GC Chamber Business Connection June 2023 Issue

@ GroveCityOhio

#GC123

Non-Profit Spotlight

WE:LEAD 2023

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

CHAMBER DESK

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

Staff

Executive Director

Shawn Conrad

Events Manager

Marilyn Reiner

Administrative and Events Coordinator

Heather Brokaw

Kaziah Conrad Member Service Specialist

Spring – almost summer, weather is good, sun is shining (well, most of the time), and your Chamber is moving at 100%!

The 2023 WE:LEAD Women’s Business Forum was held to record attendance. Our Keynote, Vickie Thompson-Sandy, CEO of the Buckeye Ranch, our session presenters, Jen Kelly - MBR, Tiffany Berger - Breathworx614, Jennifer Stauffer - OhioHealth and Linda Pringle Evans - Pringle Consulting along with ‘Personal Leadership Journey’ panelists Tami Washington, Brittany Hennessey, Brittany Seebach, Katie Antry-Fleming, and Lynn Weita, were truly amazing, inspiring, and motivational. The Grove City Division of Police gave the women in attendance some great tips and tools for keeping safe and our caterers provided a fabulous breakfast and lunch. New business and personal friendship were forged, and all came away ready to take on the challenges and adventures that await.

Farmers’ Market is underway and in just a couple of weeks when all of the produce is ready and in season, we’ll have over 70 vendors each Saturday morning from 8a-Noon.

The July 10 Chamber Golf Outing is open for registrations and WILL sell out quickly – get your team set and registered today!! Keep your eyes on your email because we’re going to have some new and exciting announcements coming!

You and your business are vital to our community, so find your place – get involved and get plugged in – we’re here to help!

Letter from the Director -Shawn

RECOGNIZING MEMBERS

Celebrating Anniversaries

Sujood Baker

Charise McIver

James Mingesbruney

Khalil Scott

Bijay Gurung

Marley Nelson

Victoria Williams

Heart & Home Realty

Adobe Bright Ideas Learning

Sip & Shop Boutique

LMD Management

Jason Foster, MD

New Life Homes & Investments, LLC

Strawser's Ice Cream, Pop & Candy

Shop

Kids Get Cancer Too!

1 YEAR: 10 YEARS:

OH-YO! Frozen Yogurt

Buckeye Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Moo Moo Car Wash Grove City

Ohio Small Business Development Center

5 YEARS:

Mr Appliance of Lancaster

Redwood Grove City

Buckeye Fitness Club

Holistic Herbal Solutions, LLC

The Garden Bar

Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids

Capital Health Care Network The Meadows of Scioto

Full Story Foundation & Film

Wheaton Dental

15 YEARS:

Sunset Cemetery

Mitchell Insurance Agency

The Cheer Center, dba World Cup Ohio

United Garage Door Columbus

20 YEARS:

Wieging Chiropractic

Allied Fabricating & Welding Co.

Pontones Music

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Ignyte Financial

Lionheart Detailing-Ceramic Coating & Car Detailing

Start HR Consulting LLC

Mosaic Life Creative

Hydration Nation

Red Wing Shoe Store

Capital City Staffing Solutions

Kelly Hamilton Group, Red 1 Realty

The Rollhouse

Monterey- An Optalis Health & Rehabilitation Center

LIONHEART DETAILING WHEATON DENTAL MITCHELL INSURANCE AGENCY

Serving the greater Columbus area, Lionheart Detailing offers ceramic coating, headlight restoration, paint correction, steam cleaning, and shampooing, all to bring your vehicle back to life or keep it in top condition. As a mobile detailing business, Lionheart Detailing comes to clients, such as directly in your home driveway, to complete the job meaning there is no shop to find. They pride themselves on top-level work and are available for services six days a week.

614-620-6039

lionheartdetailing.com/

Faceook: @LionHeartDetailing

Grove City News

Wheaton Dental in Grove City is celebrating 5 years of business and Chamber membership this summer. Their London-Groveport Rd. office makes for easy access for many across the Grove City area. Services include general and children’s dentistry, cosmetic dental, teeth whitening, and some emergency services. Office hours vary throughout the week, including early morning and evening hours, providing opportunity to fit dental care into the busiest of schedules.

2760 London-Groveport Rd. 614-957-0057

wheatondentalohio.com/

Mitchell Insurance in Grove City is celebrating 15 years of Chamber membership, as Mitchell Insurance as a whole marks 30 years in business. Today Mitchell Insurance offers options for Personal, Commercial, Life, and Health Insurance. They work with and offer some of the biggest and most-reputable names in the insurance industry. Mitchell strives to provide top-notch customer service from their experienced and knowledgeable staff who work to put people first.

2204 Stringtown Rd. 614-875-7322

www.insurance-mitchell.com/

A Notice Regarding the City of Grove City’s Website

City officials are engaged in a process to reimagine Grove City's website. The goal is to make the website easier to navigate, more informative, and visually more appealing. A critical element of this process involves gathering feedback –priorities, opinions, and preferences – from local residents and the owners or managers of Grove City businesses. To that end, the City retained Saperstein Associates, an opinion research firm, to organize and conduct several small-group discussions – called "focus groups" – in early June. Each discussion will be held in City Hall and last approximately two hours, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, on a weekday evening. At the end of each interview, those selected to participate, and attend, will receive a $100 cash honorarium – a "thank you" for sharing your time, thoughts, and opinions.

If this research piques your interest, please click here and complete a brief questionnaire. Those selected to participate will be notified by email.

This memo was provided by Saperstein Associates.

Non-profit member Kids Get Cancer Too is celebrating their one year GCACC anniversary this summer as an organization dedicated to supporting kids and families through a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Their mission is to provide financial, emotional, and spiritual support for any family with a child in active cancer treatment. Families who fit this description are encouraged to reach out to inquire about any of the above types of assistance.

Kids Get Cancer Too actively raises funds from sources such as donations, sponsorships, and grants. But nothing beats throwing pies to raise funds! Combining good old fashioned pie-in-the-face humor and fun with raising funds, Kids Get Cancer Too also throws pie party fundraisers.

Additionally, their summer event calendar is taking shape, and you might see them out and about in the community. Be sure to say hi… and double check for pie!

Contact Information:

kgct.org/

Facebook: @KidsGetCancer

Contact—use the ‘Contact Us’ tab on the website

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT LOCAL BUSINESS

The Garden Bar celebrated a ribbon cutting of its new space! Still located in Grove City’s Historic Town Center and serving all your favorites, they can now be found at 4009 Broadway, which is the corner of Broadway and Park.

Endure Aesthetics officially opened their new location with a ribbon cutting in mid-April. Located at 3330 Park St. Suite C, Endure Aesthetics offers medical spa services, including a large variety of facial service options

ARC Industries held their ribbon cutting ceremony in mid-April ARC has been providing business services and staffing solutions to local, national and international companies for over 60 years Currently, ARC Industries serves over 2,100 people, helping those with developmental disabilities live, work, learn and participate in the community

Celebrating Female Leaders at Grove City Chamber's Annual Women's Forum

by Katie Browder-Person

The Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual WE:LEAD Women's Forum, an inspiring celebration of female leadership, on May 24 at the Aladdin Shrine Center.

This event was an opportunity for female business owners and professionals from the local area to come together and share their stories of success, as well as discuss strategies for achieving their goals. Attendees were able to learn from each other, network with like-minded individuals, and gain invaluable insight into how to succeed in their own business endeavors. The event was truly a remarkable testament to the potential of female leadership. This year's WE:LEAD event, presented by Wright Patt Credit Union, was dynamic with loads of amazing speakers and panelists.

Throughout the day, the theme of self-care and self-awareness was woven into every session. The panelists emphasized that taking care of oneself is just as important as taking care of one's career. The speakers and panelists included a diverse group of female leaders who shared their insights and experiences. They represented a range of industries and professions, including healthcare, finance, education, and entrepreneurship. Each brought value and unique perspectives to the conversation about women in leadership.

Jennifer Kelly started the conference with a powerful message about kindness that resonated with the audience. Traditional gender stereotypes were addressed and Jennifer provided great insight on how to succeed in the workspace as a "boss" lady without having to change your core values.

Tiffany Berger with Breathworx614 began her session by posing the question “What does well-being mean to you?” She then introduced the relaxation and stress reducing technique of breathwork. Tiffany also shared the power of Breathwork with the group by leading the room in a series of techniques to help us expand our knowledge of breathing and how it relates to wellbeing.

After lunch speaker Jennifer Stauffer spoke about her experiences in stress management. She shared that through practicing mindfulness, one can gain a better handle on natural stress responses that happen every day.

A special visit by Lieutenant Jason Stern with the Grove City Division of Police brought an interactive self-defense presentation to the group. Teaching the women how to be strong in mind, body and AWARENESS! (Watch Video Above)

Linda Pringle Evans, presented the Power of Asking, key strategies like "knowing yourself" and blocking out "limiting beliefs" offered attendees a much needed kick to speak up and ask for what you deserve.

Keynote speaker, Vickie Thompson-Sandy, CEO with the Buckeye Ranch, spoke about our future female leaders. Vickie highlighted the importance of lifting each other up and how important it is for women to lead with authenticity and intentionality. She also discussed the significance of mental health in leadership and how vital it is for leaders to take care of themselves

This year’s WE:LEAD Women's Forum was a fantastic event that celebrated female leaders while providing valuable insights and inspiration. It was a reminder that women have a lot to offer in all fields and industries and that supporting each other is key to our collective success.

We’re already excited for next year’s Forum, but until then keep an eye on the newsletter, social media, and Chamber website calendar for WE:LEAD mixers throughout the rest of the year.

Thank You Sponsors

A big thank you to the sponsors who have already committed their support to this year’s Forum. They are: Presenting Sponsor— WrightPatt Credit Union. WE:LEAD Sponsor—Air Quality Solutions. Session Sponsor—Auto Service Experts Ohio by Sanderson Automotive LLC. Décor & Centerpiece Sponsor—Sugar Maple Commons, A Treplus Community. There is still time to commit to sponsoring this wonderful Forum, view options in the Sponsorship kit here (www.gcchamber.org/sponsorship-opportunities/) and reach out to the Chamber office at 614-875-9762 to express interest.

How to Create a Benefits Package for Your Small Business without Breaking the Bank

As a small business owner, you know the importance of offering employees a competitive benefits package. But if you’re like most small business owners, you don’t have a huge budget to work with.

So how do you create a comprehensive benefits package for your employees without breaking the bank? Here are some "outside of the box" ideas on how to create a great benefits package for your small business without going over budget.

Consider which benefits your employees would value most

When it comes to building your own benefits package, it's important to consider which benefits your employees would value the most. To determine which benefits your employees would value most, ask them what benefits they would like to see offered, what they feel would improve their quality of life, and what they think would help them achieve their career goals. Some benefits that employees commonly value include: flexible schedules, paid time off, education benefits, and wellness programs. However, it's important to remember that the needs and desires of your employees may vary depending on their personal and professional circumstances.

Research which benefits are most cost-effective for your company

While providing a benefits package for your employees may seem like an expense you can't afford as a small business owner, there are many cost-effective options to choose from.

Here are some cost-effective benefits to consider:

1. Flexible schedules: Offering a flexible schedule is a great way to provide a work-life balance benefit to your employees. Allowing them to choose their work hours or work remotely can reduce stress and improve their job satisfaction.

2. Wellness programs: Many wellness programs offer fitness classes, nutrition counseling, and mental health resources, which can improve productivity, morale, and overall health.

3. Education and training opportunities: Providing educational opportunities or training programs can benefit your employees by expanding their skills and knowledge. This benefit can also improve employee retention, as they will see your company as a place for professional growth. Within the GCACC, there are numerous opportunities including partnerships with Franklin University and Ohio Dominican University. View all options at: https://www.gcchamber.org/education/ Additionally, scholarships are available through the Chamber Foundation. Visit: https://gcchamberfoundation.org/scholarships/ to learn more.

4. Providing paid time off (PTO) is an excellent way to show your employees that you value their well-being and appreciate their hard work. You can offer a set number of days off each year, or use a PTO bank, where employees accrue hours throughout the year. Additionally, consider offering paid holidays or a floating holiday, which can improve employee morale.

5. Can't afford traditional health insurance for your team? Alternatively, consider offering a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), which allows your employees to save pre-tax dollars for medical expenses.

By researching cost-effective benefits, you can create a package that provides the most value for your employees without breaking the bank for your small business. Remember, providing benefits doesn't have to be an expensive or daunting task. With the right research, you can find affordable options that will help you attract and retain top talent in your industry.

Now Open in Grove City!

Your NEW neighborhood Wright-Patt Credit Union Member Center is now open, featuring:

• Convenient drive-thru services

• Dialogue stations for side by side extraordinary personal service

• Complimentary coin machine for members

Stop by to open an account, meet with one of our friendly Financial Coaches and see how we can help you through your Financial Flexibility and Freedom® journey to live the life you want to live.

If you live or work in Grove City, we look forward to seeing you soon!

We’ll Get There. Together.

Tosoh Bioscience Cuts Ribbon at New Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ Production Facility in Grove City, Ohio

On April 11, 2023, Tosoh Bioscience LLC celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ Production Facility in Grove City, Ohio. The opening of this facility offers Tosoh Bioscience the capability to produce Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™, a hydroxyapatite-based resin, in the United States.

In attendance of the ribbon cutting ceremony, were distinguished representatives from Tosoh Corporation (Japan), Tosoh Bioscience, as well as representatives from the City of Grove City, Ohio, and the Grove City Chamber of Commerce. President Emeritus—Tosoh Corporation, Toshinori Yamamoto, who along with Tatsuji Kushimoto, President—Tosoh Bioscience, traveled from Tokyo, Japan to be in attendance and speak at the ceremony.

Ali Soleymannezhad, Executive Vice President—Tosoh Bioscience, Separations & Purification, opened and led the ceremony, followed by speeches from Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. Kushimoto.

“What you’re about to see is our very first purification resin manufacturing outside Japan. This, for us, is a big milestone… for the very first time, we’re going to introduce purification resins to be shipped on a global basis to all Tosoh Bioscience customers from the United States,” said Mr. Soleymannezhad.

With the introduction of a domestic manufacturing facility, Mr. Soleymannezhad noted that Tosoh Bioscience can meet additional customer demand and improve business continuity in production while working with the Japanese production facilities.

“These are resins that [are used in] vaccine production, monoclonal antibody production [and are] critical for life-saving drugs,” said Mr. Soleymannezhad.

Mr. Yamamoto noted, “today, we mark the beginning of a new chapter in Tosoh Bioscience’s growth journey, innovation, and excellence. This state-of-the-art factory will serve as a demonstration of our commitment to quality, productivity, and sustainable development.”

Mr. Kushimoto again highlighted the importance of sustainability, particularly within the facility’s community in Grove City, Ohio. “As we embark on this new journey in Grove City, Ohio, we are also mindful of our responsibility towards our community and the environment. We will work closely with our employees, local authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure that our operations are sustainable and that we contribute towards the well-being of the community around us.”

Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ is a resin used in chromatographic separation of biomolecules, and unlike other resins available from Tosoh Bioscience, possesses a unique inorganic structure/chemistry.

Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ is a versatile and effective material for chromatography, especially for the purification of biomolecules that are difficult to separate using other chromatography methods. Its unique surface chemistry and high porosity make it a valuable tool in biochemical research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

By opening the facility, Nate Evans, Director of Operations— Tosoh Bioscience LLC, noted the domestic production can help ease strains on supply that the COVID pandemic has affected the past few years.

“The most impressive thing that we can achieve here with the new production [facility] is the ability to ensure capacity and demand.”

The production of Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ at the new facility also ensures that Tosoh Bioscience can maintain the same standards of quality they’ve come to be known for.

Cara Tomasek, Associate Director—Quality and Regulatory, Tosoh Bioscience LLC, who attended the ceremony, spoke to that assurance in greater detail. She noted that the built-in quality management system that Tosoh Bioscience LLC operates with ensures continued great products.

“The intent of the quality management system is to provide continual improvement, to provide consistent products to our customers, to provide high-quality products to our customers, and also be compliant to our processes and standards.”

Celebrations Capped With Kagami-biraki Ceremony

While the opening of the facility and quality were a focus of the day’s events, a unique highlight, and precursor to the actual ribbon cutting, stole some of the spotlight. Attendees watched and participated in a traditional Japanese kagami-biraki ceremony.

Mr. Kushimoto introduced and explained the ceremony, before himself taking part in it.

“Kagami-biraki is a ceremony performed at celebratory events in which the lid of the sake barrel is broken open by a wooden mallet and the sake is served to everyone present,” said Mr. Kushimoto.

“Kagami refers to the lid of the sake barrel and biraki means ‘to open’ so kagami-biraki literally means ‘opening the lid.’

Because of the lid’s round shape, the kagami is a symbol of harmony. The kagami-biraki, therefore, represents an opening to harmony and good fortune.”

The leadership team of Mr. Yamamoto, Mr. Kushimoto, and Mr. Soleymannezhad were joined by Tosoh Bioscience board members Jan Top (President, Tosoh America), and Kousuke Araki (President, Tosoh Bioscience – Separations & Purification), adorned in traditional happi robes, to perform the kagami-biraki.

Together wielding wooden mallets, they struck the lid, splashing themselves with sake, joined by laughter and applause from the nearly eighty attendees watching. The team then took the time to ladle sake into ceremonial cups for those in attendance, followed by a group toast of “kampai.”

The same leadership group then cut the red ribbon and formally opened the production facility before being given a tour by Mr. Evans to cap the event.

5 Easy Ways Small Businesses Can Embrace Diversity and Inclusion

Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) workplace is essential for small businesses to succeed and stay competitive. As the modern workforce continues to evolve, businesses need to take steps toward fostering a culture of equity and inclusivity. By doing so, small businesses can create an environment that encourages innovation, better productivity, and a stronger sense of community among their employees.

1) Assess your current level of DEI

Before you can make any improvements to your workplace culture, it's important to first understand where you stand when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

One easy way to get started is to review your employee data, including information on gender, race, ethnicity, age, and other factors that may impact diversity and inclusion. Consider using an anonymous survey system, like Survey Monkey, to gather additional insights from your team.

In addition to reviewing employee data, it's important to evaluate your company policies and practices. This could include reviewing job descriptions to ensure they are free from bias, reviewing hiring and promotion processes to identify any potential barriers to diversity, or reviewing compensation policies to ensure that they are equitable for all employees.

2) Create a plan

Once you have assessed your current level of DEI in your workplace, create a plan. This plan should include specific, measurable goals that align with your business values and overall objectives. Here are some ideas to consider when creating your plan:

1. Recruitment: Evaluate your recruitment process to ensure it is inclusive and attracts a diverse pool of candidates.

2. Training and Education: Provide ongoing diversity and inclusion training for all employees, including management.

3. Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer flexible work arrangements to employees who require them.

4. Fair Performance Evaluations: Establish a fair and transparent performance evaluation process that is free from bias and is assessed on merit and impact, to enable employees to improve.

5. Foster an Inclusive Workplace: Encourage team-building activities that promote understanding and encourage dialogue to create a sense of belonging for all employees.

3) Hold yourself and your employees accountable

It is important to hold yourself and your employees accountable for promoting and supporting a diverse and inclusive culture.

Set measurable goals and track progress regularly. You can create an action plan with specific steps to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, and assign responsibilities to each employee. Communicate the importance of diversity and inclusion to your team regularly. Have open conversations about the value of diversity and why it is important for the growth and success of the business. Overall, holding yourself and your employees accountable for promoting a more welcoming and supportive workplace.

4) Celebrate your successes

Here are some ways to celebrate your successes:

Recognize the individuals or teams who have contributed to your progress. Share your successes with your customers and clients. Host events or activities that celebrate diversity and inclusion. Share your success on social media.

Remember, celebrating your successes is not only important for morale and motivation, but it also helps to create a culture of accountability. By publicly acknowledging the progress you've made, you're setting expectations for yourself and your employees to continue pushing forward with your diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

5) Continue to reassess your diversity, equity, and inclusion goals to ensure you are making progress

Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace isn't a one-time event, it's an ongoing journey. To make sure that you are on the right track, it's essential to continually assess and monitor your progress.

Ask employees to complete surveys and provide anonymous feedback to see how they feel about the workplace culture. Use this information to identify areas where improvements can be made.

Finally, celebrate your successes. It's essential to recognize and celebrate achievements as you reach your diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

The Best Place to Retire: Ohio, Of Course

This was released by Ohio’s Department of Development in early March 2023. The Chamber Business Connection hopes to share additional retirement resources in future issues—stay tuned!

COLUMBUS – A respected voice in financial planning has determined what we already knew: Ohio is the best place to live, learn, work, play … and retire.

The Motley Fool company surveyed Americans to learn what they value in retirement and ranked the 50 states based on their responses. What did the Motley Fool learn? Ohio is No. 1.

“People who don’t live in Ohio might be surprised by these findings, but that’s because they don’t know Ohio,” Governor Mike DeWine said. “This simply confirms that Ohio is the best place to live in the Midwest – and the country.”

“Ohio is home to thriving cities and prosperous small towns and there is something for people of all ages,” said Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “Our low cost of living makes the state a great place for families and retirees alike. Possibly the best part of retiring in Ohio is our growing economy with new companies leaving the coasts and setting up shop here at record pace, which means your children and grandchildren can find a world-class education and a great career right here so you won’t have to get on a plane to visit your loved ones.”

The Motley Fool used their survey to find out what people 55 and older want in retirement. They came up with 16 factors and ranked each state based on those criteria, from quality of life, to health care quality, taxes, and more. Here’s what they said about Ohio: “Ohio quietly has a lot going for it, including very good scores in housing cost and non-housing cost of living.

It also has lower-than-average violent crime as well as reasonable taxes for retirees.”

Ohio clearly outpaced neighboring states in the rankings. Indiana was 10th, Pennsylvania 11th, Kentucky 13th, Michigan 15th, and West Virginia 32nd.

“Ohio has it all. It’s a great place to retire, to enjoy the outdoors, to raise a family, to go to school,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “If quality of life is important to you, you should live in the Buckeye State.”

There are so many reasons to call Ohio home. From a thriving economy and job market to affordability and family-friendly communities, you can find everything you want when you live in Ohio.

“Ohio quietly has a lot going for it, including very good scores in housing cost and non-housing cost of living.

FOUNDATION NEWS

In April, the Grove City Chamber Foundation awarded scholarships to local students at a reception in their honor.

This reception awarded scholarships to high school students in the graduating class of 2023, and a few Chamber Affiliate scholarships to those affiliated with the Chamber and pursuing post-secondary education that will result in a degree or certificate.

The Chamber Foundation has now awarded over $156,000 to over 241 students since it began awarding scholarships in 2013. In 2020, the Foundation crossed the $100,000 mark of scholarship dollars awarded and is on the fast track to the $200,000 marker.

Before we move along to the names of spring recipients, remember that spring is just the first ‘round’ of scholarships for 2023. The Foundation still has the following deadlines:

June 16: Chamber Affiliate Scholarships (2 of 4 deadlines), and Renewing Scholarships

Sept. 15: Chamber Affiliate Scholarship for quarter three

Dec. 15: Chamber Affiliate Scholarship, final deadline for 2023

Additionally, the Grove City Chamber Foundation can currently be found on Saturday mornings at the Farmers’ Market selling SilverBridge Coffee in support of scholarship efforts. In-person sales have gotten off to a great start and it’s wonderful to see shoppers in person. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions about the Foundation and see how you or your business can become involved with the Foundation.

In the side box, check out the names of local students who were awarded scholarships this spring. We wish them well in their future educational endeavors!

Affiliate Scholarship Recipients:

Alaina Dawson, Melina Kopczewski, and Jasmine Sydnor.

High School Scholarship Recipients (Scholarship sponsors are named in parentheses)

Robert Biehl, Michael Boling (Credit Union of Ohio), Melva Bonilla, Ryan Boyce, Sienna Brunicardi (Reiner Memorial), Justin Combs, Lauren Davis, Annay Downing, Madison Gillon (Spellman Memorial), Shae Grimm, Zachary Iles, Christian Isaacs (WesBanco), Annitra Kang (Credit Union of Ohio), McKenzie Kennedy (Heart of the Foundation), Jillian Paskvan, Connor Rose, Katelyn Souslin (Ziegler Memorial), Charles Spence (FCBC), Mason Stewart, and Natalie Tolliver (WE:LEAD).

To support the Foundation Scholarships visit their website GCChamberFounation.org

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Introducing “Council Corner”, a place to find items from the Grove City Council that may be of interest to those doing business in Grove City

Beginning with this issue, we’re introducing “Council Corner”, a place to find items from the Grove City Council that may be of interest to those doing business in Grove City We intend to share select highlights that can promote civic awareness as it is may be of interest to the business community City Council covers a lot of ground, so while we’ll focus on business items, we invite and encourage learning more about all other City Council actions and happenings

New in 2024 for Grove City residents to keep in mind is that the City Council is growing from five to seven members A 2024 ward map is now available on the Council’s website

City Council meets on the first and third Monday evenings of each month Due to meeting minutes needing approval before online posting, there may appear to be a ‘lag’ between minutes and our Chamber Business Connection publications

Public attendance is welcome at City Council meetings (meetings are twice a month) Those wishing to speak will need to sign the speakers list prior to the start of the meeting The Council website has full details, including the meeting agenda to see if there is an item of interest

The City Council website contains detailed information for everything we mentioned, and more. Visit directly using this link: We encourage those curious to visit the Council website directly:

FARMERS MARKET 2023

Have you come downtown to visit our annual Farmers' Market? Conveniently located just off Broadway you can find local vendors with everything from local produce, fresh flowers, handmade crafts, baked goods, jewelery, coffee (mmm) and more....

Saturdays May through Sept. 9

8am-noon

(come early for the local favorites)

Historic Town Center, where Park meets Broadway

Summer favorites will begin showing up around July.

THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR

From the Editor's Desk

By Sarah Hann

Is it just me, or is summer an occasion where the majority answer is “yes” when the question is “are you ready for...?”

We might not be ready for certain parts of summer—our pool water may still be murky or we don’t know what to pack for a new vacation destination, but summer in general is anticipated and welcomed by many.

New question—is your business ready for summer? Here’s a few quick tips to shine this summer:

Heading out of town, and you’re the one in charge of the business social media? Schedule some posts in advance and make sure others have access to those pages while you’re out. Leave behind other helpful notes so if your co-workers reach out, they’re only asking for souvenirs and not Facebook access.

Do you have summer-exclusive hours? Make sure those are up to date across all your online pages, including your GCACC Directory Listing, too (Reach out to the Office if you need help accessing your listing, 614-875-9762)

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