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P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E G R E AT E R S P R I N G F I E L D C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
CLARK COUNTY’S NEXT CONGRESSMAN
U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER PAGE 4
AT PLAY. Smithsonian Affiliate 7
AT HOME. SHS Everyday Amazing 2
AT WORK. Site Selection Magazine 6
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
INSIDE VIEWS
Springfield High School
Everyday Amazing SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL HAS AN EXCITING STORY TO TELL AND ITS STUDENTS ARE HELPING TO TELL IT.
The Springfield City School District recently launched “Everyday Amazing” - a series of videos aimed at spreading the news about what the district has to offer and the changes that have taken place since the new high school opened its doors in 2008. The videos provide students’ perspectives of the Springfield High School experience, from the benefits of a diverse student body, to top-notch teachers, to extensive course offerings. The students in the videos are comprised of those who grew up in the district, those who transferred from surrounding schools or are new to the area. The teachers get to weigh-in on the conversation in their own video. For years the district has done a good job of promoting its International Baccalaureate and extensive Advanced
Placement offering but, according to Public Relations Director Kim Fish, it had overlooked its best promotional tool. “We realized that only the students can tell their experience,” she said. From Marisa, who praises her teachers for taking a personal interest in her success, to Meghan who has found her niche in a non-traditional sport, to Humza who appreciates a student body similar to what he’ll encounter in the “real world,” each student brings his or her unique perspective to a SHS education. The Everyday Amazing campaign not only benefits the school district but the community as a whole, said Mike McDorman, president and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “It’s just one more way we can tell the story of how Greater Springfield is a great place to do business and raise a family.” Watch the videos online at www.spr.k12. oh.us/amazing or scan this QRcode with your mobile phone.
Greater Springfield Networking@Night at Windy Knoll Golf Club leads in & Derby Glen Economic Development Wednesday,May 30 Windy Knoll Golf Club 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
ON MARCH 1 WE WERE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE SPRINGFIELD METROPOLITAN AREA HAS RANKED 2ND IN THE NATION, among metros
of our size, when it comes to new or expanded economic development projects.
The report, published in the March edition of Site Selection magazine, showed us moving up three spots from last year when we were in 5th place. The rankings were determined by the number of new corporate location projects with significant impact - retail, schools, government, and hospital projects excluded. To qualify, the projects had to have involved at least $1 million in capital investments, created 50 new jobs or added at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.
All 12 of these projects were significant, making Greater Springfield the only Ohio metro area in its population category - 50,000 to 200,000 residents to make the list. We would not have reached this significant milestone without a collaborative vision and the hard work and dedication of our partners who helped us take some giant steps in 2011. We’ll keep moving forward in 2012 with the development of Prime Ohio II and Champion City industrial parks, all the while working with our existing businesses on hiring, investing, training and expansion, as well as aggressively seeking out new businesses to expand into our community. I’m anxious to see where we’ll be in 2013. Have a great Chamber day!
Top 12 Springfield-Metro Projects of 2011 Company McGregor Metalworking Companies Science Applications International Corp seepex Inc Thirty-One Gifts LLC Trupointe Cooperative Inc YAMADA North America Exel Logistics JM Consolidated Industries LLC Tech II Mosier Industrial K. Wm. Beach Mfg. Co. Reed Elsevier Total investment: $46 million.
Investment Jobs Created $1.8 million 10 $1.6 million 35 $8.7 million 38 $6 million 500 $5 million na $20 million 60 $2 million 500 $1.5 million 50 $2.8 million na $4.5 million na $2.1 million 13 $1 million na Total jobs: 1,193
See some of the fabulous custom homes at Derby Glen and meet the new staff at Windy Knoll. Great food, cocktails, putting contests and horse-drawn carriage rides plus prize drawings all night! Register today at 937-325-7621, visit GreaterSpringfield.com or scan this code for mobile registration.
22nd Annual P. Dennis Sheehan Memorial Chamber Golf Open Monday, August 20 Windy Knoll Golf Club 12 to 6 p.m. • The field is limited to 144 golfers • $175 per player/$650 per foursome • Includes lunch, player gift and after-party Register today at 937-325-7621, visit GreaterSpringfield.com or scan this code for direct access to registration.
www.greaterspringfield.com
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YOURBUSINESS
Clark County’s Next Congressman:
Speaker of the House John Boehner IN MARCH, U.S. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BOEHNER SPOKE AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND HELD AT WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY.
More than 300 individuals attended the event which included a meal prepared by students in the SpringfieldClark Career Technology Center culinary school. State Rep. Ross McGregor introduced the Speaker who will be Clark County’s Representative in Congress when redistricting goes into effect in 2013. Having the Speaker as Clark County’s new Representative “is wonderful news for Clark County,” McGregor said. “We have enjoyed for a long time excellent representation from (U.S. Reps.) Steve Austria and Dave Hobson,” he said. “This is just a continuation of our issues and needs in Washington, D.C.
“Through all the ups and downs we covered each-other’s backs,” he said. After a brief bio, he outlined his goals for Washington and his Ohio district, of which Clark County will join in January. That afternoon, the Speaker joined Dan Ustian, chairman, president and CEO of Navistar for a tour of the Springfield Navistar plant. The Springfield visit was the first for Ustian, who was named chairman of Navistar. During the tour the men spoke with company and union representatives about the new truck lines, the new flexible production plan and the successful collaboration between company and union representatives.
This visit, which included a joint presentation by company and union officials, was their opportunity to l to r, Speaker Boehner, Jim Peifer, chamber board past chair demonstrate how the plant can not only and Chamber President & CEO Mike McDorman handle more volume but can do it at a Boehner also praised Austria for “the great job he has done high level and in an efficient way. and continues to do in Washington.” He went on to talk about the more than 30-year friendship he has shared with Hobson, starting from when they were both in the Statehouse in the 1980s and then part of the “Gang of Seven” in Washington in the 1990s. 4
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Springfield plant manager Jim Rumpf said he was excited to have both the CEO and the Speaker of the House visit Navistar on the same day. He was satisfied that the tour went well.
Discussing manufacturing at Navistar
As a result, both Speaker Boehner and Ustian received a better understanding of what is working in Springfield. More importantly they saw the potential for growing these very significant jobs in our community. Speaker Boehner went on to tour Pentaflex, one of Greater Springfield’s many manufacturers experiencing an upswing in production. While at the facility, he held a roundtable discussion on the needs of manufacturing in a global, ultra-competitive environment. That evening the Speaker attended a small reception at the Heritage Center where he was able to witness the recent improvements and additions to downtown, such as our new hospitals, National Road Commons and the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts & Conference Center.
Above: With Navistar CEO Dan Ustian and Springfield Plant Manager Jim Rumpf Below: At Pentaflex
Attendees were able to learn a little more about Boehner, what he hopes to accomplish in Washington and how we can benefit by having him as our new representative in Congress next year. “I feel like I already know a lot about Springfield, because of my longtime friendship with Dave (Hobson),” he said.
To view a photo gallery of Speaker Boehner’s visit to Springfield, visit GreaterSpringfield.com
Photos by Bryant Avondoglio www.greaterspringfield.com
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CIC NEWS+VIEWS
Greater Springfield Leads Country in Economic Development
The Springfield metropolitan area has ranked 2nd in the nation when it comes to new or expanded economic development projects for metros of its size, according to the March edition of Site Selection magazine. The metro area moved up three spots from last year, when it was 5th in the nation. Rankings were determined by the number of new corporate location projects with significant impact – retail, schools, government, and hospital projects excluded. The projects must have involved at least $1 million in capital investments, created 50 new jobs or added at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. Springfield was the only Ohio metro area in its population category – 50,000 to 200,000 residents – to make the list. Greater Springfield had 12 qualifying projects, including seepex, with a commitment of 38 jobs and an $8.7 million investment, Thirty-One Gifts with 500 jobs committed and a $6 million investment and YAMADA North America, with 60 jobs committed and a $20 million investment. The state of Ohio ranked 1st in the nation, winning the 2011 Site Selection Governor’s Cup, which the 58-year-old Atlanta-based magazine has awarded annually since 1978 to the U.S. state with the most new and expanded corporate facilities. “We were pretty confident that Greater Springfield would rank high this year,” said Mike McDorman, president and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “We have seen more projects in the last year than we have in decades. We expect that momentum to continue as we develop and market our new industrial parks in 2012.” 6
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“The diversification of the companies in this report is what excites me the most,” said Jim Bodenmiller, City of Springfield city manager. “The City and its economic development partners have worked diligently to create an environment that encourages growth in the manufacturing, distribution, aerospace, and insurance service sectors, which is reflected in the Site Selection ranking.” “What’s exciting about this is these are county wide projects,” said Horton Hobbs, VP of economic development at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a real testament to the strong local partnership that exists between the county, city and the business community that is making these projects happen.” ~The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Top 12 Springfield-Metro Projects of 2011 Company McGregor Metalworking Companies Science Applications International Corp seepex Inc Thirty-One Gifts LLC Trupointe Cooperative Inc YAMADA North America Exel Logistics JM Consolidated Industries LLC Tech II Mosier Industrial K. Wm. Beach Mfg. Co. Reed Elsevier Total investment: $46 million.
Investment Jobs Created $1.8 million 10 $1.6 million 35 $8.7 million 38 $6 million 500 $5 million na $20 million 60 $2 million 500 $1.5 million 50 $2.8 million na $4.5 million na $2.1 million 13 $1 million na Total jobs: 1,193
CVBNEWS+VIEWS
Smithsonian in our Neighborhood
Springfield Museum of Art
THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM OF ART HAS RECENTLY BEEN NAMED A SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATE making it the only
Smithsonian Affiliate art museum in Ohio.
Smithsonian Affiliations offers museums, nonprofit cultural institutions and educational organizations across the country the opportunity to have greater access to Smithsonian collections and resources. Through Smithsonian Affiliations, the Smithsonian fulfills its outreach mission of sharing artifacts, programs and expertise. “Having this affiliation will connect the nationally recognized name of Smithsonian with the high quality collections already featured at the museum,” said Ann Fortescue, director of the Springfield Museum of Art. “This affiliation enables us to showcase an even broader scope of exhibits and sustain a more vibrant public profile by sharing Smithsonian collections.” The Springfield Museum of Art holds accreditation by the American Association of Museums, an achievement that helped garner the Smithsonian Affiliation, Fortescue said. This distinction recognizes the museum’s adherence to best practices for museums. The Springfield Museum of Art exhibits strong, regionally focused collections of American art, which was also a factor in the decision-making process.
The museum’s permanent collection features noted American artists, such as Berenice Abbott, George Bellos and A.T. Bricher. The museum’s first peek at what might be available for local exhibition will happen this month when Charlotte Gordon, curator for the Springfield Museum of Art, attends the SI annual conference in Washington D.C. “I’ll get to meet with the SI museum staff and see what objects are available for loan,” said said. “I’ll also see how other museums have best utilized this relationship and what will be the best for us.” The Smithsonian’s collections-based Affiliations program permits the long term loan of artifacts and enables Affiliates to incorporate Smithsonian collections in more than one format, allowing for alternative means of exhibiting the Institution’s more than 136 million object collection.
“We are delighted to begin this new partnership with the Springfield Museum of Art,” said Smithsonian Affiliations director Harold A. Closter. “The Springfield Museum of Art has established an important presence in Ohio based upon its impressive collections, gracious exhibit spaces, high level of professionalism, and commitment to public service and education. “We share many areas of interest in common, from historic to contemporary artists, and look forward to the many ways in which we can share ideas and resources to allow the public to experience the best of our organizations.” Photos of permanent collection items of the Springfield Museum of Art, courtesy of SMOA
www.greaterspringfield.com
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HELPING OUR COMMUNITY
Be A Part Of Something Greater. If you have a business or are part of an organization in Greater Springfield, you have an interest, a stake in our community’s well-being. Helping move Greater Springfield forward is in your best interest. But what can you do to contribute to the momentum that has been created? We have the answer. Unlike the advertisement that asks for a few good men, the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce needs you, the entire business community, to be a part of a never-ending campaign to become all that we can be. Are you in? For membership information go to www.gotchamber.com or phone 937-325-7621.
Advocate A voice for local business • Advocating for businesses on the local, state and federal levels • Delivering business-related legislative bulletins and alerts • Providing real-time information on GreaterSpringfieldVotes.com
A voice for the community • Securing community funding through PDAC • Protecting the future of Springfield Air National Guard Base • Fostering strong relationship with Wright Patterson Air Force Base
Build
Attract new business and new jobs • Supporting growth at PrimeOhio Industrial Park • Developing PrimeOhio II / Champion City Industrial Park • Bringing in companies such as Code Blue and Thirty One Gifts • Growing existing companies
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Serve Delivering value-added services • Providing more than 22,000 Speedway discount cards to member companies for their employees and spouses – average saving per employee $125 annually • Saving members more than $500,000 in Workers Compensation premiums • Distributing prescription, eye and hearing saving cards for up to 75 percent savings • Member-only commercial electric-rate discount from of FirstEnergy Solutions. • Save 20% off health insurance
Communicate Making a case for Greater Springfield • Regionview magazine—keeping the community up-to-date on business news • Community guide—attracting new businesses and residents • E-Newsletter with legislative updates