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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
enjoying the good life:
Retiring in Greater Springfield
From left; Pat Hartman, Linda Maclin, Terry Harris and Joanne Harris enjoy a Tuesday morning game of golf at Sugar Isle Golf Club in New Carlisle.
AT PLAY.
NTPRD The Chiller. 2
AT HOME. Springfield’s Mobile App. 8
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AT work.
Sponsored by:
PrimeOhio II Ready to build. 6 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
INSIDE VIEWS
Fun on Ice: NTPRD CHILLER
Wittenberg University, which has held its home hockey games in Dublin, has scheduled four home games in Springfield. It will move its practices home a get will as well. ield Springf in ion Recreat when The Chiller staff has been meeting with area month this whole lot cooler school districts. The arena will offer clinics year National Trail Parks and Recreation District celebrates round and summer camps for hockey and figure the opening of its new downtown ice arena - the skating. NTPRD Chiller. Chiller Adult hockey leagues - 30-to-40-year-olds - is Nearly 15 years in the making, the NTPRD one of the Columbus-area Chiller’s largest growing is located one block south of the site of the former the of Four segments, Rogers said. Street. Main West on Hall Memorial concrete and The arena will house a skate shop, concession original five Memorial Hall pillars area, lockers, team lockers, stadium seating and eagle welcome visitors to the main arena entrance. are military the of special party rooms. branches five the honoring Plaques Expected programming will include public entryway. main prominent features of the skating, special teen skate nights, club hockey and An affiliate of the NHL Blue Jackets “The Chiller” Wittenberg University hockey has contracted with NTPRD to manage games. The the facility. “ We are flat out impressed with It is expected to draw ice Chiller will oversee the marketing , Springfield. This city has a lot going enthusiasts from around the programming and on-site on for itself. We plan on being an region - especially local skaters NTPRD arena. the of ent managem extension of that.” — Jeremy Rogers of ce who have been traveling 40 or retains ownership and maintenan more miles for ice time. the building. about Chiller “People from surrounding counties and areas The approach to decided “We Trail National are excited about coming to Springfield to see this Castillo, Leann partnering with us” said were newest arena,” Castillo said. executive director. “We were thrilled that they These are people who will be eating in our not only ready but anxious to be part of Ohio’s newest restaurants and shopping in our stores,” she ice.” s Columbu said. “It is bound to have a positive effect on our The Chiller owns four facilities in the community.” area, however, this is not going to be “The Chiller assistant “There are a lot of reasons to be excited about Chiller’s The Rogers, Jeremy West”, said this,” Rogers said. “We are a family oriented general manager. opportunity that is affordable and a great way for “The Springfield Chiller will have its own identity,” are We one. day families to interact in a recreational setting.” from that known “We’ve said. Rogers lot a has city This d. “There is nothing else like this in the area.” Springfiel flat out impressed with of The grand opening for the NTPRD Chiller is going on for itself. We plan on being an extension planned for mid-October. Registrations for clinics that.” food local with and other programs are available on the website contracted already The arena has to ntprdChiller.com. vendors. The operations manager is locating Springfield as well as other staff members. The Springfield Chiller is also unique in the fact that it is introducing the ice to a whole new public many of whom have never been on ice skates, Rogers said. “We’re really starting from the ground floor, which is very exciting for us,” he said. Family skating will be the first step toward building the local ice-skating community. “Hopefully they will want to get involved in our clinics and leagues - we recognize it will take time.”
Membership tailored to member’s needs:
Regionview Sponsored by:
Tiered Benefits
This spring, the Chamber introduced a new value-based membership program designed to help businesses create a benefit package according to their company’s needs.
Called Tiered Benefits, this plan lets our members match their benefits to what they most need to help their business grow, whether that is sales and marketing, network building, professional development, advocacy and/or sponsorship opportunities. During an extensive survey we conducted last year our members stated that sales and marketing opportunities were the top values they sought from the Chamber. That information gave us the tools we needed to design our new benefits model and fine tune our services to our members. Our membership director, Eric Sirons, has been meeting with existing and prospective member businesses to introduce this program as well as help them mix and match benefits. For example: Businesses that put a priority on community building and economic development programs can design a membership plan that puts them at the table during exclusive leadership events and meetings, reserves sponsorship and marketing opportunities while still providing cost-saving benefits, such as Speedway discount cards to their employees. Businesses that seek more network-building opportunities, professional development for their staff and sales and marketing opportunities can create a membership plan that provides more opportunities to get their company name in front of potential customers while at the same time securing cost-saving benefits for their employees. This is the first time in the Chamber’s 100-plus-year history we have offered this type of value-based program. According to the feedback we have received from our largest to smallest businesses ($20,000 in increased membership from value-added programming) it was long overdue. While businesses can keep their current membership plan we are finding few want to after seeing their new options. To learn more, contact Eric at 521-1943 or esirons@greaterspringfield.com to set up an appointment. Have a great Chamber day!
Every business needs a bank. Choose the one that takes your success personally… Security National Bank. At Security National, we offer the most competitive products and services available, and we do it with the personal attention every business deserves. It’s nice to shake the good hands you’ve placed your money in. The hand you shake and the eyes you look into belong to the person responsible for taking care of you. We’re reliable, accountable and we’re in it for the long haul with you. If your business is ready to start, grow, expand or thrive, count on Security National Bank.
A New Name. A New Game - The Golden Leaf Monte Carlo
Join us Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m. when the 2013 Golden Leaf Monte Carlo makes its debut at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts & Conference Center in downtown Springfield. Begin your night with chips on the house, a signature cocktail in your hand and great cuisine on your plate. Next, visit one or all 12 gaming tables (no experience required) while the “Frank and Dean” tribute act provide a Vegasstyle night of music and laughs. To top it all off - you might also walk away with a fantastic auction gift! Tickets are $85 each ($150 for a couple) Table for (8) $550 For more info or to register, go to Greater Springfield.com/chamber
www.greaterspringfield.com
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YOURCOMMUNITY
ENJOYING THE GOOD LIFE:
RETIRING IN SPRINGFIELD
Retired school teacher Jennie Murphy takes lessons from professional painter Floyd Hook at United Senior Services Having lived 20 years in Europe and visited some 52 countries on six continents, Terry and Joanne
Harris had plenty of options when it came to where they would decide to retire. But on a visit to Terry’s mother in Springfield in the late 1990s, the couple knew their search was over. Springfield had three main things going for it,” Terry Harris said. “Recreation, the arts and the cost of living. “ They take advantage of every one. Formerly ski instructors in Europe, the couple have their hands in almost every community recreational offering. Enthusiastic fans of the area’s more than 300 miles of bike trails, they are involved in programs such as Changing Gears Bike Club, trail walkers, Friends of the Clark County trails, tennis pairs and more. Joanne organizes many of the trail-use programs and activities. I run into people all the time who are surprised that we chose to retire here,” Terry said. “ I’m surprised that these people don’t recognize what they have here.” Larry StillTourney, avid travelers, theemployee couple appreciates Springfield’s close a 48-year of Navistar, inspects the grill on proximity to two international airports. In an hour or less, they can one of the plant’s newest large truck models. 4
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be at the terminal - ready for their flight. Sharon Miller, a fellow frequent traveler, agrees with Terry and Joanne’s take on the area. “Go to Boca Raton or Naples or even Michigan and you will find that we have every bit as much if not more recreational opportunities than those places do,” she said as she played pickleball with friends Sarah Montgomery, Jan Peiffer and Rita Buturain. In between serves, the four ticked off the number of clubs and recreational activities they are involved in. The Harrises along with Pat Hartman and Linda Maclin play golf together every week, weather permitting, at one of Clark County’s 10 golf courses. They can also be found taking their boat out on the C.J. Brown Reservoir. “The whole area, from the reservoir to the white water area behind the art museum, is a real gem” Terry Harris said. On a recent Tuesday, retired school teacher, Jennie Murphy, channeled her inner Van Gogh during painting lessons at United Senior Citizens, on South Fountain in Springfield. Her 78-year-old instructor - professional painter Floyd Hook continues to crisscross the country with his painting but, like Murphy, chose Springfield when he retired.
l-r: Sarah Montgomery,Sharon Miller, Rita Buturain and Jan Peiffer play pickleball at United Senior Services
Enjoying retirement includes getting the most from a fixed income which makes Springfield attractive to the cost-conscious 65plus demographic. In 2011, Forbes Magazine, named Springfield “the 8th best place to live cheaply” in the country. The city’s low cost of living, coupled with its plethora of opportunities won it the recognition. If retirees love Greater Springfield, the area loves them right back: Clark County boasts more than 14 independent and assisted living communities, from the recently renovated Shawnee Apartments in downtown Springfield, to newly built condo communities throughout the county. Low income seniors have more than a dozen housing options. Fifteen nursing facilities are available throughout the county. In addition to pay-to-participate activities the area is flush with options that cost little to nothing. At least five health clubs in the county honor the Silver Sneakers Club - allowing retirees to use their gyms at no charge. Local colleges and universities allow seniors to audit classes at no charge, providing there is room in the class. The Summer Arts Festival. Downtown Sounds and Lunch on the
Fine Dining: Forest Glen Health Campus hosts the 2013 Regional Culinary Olympics at its Springfield campus
Lawn are among the free entertainment options that compliment a rich arts community that includes the Springfield Museum of Art, the Clark State Performing Art Center and the Springfield Arts Council. In addition, United Senior Services oversees a full schedule of events and programming, including trips. Opportunities do not end with recreation - local retirees are one of the biggest volunteer demographics in the area. Last year alone, they logged more than 52,000 volunteer hours through United Senior Service’s RSVP program. RSVP connects volunteers with dozens of local non-profits, such as hospitals, food pantries, shelters, schools, fundraising events and more. “I love retirement in Springfield,” Murphy said as she put the finishing touches on her painting. “There are activities for everyone here, regardless of their interests, physical abilities or income.”
www.greaterspringfield.com
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CIC NEWS+VIEWS
OPEN FOR BUSINESS:
PRIMEOHIO II Clark County Fairgrounds
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Clark County’s newest Industrial Park is open for business.
The Community Improvement Corporation, this month, will hold a groundbreaking for PrimeOhio II - a 200acre corporate park located at State Route 41 and I-70. PrimeOhio II is the second generation of the 395-acre Prime Ohio Corporate Park, which is home to more than 13 manufacturing and distribution centers, employing more than 2,000. The seven-year project provides a critical asset for Clark County’s economic development efforts. Its I-70 location provides high visibility for companies also looking for easy access to I-75 and I-71 via I-70, said Horton Hobbs, vice president for economic development at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “There has been a need for additional 6
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PrimeOhioII Industrial Park
industrial space in Clark County along I-70,” Hobbs said. “Around 2006, the CIC board came together and made PrimeOhio II a priority. We started with nothing but the hope that building a park would provide further employment for Clark County and the surrounding communities.” The $8 million needed to develop the park has come through multiple state and federal grants with additional support from county, city and township government. Love’s Inc. has purchased land at a northeast corner of the site for a new Travel Stop and Country Store. The center’s highly visible location will increase awareness for the park, which is actively being marketed to potential businesses. “We have invested in our assets and infrastructure to prove the landscape for jobs in our community,” Hobbs said. “This is the culmination of those efforts. It will provide a unique opportunity for this region.”
PrimeOhio II Funding Breakdown Federal Grants:
$1,055,260 Economic Development Adminsitration $ 500,000 Water and Sewer (STAG) $1 million Army Corps of Engineers
State Grants
$600,000 Road Work Development $150,000 Jobs Ready Site
Regional Grants $500,000 Shovel Ready
Local Funding:
$1,473,000 County, City, Township and CIC
For inquiries about space at PrimeOhio II contact Horton Hobbs at 325-7621 or hhobbs@ greaterspringfield.com
CVBNEWS+VIEWS
Tourism concierge:
S|O Springfield guide
Courtyard Marriott’s Brittny Biles, Jennifer Grunwald and Jovie Brown The front desk staff at Courtyard Marriott in downtown Springfield wear numerous hats during the course of a day.
Thanks to a new publication created by the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the “tour guide” hat is a little easier to handle. The CVB’s new “S|O Springfield Front Desk Guide” is a new, laminated ring-bound flip guide designed to help both staff and visitors of local hotels and tourism-related venues quickly navigate the area’s sites, entertainment and dining opportunities. The 18-page book is a how-to-go guide that includes relevant information, such as why an individual might want to see a certain site, what they can expect, cost and seasons opened, if applicable. This summer, representatives from the county’s hotels, restaurants and tourism-related venues attended training sessions for the guide, which is also being distributed to guest rooms in some of the local hotels. “The front staff, whether at a hotel, restaurant or museum, are often a visitor’s first introduction to the area,” said Greater Springfield Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Director Chris Schutte. “Whether they are seeking a nearby restaurant, entertainment or recreational opportunities, staff members can quickly and confidently provide pertinent information. It increases the employee’s confidence and the visitors’ as well. That increases their overall experience.” Front desk staffing at hotels change often, which makes it a challenge to quickly train someone on the area’s attractions, said Jennifer Grunwald, director of sales at Courtyard Marriott. “This ensures that those new hires are able to deliver the best customer service to our visitors and guests regardless of their personal of the College area.” Board President Clarkknowledge State Community Antiquing and Dining are just two of the areas covered in the S/O Springfield Front Desk Guide
www.greaterspringfield.com
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Helping Our Community
Your Town: Your App:
SpringfieldOH2Go The new Buy Springfield/Clark County app is your goto guide to area events, retail, restaurants and recreational opportunities. Scan the QR code to the left or text GSCOC to 80802 to download your instant pass to deals and offers today! 8
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