Columbus Chamber Supports Issues 1 and 2

The Columbus Chamber has announced its support for State Issues 1 and 2. The issues will appear on the May 4 primary election ballot.

If adopted, State Issue 1 would renew the Ohio Third Frontier program by authorizing the state of Ohio to issue $700 million in bonds to support economic development initiatives. The Third Frontier was founded on the commitment to shape the future Ohio's economy through a balanced portfolio of programs to support research and commercialization, entrepreneurial assistance, cluster development, and expansion of the talent pool. Created in 2002, the program's 10-year initial life and a bipartisan commitment of $1.6 billion will expire in June 2012. The May ballot issue would extend that to June 2016.

"Now more than ever, our state needs the proven economic development initiatives that Ohio Third Frontier will provide," said Jack Partridge, chairman of the Columbus Chamber Board of Directors and president of Columbia Gas of Ohio. "This program is good for business and good for Ohio because it builds on the state's strengths in technology and innovation to create high-wage jobs, new growth companies, and globally competitive products."

The Chamber also supports State Issue 2, the proposal to change the address where a Columbus-area casino can be located. Because of the passage of State Issue 3 in November 2009, current law requires that a casino built in Columbus must be built in the city's Arena District.

The Columbus Chamber opposed State Issue 3. Following its passage, the Chamber urged state and local lawmakers to work with Penn National Gaming for a solution that would ensure that a casino would not be located in the Arena District and also honor the will of Ohio's electorate by finding an alternative location in the Columbus region that was suitable to host a casino.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the city of Columbus, Penn National Gaming, and Franklin Township had agreed to locate the Columbus-based casino on property that borders on the west side of Columbus. The property was formerly occupied by a Delphi factory.

"Our community should be able to decide where a casino would be located. By changing the location to the Delphi site, a property that was shuttered due to the painful transition in the auto industry can now receive hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and be transformed into a business that will attract tourists from outside our region," noted Steve Tugend, vice president of government relations at the Columbus Chamber.

The Columbus Chamber joins Experience Columbus, the Columbus Partnership and leaders including Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Franklin County Commissioner John O'Grady in supporting Issue 2.

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Chamber Introduces Green Council

The Columbus Chamber is proud to announce of the formation of a new member committee – the Green Council. The mission of the council is to promote businesses that solve environmental problems with innovative products and services and to encourage environmentally responsible practices and operations in the Columbus region.

The council is chaired by Doug Morgan, partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP and member of the Chamber's Board of Directors.

"It's crucial that the Columbus Chamber helps advance green practices in our region," Morgan said. "These principles, policies, and practices will improve the quality of life in our community and the environment."

This month, in conjunction with Earth Day, the Chamber will launch a green page on its Web site with links to information on green practices and a list of Chamber members that provide green products and services.

View the list of the Green Council members here.

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OfficeMax Helps Members Go Green, Save Green

Everyday products like paper, toner and furniture play a role in the life of your business. As Earth Day approaches, we are reminded to seek to reduce our collective impact on the environment. There are some ways in which OfficeMax, the Columbus Chamber's office supplies savings partner, can help you reach your green potential at work.

According to OfficeMax, green begins with choosing paper in tune with nature. The company recommends you select options with 30-100 percent post-consumer content. OfficeMax offers a broad selection of such paper. In fact, more than 1,700 environmentally friendly products are available at OfficeMax.

To learn more about OfficeMax's green initiative, go to www.officemaxgreen.com.

Chamber members can save on many green products and other integral items by participating in the Chamber's exclusive discount program with OfficeMax. You can save up to 80 percent on supplies by using the 250 item list of the most commonly ordered items.

Start saving some green by signing up for the Chamber's OfficeMax program now.

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Explore China for $2,399?
Learn How at Free Info Session

Join the Columbus Chamber for a journey of a lifetime. The new go> explore travel program will launch Nov. 10-18, 2010 with a guided tour of China, featuring Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. You'll explore the third largest country and one of the oldest civilizations in the world—visiting renowned sites such as the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, West Lake, Summer Palace, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

The Chamber is offering this tour for $2,399 per person, double occupancy, including air from Port Columbus.

Attend a free informational session at 5:30 p.m. on April 14 at the Easton Community Room to learn more about this exciting opportunity. Representatives from the tour provider, Premier World Discovery, will share details about the trip and answer your questions.

Learn more and register for the informational session now.

If you have any questions, please email Cathy Amato at the Columbus Chamber or call her at 614.225.6901.

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Small Business Support at Heart of Chamber's Mission

Small companies—nearly 40,000 of them—are the foundation of the economy in the Columbus region. In fact, nine out of 10 Columbus Chamber members run small to mid-size enterprises. Serving small business members is more than just a program for the Chamber; it's the foundation of the Chamber's mission. Every day the Chamber is at work helping small business grow and prosper. A few of the ways the Chamber helps small businesses include:

• Contacts to Contracts – Small business owners are connected with large corporations for contract opportunities through this program. By organizing a clearinghouse event for these two groups to meet, the small business owners are given a "foot in the door" they might not have had otherwise, and the larger corporations are given a more cost-effective and convenient local contract solution instead of seeking assistance outside of the region.
• Business Retention and Expansion services – The Chamber helps all size businesses, from entrepreneurs to major corporations, who need business analysis expertise. Chamber staff consults with members and provides advice about growth, products, opportunities, and how to overcome barriers to success – anything to help them successfully launch or expand their business.
• Relocation support – Through another initiative, organizations that are new to Columbus or looking to expand here can turn to the Chamber for assistance with site location, community connections and advice on how to obtain financial incentives from local and state government.
• Small Business Council – The Chamber's Small Business Council makes sure that small businesses have a big voice at the Chamber. Before the Chamber takes a position on a policy issue or introduces a new benefit program, the business leaders of the Small Business Council are consulted.
• Advocacy – Advocacy on behalf of businesses is a core focus of the Chamber. Working with city, state, county and federal government leaders, the Chamber promotes a pro-business legal and regulatory environment in which small business can grow and thrive.

In the coming year, the Chamber will be enhancing its efforts to support small businesses. Watch future issues of the Member Connection for more information.

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Columbus Kudos

There are many great reasons to live and work in the Columbus region. If you're looking for jobs or to do business, Columbus has the resources, strong economy, and growing population to support business growth. Our region is continually recognized for its strengths and resources, and as being a great place to live, work, and play.

Want to know what others are saying? Read some of our recent accolades:

Columbus Rates as a Place for Young Adults - One of Top 2 Cities in Midwest
- Portfolio.com/Bizjournals, March 2010

Marysville - One of Best Affordable Suburbs in America 2010
- Bloomberg Business News, March 2010

Ohio - 2009 Governor's Cup Award Winner
Fourth consecutive Governor's Cup and fifth in seven years
- Site Selection Magazine, March 2010

Columbus - #18 on List of America's Most Wired Cities
- Forbes, March 2010

Delaware County - #2 in "Best Places to Get Ahead"
- Forbes, February 2010

Columbus - #6 Best Housing Market in America
- Forbes, February 2010

Columbus-based OhioHealth #46 in Top 100 Places to Work
- FORTUNE Magazine, January 2010

#18 City for Artists & Designers
- ArtBistro, January 2010

Dublin, Ohio One of Top Seven International Intelligent Communities
- Intelligent Community Forum, January 2010

#18 Top City for Finding an Entry Level Job
- Monster.com, October 2009

Want to join in? You can also share your reason to live in Columbus by participating in the Columbus Chamber's Tell Your Story program.

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