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Presidents Report |
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Lorain County Community College, the Lorain County Commissioners and the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce have been working diligently over the last 10 years to make GLIDE and the Innovation Fund a model for our regions success. In the last 5 years we have been joined by Team Lorain County and the Lorain County Joint Vocational School to form the Lorain County Growth Partnership. The fruits of our labor were realized on February 22, 2011 when President Obama announced that the Innovation Fund and the Lorain County Community College has been chosen as a national model.
He stated that the Lorain County Community College is also making a bold commitment under the banner of Startup America. It is transforming its Innovation Fund from a local success story in Elyria, Ohio, into a national phenomenon: Innovation Fund America.
Our Innovation Fund makes small but crucial grants to local high-tech startups allowing them to prove their technology and raise money from private investors. Philanthropic contributions to the fund are tax-deductible, because the startups agree to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs through student internships.
It’s a quadruple-win: Donors can see their dollars go to work toward high-impact, high-growth local economic development; innovative startups get seed capital when they need it most; community college students get hands-on experience at an entrepreneurial high-tech company; and the region gets new jobs. (It bears repeating that the overwhelming majority of net new jobs come from startups.
So far, LCCC’s Innovation Fund has awarded $4.3 million to 60 companies, rapidly creating 100 new jobs, attracting $41 million in additional private investment, and sponsoring 130 student entrepreneurship internships. Starting immediately
LCCC will help other community colleges across the country replicate this model, as part of the Virtual Incubator Network, a project of the American Association of Community Colleges funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
Lorain County Community College is helping America win the future by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building our competitors.
This is fabulous news for Lorain County. Roy Church and his team at the College have been great partners as we work together to strengthen Lorain County’s economic future. We are also fortunate to have Roy’s leadership in the continued development of the Innovation Fund. This next work, I’m sure will provide continued opportunities for Lorain County and its business community.
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Best of Lorain County |
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puLse Lorain County’s Magazine is pleased to present the 2nd Annual “Best of Lorain County” competition, highlighting Lorain County’s best restaurants, businesses, services and attractions. Finalists will be announced in the Summer 2011 issue and winners will be featured in the Fall 2011 issue. Watch for details about the Best of Lorain County party that will take place sometime this summer! Last year’s event had an amazing response for the first year, and we anticipate an even larger turnout this year. Be sure to Vote today!
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Keeping outdoor workers safe in the winter. |
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Workers should avoid exposure to extremely cold temperatures when possible. When cold environments or temperatures cannot be avoided, workers should follow these recommendations to protect themselves from cold stress:
Wear appropriate clothing.
- Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation.
- Tight clothing reduces blood circulation. Warm blood needs to be circulated to the extremities.
- When choosing clothing, be aware that some clothing may restrict movement resulting in a hazardous situation.
Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather.
- Boots should be waterproof and insulated.
- Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body warmer. (Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
Move into warm locations during work breaks; limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days.
Carry cold weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a change of clothes and a thermos of hot liquid.
Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
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Recommend someone to join the Lorain County Chamber |
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The Lorain County Chamber is glad to be participating in the current Join Your Local Chamber Campaign being promoted by NOACC (Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce). When you refer someone to join our chamber, you will be eligible to earn a $25 Chamber Reward certificate that is able to be used toward one of our Chamber events during 2011. The more referral’s that turn into Chamber members, the more certificates you can earn. The new member receives a subscription to CBC Magazine and the book Marketing Without Money from Nicholas E. Blade. Go to: http://www.cbcmagazine.com/noacc
for more information and to read the restrictions that apply. We all know someone who should join the County Chamber. Now is the time to make it a win-win-win situation for all involved!
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Building Business by Building Relationships |
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We have closed the books on nearly 2 months of the new year and your County Chamber of Commerce has not been resting since the first of the New Year. Our calendar of events is filled with plenty for you to do, and as has been said many times: I dare you to find an organization that offers as many and as diverse a set of events at YOUR County Chamber does.
We kicked off 2011 with some training for Public Employees where we held an informational session that attracted attendees from as far away as Strongsville and Brooklyn, as well as our local public employers too. We helped celebrate an Open House with our friends at PNC Bank when they held their 2nd Annual post holiday event – and while it was snowy, many Lorain County Chamber members were in attendance-evidence we don’t like to miss a party. Our January BAH was moved to accommodate a conflict and the folks at the Lorain Palace Theatre were glad to host the 130+ who showed up. The inside of the Palace is like walking back in time and food (from DeLuca’s) and beverages and the best popcorn in the county kept everyone there long past the scheduled hours! The post BAH wound up at Diso’s Bistro
where you couldn’t help but run into Chamber members. Your Lorain County Chamber was also in attendance at the ground breaking of the new Medical Mart in downtown Cleveland. Since this facility will help not only Cleveland, but our entire region, we were excited to be a part of this historic day. The Chamber was in attendance at the Installation Banquet and Hall of Fame Ceremony for our friends at the NorthCoast BIA at Sawmill Creek, courtesy of Tom Caruso of Caruso’s Cabinets
. The end of January saw our Annual Meeting at LCCC Spitzer Conference Center install our new Board Chair Paul Campagna from Lorain National Bank. The Annual Meeting was filled with sponsors who had tables and plenty of networking was taking place, probably because in the past, the Annual Meeting has fallen on snowy, cold days! A great day for the Annual Meeting, we must be in for a good year!
February saw us saying good bye to our good friend Ryan Gates from the Lake Erie Crushers. Ryan took a new position with the Single A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays in Bowling Green, KY. Ryan was only here for a short period of time, but he was such a part of the community and a great friend to the County Chamber. Dan Helm has assured us that it is business as usual at All Pro Freight Stadium and we look forward to a new season (including the 2011 Frontier League All Star Game here in Lorain County) starting soon. Our friends at Team Lorain County and Lorain County Community Alliance hosted the annual Groundhog Breakfast at LCJVS and we walked away with some good indication that 2011 will be a better year with some improvements in sales and manufacturing. We hosted the annual
State of the City of Elyria address – again in conjunction with the Elyria (noon) Rotary Club and a standing room only audience heard Mayor Bill Grace recap the past year with a focus on what good things are coming for the Elyria area in 2011. Again, a more optimistic message than last year. That same evening, Chambers of Commerce from all over Northeast Ohio descended upon the IX Center for the regional networking event at the Great Big Home & Garden Show. Nearly 200 Chamber members were on hand to network with each other, as well as check out the show and at least pretend that spring is around the corner! The following night, there was a Mega Mixer – again with Chambers from around the area, hosted by our friends at Montrose Auto Group
at their Westside Jaguar facility and if you have ever met John Allensworth, you know you are never disappointed. Wine, a steel drum band and networking with a great crowd. What more could you ask for on a cold, cold winter night.
This past week alone saw your County Chamber with our February BAH at Neighborhood House Association offices – great food, great crowd and plenty of people to mix and mingle with. As is getting to be pretty much “usual” there were potential Chamber members that were asked to attend as guests. And I am sure they will be joining soon. We held our monthly Safety Council meeting at the Inn of Elyria with the topic of Return to Work Strategies, presented by our friends at 1-888-OHIOCOMP with over 100 in attendance. And on Thursday, we did a joint Coffee, Tea & Contacts event at Eat ‘n Park in Elyria
with Elyria Sunrise Rotary. Over 65 people, a new record for a CTC, got to see what Rotary is all about and the Rotarians got to see what Chamber folks get excited about. The event was such a good success, we have talked about making it a yearly (if not more often) event! Thanks to all who donated door prizes.
The end of the month saw us with our friends at the Lorain Rotary and a joint luncheon for the State of the City of Lorain with Mayor Krasienko at DeLuca’s. With over 200 in attendance, we heard about the accomplishments made and the plans for the future in Lorain. Finally, we were pleased to attend Leadership Lorain County’s Difference Makers Gala where our own Frank DeTillio was honored. The snow in the morning shut down LCCC, but nearly 500 people were on hand to also see Betty Blair, Larry Bettcher and El Centro honored as well as Frank. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this event possible, with a special thanks to our board members who helped “sponsor” the table for staff to attend. Without Joe, Ed, Kevin and Matt, we would not have been able to see Frank be honored in such a nice way.
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Member Testimonial |
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Lorain County Chamber of Commerce
Member Testimonial from Marny Havas, Community Service Representative
for Home Instead Senior Care.
Being a member of the Lorain County Chamber has proved to be invaluable for me and the company I represent, Home Instead Senior Care. The biggest part of my job is to build relationships and spread awareness about our agency. Our business serves the elderly by providing non-medical services in the home. LC Chamber includes members who are our referral sources, however, anyone with an elderly friend, neighbor or loved one is a possible client. I find the members of our Chamber are friendly, approachable and willing to learn more about what we do and happy to share their stories with me. After any given event, I typically have met and exchanged business cards with five new people.
I also appreciate that we are exposed to a variety of locations throughout Lorain County. After the Business After Hours at Second Harvest Food Bank last year, I was personally touched by their mission and commitment to feeding the hungry in North Central Ohio. I contacted the volunteer coordinator and my husband, children and I volunteer in the repack room as often as our schedule allows.
From a logistics perspective, the Chamber staff does an excellent job securing locations for each event, sending out reminders, allowing us to bring up to 5 guests for a nominal fee, and maintaining a monthly newsletter. Kudos to Tony, Tammy and Kristy!
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March 8 BAH - Oberlin College
March 15 Take Five Seminar - LCCC
March 16 Safety Council - The Inn of Elyria
March 22 Coffee, Tea, and Contacts - Costco
Register Today
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