Yesterday, the Small Business Administration began to offer an advance of up to $10,000 on its Economic Injury Disaster Loan for businesses being disrupted by COVID-19. For businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue, funds should be made available within three working days of a successful application. The loan will not have to be repaid. You can apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance by clicking here.

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. 

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 Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. at the Toledo Club, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, alongside the Toledo Small Business Development Center, will hold its first-ever Drivers Ed class. The class, part of a 10-course series, will challenge attendees to step into a new future in both their C-suite and ownership positions, as well as in their companies as a whole. Each class is built with one concept in mind: growth.

On Jan. 24, the graduating class of Export Success 2020 began its journey to create export plans, learn how to become masters in exporting abroad and/or fine tune their existing export process. The 10-session course, hosted by the Export Assistance Network at the Small Business Development Center at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Regional Growth Partnership, is characterized by dedicated student companies and seasoned mentors. Meet some of our mentors and learn how they can assist you in growing your business through exporting overseas:

​Recently the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University, launched the Toledo Region Data Center (TRDC), bringing a powerful and free-to-access library of resources to the Toledo region.

On Jan. 9, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), along with key northwest Ohio-based exporters and future exporters, met at Manhattan's Pub 'n Cheer to discuss the impact exporting abroad can have on local business, what exporting means to the global economy, and how business owners not currently exporting can take advantage of local resources and begin to export abroad.

​Here at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, everything we do ties back to one thing: fostering economic growth and supporting a thriving business culture throughout the region. We advocate for a successful and progressive business environment and we lead the charge in talent and workforce by attracting talent to the region and helping our members to retain that talent. Finally, we provide various series and resources to our members in order to connect them with opportunities for growth.

On Sept. 24 at United Way of Greater Toledo, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and esteemed panelists discussed the benefits, barriers and difficulties surrounding fair chance hiring.
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The ReEntry Development Initiative discussion, as part of the Chamber U Diversity & Inclusion Series, was paneled by Jeffrey D. Korzenik, senior vice president and chief investment strategist for Fifth Third Bank; Sarah Pawlicki, attorney for Eastman & Smith Ltd.; Lisa Bloomfield, president of Credit Adjustments, Inc.; and Matt Grafton, regional director for A Renewed Mind. The TRCC’s own Brian Dicken, MOD, IOM, vice president of advocacy and public policy, moderated the discussion.