By: Emily Dammeyer, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​Over the course of three days during our membership event, we welcomed 324 new members to the Chamber. It was a marathon event, with short shift sprints scattered throughout each day. This type of event wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated and energetic commitment of our volunteers. More than 300 community leaders came together to share our message and mission.
Our theme for the event was “All In”, inspired by the DC Marvel comic strip The Justice League. Dressed in capes, staff greeted all four shifts with a cheer and a high five. You can see on Facebook and Twitter how our volunteers embraced the energy and had a lot of fun with the event. It was their passion and excitement that gave us so many introductions to new members.

Why did 300+ businesses become members in two days? For two reasons – first, because of our awesome volunteers, and second, because they believe in the work that we do. As a Chamber, with more than 2,000 businesses, we recognize the importance of economic development to moving the region forward. We are committed to lobbying for business, creating opportunities for jobs and workforce development, and recruiting a talented workforce to the area. ​Thank you to everyone who volunteered to make this event a success.

​TRCC ALL IN will be the phrase celebrated this week by our staff and member volunteers. We are hosting a two-day Membership Campaign with the DC Comic inspired theme of ALL IN. More than 300 volunteers will come together at campaign headquarters over the course of two days to bring in new members to the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. A huge thanks to the leadership and employees of Buckeye Broadband for hosting us and providing the technology to make this event a success.

The goal of the campaign is to bring our existing members together in a fun, collaborative and competitive atmosphere, while sharing the Chamber story with the region at large. It will create community awareness of the important role of the Toledo Chamber and our mission to connect business with resources and opportunities; advocate for a thriving business environment and lead the charge to promote the assets of the region. 

Please note: Our staff will be off-site at Campaign Headquarters Tuesday, August 28th and Wednesday, August 29th. Chamber offices will be CLOSED for the duration of the event, and reopen at 8:30 am, Thursday, August 30th. For more information about membership or the campaign, please contact Eric Stockard, VP for Membership at the Chamber at 419.344.9626.
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This is the first volunteer driven membership drive the Chamber has embarked on in more than a decade. Sixteen community leaders have stepped-up and agreed to be event Chairs and provide a team. “The response from the business community for this effort has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Wendy Gramza, President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. “This is the perfect time to engage our volunteers to help us share the message of the work the Chamber is doing to move our region forward.”

This week, 30 Chamber members had the opportunity to hear from key officials from Governor John Kasich’s administration and discuss the issues impacting their businesses. Members met with Commissioner Joe Testa, Ohio Department of Taxation, Director David Goodman, Development Services Agency, and Kevin Abrams, Chief Operating Officer of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Topics included the Ohio Business Gateway and Modernized eFile, the state’s small business development centers, export assistance for businesses looking to expand into global markets, opportunity zones, and BWC’s 2018 Billion Back and its impact on future rates.
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After the conversation, Brian Dicken, vice president of advocacy & public policy, accepted a ceremonial check from Mr. Abrams representing the $50.5 million made out to the Toledo Region employers for the “More Than A Billion Back Again” campaign. This spring, Governor Kasich and BWC Administrator Sarah Morrison announced a $1.5 billion premium rebate. Since 2011, BWC has returned over $8 billion in worker’s compensation savings back to Ohio’s economy.

Our largest event of the year was a huge success. 700 members enjoyed an atmosphere that can’t be beat and feasted on a buffet full of lobster, clams, mussels and shrimp, followed by chocolate pot de crème and crème brulee.
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Why Clambake? Beyond the great food, Clambake is an opportunity for us to host a mission focused event and reach a significant portion of our members in one evening. Not only does the event allow us to connect business leaders with one another, we get to promote many of the great assets of the region including the Casino, Maumee River and showcase the delicious culinary skills in our community.

​​The Air Force Reserve is delighted to announce the opening of a recruiting office in Toledo, OH.  It is located in the Jesse James Complex at 559 S. Reynolds Rd, Toledo OH 43616.  The Air Force Reserve provides a way to expand experiences and serve your country while being able to choose where you live and work. The unique location of the Toledo Office provides members the ability to choose between Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Youngstown Air Reserve Base or Grissom Air Force Base. 

In June the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce held its Chamber U event on the topic of building and zoning permit processes. This was a forum aimed at helping local businesses better understand these processes and how to avoid project delays or other issues. Conversations on property development and zoning are a part of the Institute for Leadership & Advocacy’s sessions on economic development and planning sustainable communities, and graduates were invited to attend the forum.

​The discussion included a panel of building inspection and zoning officials from local departments who answered questions and covered topics such as permit processing timelines, common issues delaying permit issuance, and improvements underway to improve service. Panel participants included Steven Shrake, City of Toledo Chief Building Official; David Golis, Lucas County Chief Building Official; and Jim Gilmore, City of Oregon Building & Zoning Commissioner.

In a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning, Children’s Discovery Center reopened its downtown Toledo Center. The energy of Toledo’s downtown revitalization has inspired the renovation.

Open House Dates: Tuesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
Children’s Discovery Center has been serving the greater Toledo Community since 1982 by providing early education and childcare. Their award-winning philosophy —which includes STEAM and Reggio Emilia inspired education— has been nationally recognized. “We are delighted to present the new downtown Children’s Discovery Center to the community,” stated CEO Lois Rosenberry. “Our centers are unique and provide children with award-winning educational programs and parents with the peace of mind that their children are being cared for in a loving and stimulating environment.”

For 85 years Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio has been changing lives through the power of work in Toledo and throughout the Northwest Ohio region.
 
Earlier today, Goodwill hosted an anniversary celebration and ribbon cutting at its new headquarters located in Uptown Toledo at 1120 Madison Avenue. Supporters including clients, long-standing community partners, members of the business community and staff joined in the festivities.
 
“Goodwill’s impact begins with the generosity of community members and business partners, so we were particularly excited to kick-off our anniversary celebration with them by our side,” said Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio President and CEO Amy Wachob. “Together, we create life-changing opportunities and, ultimately, a stronger community right here in the Toledo Region. While Goodwill has a new downtown location, we remain committed to our mission of changing lives through the power of work.”

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce congratulates the 30 emerging leaders who graduated from the 2018 Institute for Leadership & Advocacy. These graduates join the more than 300 leaders who have completed this training and are prepared to effectively serve their communities and engage in the government decision-making process.
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The graduation ceremony took place March 26, 2018 at the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Metropark Visitor Center in Maumee. The ceremony included opening remarks from program facilitator Tim Schneider, Manager, Local Government Advocacy for the Chamber, and Ben Brown, Vice President, USI Insurance Services, and Chairman of The Leadership Fund PAC.

​Regional water – it’s a topic that has headlined every major news outlet in the region in the recent weeks. But what does it really mean for you, your family and your business?
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Regional water is our opportunity to ensure that clean, AFFORDABLE water continues to flow from our taps for generations to come. Collaboration among multiple communities like the proposed Toledo Area Water Authority, or TAWA, is unprecedented – we can make positive, national headlines for setting history, borders and politics aside to protect our residents and our water source – before we hit crisis mode.

Get informed on the proposed regional water plan by visiting the TAWA website at ToledoWater.org.

The benefits of TAWA are numerous. Watch this quick video to learn more or read our previous article, Why TAWA. Beyond keeping rates affordable, TAWA has the opportunity to establish a low-income assistance and lead line replacement programs to maintain safe, affordable water supply. It also a commitment to establish additional water sources, so that in emergency situations our residents still have access to water.