The Business Retention and Expansion program (BRE) is a collaborative effort between the Columbus Chamber and a number of municipal partners across the region designed to address the immediate needs of the individual businesses with the service providers or resources they need. As the program evolves and matures, aggregate data will help us identify industry trends, shape the development of new programs, and refine public policy. BRE gives us access to the information we need to provide businesses the actionable support they need in their time of growth or in the face of challenges. To participate in the BRE program you can take the business retention and expansion survey online at www.columbusregion.com or contact Joseph Borovsky, PhD, to set up a face-to-face appointment.

Business Insights - Five Proven Ways to Increase Profits

Presented by Bryan Sirak, ActionCOACH Business Coaching
Join the Columbus Chamber for a Business Insights program that will help you learn how to increase your profits and spend less time doing it. Invest your time learning how your business can reach its full potential in this challenging economy.

March 19; 2:30 p.m.
Register Here

Columbus Chamber Presents: President of AT&T Ohio Tom Pelto

Technological change is happening faster than ever and shaping the way we live, work, learn, communicate and think. To remain competitive in a global economy, our nation and its businesses must adapt and stay current. And, our technology providers must remain competitive, with creative solutions for business. Join the Columbus Chamber to hear Tom Pelto’s perspective.

March 18; 7:30 a.m.
Register Here

Collaboration – Our Message is Getting Stronger and Reaching Farther

Columbus earned a spot in the ranking of top 10 metropolitan areas for new and expanded corporate facilities, based on Site Selection Magazine’s review of 2008 projects. The magazine ranks the Columbus region eighth among metropolitan areas with populations greater than one million.

In 2008, more than 120 businesses entered or expanded in the Columbus region, committing to an investment of nearly $800 million and creating jobs for more than 15,000.

The Columbus Chamber launched a regional marketing strategy in 2007, invested in technology to coordinate prospect management and has emphasized regional collaboration. Twenty communities now contract with the Chamber through the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange for economic development services.

Read the full press release here. Learn more about the Columbus Chamber’s regional approach at www.columbusregion.com.

Online Advertising at Columbus.org

Did you know that marketers are allocating nearly 50% of their budgets to online advertising? The Chamber’s Web site, Columbus.org, receives 42,000 unique pre-qualified visits per quarter. You can reach these 42,000 potential customers by purchasing online advertising with the Chamber for only $500/quarter, reducing your cost per lead and increasing your exposure to pre-qualified business opportunities.

For more information on online advertising with the Chamber visit us online at www.columbus.org/about-the-chamber/purchase-banner-ad.php.

Develop your Business Survival Skills

On March 26, 2009 Columbus Business First is hosting the Business Survival Expo. This expo will provide you the opportunity to meet with over 50 local exhibitors, network with hundreds of business professionals, and attend breakout sessions designed to assist you during the current economic downturn. Attend two sessions hosted by the Columbus Chamber about business trends and opportunities in today’s economic climate or stop by the membership booth to learn how you can make the most of your membership investment.

Thursday, March 26, 2009; 3:30 p.m.
Register Here