​By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on July 9, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 328-19 which would approve spending $400,000 for Phase 2 of the repair and reconstruction of Levis Square park downtown. The funding was previously appropriated as part of the 2019 Capital Improvement Program budget and will be used for professional design services and improvements to infrastructure, landscape, and park elements that are past their useful design life.

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

Due to the recent power outages in downtown, Toledo City Council has rescheduled its regular meeting for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Council is expected to vote on two ordinances related to the Division of Building Inspection. Ordinance 306-19 would amend Toledo building code to allow for the renewal of contractor licenses up to a year following expiration at the end of the calendar year. The change would include a $50 fee if a license is renewed after being expired for a month. Ordinance 307-19 would approve $65,000 for improvements to the Division’s office lobby on the 16th floor of One Government Center to improve customer service. The project was included in the city’s 2019 Capital Improvement Program budget previously approved by Council.

By: Riley Steinbock & Jewel White, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​Exporting is a phenomenon that is not necessarily new, but one that continues to evolve and become a crucial part of many successful businesses. Since 70% of the world’s purchasing power and 96% of consumers are outside of the United States, it makes sense that exporting can provide numerous opportunities for business. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with the Small Business Development Center, RGP of Northwest Ohio, UPS, and the University of Toledo’s College of Business and Innovation created the program Export Success which is designed to help members of the business community enter international markets by giving them tools on how to efficiently export their products. Export Success is a 10-session course that provides participants with informational sessions all about exporting by business mentors who have already successfully established an international presence. 

​By: Jocelyn Liberatore, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

Whether you are new to the Chamber or have been a long-term member, you probably have seen our staff engaged in workforce development. From Career Tour to the annual Morning Access: Education & Workforce Breakfast, we’ve been working hard knowing that the most prosperous communities are those developing comprehensive and collaborative strategies to address talent development, re-engagement, retention, and recruitment.

At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, the Chamber launched the Toledo Region Academic & Industry Network, or TRAIN. As a re-branded approach to Career Tour, TRAIN is a tool for educators and employers looking to connect with each other to provide career exploration experiences to students and student influencers (teachers, counselors) through a streamlined application and matchmaking process. When we launched TRAIN, we knew from our past efforts that there was a great need for the region to strategically develop, attract, and replenish our talent pool. We also knew that many schools and other organizations have identified this need and have been busy bringing together key players in the region to address these challenges. 

By: Jocelyn Liberatore, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​The Ohio EPA launched Ohio Material Marketplace (OMM) in April 2017. Through OMM's interactive messaging system, Ohio businesses, not-for-profits and government organizations communicate with other members of the marketplace to advertise and acquire materials that might otherwise be destined for disposal in landfills. Businesses and organizations are encouraged to create a free account, list items that other businesses may be able to re-use, and browse available items that are often at no-cost. 

​Thinking about starting, buying or expanding your new business? It can be a scary thought, but there are tools and resources available to help you conquer those fears and chart your course to feeling confident in your adventure towards success. 

We use a lot of acronyms around here. TRCC, EPIC, TRAIN, GEO... 
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Two of our favorites happen to be the SBDC and TASBA, the Small Business Development Center and the Toledo Area Small Business Association. That’s no secret, considering 82% of our members have 25 or fewer employees. 

​Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA

​According to the Ohio Development Services Agency, Ohio exports were valued at $54.3 billion in 2018 which was in increase of 8.4 percent. Ohio is ranked the 9th largest exporting state! The number of countries and territories that receive exports from Ohio are around 210! Goods that were exported from Ohio have supported a projected 249,000 jobs in 2016. 

By: Joan Browne Kose, ​The Ability Center Disability Dialog

Earlier this month, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its second event in the Chamber U: Diversity & Inclusion Series. Hosted at Lott Industries, a panel of three experts made the business case highlighting differing abilities in the workplace and showcased resources available to businesses looking to grow their workforce in a way that pays. 

​By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​The Ohio House of Representatives passed their version of a state budget last week.  Changes are expected to be made to the bill in the Ohio Senate before the legislature presents a final budget bill to the Governor by June 30.