The Hocking College Energy Institute will be an innovatively designed, state-of-the art facility that will serve as a(n)

• Training center for sustainable energy technologies
• Applied research center for business
• Incubator for establishing new business
• Center of learning for advanced energy technology.

An important function of the center will be the study of fuel cell technology.

For additional information concerning the Hocking College Energy Institute, contact Jerry Hutton, Director, at Hocking College in Nelsonville, or Bill Rinehart, Executive Director of the Hocking County CIC.

Chamber/CIC Board Vacancy Filled The Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce (LHCOC) Board of Directors selected Jerry Johnson of Fancy Plants Landscaping & Lawn Care, Inc. to fill Kathy Krumlauf’s unexpired term at its regularly-scheduled monthly meeting on March 21. Jerry’s term is for three years—April 2007 through December 31, 2009. The LHCOC Board of Directors wants to thank those who submit nominations for the Board vacancy and to welcome Jerry Johnson to the Board.

Chamber Incentive Program The Chamber Incentive Program continues to reward businesses attending Chamber events. Three qualifying events in the month of March generated three Chamber Incentive Program drawing winners for $50 cash, pictured below.

Tim Blair with Seneca Steel

Mike Bellar, owner of
Stair Acquisitions, Inc.
with Bill Rinehart

Mike Schrader with
Buckeye Ready Mix
with Doug Wells

Click HERE  for more information and details about the Chamber Incentive Program.

See Networking Opportunities for details about qualifying Chamber Incentive Program events.

Chamber Incentive Program Clarification The Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously agreed that a Chamber member can only sign in for or represent one business at each qualifying Chamber Incentive Program event to receive Chamber Incentive Program credit. To receive credit for multiple businesses, the Chamber member must bring a representative for each business to qualifying events.

Government Regulations
The passage of the statewide smoking ban has left Chamber businesses struggling with how to comply with the new law. The Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce has asked the Hocking County Health Department to discuss the new law at the monthly Business Network Series Luncheon. If the new smoking ban regulations are finalized on April 16, Ray Dennis will speak on these issues at the April 26 Business Network Series Luncheon.

Economic Development Luncheon & Business Expo The Community and Economic Development Council has announced plans to hold the annual Economic Development Luncheon & Business Expo on Thursday, May 17 at Lee’s Banquet Haus. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and end at approximately 1 p.m. Additional information will be sent in April and reminders sent in May. Please mark your calendar and plan on attending the event.

New CIC Web Site The Hocking County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) is creating its own, standalone web site. The purpose of the standalone CIC web site is to promote economic development in Hocking County. Commercial and retail buildings with contact names will be listed on the web site for any person interested in the available properties. The web site will also contain information about quality of life issues, workforce data, utility costs, housing market information and other pertinent information about Hocking County. The CIC communicated with several web site developers and selected Pyles Communications to develop and post the new CIC web site. Additional information about the new CIC web site will be available in next month’s newsletter.

Chamber Membership No new businesses joined the Chamber in March. Membership information is available online at the Chamber web site: www.logan-hockingchamber.com/members.html.

Chamber Communications
Horizons Articles The Chamber is accepting informative articles written by Chamber members to appear in the monthly Chamber newsletter, Horizons. Articles must be informative in nature and not be an advertisement for business. Articles will be reviewed for acceptable content before being placed in the Chamber newsletter. If you have an interest in submitting an informative article about your industry, send an email containing the article to
lo-hockchamber@hocking.net, or call the Chamber office at 385-6836. To advertise in the Horizons, send an electronic file (Microsoft Office product or PDF) with a check for $35 by the 24th of the month to the Chamber. The Chamber office will produce paper copies for the distribution receiving paper.

Electronic Communications Throughout the month of March, Chamber communications were sent electronically to a majority of Chamber members. Chamber members receiving a paper version of the Chamber newsletter may contact the Chamber office at 385-6836 or send an email to
lo-hockchamber@hocking.net to request an electronic version of the newsletter.

Chamber Office Intern Heatherlee Croft will be assisting Kelly Pfarr, Chamber Office Manager, for the next two months to fulfill a practicum requirement at Hocking College. Heatherlee is working toward a degree in Office Management. Please welcome Heatherlee to the Chamber.

Shoplifting Diversion Program The LHCOC is raising funds for a Shoplifting Diversion Program to be administered by the OSU Extension Office in Hocking County. Judge Wallar and Judge Wallace have indicated they will use the program in an effort to reduce shoplifting in Hocking Co. businesses.

A start-up cost to purchase materials for the program is $2,500. The Chamber asks for businesses interested in financially supporting this program in Hocking County to contact the Chamber office at 740-385-6836.

The LHCOC Board of Directors fully supports the Shoplifting Diversion Program in an effort to reduce shoplifting in Hocking County.

Ambassadors Club Program Deadline The Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce is seeking promotional materials to increase the supply of Ambassadors Club bags. The deadline to submit materials is Friday, April 20. Please see enclosed flyer for details.

Chamber Business Network Series Luncheon On March 22, Roy Teti, Craig Abram and Matt Stone pictured with Jeff Daubenmire, with Logan High School, made a presentation about Project Lead the Way Engineering.

The purpose of the Project is to grow the nation’s technology workforce. Classes are modeled after introductory college level coursework. Students have access to the latest design computer software and are challenged with real-life engineering problems.

For more information on Project Lead the Way , see www.pltwohio.org. The topic was interesting and well-received by the attendees.

Luncheon in April - The Thursday, April 26 luncheon guest speaker will be the Hocking County Health Department. Ray Dennis will provide attendees with the latest information about the new smoking ban law.

The luncheon is held at the Olde Dutch Restaurant. Lunch and networking begins at 11:30; the speaker is introduced shortly after 12 p.m. (noon). The cost of the luncheon is $8 for the buffet, or place an order from the lunch menu upon arrival. Each person is responsible for the cost of his or her lunch the day of the meeting.

Business After Hours Two Chamber businesses held Business After Hours events in March. Midwest Glassware Outlet opened its doors on March 8 and the Hocking Valley Medical Group invited guests to welcome Susan Duffy, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. and meet Karl Hsieh, M.D.

Both events were enjoyable and well-attended. Two more Chamber businesses will host Business After Hours in April. Logan Health Care Center will host on April 12 and the Regional Food Center will host on April 19. Chamber members are invited to attend, network and participate in the Chamber Incentive Program.

Contact the Chamber office at 740-385-6836 to host a Business After Hours.

Open dates: August through November 2007. Call the Chamber office at 740-385-6836 to reserve a date.

Logan Town Center Judy Williams, a private consultant and formerly with the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, will begin evaluating opportunities to register historic properties or a district with the National Trust for Historic Properties. The Logan Town Center is pleased to announce her visit on April 5.

The visit will include a walking tour and a question-and-answer session for the Logan Town Center Board, members and friends. An architect has also been invited. Please join us on April 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the lower level of the National City Bank building, 11 W. Main St., Logan. The regular Board meeting will follow the 3:30 session.

For more information, contact Carol Mackey, Secretary , Logan Town Center at 740-380-1555 (office) or 614-329-2308 (cell).

Contributing money to a charitable organization is not only a generous act, but also one that is extremely rewarding. You may want to make a larger contribution to a local organization or cause but feel it would put a strain on your budget.

However, with a little advance planning, you can contribute a much larger gift than you ever thought possible in your lifetime. And you can do so with life insurance. Other options include remainder trusts, gift annuities or wealth replacement trusts.

Depending on the product you select, you can determine the amount of your yearly charitable contribution and use your yearly contribution to purchase and pay for a life insurance policy. The charitable organization owns the policy and is the beneficiary of its proceeds. The organization may use dividends, borrow or withdraw cash values during the life of the policy to meet their organization’s goals.

Participating in a charitable life insurance program not only offers opportunity to make a difference, it is also a resourceful way to meet your charitable giving goals without putting a strain on your budget. Meet with your financial and legal advisors to discuss what options are available to you to accomplish your charitable objectives.

The Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month. A flyer containing a schedule of Business After Hours events and Business Network Series events is enclosed in the newsletter. Events also appear on the enclosed monthly calendar .

If you are interested in assisting with these projects, please contact the Chamber office at (740) 385-6836 or Marsha James at (740) 385-0810.

Safety Council The Appalachian Regional Safety Council meeting schedule is as follows:

2007

• Jan. 17 Epidemics & Pandemics

• Feb. 21 From Happy Meal to Unhappy Day

• Mar. 14 CEO EVENT @ Olde Dutch

• Apr. 18 Awards Banquet

• May 16 Slips, Trips & Falls

• Jun. 20 Ergonomics in the Workplace

The Appalachian Regional Safety Council is an excellent opportunity for your business to obtain monthly information about safety-related issues. For more information or to join the Safety Council, contact Michael Redecker at 740-753-6592.

Small Business Development Center News The Appalachian Regional Entrepreneur Group (AREG) and the Voinovich Center at Ohio University offer a full range of business consulting services for existing and start-up, small or middle market businesses. Through various funding sources, including the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), AREG offers services to all 29 Appalachian counties in Ohio.

Services provided to local businesses include, but are not limited to, assistance securing financing, market planning, operational analysis, and other services. AREG offers services that are truly valuable to our community’s local businesses by offering services that are customized to the specific needs of their clients.

Lissa Jollick, Business Consultant with AREG/SBDC, can be contacted at 740- 593-0473. Lissa is available at the Logan-Hocking Chamber of Commerce by appointment, only.

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