​On April 1, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage-Hour Division proposed a new rule to update and clarify the Department’s interpretation of joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 
The Department proposes to adopt a four-factor test assessing whether the potential joint employer: 

​By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​The Ohio House of Representatives passed their version of a state budget last week.  Changes are expected to be made to the bill in the Ohio Senate before the legislature presents a final budget bill to the Governor by June 30.

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. today, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 236-19 which would approve accepting and spending $49 million in loan proceeds from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the Basins 1 through 4 improvement project at the Collins Park Water Treatment Facility. The work includes basin repairs and replacement of flocculation, sludge collection, and carbon dioxide feed equipment, in addition to new piping, flow metering, valves, structures and conduits. The project is part of a phased timeline of major improvements at the plant.

Did you know sector partnerships are a great best practice for addressing industry specific talent issues? They drive collaboration and engagement between industry representatives, educators, workforce development programs, and economic development organizations from around the region. This industry-led alliance works to address the common challenges and assist in communicating the priorities of a specific industry to key policy makers to ensure that changes are made in response to the industry needs. ​

In Demand Jobs Week is a statewide celebration of jobs, industries and skills that are in-demand* in Ohio. In-demand jobs are jobs that have a sustainable wage and a promising future based on the projected number of openings and growth. In-Demand Jobs Week, which occurs during the first full week in May, is an opportunity for students and job seekers to learn more about the rewarding and high-demand careers available locally. It’s also the perfect opportunity to talk about the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s TRAIN initiative. 

For more than 50 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.* (source: www.sba.gov)

Here locally, over 80% of Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce members have 25 or fewer employees. And of those, almost three-quarters have fewer than 10. Many of them are thriving in the Toledo region today thanks to the assistance they received from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in their 25+ year history at the Toledo Chamber. From the exciting times, like starting-up or expanding, to the scary times when things are not going in the right direction, the SBDC provides confidential, cost-free consulting to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Starting next week, get to know these “magicians of mainstreet” at our Summer GEO Series where we will be highlighting TASBA (the Toledo Area Small Business Association) and the SBDC. This is your opportunity to meet the small business leaders who represent you and your interests at the Chamber as well as the SBDC staff who can help you grow your business, access capital or expand into foreign markets.  Plus there will be plenty of opportunities to network with other businesses in your geographic (GEO) area.

We hope to see you at one of these upcoming GEO events. Click below for more information and to register to join us:
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5.16.19 - Sylvania West/University Area GEO @ Shorty's True American Roadhouse
6.13.19 - Perrysburg/River East GEO @ Hollywood Casino, Toledo, H Lounge
6.18.19 - Maumee-Holland/South GEO @ Rayoka Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
6.25.19 - Downtown/North GEO @  Toledo Museum of Art

Welcome to the following new members who joined the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in April:

• Arrow Print and Copy
• Chromatism, Ltd.
• Custom Storage Solutions
• DJS Holdings, LLC
• Enterprise Holding Company
• Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
• Gary Schmitz II
• Guac Shop LLC
• Jordan Windnagle, Danberry REALTOR
• Kahle Design & Build, LTD
• Keith David Reitzel Jr. Farms
• Kengo
• KMH Supply Company
• LakePoint Energy
• Lesic & Camper Communications
• Maumee Pediatric Associates LLC
• NBS Commercial Interiors
• Nextup LLC
• Pier 53 Marine
• Tiffin University
• Victoria's Luxury Home Team  - The Danberry Co.
• Work Leads to Independence

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. today, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on two ordinances to facilitate an 8,200 square foot addition for a 300-seat digital theater and retail/exhibit space at the Imagination Station science center. Ordinance 205-19 would permit the demolition of the pedestrian concourse over Summit Street currently connecting Imagination Station with the Four Seagate parking garage. Ordinance 206-19 would authorize agreements associated with the project, including a 30-year direct lease from the city which owns the science center property, and specifying the city will finance $400,000 in energy efficiency improvements via the Northwest Ohio Advanced Energy Improvement District.

Melanie D’Evelyn, Director, Detroit Drives Degrees at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce will present at the 2019 Talent Summit on Tuesday, May 14th, sharing her insight on the Detroit Chamber’s ongoing efforts towards education reform, job creation, and talent retention in metro Detroit.

The 2019 Toledo Talent Summit is the official launch of the Toledo Talent Alignment Strategy. D’Evelyn is one of several local and regional experts who will share best practices for attracting, developing and retaining the best talent for our region.
 
D’Evelyn will discuss Detroit Drives Degrees’, a plan to increase the percentage of postsecondary degrees in the metro Detroit region to 60 percent by 2030. Currently, about 40 percent of Detroiters hold a postsecondary degree.

“Detroit Drives Degrees’ goal is to create an education compact and collaborate with different sectors (nonprofits, higher education, philanthropy) toward reaching a common goal,” D’Evelyn said. “We want the public to hold us accountable.”

The compact’s work has already begun. Wayne State University (WSU) Provost Keith Whitfield announced last year that the university is creating a program that allows adults who left college to re-enroll without paying back the full amount of educational debt they accumulated. The idea is that the university will absorb some of that debt to encourage adults to focus on completing their degrees.

Whitfield also announced that WSU is investing in academic advisors to help current students succeed and building partnerships to offer more paid internships to students. Both Whitfield and D’Evelyn are hoping that other universities will see the benefits of these innovations and create similar programs.

To hear more, please register to join us at the 2019 Talent Summit on May 14th from 8 am to 1:15 pm at The Pinnacle in Maumee.
 
* Excerpted from the Detroit Drives Business Blog, “Business Leaders: Education Reform And Job Creation Will Help Michigan ‘Live Long And Prosper’” March 23, 2018

By ​Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA, Export Assistance Network Director

​Did you know that the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Export Assistance Network offers companies export documentation services?