Career Fair Added to Business2Business Network EXPO
 Looking to hire? Get some great "EXPO-sure."
If your company has job openings, there's no better way to find quality candidates than by taking part in the Business2Business Network EXPO Community Career Fair. Career Fair Exhibit space is just $200. For more information or to reserve your space, contact 614.675.4679.
Limited exhibit space is still available.
The Business2Business Network EXPO Community Career Fair is presented by The Columbus Dispatch, columbusjobs.com, Monster, Careworks and the Columbus Chamber.
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Blue Jackets Central to the Arena District's Success and Survival
By Jack Partridge, president, Columbia Gas; board chair, Columbus Chamber
 Sixty-nine percent of Columbus residents voted recently in favor of Issue 2, to move the proposed casino site from the Arena District to the West Side of the city. Nearly three out of four voters see the value that thousands of additional jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue will bring to central Ohio, but also feel strongly that the existing economic structure in the Arena District is working well.
The public has spoken, and it's time to revitalize the West Side starting with the casino as an economic driver.
The situation is similar to where we were more than a decade ago, when today's Arena District was the site of a former penitentiary with no real "draw" to local and out-of-town consumers. Since Nationwide Arena's construction was announced in 1998, the area has become a hub for businesses and entertainment, and property values in the surrounding area have increased 267 percent.
Today, more than $600 million is invested in the Arena District, with 170 businesses driving more than $1.6 billion in annual sales. More than 5,500 employees with annual wages of roughly $350 million generate $30 million in state and local tax revenue annually. That tax revenue is projected to double to $60 million within 10 years. The Arena District is an established, proven economic driver in the region, and it's on track to deliver even more jobs and additional tax revenue for years to come.
The Arena District has grown to represent much more than just the hockey team that calls the arena home, but the Blue Jackets remain central to the district's success and survival. It has become clear that the Blue Jackets cannot continue to operate under the same financial model used for the past 10 years. A study published by the Columbus Chamber last fall conveyed urgency to solve this issue. If a solution is not determined soon that ensures financial viability for the team – and, in turn, Nationwide Arena – we could lose this valuable resource and all of the progress made in the last decade.
If this becomes a reality, everyone in the region will be impacted. Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or you've never even been to Nationwide Arena, you have benefitted from the region's revitalization in one way or another. The area's success and reputation have made it a regional and national tourism destination and a model for other cities, bringing increased foot traffic and dollars into our region. Perhaps most importantly, the millions of dollars in tax revenue generated annually by the Arena District pays for public services like infrastructure upgrades and education improvements.
The public voiced its opinion with the Issue 2 decision, proving the importance of both spurring new economic activity and preserving what's already present. Don't let the momentum stop there. Let's all work together to find a way to keep the Arena District thriving. Thousands of jobs, millions of dollars in tax revenue and our city's long-term success depend on it.
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Accessing Financing for Your Business: Speed Meetings with Lenders
A Contacts 2 Contracts Initiative
 As part of the Columbus Chamber's Contacts 2 Contracts initiative and in response to concerns raised by its small-business members about access to credit, the Chamber will host a special educational event on June 25.
Accessing Financing for Your Business: Speed Meetings with Lenders will provide an opportunity for businesses to have their capital needs assessed by a variety of lenders.
Space is limited to 60 businesses with no more than two representatives from each. Registration is now open on the event web page.
This event is free for Columbus Chamber members. Diversity Bridge members are $125 and non-Chamber Members are $250.
The Columbus Chamber's Contacts 2 Contracts initiative identifies contract opportunities that are available from the region's larger corporations and promotes this information to appropriate Chamber members that are small and entrepreneurial growth companies.
For more information about this event or the Contacts2Contracts initiative, please contact Somers Martin, manager, business development services, at somers_martin@columbus.org or 614.225.6919.
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Capital Connections with John Kasich Slated for
June 23
 2010 promises to bring a monumental election in November. The Columbus Chamber's Capital Connections series offers the opportunity to meet with key players in this year's political arena.
Our first event on June 23 will host the Republican candidate for governor, John Kasich. Hear about his plans for our state.
Registration is $25 for Columbus Chamber members and $50 for non-members. Learn more and register on the event page.
Capital Connections is sponsored by American Electric Power, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, and Steptoe & Johnson.
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Small Business Leader Award Nominations Open
June 17
Passion. Vision. Determination. Creativity. Entrepreneurial spirit.
Do you or someone you know possess those qualities?
The Columbus Chamber and the Small Business Council want to recognize you at the 2010 Small Business Leader Awards. Nominations for the award will open June 17. Watch your email and www.columbus.org for more information.
Small Business Forum and Leader Awards will be held Nov. 9, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. at The Columbus Renaissance Hotel, 50 N. 3rd St. The program will begin with a morning forum highlighting continuing education and best practices and be followed by the awards luncheon, which will recognize award finalists, recipients, and former honorees.
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Create Columbus Commission Puts Focus on Young Professionals, Quality of Life Issues
 Young professionals are the future of our workforce. Engaging young professionals now ensures future workforce development needs will be met—despite the retirement of baby boomers.
The Create Columbus Commission serves as the "pulse" and sounding board on city quality of life issues and identifies strategies and tactics to better attract and retain young and talented individuals in Columbus. It was formed on May 24, 2007 by Mayor Michael B. Coleman, City of Columbus, Columbus City Council Member Kevin L. Boyce, City of Columbus, and Ty D. Marsh, president and CEO, Columbus Chamber.
The members of the Create Columbus Commission (Commission) are defined as those who are "young" (e.g., 40 and younger) artists, entrepreneurs and professionals, and who are residents or employed in the Columbus metropolitan area. The Commission is comprised of individuals that are representative of the broad and diverse community of businesses, organizations and governments, as well as social, ethnic, and arts groups throughout the Columbus region.
The current Commission, including six new members who were installed in May (noted with asterisks), follows:
Lourdes Barroso de Padillia
Executive Director
City Year Columbus
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Robert Bickis, Jr.
Real Estate Consultant/Broker
reSource Real Estate
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Amy Bishop
Advertising Manager
Dispatch Printing Co.
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Benjamin Buckner*
Enrollment Counselor
University of Phoenix
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Kacey Campbell (Co-Chair)
Retail Recruiter
Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District
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Kate Christobek
Student at the Moritz College of Law
The Ohio State University
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Travis Dent
Alternative Energy Resource Coordinator
American Electric Power
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Nicole L. Farrell (Co-Chair)
Director of Development, Office of External Relations
Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University
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Paul Haggard*
Community Affairs and Diversity Director
Sterling Commerce, Inc.
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Shannon Hardin*
Policy Advisor
City of Columbus, Office of Mayor Michael B. Coleman
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Dawon Hawkins
Sr. Instructional Designer
EXPRESS
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Leigh Householder
Digital Brand Strategist
GSW Worldwide/Pink Tank
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Kareem Jackson
Co-owner
Milk Bar
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Steve Michalovich*
Communications Specialist
Nationwide Insurance
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Jon Myers
Co-Founder, JUFTi Games
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Yakima Nelson
Special Advisor
State of Ohio, Treasurer's Office
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Elisia Newsom*
Recruiting Coordinator
Abercrombie & Fitch
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Ken Paul
Legislative Analyst
Columbus City Council
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Greg Schultz
State Director
Organizing for America
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Nick Seguin*
Principal, dynamIt
Principal, weBuild
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Dan Sharpe
Online Media Manager
The Columbus Foundation
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Oyango A. Snell
Attorney
Oyango A. Snell Law Firm LLC
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Mike Valo
Investment Officer
Huntington
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Josue Vicente
Executive Director
Ohio Hispanic Coalition
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TyKiah Wright
Executive Director
WrightChoice, Inc.
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The Commission is led by Co-Chairs, Kacey Campbell and Nicole Farrell, and its work is facilitated and supported by Robbie Banks, young professionals manager at the Columbus Chamber. For more information about the Commission, please click here.
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Columbus Kudos
There are many great reasons to live and do business in the Columbus region. Read some of our May accolades below.
Columbus a Top Art Destination
AmericanStyle Magazine
Ohio Fares Well in Tech-Job Rankings
via Columbus Dispatch
Ohio is Named one of the Top 10 Best States for Entrepreneurship and Small Business
via Fox Business
You can also share your reason to live in Columbus, Ohio by participating in the Columbus Chamber's Tell Your Story program.
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