​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 39-20 which would approve an enterprise zone agreement with Niki Toledo for construction of two retail buildings at the former site of Elder Beerman at 3311 Secor Road. The agreement includes a 50 percent property tax exemption for 15 years of assessed valuation prior to remediation of the site, and a 100 percent exemption for the same period on the increase in valuation following remediation. Bob’s Discount Furniture and TJ Maxx are retailers planned for the new buildings. The project would involve total estimated investment of $12,746,560 and the creation of 23 new full-time and 40 part-time positions.

Have you ever dreamed of experiencing the Acropolis Museum or sailing through the picturesque Corinth canal? Have you ever wanted to explore the stunning cities on Santorini and the ruins of Athens? Thanks to a partnership between the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and travel organization Aventura World, now you can, and at an unbeatable price.

By Sabrina D'Onofrio, Export Assistance Network Director

​The International Market Access Grant for Exporters is coming to a close this Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. The IMAGE Grant is a program funded through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). STEP is funded through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of International Trade. The SBA provides guidance on the IMAGE grant that offers financial assistance for small businesses to promote their products and services in international markets. The IMAGE grant will provide 50 percent reimbursement up to $10,000 per fiscal year for qualifying activities. 

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 11 at 4:00 p.m., Toledo City Council is expected
to refer Ordinance 2-20 to committee for an extended period of time to allow for a process to be established for broader deliberation by stakeholders. The ordinance, opposed by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and a number of other local organizations, would require additional construction tradespersons to complete examinations and obtain a local license to perform work in the city. This action, recommended via a statement from Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and ordinance sponsor Council President Matt Cherry, would halt consideration of the ordinance while this process occurs. More details are likely following the council session.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) announced January 30 that private employers may receive a 13 percent rate reduction starting July 1. The proposal is under consideration by the BWC board of directors.
 
If approved at their February 28 meeting, private employers would pay nearly $132 million less in premiums for the year, and this would mark the third rate cut in three years for private employers and the 11th rate cut since 2008. It would also be the third-largest cut in 60 years and would follow a 20 percent cut in 2019.
 
According to BWC, premiums cover health care and lost wages for injured workers, as well as the BWC’s Safety and Hygiene Division for offering training, consultations and other services to help employers improve workplace safety. Employer participation in those services has grown by over 70 percent since 2010, while total annual claims have fallen 19 percent over that time to 84,364 in 2019.

Join members of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce this Friday, February 14 for Morning Access presented by AT&T, an opportunity to network and connect with elected officials about the issues that are important to you and your business. This dialogue is designed to foster economic growth and prosperity, making the region a preferred place for diverse talent and innovation.

On Feb. 6, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Toledo Small Business Development Center held the first-ever Drivers Ed class. The series was designed specifically for young professionals entering C-suite and ownership-level positions in their businesses, and focuses on teaching them to not just sustain the business model of previous generations, but to grow. The series continues on March 5 at 8 a.m. with Accounting for Fuel Efficiency at the University of Toledo's Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex.

On Jan. 21, Predictive Index CEO Mike Zani discussed Talent: The New Frontier to a crowd of 600 at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce 2020 Annual Meeting presented by Fifth Third Bank. Zani introduced a key idea: aligning talent and strategy. In other words, getting the right people in the right roles in order to unleash maximum productivity.

The first month of 2020 is over, and we can barely believe it. However, the start of February 2020 means it's time to celebrate all of our fantastic new members who joined in January 2020. Whether you're a brand new member or you've been a member since the beginning, by joining the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, you've chosen to make an investment in us and, by extension, your business. Don't forget to check out all of the events we offer to members and non-members alike.