The Ohio Small Business Development Center District Three isn't here to run your business for you – we're here to guide you, to show you the options and resources available to you, and to share with you the best practices so you can be successful. 

At the Toledo Small Business Development Center (SBDC), we're all about people – and helping people achieve their dreams. Our clients own a variety of small businesses all over northwest Ohio, each with a unique set of successes and challenges. And our expert team of counselors is here to assist in any situation.

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce would like to introduce one of our newest members of the staff to the community: Ebony Carter, Toledo Small Business Development Center counselor. Ebony is a Toledo native, and though we'd love for you to get to meet her in person at our events, we asked her to answer some of our most pressing questions.

Until you're able to safely meet Ebony at one of the Toledo Chamber's fabulous in-person events, we invite you to learn a little bit about what makes her tick and what brought her to the Chamber and Toledo SBDC.

By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA

The Export Success class of 2021 is now accepting registrations, and that means it's time for you to decide whether Export Success can benefit your business and the goals you have for your business' future. Of course, here at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and our Toledo Small Business Development Center, which houses our Export Assistance program, and the Regional Growth Partnership, we want your business to grow, succeed and find stability. So, the short of it is yes, you should join Export Success. But let's get into why.

By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA

Don't let yourself or your business suffer because of the myths that precede the concept of exporting abroad. If you believe exporting is too complicated or unnecessary then I highly recommend that you register for Export Success 2021. Export Success 2021 is now 100% reimbursable for eligible companies who apply for the IMAGE Grant from the State of Ohio.

Happy New Year, Toledo! We've closed the books on 2020 and we are excited to get started on everything to come in 2021. However, we wouldn't be sending December off right without recognizing our incredible new members who joined the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in December 2020. Let's take a look back at what the month brought for the business community of northwest Ohio.

Lucas and Wood County businesses facing possible late payment of first-half property taxes as a result of COVID-19 or other hardship are encouraged to contact their county treasurer’s office to discuss options for avoiding penalty and interest. The payment deadline for first-half property taxes is January 31 for Lucas County property owners and February 12 for Wood County property owners.

​​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on two ordinances that would facilitate FCA’s proposed construction of a 250,000 square foot vehicle customization facility near its Toledo Assembly Complex. Ordinance 8-21 would approve the sale of 40.67 acres of city-owned property that includes the former Textileather and MedCorp facility sites to FCA for $1.00. Ordinance 9-21 would establish a tax increment financing arrangement to fund improvements on the site with FCA making service payment into a fund for such purposes in lieu of property taxes for a period of 30 years. According to the city, the project would support production at the Toledo Assembly Complex and involve total investment of $23 million and creation of more than 300 jobs.

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, Toledo City Council will likely vote on Ordinance 496-20 which would approve adjustments within the 2020 approved budget. Changes would increase the estimate for general fund revenues by $20,043,238. Notable individual revenue adjustments include increases of $6.4 million from income tax collections and $16.8 million from excess Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation rebates, and a decrease of $4 million from the traffic photo enforcement program and court fines. Changes would also increase the estimate for general fund expenditures by $965,395. The ordinance would also make a number of other city fund adjustments.