​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, Toledo City Council is expected to give first reading to four ordinances that would approve vacating certain right-of-way to facilitate the Colony development planned by ProMedica and Continental Real Estate Co. The overall project will include two apartment buildings, a hotel, and a mixed-use structure near ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Ordinance 312-20 would approve vacating a strip along Central Avenue, Ordinance 313-20 would approve vacating portions of Brian Cliff Road, Ordinance 314-20 would approve vacating a portion of Kelly Avenue, and Ordinance 315-20 would approve vacating portions of Rathburn Drive. The requests have been recommended for approval by the Toledo Plan Commission and the Lucas County Board of Revision.

​The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is a proud longtime supporter of the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana. Though we will miss Hole 14 Chamber Canteen and meeting with our members in person this year, we look forward to tuning in and continuing our successful partnership.
 
Through Aug. 9, Ladies Professional Golf Association pros will converge upon northwest Ohio to compete in the 2020 Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania. Though this tournament will look different than any before, as there are no spectators allowed during the pandemic, you can still enjoy the tournament by tuning in to The Golf Channel. What’s not different this year, however, is the support the Marathon Classic brings to northwest Ohio charitable organizations.

As we enter the dog days of summer and celebrate the start of August, we have to look back on July and celebrate all the exciting work we and our members did in the last month. From the continuation of the Northwest Ohio Business Reboot Initiative to the Business Reboot Ribbon Cutting Blitz, July has been a month of refocusing and celebrating the businesses throughout northwest Ohio. But now, let's celebrate our newest Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce members who joined in July 2020.

Today the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education reviewed and unanimously approved the district’s re-opening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The plan includes a three-tier color category system developed to determine how district operations will occur related to the status of the COVID-19 pandemic:

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

On the agenda for Toledo City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28 at 4:00 p.m. are Resolutions 280-20 and 282-20 which would approve placing renewal of the city’s temporary 0.75 percent income tax, and a new temporary 0.25 percent income tax for roads and bridges, on the November 3 general election ballot. Both proposals would be for a period of four years beginning January 1, 2021, when the current 0.75 percent income tax is set to expire. According to the city, the 0.75 percent income tax would generate $56.8 million annually, and the 0.25 percent income tax would generate $18.9 million annually. While transfer for general fund purposes would continue to be allowed using capital improvement funding revenue generated from renewal of the 0.75 percent income tax, revenue generated from the new 0.25 percent income tax would be placed in a designated fund to be used solely for roads and bridges.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce has worked with hundreds of small businesses since the crisis began. In our role as consultants working in alignment with the SBA, many businesses have received EIDL advance grants and the more traditional EIDL loan, and many more have received PPP loans. The EIDL grant did provide a lifeline for many very small businesses, but with a maximum of $10,000.00 per business. For larger businesses with higher expenses those funds were spent quickly. Many businesses received EIDL loans, and most owners seemed to have been saving those funds for cash flow shortfalls in the future, which is a very sound strategy. But not all businesses received the EIDL loan. PPP funds had to be spent predominantly on employee wages, so they had little impact on the overhead or inventory. 

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 14 at 4:00 p.m., Toledo City Council is expected to consider Ordinance 250-20 which would assign new leadership for certain Council committees. Changes would include assigning council members Rob Ludeman as chair and Katie Moline as vice chair of the Finance & Debt Oversight Committee; Cecelia Adams as chair and Theresa Gadus as vice chair of the Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health Committee; and Chris Delaney as chair and Matt Cherry as vice chair of the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee. Also, Council President Cherry would become vice chair of the Regional Growth, Development & Small Business Enterprise Committee and Council Member Gadus would become vice chair of the Water Quality & Sustainability Committee.

In line with the goal of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Northwest Ohio Business Reboot Initiative to help businesses throughout the region successfully reopen and retool through the COVID-19 pandemic, the chamber has been celebrating reopenings with ribbon cuttings throughout the region. The effort, called the Business Reboot Ribbon Cutting Blitz, is comprised of five-minute ribbon cuttings and is the perfect way to commemorate your business’ return to work, the office or retooling initiative.

As a result of the regular council meeting being cancelled on June 30, a special meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Resolution 212-20 which would adopt the Downtown Toledo Transportation Study. The study was conducted by a consultant team led by Mannik & Smith Group on behalf of the city to address future transportation needs of downtown. It recommends key roadways for improvement alternatives including designating:

July is here, and that means plenty of sunshine, socially distance outdoor fun and blue skies. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce has a lot to celebrate, including plenty of business reopenings and Ribbon Cutting Blitz celebrations. But we also want to take the time to celebrate and welcome our newest members. Congratulations and thank you to the new Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce members who joined in June 2020!