A Newsletter of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce

www.zmchamber.com

Chamber Calendar at a Glance

June 10^th  - Muskingum Valley Human Resource Mgmt. Assoc.

June 10^th - Manufacturers Council

June 18^th - Third Thursday Networking - New Event!

June 24^th  - Safety Council Meeting

June 26^th  - Final Friday Networking

June 28^th - Lorena Birthday Celebration at Zane's Landing

July 15^th - Taste of Zanesville

July 10^th - 18^th - Pottery Lovers Events

For details go to the Chamber website at www.zmchamber.com and click on the Chamber Events tab.

Have you visited the new Chamber Member's Blog?  Feel free to engage in a discussion with us, promote your business, respond to other posts, tell us what's new, ask questions . . . whatever you want!  Be sure to visit often to see what's new!   Click here to access Blog:  http://zmchamber.blogspot.com/2009/04/welcome.html

Web Survey Results Now Available

Results from the Chamber's monthly survey of business practices for May are currently available for review on the Chamber website.  The topic of May's survey was to assess the membership's most effective forms of advertising & marketing.  Use this link to view the survey results: http://www.zmchamber.com/Services_Information/Surveys/Advertising%20May%202009.htm

Chamber Rolls Out NEW Third Thursday Networking Luncheon

The Chamber is rolling out a new networking opportunity for members - Third Thursday Networking Luncheons!  The first Third Thursday Luncheon will be held on Thursday, June 18^th at Heavenly Ham, 2579 Maple Ave., from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Attendees can purchase lunch prior to the meeting.  We will continue our longstanding Final Friday Networking programs from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. on the final Friday of each month.   However, the opportunity to attend a lunch meeting may fit your schedule more readily than an early morning meeting.   Join us for this series of business networking meetings organized for the sole purpose of helping you make real business contacts, gain referrals, give referrals, and pitch your products and services - in a word, Networking! 

This is not "business after hours", this is not "business before hours", this IS business, conducted through a structured networking approach.  At each meeting we will conduct exercises that let you explain who you are, what you do, and why someone would want to be your customer.  All area business people are welcome to attend and participate in the organized activities.  You are virtually guaranteed to leave with some new contacts (and maybe even a few sales leads) and leave behind greater awareness in the local business community about your company and its products and services.  So, if you need to expand your personal and professional network and increase sales you don't want to miss this series presented by the Chamber of Commerce.

• "Buyer Behavior in a Recession"
• "Ten Survival Steps to Take Right Now"
• "Nine Key Points of Blue Ocean Strategy"
• "Marketing Your Way Through a Recession"
• "Financing & Development Incentives Guide" published by the Chamber
• "Cash Management Strategies in Hard Times" published by CFO Research Services
• Resources from the US Small Business Administration
• Local market data from the Census Bureau
• A list of books & audio tapes recommended by the Muskingum County Public Library System
  links to online videos, guides and handbooks 

The Toolkit is FREE to Chamber members and is not available to non-members.  To obtain your copy of the Toolkit you can pick one up at the Chamber office in the Welcome Center at 205 N. Fifth St. or email your request to khollins@zmchamber.com to make other arrangements.
 

Downtown Farmers Market Opens
The Downtown Farmers Market will return to the downtown on Wednesday's from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. beginning June 3^rd through October 14^th.  Located in the Welcome Center parking lot at 205 N. Fifth Street, the Downtown Farmers Market is your midweek chance to purchase local vegetables and fruits, flowers, baked goods and more.  This is the fourth year for the downtown market and the second year at this location.  Seasonal changes bring different vendors to the mix that compliments the original seven vendors.

ARC Loan Program To Help Struggling Businesses

The Muskingum County Business Incubator is advising small businesses that have been financially challenged by the economic conditions to look into a "New 100-Percent Guarantee ARC Loan Program to help Struggling Businesses."  Small businesses suffering financial hardship as a result of the slow economy may be eligible to receive temporary relief to keep their doors open and get their cash flow back on track through to a new loan program announced today by SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.

 Beginning on June 15, SBA will start guaranteeing America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loans.  ARC loans are deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing qualifying debt.  ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA, and have no SBA fees associated with them.   ARC loans will be disbursed within a period of up to six months and will provide funds to be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debt including mortgages, term and revolving lines of credit, capital leases, credit card obligations and notes payable to vendors, suppliers and utilities.  Repayment will not begin until 12 months after the final disbursement.  Borrowers don't have to pay interest on ARC loans.  After the 12-moth deferral period, borrowers will pay back the loan principal over a period of five years.

ARC loans will be made by commercial lenders, not SBA directly.  For more information on ARC loans, visit http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html.  For additional information contact your local banker or Carol Humphreys - 453-3649

"Big Idea" Contest Winner Announced

The Muskingum County Business Incubator is proud to announce the winner of its second annual Big Idea Contest.  Susan Hoskinson has been employed in the Floral Industry for over 17 years and has a software idea that would be beneficial to all Florists and their customers.  Susan will receive a check for $1,000 and $1,200 in assistance to take her idea to market.  A total of 15 ideas were submitted and several of those individuals will be receiving assistance from the MCBI and its partners the Small Business Development Center, the Voinovich School at Ohio University in Athens and TechGrowth Ohio which grows technology companies into venture-ready businesses, connecting them with valuable tools for growth and sources of capital.  For more information contact: Carol Humphreys at 740-453-3649

Business Incubator Adds Staff

The Business Incubator is pleased to welcome Ted Fannin who joined them in April as an intern for the IT webmaster position.  He comes to us from Zane State College. Ted will be graduating in June with two associates degrees of applied business.  He specializes in Interactive Digital Media and E-Commerce. These areas of specialty will allow him the opportunity to create web sites and manage projects in order to make the Muskingum County Business Incubator more visible in the virtual world.   Ted and his wife, daughter, and two dogs reside in the Cambridge area.  He grew up around the Byesville area and after graduating from Meadowbrook High School, he served our country in the U.S. Air Force for seven years before returning to his hometown.  Ted states that he is thankful and excited for this opportunity to work with the MCBI Team. 

Jessica Sherman joined the Muskingum County Business Incubator as the Regional Coordinator in May of this year.  She is a graduate of Maysville High School and Charleston Southern University.   After college Jessica relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina where she held positions in Merchandising, Sales and Marketing for Lowe's Companies corporate offices and most recently was an Account Supervisor at GMR Marketing where she managed the Lowe's Corporate In-Store Event Marketing Business. Her experience has prepared her to provide support and advocacy to nine Ohio counties who have demonstrated a need for Muskingum County Business Incubator services.  Jessica now resides in the Zanesville area and is excited to be back to work in her hometown. She feels privileged to work with small businesses in the area and to be part of the MCBI Team. 

Lorena Sternwheeler 2009 Schedule Announced

Public rides will be offered at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on June 6, 17, 21, 26 and 28 with an extra ride on the 28^th at 12:30 p.m., July 4, 8, 12, 15, 22 and 31, August 5, 9, 15, 19, 21, and 30, and September 5, and 19, and October 4 and 11 at 2:00 p.m. only. These rides last approximately one hour and cost $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 2-12.

Public lunch cruises will be available on June 16 and 26, July 8 and 22, August 15 and 21, and September 11 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The cost for lunch cruises is $15 per person and includes a box lunch.

Public dinner cruises are scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on June 17 and 26, July 8, 18 and 31 August 5, 15, 19 and 29 and September 5, 11 and 19. Dinner cruises include a Prime Rib dinner and cost $30 per person. Private lunch and dinner cruises are also available. Reservations are required for all lunch and dinner cruises.

Twilight cruises will be offered from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 27, July 22, August 1, 8 and 21 and cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $4 for children. Guests are welcome to bring their own refreshments aboard for these cruises.  To request a brochure or to make reservations, please call 800-743-2303 or 740-455-8282.