MIKE’S MUSINGS

A note from the desk of CRCC President and CEO Mike Throne:

As we approach another Third Thursday event for downtown businesses, we’ve been hard at work trying to put together a way for everyone to know and easily understand the rules of engagement as it pertains to DORA events.

First, support for the DORA events has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only are the bars and restaurants seeing increased business during these specific events, but the shops who are working hard to make sure visitors know they are open and offering deals and sales are seeing bumps in their revenues as well.

While some Ohio cities have enacted all-day, everyday DORA, it’s important to know that Chillicothe only allows DORA events on an individual basis. Currently, the Third Thursday events — brought to you by Discover Downtown Chillicothe and Downtown Chillicothe -are the only regular monthly events.
To that end, we’ve also heard the feedback from businesses and participants regarding confusion on the rules surrounding carrying drinks around downtown.

From that confusion we hope to bring clarity. This week, we’ll be distributing new Downtown maps and also new posters and flyers created that clearly spell out the DORA rules and what you can — and can’t – do under the those guidelines.

Our friends at Metropolis Design Studio helped us with the eye catching infographic that features DORA, a character designed to help visitors “Do D.O.R.A. RIGHT” and help all those who partake keep the peace, stay safe, and have a good time. You’ll also find a QR Code that, when scanned, takes you directly to our downtown events page and the websites for the two downtown groups working to create and maintain events for downtown Chillicothe.

We’ve created a poster-sized card to hang permanently in a business and flyers that can be handed out for special events such as bar crawls, etc. As always, we’re looking for feedback on the DORA events, so drop me a line if you have stories to share.

A few odds and ends: A few odds and ends:

• We’re happy to partner with Thrive! Chillicothe to co-sponsor FREE quarterly events designed to help build thriving businesses in Chillicothe. This week, we’re helping businesses find and hire the right employees for their businesses. The event runs from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 221 E. Main St.
• This week, Chillicothe will see the arrival of the participants in the Race Across America, which began last week in Oceanside, Calif. Chillicothe is a time station on the route for the cyclists, who will cycle 3,000 miles from coast-to-coast. Solo cyclists average 300 miles per day, while teams average about 500 miles per day. The cyclists should start arriving in Ross County about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and will be expected through about 1 a.m. Sunday. The race is the same one that local man Joe Lawhorn participated in last year.
• Our newsletter survey is complete newsletter survey is complete and we received about 100 responses. Ninety-eight percent of you say you value the newsletter enough to read it each time we do it and a majority of you say you want it weekly. That’s the Cliff’s Notes version of the results so far, but suffice to say, we’re humbled by your support of the newsletter and excited to make some changes to the look and content in the near future.
• The first-ever Annual Meeting first-ever Annual Meeting for Appalachian Partnership (API) and Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) is coming to Ross County next week. The Sunroom at the Brick will host the session — which will celebrate successes, recognize partners and feature the final Regional Economic Development Prosperity Plan — next Wednesday, June 26. Former local legislator John Carey, who is now the director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, is the keynote speaker. But you’ll have to register by Thursday, June 20.

Welcome to our newest members!

Each and every week, more and more businesses are learning the advantages of Chamber membership. This week, the following businesses are the newest ones to join:

Connect Transportation Service LLC

Focal Point Salon

Lyndi Lou’s Children Boutique

U.S. Army Recruiting Station

Mojo-USA

How can your business network with them?

Who do YOU know that should be receiving the Chamber’s credibility, advocacy, and networking power to help their business grow?

For more information on the benefits of joining the Chamber please call 740-702-2722 or  visit www.chillicotheohio.com

News and notes

News of particular interest:

Adena Health System expands fresh food prescription program into Pike County. (iHeartMedia)

Two-way traffic coming to Second Street in 2020? (Gazette)

Our condolences to the family of Harvey McAllister, the local Chevy dealership owner for decades, who passed away last week. (iHeartMedia)

UPCOMING EVENTS TO HELP GROW YOUR BUSINESS

June 19 – The SBDC at the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Steps to Starting a New Business in Batav ia.  This FREE workshop will discuss the steps that are important to starting a business.

June 25 – HCDC will be hosting Strategizing, Planning and Organizing in Cincinnati.  As part of the Switched on Startup series, this FREE workshop will discuss Pythagoras’ time-tested frameworks.

June 27 – The SBDC at Columbus State will be hosting a Small Business Tax Workshop in Columbus. This FREE workshop is designed to provide a general overview of business taxes and the instruction necessary for compliance with federal, state, and local taxes.