GCACC Business Connection Vol 8 Issue 1

Grove City Area Chamber

BUSINESS BUSINESS CONNECTION CONNECTION

Membership Growth Hits New Highs

Women Owned Businesses get some much-needed help

New Chamber benefits for 2023

Advice for first time managers

Ins and outs of MBE certification

@ GroveCityOhio

#GC123

CITY DEMOGRAPHICS

Population: 42,400

Median Age: 39.7

Population Over 18: 79%

Population Over 65: 17%

Number of Households: 16,197

Average Home Price: $189,268

Median Income Per Household: $74,451

Want to learn more about the demographics of Grove City? Visit: GroveCityOhio.Gov/about-us-and-tourism/community-information

YOUR CHAMBER

Chamber Business Connections is published bi-monthly by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce with revenue from member dues, advertising, and sponsorship. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content in this publication, by any method or purpose whatsoever, without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Only chamber members can advertise in Chamber Business Connection. To plan advertising contact the chamber.

Your Board

Chris Moscato President

Rachel Kutay President Elect 24'

Nick Connaughton VP Finance

Lisa Ziegler Immediate Past President

Greg Dawkins VP at Large / GC Chamber Foundation President

Kay Anderson

Katie Antry Fleming

Lisa Graves

Carol Riffle

Trent Soles

Dylon Sparks

Lynn Weita

Jeffrey Buskirk

Nikki Fleming

Mellissa Forte

Brenda Newman

Andrea Ruede

Shawn Harris

Letter from the Director

I’ve heard from so many people, that this year, more so than in the past several years, feels and looks hopeful and bright and I hope that you are walking into 2023 with that same optimism.

The GCACC is anticipating an amazing year ahead and we hope that you will find your place and get plugged in In case you aren’t sure where to find out what your membership options are, our staff is here to help

Affordable advertising in a Chamber publication –discounted ad rates in many local publications –volunteering at events or in the office – fine-tuning your leadership skills with WE: LEAD or our Southwest Community Leadership class – discounts on health and life insurance – discounts on BWC premiums – growing, learning and serving with GC Young Professionalsmajor savings on education with our university partners for you, your employees and their families!!!! Learn more about scholarships available for our Chamber affiliates, and others, through our charitable arm, the Chamber Foundation

If it’s networking you’re looking for, join us at a Chamber After Hours, POWER HOUR, or Coffee and Connections event – become a Chamber Ambassador and get out there and meet our members!

Staff

Executive Director

Shawn Conrad

Events Manager

Marilyn Reiner

Administrative and Events Coordinator

Heather Brokaw

Kaziah Conrad Member Service Specialist

Whether you are a ‘one man operation’, a huge corporation, or a nonprofit – whether you are the owner of a business or an employee – there is a place for you to get involved, to give back, and to get to know your community There is strength and wisdom in numbers –together we are Grove City.

-Shawn

RECOGNIZING MEMBERS

Celebrating Anniversaries

Gwen Callender

Kimberly M Gill, DDS MS TD SERVPRO

Leslie Redman

Family Practice WestCare

Wright Patt Credit Union

Elford Inc

The Sunshine House

Cherokee Stables

Nancy's Blankets LLC Erosion

Control Blankets

Cruise Planners, David Todd

MOZ Corp Logistics

Breck's Paving

Gateway Lakes-Coastal Ridge

Globe Life: National Division, The

Everett Agencies of Ohio

Just Paint It! LLC

GEICO

Action Industrial Services, LLC

NSNA- Nippon Seiki North America

(NSOH)

Forge Biologics, Inc

Friends of Anthony Caldwell

Huntington Bank, Grove City

Barney DeBrosse, LLC, Attorneys at Law

JM Jim & Mike Farms

H&R Block Grove City

The Mike Laemmle Team Realty

All Secured Security Services, LLC

Orthopedic ONE

Mammoth Packaging and Labels

Fraternal Order of Eagles Big Walnut FOE #3261

i9 Sports Southwest

ONE YEAR: 10 YEARS:

Sunny Street Cafe

Hannigan Memorials

Steve's Auto Glass LLC

5 YEARS: 15 YEARS:

Sterling Park Apartments

Edward Jones | Chris Gourley

Grove City Community Club

New Life Baptist Church

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Loewen & Associates, DBA Aflac

Columbus Building Services, Inc

Larissa Hall

Farmers Insurance

State Farm Insurance Agent | Gary Snowden

Premier Dental of Grove City

20 YEARS:

Grove City Lions Club

Wavefront Software, Inc.

ServiceMaster by Neverman

Dedicated Senior Medical Center

Columbus Nephrology, Inc

ARC Industries, Inc

Ohio Peterbilt

Abundant You Chiropractic & Wellness

HIGHLIFE RECOVERY SERVE PRO COURTYARD MARRIOTT

Highlife Recovery celebrated their ribbon cutting last month and is officially open and ready to serve the Grove City community. They provide comprehensive outpatient services for individuals having substance abuse disorders or mental health disorders. They have a variety of services offered, including sober living. They are also able to provide some telehealth services as well. Highlife Recovery can accept many types of insurance and is certified by Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services.

3142 Broadway, Suite 205. Grove City 614-776-4646

www.highliferecovery.com

While nationally known, SERVPRO is also right here in Columbus and ready to serve you. Specializing in clean up after water or fire damage, the team at SERVPRO understands their clients are under stress when they come to them so their goal is to not only clean but to provide peace of mind that the job will be done right. Other cleaning services are also available and can be for commercial or residential properties.

7440 Pingue Dr., Columbus 614-888-5700

www.servpro.com/locations/oh/servproof-northeast-columbus-and-servpro-ofgahanna

Courtyard by Marriott here in Grove City (just off of Stringtown Rd.) is a great option for a night out of the house, or where to host out-of-town guests. Guests can enjoy great comforts while on the road, and plenty of amenities to continue working while traveling. On-location dining options include their Bistro and Starbucks coffee. Easy access to I-71 makes it a great pick for guests flying into Columbus or looking to explore more of the area.

1668 Buckeye Place, Grove City 614-782-8292

www.marriott.com/CMHCG

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Grove City Community Club

Grove City Community Club is recognized for 15 years of Chamber membership in this e-magazine issue, but the club’s dedication to our Grove City community is much more than 15 years old.

The Grove City Community Club was founded in 1917, making 2023 its 106th year. The Club was founded by a group of Grove City women working to support our troops during World War I. In a continued spirit of civic engagement, the club holds Election Day lunches and has numerous other social and supportive engagements throughout the year.

A primary, and tasty, fundraiser is the Club's annual noodle sale. Club members will make roughly 800 pounds of noodles and then sell them locally, including at the Grove City Farmers’ Market. With funds raised, the Club is able to support its own scholarship awarded annually and is able to support other local non-profits including, but not limited to: Friends of the Library, MASH Pantry, Grove City Food Pantry, Jackson Township Fire Department, and many more.

Find them online at grovecitycomunityclub.org. Once online you can send a message on the website or join their email list to stay in the know!

Essentials Plan

With AllyHealth you can visit with a doctor 24/7 from your home, office, or on the go, with no co-pays or consultation fees to you and your family! And now with our Essentials Plan, you can connect with Mental Health providers, too! Plus, all of our plans include access to our industry-leading Rx and Medical Bill savings programs helping you save time, money, and frustration.

FAST AND CONVENIENT ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE

24 hours a day, 7days a week 365 days a year

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF ALLYHEALTH

No co-pays, deductibles, or per-call charges*

Prescriptions called in to your local pharmacy

Avoid germ-filled waiting rooms

Medical visits available 24/7/365, on-demand. Anytime. Anywhere.

Mental health visits available in a week or less

Plan covers the entire family

Flexible and easyto use(available via web, mobile app, or simply by phone)

Rxsavings program offers up to 85% discounts at retail pharmacies

Medical bill negotiation service can help you saveon all your medical bills

ALLYHEALTH ONLINE MEDICAL SERVICES INCLUDE

Telemedicine

Our network of doctors and pediatricians can diagnose, treat and prescribe for you and your family, 24/7on your schedule Anytime Anywhere. With no consult fees!

MentalHealth

Connect with a licensed therapist, pyschologist,or other behavioral health specialist from home, the office, or on the go via secure video 100% private and confidential, with free visits included in your plan*!

MedicalBillSaver

Medical Bill Saver is your expert source to review and negotiate out-of-pocket health care costs

Prescription savings

The Prescription Discount Card saves you money on prescription medications. Simply present your card at a participating pharmacy to instantly receive substantial discounts on prescription medications.

NEW Chamber benefit now available to both Individual Members and Employer Groups!! For more information on discounted Chamber Member rates and additional information, email: allyhealthinfo@gmail.com

COMMON

Telemedicine

WE

MentalHealth

•BipolarDisorders

•Childand AdolescentIssues

•Depression

•EatingDisorders

•GriefandLoss

•LifeChanges

•Men'sIssues

•PanicDisorders

•ParentingIssues

•Postpartum Depression

•Relationshipand MarriageIssues

•Stress

•Traumaand PTSD

•Women'sIssues

•Andmore

Your FedEx and UPS Shipments Will Be More Expensive

in 2023

From our new Chamber benefit partners, PartnerShip FedEx and UPS increased their rates by an average of 6.9% for 2023 – an all-time high. But you can’t take the announced increase at face value. Your actual shipping costs will likely go up more than 6.9% this year thanks to fees and other changes. These increases depend on several factors such as the services you use, your shipment dimensions and weight, and how far your shipments are traveling.

To take a deep dive into all of the rate and surcharge details, you will want to review the FedEx and UPS service guide previews, which are available on fedex.com and UPS.com.

For the time being, our shipping benefit provider PartnerShip® has put together a few key observations that matter most to our chamber members: Longer zones are getting hit with higher increases than shorter zones, regardless of services or weight breaks.

For Ground services, many of the rates for shorter zones are lower than the 6.9% average increase. For each service, the rate increases are similar across most weight breaks. Zones are the biggest difference-makers this year.

For the 3-Day services, FedEx is applying a higher increase than UPS. Keep in mind, the rates are actually comparable, because UPS took a higher increase with this service in 2022.

Both FedEx and UPS have increased their Ground Minimum charge to $10.10

Your shipping costs aren’t only determined by base rates. Surcharges are a big component of what you’re paying. Here are some of the most noteworthy surcharge updates:

Larger, difficult-to-move packages continue to cause trouble for carriers and raise prices. You could pay an extra $1,150 fee for oversized shipments with both FedEx and UPS.

Late payment fees have increased to 8% for both carriers.

FedEx has joined UPS in applying a Remote Delivery Surcharge for certain zip codes, costing you even more. Most other common surcharges are increasing, many by more than 6.9%.

It can’t be stressed enough that most Chamber member businesses will actually see a higher than 6.9% average. Noteworthy reasons you may be at higher risk include:

If you’re shipping extra-large packages or if your packages need special handling. FedEx and UPS have been raising fees for these shipments at an alarming pace.

If you ship a higher percentage of residential shipments. These packages require more effort on behalf of the delivery driver and are priced accordingly.

If you ship a lot of low-density packages. FedEx and UPS value efficiency and punish lightweight packages that waste space on their delivery vehicles.

If a high percentage of your shipments go to longer zones. The further your shipment has to go, the more expensive it will be - especially this year.

To help offset these record-high increases, Chamber businesses can save up to 45% on FedEx® shipping. Enroll today at www.PartnerShip.com/SOCA-FedEx If you want to learn more about the FedEx and UPS rate changes for 2023, check out the full report at www.PartnerShip.com/RateIncrease2023

Ohio Women-Owned Businesses Get Some Much-Needed Support

By Katie Browder-Person

The Ohio Department of Development and Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) have joined forces to further develop and promote the success of Ohio-based women-owned businesses. This new partnership enables businesses certified by WBEC ORV to also be cross-certified into the Ohio WBE program with minimal paperwork, as well as making them eligible for participation in the Ohio Micro-Loan Program at a 0% interest rate.

Governor Mike DeWine expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration: “Ohio remains focused on strengthening Ohio’s small businesses,” said Governor DeWine. “Women-owned businesses often face unnecessary barriers to success, and we are dedicated to breaking down these barriers and providing more opportunities to help women-owned we are dedicated to breaking down these barriers and providing more opportunities to help women-owned businesses thrive.”

This new agreement was spearheaded by Development’s Minority Business Development Division, which works with emerging businesses to help them reach their maximum potential. According to WBEC ORV Executive Director Lynnise Smith, one of the goals of this initiative is to reduce the burden associated with certification procedures: "Historically, WBEs have been discouraged by certification processes due to an administrative overload."

Thanks to this strategic collaboration between two major forces in the world of business, more doors are now open for female entrepreneurs in the state of Ohio. By enabling faster certification processes and access to lower-interest loan programs, these organizations are striving to support small business growth and ensure that female entrepreneurs can continue flourishing throughout Ohio.

Businesses can reach out to a Minority Business Assistance Center near them for help with business planning, access to capital, and state business certifications.

WBEC ORV is operated by the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Business Development and Entrepreneurship Department and is one of 15 Regional Partner Organizations across the United States authorized to administer the national WBENC certification to women-owned companies in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

For more information about the MBAC network, visit MBAC.Development.Ohio.Gov.

LOCAL EVENTS

Highlife Recovery held its ribbon cutting on January 12. They are an outpatient recovery and treatment center and join the many healthcare options here in Grove City Their location is 3142 Broadway here in Grove City, and they can be found online at: highliferecovery com

Are you a Chamber Member? Do you have an upcoming event? One of the benefits of membership is the promotion and support of your grand openings, open house and after hour events, anniversaries and more. Contact our office to have your event added to our calendar info@gcchamber.org

Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Sedgwick to help you lower your Ohio workers’ compensation premium

Ready to learn how much you can save? Complete our online evaluation form at: sedgwick com/ac3/grovecity

Taking care of people is at the heart of everything we do. At Sedgwick®, caring counts.

For additional questions, contact Julia Bowling at: P: 513-218-4062

E: julia bowling@sedgwick com

sedgwick.com ohiotpa | . .

Advice for First time Managers

by Jen Kelley, My Business Resource

It’s finally happened – you put in the time and effort and you received that long awaited promotion – to manager. Once the excitement wears off - for many first-time managers - is when the panic sets in. You’ve transitioned from a top-notch independent contributor, and now find yourself (especially if you work in a small to mid-sized business) accountable for not only your own deliverables, but the deliverables of others, as well. Not to mention the people you are now responsible for guiding, supervising and creating an environment where they feel empowered to do their best work possible. Perhaps you’ve never managed others before. Or you’ve never delegated tasks. Or maybe you’ve never been in a situation where the work someone else does is a direct reflection of your abilities. Pretty scary, right? Fear not – with a little time and focus on the following three guideposts, what once seemed a daunting undertaking will become your new norm.

Ask for – or seek out – a mentor. Many companies will have formal programs for new supervisors, whereby a seasoned manager takes you under their wing, and helps guide you through the nuances of supervising others and delegating tasks to direct reports. But often, there are no formal mentoring programs for newly minted people or process leaders. If a program doesn’t exist in your organization, seek out a manager you admire and respect – and ask for his or her help as you navigate the ropes. Remember – a mentor’s role is not to tell you how they did it – but to offer insight on how they may have handled a particular situation, and serve as a trusted advisor to bounce ideas off of. As you are coming into your own, you’ll find some of these lessons are spot on – and some you’ll need to tweak to fit your unique style. That’s exactly what these relationships are designed to do.

Solicit feedback. A colleague of mine once said, “Feedback is a gift – you just don’t get to choose the package it comes in.” When starting a new position – and especially a supervisory one - feedback is going to be a critical component of really understanding what works, and what doesn’t. And while we all love positive feedback, constructive feedback is often times far more important. Be open to what is being shared with you, ask questions, and commit to trying things a new way – even if it feels foreign at first. The best managers I’ve worked with (even the seasoned ones) have a deep desire to understand what they can be doing differently or better –even if it’s something they’ve done a hundred times before.

Make mistakes! People – and this includes managers – aren’t perfect. That’s why pencils have erasers. While new managers have a deep fear of doing something wrong, or being incorrect, mistakes and missteps should be encouraged – as long as we can absorb the lessons that are ripe for the taking. We learn so much more when plans go awry than when things go exactly as designed. These learning opportunities are pivotal as you grow into your new role and have the added benefit of helping you discover the type of manager you really want to be. Striving for excellence, as opposed to seeking perfection, should be your goal – an exercise that will continue to serve you for years to come as your career evolves.

Membership Growth Hits New Highs

While Columbus Business Services marked the 100th new member of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce in 2022, membership for the year didn’t stop growing there.

At final count, the Chamber welcomed in 114 new members in 2022, a big leap in previous years’ new member totals. Years vary, but even despite a pandemic membership total has continued to grow as a grand membership total currently in the mid-700s.

“We’ve been trending upward, but last year was the icing on the cake,” said Shawn Conrad, GCACC Executive Director.

Shawn shared her excitement that this growth also reflects engagement by businesses in the community Businesses are looking to be involved, but current member businesses are also spreading the word about what the Chamber has done for their business

Growth

It’s no secret Grove City is growing Business is growing The community as a whole is growing And Chamber membership is growing Shawn said she does believe all three growths are interwoven as the City grows

“I would like to tell everyone, everywhere if you haven’t been to Grove City in a while, you haven’t been to Grove City,” she said

Businesses who may have overlooked Grove City years or even a decade (or more!) ago are now taking a second look as just about everything needed and wanted is available. Businesses that previously had unchecked boxes when scouting Grove City are now seeing those boxes checked off.

But it’s not new businesses making up the membership growth. Shawn shared that, while in no particular order, the demographics of new members are in three sections. One section is made up of brand-new businesses. Another, an existing business who are now seeing value in Chamber membership. And a third section is businesses that have existed but are moving into the Grove City market, such as establishing a Grove City office, franchise, or other location.

Individual Members

In 2022, there was a noticeable growth in the number of individual members thanks in part to the Chamber Foundation benefits and scholarships and our university partners, Franklin University and Ohio Dominican The secret of individual membership and its benefits are out and Shawn hopes the word continues to spread

Members who register as an individual (no association with any business or other professional firm) are eligible for the educational benefits of the GCACC, such as scholarships from the Grove City Chamber Foundation, and education discounts with partners Franklin University and Ohio Dominican University.

Starting this year, individual members have another benefit available to them from AllyHealth in the Essential Health Plan. This telehealth-oriented benefit option is available to all members and is featured earlier in this issue.

Value

New and existing businesses alike are spotting the value a Chamber membership can bring to their business while existing members continue to see and even discover new value from their membership

With such diverse businesses and potential members, and a variety of values in membership, potential members aren’t left in the dark in sorting through opportunities Shawn said in the Chamber office they aim to share the opportunities a member has to be seen and which benefits align best with a prospective member so that they can be as invested and visible as they want to be

“Businesses are finding value in membership.”

Looking to add more value to your membership? In this issue, look for the two newest member benefits PartnerShip, a shipping benefit, and AllyHealth Essential Plan, a health-based benefit For all other benefits check out the benefits webpage www.gcchamber.org/member-benefits/ or give the office a call at 614-875-9762 and the Chamber team would love to chat about benefits with you.

Now in Grove City

At ZangmeisterCancerCenter we collaborate with our colleagues in radiation therapy, surgery, genetics, pathology and clinical research to ensure each patient has a comprehensive, multidisciplinary plan of care. Support from our pharmacists, social workers, nurse navigators, dietitians and financial counselors minimize the impact of cancer on daily life.

Business Resources from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

Below we’ve pulled together a selection of BWC resources, but for all things BWC you’ll want to visit: https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/

Safety Intervention Grant

This grant just re-opened in November 2022 and has made some changes to the format to make it open to more businesses. The maximum award within a three-year period is $40,000

Purpose of the grant: In BWC’s own words “The SIG Program is available to any Ohio private or public employer covered by the State Insurance Fund to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation.”

Highlighted changes: Since its re-launch at the end of 2022, this grant program now only requires businesses to have been in operation for one year (previously: two years), the eligibility cycle is now three years for all types of businesses, and reporting requirements are now a oneyear report/case study.

There are many other elements to this grant’s application process. Find all of those details and more at: https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/for-employers/safety-and-training/safety-grants/safetyintervention-grant

Workplace Wellness Grant

This grant is marked as currently accepting applications and its purpose is as it sounds to establish a workplace wellness program to promote overall employee health and wellness.

Program Components: Per this grant’s regulations, a workplace wellness program consists of two components: 1- a health-risk appraisal (HRA) and a biometric assessment (both of which measure health-risk factors) and 2- Programs designed for addressing those health-risk factors.

Details: $300 per participating employee over four years may be awarded, maxing out at $15,000 per policy. The $300 is awarded over the four years as $100, $75, $75, and $50. What constitutes a ‘participating employee’? Here is the grant’s policy: “We define participating employees as someone who completes an HRA and biometric screening in the first three months of the first year and each of the subsequent years of the grant program. In addition, employees must participate in at least one activity to improve or maintain their health in each program year.”

Using grant funds: Typically screenings, classes, and demonstrations can be procured with grant funds. Items in the ‘no’ list are typically physical items ranging from medication to supplies.

Visit this grant’s website for the full qualification and application information: https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/for-employers/safety-and-training/safety-grants/workplace-wellnessgrant

Any Other Safety Grants

We chose to highlight two grants that may be of interest to a large portion of our audience, but they are not the only two safety-oriented grants available through Ohio BWC. For an index of all grants currently offered (and likely where future grants will be listed, too), visit: https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/for-employers/safety-and-training/safety-grants

2023 TechCred Information

The State of Ohio’s TechCred program is back for another year. Below are the highlights you’ll need and the link to follow to put in your application for TechCred.

What is TechCred?

The TechCred program assists with funding for ‘upskilling’ employees within the technology sector. Employees are able to enroll in credential programs to learn new skills pertaining to their tech job.

What is the process?

The simple answer broken down into six steps is 1- Identify needed skills, and the employees who need to be said skills, 2- Partner with a credential provider, 3-Apply online, 4-Enroll employees in the program, 5-Upload proof of credential completion 6-Receive reimbursement.

What are the 2023 application periods?

Simply put, applications are accepted during odd-numbered months in 2023— March, May, July, September, and November. However, there are two little exceptions: the July window will not open until July 3 (but will close at month’s end, the 31st), and the September window will close on Sept. 29.

What counts as a credential?

‘Tech’ is a broad sector, which means there are a lot of possibilities for credentials and the providers offering the credential. A list of credential possibilities can be found here: https://techcred.ohio.gov/about/credential-list

Ready to apply?

While the TechCred application won’t re-open until March 1, February is a great time to figure out which credentials are of need, and which employees should complete the credentials and other materials for your application. Get ready for the March 1 application period by visiting the TechCred website: https://techcred.ohio.gov/home

Ins and Outs of the Minority Businesses Enterprise Certification

This article originally appeared on FreshWater Cleveland (freshwatercleveland.com) on November 15, 2022, and is written by Raland Hatchett of RH Professional Services. Since originally written for a Cleveland-area audience, we have removed Cleveland-specific mentions from the article to reduce confusion. The full original article can be viewed here: https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/MBECertification111522.aspx

Obtaining city, state, or federal minority business certification isn’t easy, but it can unlock some profitable business opportunities. To obtain the certification, the new or existing owner has to be patient, organized, and willing to fill out loads of complicated forms to document their status.

However, gaining minority business certification can also be lucrative. It gives these business owners great rewards—including access to corporate buyers looking for minority-owned businesses, networking events, and posting on a special database open only to minority-certified businesses.

Here is how to overcome the hurdles to becoming a Minority Business Enterprise.

What is a Minority Business Enterprise certification?

A Minority Business Enterprise certification (MBE) is a certification for businesses owned and operated by a U.S. citizen whose ethnicity is African American, Hispanic American, AsianIndian, Asian Pacific, or Native American. The owner must have 51% ownership and control of the business and be in business for at least one year.

What is the origin of the MBE?

The Minority Business Enterprise program and the designated certification dates back to 1969 with the establishment of the Office of Minority Business Enterprise—today the Minority Business Development Agency—a federal agency exclusively dedicated to minority business enterprises. In 1973, the Office of Minority Business Enterprise established a national business service network and provided seed funding to numerous minority advocacy organizations.

These organizations included the National Minority Purchasing Council (now known as the National Minority Supplier Development Council), the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Economic Development Association (NEDA), the Chicago Economic Corporation, and the National Council of LaRaza.

The State of Ohio’s mandate in 1980 to work with minorityowned businesses was established through advocacy and legislative efforts.

Why should a minority business owner obtain an MBE certification?

One important point to stress is for business owners to think first about who would want to buy their product. Once you’ve decided who your ideal customer is, then apply for the minority business enterprise certification from the State of Ohio or the National Minority Supplier Development Council, a national organization that offers access to corporate purchasing agents and supply chains.

A certification (MBE, Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), or other) is not required to operate your business, but it helps by providing businesses with a chance to access new resources and opportunities that are profitable.

What are the benefits of MBE Certification?

Certification gives MBEs exclusive access to top corporate purchasing agents, premium networking events, searchable supplier databases, affordable consulting services, technology programs, and vital introductions to nationally known corporations.

Some examples of the benefits include:

Contract assistance—Work one-on-one with a business advisor to search for contract opportunities for your business.

Receive invitations or notifications about purchasing opportunities. For instance, the state of Ohio has a program because of a mandate that the agency spends 15% of its spending budget on minority firms certified by the State of Ohio.

Each MBE company’s certified profile is listed in a directory used by purchasing agents searching for goods or services provided by minority-owned businesses.

Financial and bonding assistance—Work one-onone with a business advisor to prepare a business plan and submit a request for a loan from a bank or request bonding from an insurance company. Management and technical assistance—Work with a business advisor to create a marketing and sales plan to grow the business or attend workshops learning how to train your current workforce on best practices used for great customer service.

What are the requirements to apply for an MBE?

The State of Ohio offers four types of certification. Each certification requires the completion of the application process. Certification as an MBE, WBE, Encouraging Diversity Growth and Equity Program (EDGE), and Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise Procurement Program (VBE) requires the completion of a certification application and the submission of required documents.

The documents needed are:

Birth Certificate or passport

Last tax year State of Ohio tax return

Bank signature card or letter showing who has signature authority for the company’s bank account

Personal tax return for the past three years for the majority owner

W-2s and/or 1099 for majority owner and spouse

Business taxes S form

IRS Scheduled K-1 or schedule C for the past three years

Most recent balance sheet, cash flow statement, profit, and loss statement

Facility lease and ownership documentation

Loans and security agreement

Equipment list

List of subcontractors or suppliers used

Two of your largest signed contracts

Application Process

Many business owners report that the application process is not intuitive, so I recommend you dedicate at least a few hours to completing the process.

It is important that you've prepared and collected all documents on the checklist before you begin the application. The Unified Application for the State of Ohio MBE certification is designed to collect information in the following categories:

Company Information-address, email, and business phone number.

Employee Information-the number of full-time or part-time, minority or female employees.

Business Information-date business began operations.

Owner Information-standard personal information, % of ownership, etc.

Owner’s information on assets & liabilities, cash, IRA or retirement, personal property, real estate, auto/other assets. If there are several owners, each must complete this section.

Property Details-type of property, date of purchase, cost, market value. Board of Directors- list of board members.

Independent decision-making functions-list of those who make company decisions.

Company Officer Information- names of corporate officers.

Business Gross Receipts- revenue earned in previous years of operating the business.

Contribution/Assets Details—an investment made to start a business like cash and/or equipment.

Business Information questionnaire.

Personal eligibility statement.

Name of the person completing the application.

As you go through each section on your computer, please understand that the system will not move forward to the next section until all required information has been completed. If you run into any issues with the application system, first save what you’ve entered into the system and then request to speak with someone from support.

Follow up

Once your application is submitted and under review by the certification team at the agency granting certification, the process could potentially take up to 90 days. Be prepared to talk to the agency if questions arise about your application.

Certification processes

The Minority Business Development Division and Minority Business Assistance Centers can help businesses become state-certified in four different programs.

Recertification is for businesses whose certificates have expired after one year. Cross certification is for firms certified with one State agency that is recognized by another State agency or Joint Ventures.

In addition to the technical assistance, the federal, state, and local government, and corporations (not-for-profit and for-profit) have created programs specially designed to help develop minority-owned businesses to level the playing field and help these businesses grow.

An MBE application process is complex and labor intensive, but qualifying for the certification opens the door to corporate buyers, networking events, and a special database. That access can help these businesses expand and grow.

So don’t be discouraged by the process. For many companies aiming to be bigger and better, it is well worth it.

Simple Social Media Tips to Begin 2023

Honest talk: It’s the first half of January as I work on this article. My dry-erase calendar still says ‘December’. My day-at-a-time calendar is buried and probably stuck in November. I’m planning events in March and April and I’ve relied a little too much on my phone telling me what day it is lately.

All that is to say… a lot of us are probably still figuring out our 2023 time management even as you read this in February. If I dropped some time-consuming social media tips on you right now, I’d even laugh at myself. Instead, here are some basics to tidy up your pages in the new year that you can probably accomplish while waiting for your coffee to brew or during a commercial break (though as someone in marketing I should probably encourage you to watch those commercials…).

Your Contact Information

New shop phone number? Email address change? Or, here’s a biggie—do you have a new address? Pull up your social media pages and make these quick changes so everyone can find you. On a roll with the updates? Don’t forget your Google page, and I love a good up-to-date GCACC Member Directory page (no, seriously, those are so helpful to me and lots of others!)

Hours of Operation

If you’ve looked up a business’s hours online, only to discover it was incorrect, then you get this one. Some are very on top of this element of their social pages or even their Google page, but if it’s been a while or you forgot to change from summer to winter hours, here’s your friendly reminder to take care of that.

Visuals

Ok depending on your collection of photos, this could take longer than waiting for coffee. Freshen up Facebook with a new cover photo, and at the very least consider if your current account/profile images are the best representations of your business. Still using the old logo? Time to change!

One last way to make your business voice heard in 2023 and it doesn’t involve your social pages. We’d love to include you in a 2023 issue of Chamber Business Connection. We’d love expert columns sharing first-hand knowledge of your field, we’d love to chat about your business owner journey, and we’d love to learn about your business and its beginnings. Drop me an email at: shann@katbroconsulting.com

Buy tickets to our Annual Fundraiser Dinner & Show Dinner * Dancing * Silent & Live Auctions * Raffles

October 2023

Buy apparel, blankets & more through our online store. tinyurl.com/gccfshop

Support us with your everyday online shopping with Amazon. Add us as your Amazon Smile Charity tinyurl.com/gccfsmile

Now selling a local favorite - Silverbridge coffee. Every bag (or box) of coffee you buy goes towards scholarships for 2023. Visit our site at

https://gccfcoffee.square.site

As a member of GCACC you are offered discounted advertising within the chamber produced publications; our Business Connection E-Magazine, Business Weekly Connection e-newsletter, AND our social media channels. We are already reaching your target audience in the Grove City and Central Ohio area Partner with your chamber by purchasing an annual ad package and save.

20,000+ 5,000+ 1,700 + SOCIAL REACH MONTHLY WEBSITE HITS MONTHLY

WEEKLY SUBSCRIBERS

Artwork Requirements:

Ad Placement Pricing & Sizing

Full Page Inside Front Cover | 8.5x11 | $300

Full Page Inside Pages | 8 5x11 | $200

Half Page | 8.5x5.5 | $150

1/3 Page | 2.83x10 | $100

Quarter Page | 4 25x5 5 | $75

1/6 Page | 2 83x4 5 | $50

Artwork is due by the 20th of each month.

Banner Ads Now Available on our website starting at $300! (free 1st ad design)

Please submit in jpg or pdf format

For print ads please submit artwork files in 300 dpi, CMYK and embedded fonts format

For digital ads please submit artwork files in 72 dpi, RGB format

Word documents will not be acceptable

Ads sent in are subject to final approval by the Chamber Business Connection magazine editing staff

Looking for help with your ad artwork? Contact our marketing agency for discounted ad creative prices. Katbroconsulting.com