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.

By: ​Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​Export Success 2020 registration is OPEN! Are you looking to export your product or service and don’t know where to begin? Are you looking to improve your current exporting process? Do you just want more information on exporting? If you answered YES to any of these questions, then Export Success is for you. The Export Success program is strategically designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses interested in expanding into global markets. Export Success at The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce can help you and your company develop plans to identify global markets, improve export efficiencies, understand export financing, and develop market entry strategies. Export Success participants meet approximately once a month over a catered breakfast for a targeted topic session. 

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on August 20, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 395-19 which would authorize sale of more than 50 acres in the Triad Business Park located in the Maumee-Monclova-Toledo Joint Economic Development Zone. Midland Agency of Northwest Ohio, Inc. would purchase the site for $1,050,000 on behalf of an anonymous Michigan-based company considering relocation of its headquarters, fulfillment, and manufacturing operations. The prospective company could invest $28 million to construct an up to 225,000 square foot facility and employ as many as 200 individuals should the site ultimately be selected.

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on July 23, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on enforcement of street parking at The University of Toledo and regulations for parking lots located downtown. Ordinance 336-19 would add metered parking and a two-hour time limit along Bancroft Street at the university’s main campus. Meters would likely be installed by the beginning of the 2019 fall semester, and enforcement would occur from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Ordinance 355-19 was recently recommended by the Toledo Plan Commission and would create an advisory committee and standards for the parking lots including fencing and other design elements.

​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.