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

Beginning July 1, 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), or sometimes referred to as NAFTA 2.0, will replace the North America Free Trade Agreement, more commonly known as NAFTA. An agreement was made to modernize the 25-year-old agreement into a 21st century agreement with the highest standards.  

​While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has provided guidelines to help give individuals with disabilities the same opportunities when accessing public accommodations since it was signed into law 30 years ago by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990, there is still much work to do to encourage our community – and the world – to take proactive steps to create welcoming and inclusive spaces.

​Recently, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce hired four interns to assist with day-to-day tasks within the center. The internship will enable them to gain valuable, real-world experience with local small businesses.

Earlier this week, Governor Mike DeWine signed HB16 to grant residency status for college tuition to active duty military service members and their spouses and dependents. This legislation requires the Chancellor of Higher Education to grant residency status to any military service members on active duty, as well as their spouses and dependents, to qualify for in-state tuition at state institutions of higher education.

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting on June 16 at 4:00 p.m., Toledo City Council is expected to vote on ordinances that would advance the Colony development planned by ProMedica and Continental Real Estate Co. which would include two apartment buildings, a hotel and a mixed-use structure near ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Ordinance 188-20 would approve an agreement authorizing the city to spend $1,899,840 on storm sewer and water line improvements at the site, with the developer being responsible for $700,000 of related costs. Ordinances 189-20 and 190-20 would approve 15-year, 100 percent Community Reinvestment Area property tax incentives for the increase in taxable value on the parcels. Total investment for the development is estimated to be $50 million. The property owner would be required to make payments in lieu of property taxes to Toledo Public Schools for the term of the incentives.

As we enter the month of June, we'd like to look back on and celebrate our new Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce members. Join us in recognizing our new members for the month of May:

Had you visited Put-in-Bay in 1905, you would have seen the beginnings of Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay & Middle Bass Island. It’s now the biggest ferry service on Lake Erie, but it didn’t start that way. Back in the early 1900s, Miller Ferry began as a fishing charter and water taxi business in the summer, and an ice harvesting business in the winter.

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting on June 2 at 4:00 p.m., Toledo City Council is expected to vote on two ordinances that would accept and spend funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the federal CARES Act for COVID-19 related expenses. Ordinance 195-20 would approve $4,453,360 in Community Development Block Grant funding and Ordinance 196-20 would approve $2,249,248 in Emergency Solutions Grant funding. Planned allocations under the ordinances include $1,250,000 for the city’s already implemented micro-enterprise grant program and $2,000,000 for its recently announced emergency rental assistance program. Council is expected to give first reading to a third measure, Ordinance 193-20, which would create a specific fund to accept and spend expected funding to the city for purposes prescribed in the CARES Act.