MEMBER SERVICES GUIDE

Please scroll down for specific descriptions of chamber services

Introduction

Local chambers of commerce are American institutions with a long-standing tradition of being chosen by businesses, big and small, as the means for representing their interests. Chambers provide services to businesses, enabling member companies to benefit by working together, achieving goals and advantages that no single firm could obtain by itself.

The goal of all Chamber member benefit programs is to help businesses succeed. Therefore, members of the Chamber of Commerce receive valuable member services that help them cut costs, promote their businesses and contribute to the development and growth of the local marketplace. Business advice, daily support, and community development activities also meet the needs of the various types of businesses that are members of our Chamber. This guide itemizes those services so members know exactly what they are getting when they invest in a Chamber membership for their business.

The Chamber staff is available each day to meet the unique needs of the area’s businesses. Help is just a phone call or e-mail away, and with the Chamber’s member website (www.zmchamber.com) information is accessible 24 hours a day. Please contact us whenever you need assistance.

Chamber Mission

To create a regional environment conducive to business growth and development; to promote the economic, civic and social interests of the area; and to foster and serve a strong, active membership

Member Benefit Services

Contact Our Staff – (740) 455-8282

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Chamber works jointly with other area agencies to pursue economic growth in the area on behalf of its member businesses. New business attraction, existing business retention, small business development, tourism development, downtown revitalization and infrastructure development are the major strategies used by the Chamber and the community as a whole to grow the local marketplace, creating more opportunity for all businesses.

All members benefit directly from the Chamber’s economic development activities. The activities are conducted to benefit the community, and therefore area businesses, because Chamber members are almost by definition committed to the concept that a thriving, growing local economy will ultimately assist their business and benefit the citizens and institutions of the community.

Chamber members support economic development activities through their membership investment, as they help offset the cost of projects and personnel, which conduct development activities. Some members also join the Chamber’s Muskingum Growth Partnership, whose members show an extra commitment to development of the area by contributing a minimum of $2,000 annually to a special fund that is used to fund development programs and activities.

WORKERS’ COMP GROUP RATING PROGRAM

The Chamber sponsors a Workers’ Comp group rating program for its members to potentially lower a businesses’ operating costs by providing lower premiums. Although Chamber membership is required to participate in the program, you do not have to be a member to apply for an estimate of savings. Upon receipt of the estimate of savings and your decision to participate in the group, a membership must be initiated to enroll.

To apply, you must submit an AC-3 authorization form to the Chamber’s third party administrator, Compensation Consultants, Inc. (CCI) during the open enrollment period, which is from April to October of each year. There is no cost and no obligation in submitting the AC-3. The AC-3 form allows the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to permit the third party administrator to review you company’s workers’ comp account in order to determine eligibility for the group-rating program. After an analysis of all companies that have made application, the administrator will notify you of your company’s eligibility status, and if you qualify, will mail you an estimate of savings.

Participating companies pay an annual administration fee of $85 and administrative fees payable to the third party administrator based on the amount of savings. You will be given the amount of these fees along with the estimate of savings in order that you will know the full cost of participating in the program. Once you have received the estimate of savings, if you decide to enroll in the group, you must submit the forms provided. If you decide not to participate, you need do nothing.

Chamber Plan health insurance potentially lowers a company’s operating costs by providing lower health insurance premiums through Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Although Chamber membership is required to participate in Chamber Plan, you do not have to be a member to request a quote. In order to apply for Chamber Plan insurance, a company must contact a Chamber member insurance agent, who is Anthem licensed, and supply the necessary information to determine program eligibility. The smallest group that can be insured is two people. Those company’s that are accepted into the program save an average of 4% compared to the same Anthem coverage purchased outside Chamber Plan. Chamber members are encouraged to consult with their local insurance agent to compare prices and coverage available through other insurance products.

CO-OP ADVERTISING PROGRAM

The Chamber purchases advertising from local media providers as well as industry-specific publications and other marketing outlets, and then makes the space available to Chamber members. The program’s industry-specific components include the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Pottery Consortium, Antiques Consortium and Tradeshow Consortium. The Chamber’s local program includes both broadcast and print media opportunities.

By partnering with the Chamber and other member businesses, your company is able to market its products and services at a reduced cost. Members are notified of co-op advertising opportunities and costs through Chamber publications, emails and direct contact from staff. Participating members are billed by the Chamber for specific advertising co-op programs. Cost varies depending on the co-op program.

Local media offers exclusive discounts to members on their advertising services, reducing the cost of doing business. Chamber members work directly with appropriate media outlets or service providers to obtain discounts.

SAFETY COUNCIL

In order to provide assistance to employers in the maintaining a safe workplace environment through increased safety awareness resulting in increased productivity and cost savings, the Chamber co-sponsors the Zanesville-Muskingum County Safety Council in conjunction with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Division of Safety & Hygiene.

Safety Council membership is open to all companies doing business in the State of Ohio. Members must be willing to attend monthly meetings and submit semi-annual reports detailing the number of employees, total hours works, the number of deaths, injuries and/or illnesses involving lost workdays and the number of days lost due to these injuries and/or illnesses. Safety Council participants are recognized annually for their accomplishments at an annual safety awards banquet. There is no cost or fee to be a member of Safety Council, however, members are asked to pay for the cost of breakfast for the year in advance.

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation currently offers state-funded employers participating in Safety Council the opportunity to earn up to a 4% discount on their workers’ comp premiums. Contact Kathy Hollins for details to this discount.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & OFFICIAL BUYER’S GUIDE

Commerce, the Chamber’s Membership Directory and Official Buyer’s Guide is a major tool used by the Chamber to promote its membership. 10,000 copies of Commerce are produced annually and distributed to Chamber members, area businesses, newcomers, visitors and to all requesting information and referrals to area businesses. Only Chamber members are included in the publication and only Chamber members are referred to inquiries.

Members receive free listings in the Official Buyer’s Guide for Zanesville and Muskingum County. Your listing will appear in the Membership Directory section of the Buyer’s Guide in alphabetical order and will also appear in the Buyer’s Guide section under your business categories. The Buyer’s Guide is also published on the Chamber’s websites (see On-Line Directory section).

ON-LINE DIRECTORY

Chamber members are able to promote their company and services to “web surfers” worldwide with a free listing in the on-line edition of the Business Directory & Official Buyer’s Guide at www.zmchamber.com, making Chamber information and resources available 24 hours a day.

Not only is your business listed, but also you have the opportunity to expand that listing with customized information about your business to help draw potential customers. It can best be described as almost like your own web page, within our website, www.zmchamber.com. It can contain a description of your business, up to 8 photographs, a link to your own website or email, and your business contact information. The exact content will be totally up to you. To see an example, go to the Membership Directory button on the menu at the top of this page, then go to the online directory and search for Chamber of Commerce. Click on the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce listing and you will see an example of what you can now put together for your own business. A user name and password are required to enter your information and will be supplied upon the initiation of your membership.

MAILING LISTS / LABELS

CONTACT: Joy Riddle, Administrative Assistant, (740) 455-8282 or jriddle@zmchamber.com

Chamber members have access to membership lists and mailing labels to be used in marketing and promotional activities. By using the Chamber membership list and mailing labels, members save time in researching company names and addresses and in the preparation of documents for mailing. The Chamber membership mailing is monitored and updated continuously, which means no wasted postage due to incorrect mailing addresses. Non-member companies are not permitted to purchase the member mailing list. Membership lists are provided free of charge. Mailing labels are $25.00 plus tax.

CHAMBER DIRECT MAILING SERVICE

CONTACT: Joy Riddle, Administrative Assistant, (740) 455-8282 or jriddle@zmchamber.com

Bulk mailing services are offered to members to provide an affordable and easy way to distribute flyers, brochures and other promotional literature to other businesses. The purpose of the program is to provide members the opportunity to market their products and services and communicate with other member companies.

The Chamber conducts the mailing to its members on a monthly basis. Members may insert a standard-sized flyer or brochure into the mailing for a fee. The member provides the piece to be mailed, folded to fit the proper envelope size, and the Chamber provides the postage, envelope and labor, saving members both time and money. The current cost to use the bulk mail service is $100 for the mailing and 1,100 copies of your mailing piece.

HOT DEALS

HOT DEALS is a new online promotional benefit designed to provide members with an opportunity to post special offers, sales or promotions in a specially designated area of our website. Go to www.zmchamber.com and click the HOT DEALS button (a dollar sign in a red outlined circle with blue background) located on the left side of the home page under the Membership Directory bar. Here you will be able to view the current HOT DEALS that are posted. You can promote both products and services through a HOT DEALS listing and your offer, as well as any restrictions, is completely up to you. There is no charge to post a HOT DEAL and only Chamber members are permitted to participate.

EMAIL MARKETING BLAST

You can easily and cheaply reach hundreds of local business people by using the email marketing service offered exclusively to chamber members. Your 100-word message can be emailed to other chamber members – roughly 800 local business people – for just $50. It is the Chamber’s policy to NOT give out member email addresses, but there is a growing demand for this information, and we think this new service will meet the need without abusing our members via email

Once each month, we compile an email message, called a “Chamber Marketing Blast”, containing sales and advertising messages from paying member firms and send it to our list. The maximum size of the message is 100 words, and we suggest it contain a phone number, email address, or a link to your web site where people can get more information. The message must be submitted to us as text (no graphics) either in the body of an email or in an attached Word document so we can paste it into our Chamber Marketing Blast message. Submittals, which again are $50 each time, must be provided to us no later than the 15^th of each month. The same fee applies to all users of this service, including for profit businesses and non-profit organizations.

Members are able to promote their company and services by providing brochures and business cards to be displayed in the lobby of the Muskingum County Welcome Center.

Members provide these materials to the Chamber and will be placed on special racks where local residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to patronize Chamber members. In addition to numerous local residents that attend events hosted in the Welcome Center each year, more than 13,000 visitors to the community enter the building to receive tourist information.

CUSTOMER REFERRALS

The Chamber office is the front door to the community and viewed by many as the “411” for the area. Dozens of calls are received each week from people and companies seeking services from area businesses. Chamber members – and only chamber members – are referred in response. Referrals are made to member businesses in response to thousands of inquiries each year.

Chamber members have the opportunity to share their expertise with other local businesses and groups through participation in the Speakers Bureau. In addition to sharing your expertise, members can make themselves, their company, products and services known to other local businesses and groups. The Speakers Bureau provides assistance to meeting planners as a source of local speakers on a wide variety of subjects. To be included in the Speakers Bureau, a member must submit their name, company affiliation and a list of topics they are willing to speak about. This information will then be incorporated into the Speakers Bureau database and will be provided each time a listing is requested.

Members are provided with a membership plaque and a static-cling window decal to display in their place of business to identify them as a supporter of their investment in economic development and community involvement. The plaque and decal are updated each year as the business renews it membership. The Chamber encourages its members to do business with each other and the plaque and decal make it easier to recognize and support fellow Chamber members.

MUSKINGUM VALLEY HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSOC.

The Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association (MVHRMA), a division of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce, is an affiliate chapter for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and consists of human resource professionals in the East Central area of Ohio. The group offers professional development and networking opportunities to its members and guests. The chapter meets monthly and meetings feature a guest speaker on a topic relevant to human resource issues. Meetings are open to any Chamber member interested in human resources. Membership in the Association is a benefit exclusive to Chamber members.

MEMBER NEWSLETTER

Each member receives a free subscription to the Chamber newsletter, “Membership Matters”. The newsletter is one vehicle used by the Chamber for communicating with members about programs, business opportunities, benefits and important events. Membership Matters is sent by both mail and email, depending upon how the member has requested to receive information from us.

Chamber members receive an annually updated booklet that provides information that is helpful for contacting Ohio’s state and federal legislators. The Legislative Directory includes the names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers and committee assignments for members of the state legislature and Ohio’s federal legislative delegation. There is no charge for this directory.

Members may receive one-on-one counseling or assistance with research on various business topics from Chamber staff members. Members can learn information pertaining to business expansions, financing, available incentives, business management and assistance referral services.

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS

The Chamber offers informational seminars and workshops covering a variety of business-related topics. Workshops include topics of interest to many local businesses and whenever possible, are conducted by local business and educational representatives who are asked to share their expertise. All workshops / seminars organized by the Chamber will be promoted through mailings, emails, the monthly newsletter and local media outlets. Interested members may register by contacting the Chamber office. Costs vary with each program.

Chamber sponsored events and meetings are held to provide members with the opportunity to promote their businesses and network with other business people. The Chamber organizes events each year, such as Business After Hours, Final Friday Networking and the Annual Spring Break Meeting, to allow members to talk with other members, customers and potential customers. All Chamber members and/or their designated staff person are invited to all events.

The Chamber’s ACES (Awards for Community & Economic Success) program is designed to recognize and celebrate economic investment by businesses and organizations in Zanesville and Muskingum County. ACES provide an opportunity to publicly recognize member companies that have made tangible investments in the growth of the local economy and to thank them for their investment. Members receive notice that nominations are open and must be submitted by a specified deadline. You may nominate your own company or that of someone else. Awards will be presented that the annual Spring Break event.

The Chamber, in conjunction with the Port Authority and Zanesville Community Development Department, updates, produces and distributes this guide each year. The guide lists federal, state, regional and local public-sector financing and development incentive programs. Additionally, contact names and telephone numbers are provided for each financing and incentive program. Local development agencies use this publication when working to bring new businesses to our community. When new businesses locate here, they often strengthen our economy by employing local residents and by purchasing locally supplied goods and services.

The Chamber, in conjunction with the Port Authority and the Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association, conducts this survey each year. Responses are analyzed and a report is produced each fall. The survey is useful to local businesses as they work to prepare compensation and benefit packages to attract and retain workers. Information includes hourly salaries for 42 job positions as well as benefits ranging from health insurance to vacations. Local development agencies use this publication when working to bring new businesses to our community. When new businesses locate here, they often strengthen our local economy by employing local residents and by purchasing goods and services. Copies of the Wage & Benefits Survey are available to Chamber member businesses only at no cost.

The Chamber, in conjunction with the Port Authority, updates, produces and distributes a demographics profile each year. Upon request, Chamber members receive a free copy of this annually updated booklet which provides comprehensive and detailed information on the community such as statistics covering a wide variety of topics: population, education, economy, business, agriculture, government, utilities, retail sales, recreation and tourist activities. Local development agencies use this publication when working to bring new businesses to our community. When new businesses locate here, they often strengthen our local economy by employing local residents and by purchasing goods and services.

The chamber represents the interests of its members when collective action is called for and can be beneficial. This representation is usually restricted to business issues and subjects - the chamber is not involved in elective politics. But when the chamber can help educate and inform its members on a business topic, like finance or human resources, it does so aggressively and thoroughly.

Publish annual Visitor’s Guide ● Market Muskingum County at tourism and industry tradeshows

Coordinate downtown development projects ● Promote downtown financing & incentive programs

Publish a Downtown Walking Map & Directory ●Organize Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

Sponsor the Muskingum County Manufacturer’s Council ●Conduct quarterly economic forecast surveys

Publish manuals for visiting tour groups & convention groups ● Promote the area as a tourism destination

Staff the Muskingum Co. Welcome Center ● Respond to requests for community & visitor information

Organize monthly Tourism Team meetings ● Compilation of the community Calendar of Events

WORKERS’ COMP GROUP RATING PROGRAM

CHAMBER PLAN HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

CO-OP ADVERTISING PROGRAM

ADVERTISING DISCOUNT PROGRAM

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & OFFICIAL BUYER’S GUIDE

ON-LINE DIRECTORY

MAILING LISTS / LABELS

CHAMBER DIRECT MAILING SERVICE

DISPLAY OF BROCHURES & BUSINESS CARDS

CUSTOMER REFERRALS

SPEAKERS BUREAU

MEMBERSHIP PLAQUE & WINDOW DECAL

LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS

CHAMBER EVENTS

ACES PROGRAM

FINANCING & DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES GUIDE

WAGE & BENEFITS SURVEY

DEMOGRAPHICS COMMUNITY PROFILE

REPRESENTATION

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES