coming year, the Chamber will be enhancing its efforts to support small businesses. Watch future issues of ChamberLink for more information.

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Survey: Internships a growing trend in Columbus

Chamber Launches Series of Workshops for Employers

The new buzz word among employers in Columbus is internships.

In 2009 the Columbus Chamber launched its internship initiative, helping to create awareness and education about internships through a Web portal, www.columbusinternships.com, and several webinars and workshops. The initiative has lead to the creation of nearly 250 new internships and more than 800 internships offered among 600 employers in the region.

A recent survey of college and university students in the region shows the program is working. Of the students surveyed, 69.3 percent said their internship experience in Columbus was at least above average. Nearly 70 percent of students felt their internship helped them connect with the Columbus community, and 71.4 percent of students surveyed felt they would likely stay in Columbus based on their internship experience.

Getting Started
With an emphasis on attracting and retaining young talent among Columbus businesses, these are promising numbers. The Columbus Chamber plans to continue its efforts with a new series of workshops hosted by internship consultant Dave Cofer, as well as on a blog that can be found on www.columbusinternships.com.

“The Columbus Chamber’s new workshops are ideal for any organization that is either considering the use of interns, or interested in learning more about the process,” said Cofer. “Interns represent a great opportunity to introduce short-term, flexible resources into your business, while also offering a young person the chance to obtain valuable work experience.”

Scheduled through the year in both in-person and webinar settings, the sessions are free for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Take a look at our calendar of workshops and register for a workshop today.

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Go>Explore: China

Chamber Introduces New Travel Program

Join the Columbus Chamber for a journey of a lifetime. The new go > explore travel program will launch Nov. 10-18 with a guided tour of China, featuring Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Travelers will explore the third largest country and one of the oldest civilizations in the world—visiting renowned sites such as the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, West Lake, Summer Palace, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. An exceptional value, the Chamber tour is offered to members of the region’s business community, their family, and friends for $2,399 per person, based on double occupancy.

Space is limited. Visit our travel page to learn more and download a reservation form. You can also attend our free informational session on April 14 to meet representatives from Premier World Travel and see a presentation about the China program.

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State Launches New System for Regulatory Reform Updates

In an effort to help businesses with state regulation, the State of Ohio has launched an e-Notification system on its regulatory reform Web site that allows subscribers to be alerted of the development, amendment or rescission of any rules within 13 regulatory agencies: Administrative Services, Agriculture, Commerce, Development, Environmental Protection, Health, Industrial Commission, Insurance, Job and Family Services, Natural Resources, Taxation, Transportation, and Workers' Compensation.

Businesses needing assistance in resolving a dispute with one of these agencies can contact an “ombudsman” who acts as a neutral liaison between the agency and the businesses affected by its rules and processes. All sides of the issue will be evaluated and strategies or options to resolve the dispute will be identified. Small businesses may also contact the Small Business Advocate for assistance.

Contact information for the agencies’ ombudsmen and the Small Business Advocate is available on the Ohio Business Gateway’s Web site.

Welcome New Members!

Premier Members:
Aileron
Anchor Home Health Care
Astor & Black Custom Clothiers
Culbridge, LLC
G Consulting LLC
Peritus

A Blessed Cookie Company
Able Fence of Columbus
Accelerated Benefits
Alterra Real Estate Advisors
Aryes Staffing
Brand Visual, LLC
Buckland Gillespie Design
BYS Enterprises
Cambria Suites Columbus/Polaris
Expesite
Home Care by Black Stone
Jim's Spa and Pool Service
Lawson Flag Supply Co.
LeafGuard of Central Ohio, LLC
Madison & Fifth
Michael O'Toole's
Mylogy
OPOC.us
Paychex
PrevaHealth Wellness Diagnostic Services
Progressive Leadership
Realzyme
Sears Outlet LLC
Skyview Towers
Strategic Public Partners Group
Systems by Rich
The Garden City Group, Inc.
The Manuel Diversified Group
Total Resource Contractors LLC
Urban Express Transportation, Inc.
Volunteers Of America Of Greater Ohio
Your Story Everywhere
Z-Careers

You can see all our members on the Chamber's online directory.

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Events

March

April

May

June

September

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit our events page.

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