The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce thanks our local leaders who recently joined us in recognizing November 24th as Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday was founded in 2010 as an annual shopping tradition dedicated to supporting small businesses in communities across the nation.
 
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 44,700 businesses with fewer than 100 employees in Northwest Ohio. These small businesses comprise 92 percent of all firms in the region.

​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 Resolution 482-18 recognizing November 24 as Small Business Saturday. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce will be joined by Chamber member Frank Viviano of Bartz Viviano Flowers & Gifts as part of the recognition. Small Business Saturday is an annual shopping tradition dedicated to supporting small businesses in communities across the nation. Nearly 80 percent of the Chamber’s membership is small businesses. Chamber services to small businesses include representation though the Toledo Area Small Business Association and hosting the Small Business Development Center for the region.

​Registration is now open for the 18th edition of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s public service leadership program which is set to begin in January. Every year, the program graduates individuals representing a cross-section of the area who go on to improve the region and advance their own professional goals. The program is the longest running of its kind in the state. More than 300 leaders from around the Toledo Region have graduated from the program.

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 417-18 which would approve amending a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) agreement with Troy Township, Wood County in order to add 512 acres of undeveloped land into the district. The request comes from the East Ohio Gas Company which is the owner of the property. NSG Pilkington North America is planning to construct a 511,000 square foot plant on the JEDD site for production of specialty sheet glass for the solar panel manufacturing industry.
 
Council is also expected to vote on Ordinance 465-18 which would authorize $30,000 to the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) for a Toledo-Detroit Rail Ridership Feasibility & Cost Estimate Study. The total cost of the study is $50,000 of which TMACOG is contributing the remaining $20,000.