Updates from the June Focus on Business Lunch
By: Emily Dammeyer, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Colonel Craig A. Baker, Commander, Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing, was the headline speaker at our June Focus on Business Lunch. Preceded by short presentations from the Regional Growth Partnership, the Toledo Small Business Development Center, and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, attendees received a complete briefing on the economic progress of the Toledo Region, from microlending to foreign investment and defense. The event was hosted in the beautiful GlasSalon at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion.
| Paul Toth, President and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, focused on microlending in Northwest Ohio. In January, the Port Authority partnered with ECDI and established the Toledo Microenterprise Development Initiative to extend ECDI’s ability to provide microloans in the Toledo Region. ECDI is a non-profit firm that helps entrepreneurs acquire financing for projects that would be denied by the bank. Much more than cutting a check, microlending is more personal where experts will come in to the business receiving the loan each week to make sure that things are going well and certain benchmarks are being met. | Program Stats
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In this new partnership, the Port processes all microloan applications and ECDI underwrites loans submitted by the Port Authority and disburses funds to “capital ready” projects. Says Toth, “This is a good partnership and a great start to the program.” When asked, “Why Toledo?” Toth discussed the positive impact of small business on the economy. The program is designed to support entrepreneurship, alleviate poverty, and redevelop neighborhoods. Two spotlight projects of the program are IzzyAbby and RL Williams Concrete LLC.
“The single most effective way to reduce poverty in a community is through the support of entrepreneurism.” – The Fund For Our Economic Future
Paul Zito, VP of International Development at the Regional Growth Partnership, discussed the importance of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the Toledo Region’s economy. Currently 180 overseas companies have operations in this area, which employ nearly 30,000 people. In 2015, some 600 jobs were created by overseas companies with investments of over $160 million. 2016 has already seen more than 300 jobs and over $30 million invested into the region by overseas companies. Zito also shared information about JobsOhio with the audience. JobsOhio has brought Ohio back onto the forefront of international marketing of Ohio as a location for overseas companies in the past 2-3 years with strong representation in the most important FDI markets, i.e. Europe, Japan and Canada.
Colleen Kardasz, Director of the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network, shared information about her recent trip to Hannover Messe with the Ohio Delegation. She shared her thoughts the importance of overseas networking and stories that portrayed the success of the trip.
Col. Baker captured the attention of the audience by wearing a flight suit, something he shared he will not be able to do as much when he transfers to Washington D.C. next month. He discussed the mission of the 180th Fighter Wing, the Toledo Air Show, and ongoing operations at the base. The mission of the Air National Guard is broken down into federal, state and community missions. Said Col. Baker, “We provide for America.”
The Air National Guard composition across the country is 30% full time / 70% drill status, however, on the 180th base specifically, the composition is 45% full time / 55% drill status. The reason for this is the Federal Mission at the 180th. Called the Alert Mission, the 180th protects 60% of the American population and is on call 24/7, 365 days per year. He also shared that if he gets “the call,” the airmen must prepared to go overseas within 72 hours.
Stateside, the 180th plays an important role in responding to emergencies in Ohio. They must respond within 4 hours and sustain that response for 72 hours. Both the Federal and State missions are critical to the protection of American citizens, and the community plays an important role in supporting the airmen and women that protect us. Over half of the employees at the base are “drill status,” which means they also have jobs in the community. When they need to respond, it is crucial that they have the support of their family, employers and the community. Col. Baker shared that the airmen are the community. They grew up here, they live here, and they raise their families here.
Colleen Kardasz, Director of the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network, shared information about her recent trip to Hannover Messe with the Ohio Delegation. She shared her thoughts the importance of overseas networking and stories that portrayed the success of the trip.
Col. Baker captured the attention of the audience by wearing a flight suit, something he shared he will not be able to do as much when he transfers to Washington D.C. next month. He discussed the mission of the 180th Fighter Wing, the Toledo Air Show, and ongoing operations at the base. The mission of the Air National Guard is broken down into federal, state and community missions. Said Col. Baker, “We provide for America.”
The Air National Guard composition across the country is 30% full time / 70% drill status, however, on the 180th base specifically, the composition is 45% full time / 55% drill status. The reason for this is the Federal Mission at the 180th. Called the Alert Mission, the 180th protects 60% of the American population and is on call 24/7, 365 days per year. He also shared that if he gets “the call,” the airmen must prepared to go overseas within 72 hours.
Stateside, the 180th plays an important role in responding to emergencies in Ohio. They must respond within 4 hours and sustain that response for 72 hours. Both the Federal and State missions are critical to the protection of American citizens, and the community plays an important role in supporting the airmen and women that protect us. Over half of the employees at the base are “drill status,” which means they also have jobs in the community. When they need to respond, it is crucial that they have the support of their family, employers and the community. Col. Baker shared that the airmen are the community. They grew up here, they live here, and they raise their families here.
“The 180th wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you and the support of the community.” – Col. Baker
Col. Baker was also able to confirm that the Thunderbirds will fly at the Toledo Air Show. He encouraged the audience to get tickets and plan on attending the show with their family, before handing the mic off to TRACE (Toledo Regional Architects, Contractors, and Engineers), the firm that is handling the design of the 9/11 Memorial at the 180th. The memorial incorporates the designs of 8 airmen, beams from the fallen towers, and will be open to the public.
Thank you to all of our speakers for sharing your extensive knowledge with our members. The next Focus on Business Lunch will be in August, we look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you to all of our speakers for sharing your extensive knowledge with our members. The next Focus on Business Lunch will be in August, we look forward to seeing you there!
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