​Senate Bill 225 was signed by Governor Mike DeWine on June 14. The Chamber advocated for language that increases the amount of nonrefundable Opportunity Zone credits that may be issued, to $75 million in the July 2021-June 2023 biennium, up from $50 million. There are more than 20 Opportunity Zones located in Lucas County. 

We've nearly made it to the start of summer, northwest Ohio, and that means we're gearing up for our hottest event: Clambake presented by PNC! We're so excited to get together with you again at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium Malawi Event Center to try out delicious cocktails, enjoy seafood meals, and just celebrate togetherness and our Toledo Chamber business community. But before we get to that, let's welcome and congratulate our newest members who joined the Toledo Chamber community in May 2022. When you're in or around these businesses next, be sure to wish them a warm welcome to the Toledo Chamber community. And don't forget – your Chamber membership comes with a wealth of cost-saving benefits and services to help you do business easier here in the Toledo Region.

Khary Carson knew something had to give. While he had a successful career in psychology with a degree in psychology and master’s degree in clinical psychology, he says, he wasn’t seeing success with his clients translate to the same financial success.

Like others in the region, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce was encouraged by the announcement of the creation of the Route 23 Connect Initiative a year ago. This initiative of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), along with regional partners at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), was designed to determine the feasibility of a free-flowing connection between the Columbus and Toledo regions. Improving the connection has been a long-standing priority for the Chamber, TMACOG and others.

​The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Monday, May 2, that the Toledo Small Business Development Center at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce has won its 2022 Great Lakes Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Award. Through this award, the SBA recognizes the year's most outstanding SBDC among the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Happy May, Toledo! We could not be more excited to shepherd in sunnier days, warmer weather and the exciting spring and summer events northwest Ohio is known for. Before we get into the upcoming events that you can’t miss in the next few months, let us first celebrate and recognize our newest members who joined the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce member community in April 2022. When you stop by these businesses or meet them out at one of our networking events, don’t forget to congratulate them and offer them a warm welcome to our community.

​​​​​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​We believe that your perspective as a business leader is essential to help guide decision-making in the Toledo region. The Chamber often receives requests from area officials for recommendations to serve on local government boards and commissions. It is vital that these bodies include the expertise of our business community to inform decisions that impact our residents and overall business climate.

In February, Terra State Community College was awarded the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership’s (TSEP) Partnership in Development Award during TSEP’s 2022 Annual Meeting. Terra State is one of our new members who joined in late 2021, and we are thrilled to share in their excitement of this well-deserved recognition.