CHAMBER NEWS
February 2017
   The Success of Your Business is Our Business!
  Your Business May Be Eligible for a Work Opportunity Tax Credit

The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce and the Crawford Partnership would like to spread awareness about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program that is available to employers of current Crawford County residents.
  • The program has been re-authorized through December 31, 2019. 
  • One-time credit for new hires.
  • The Designated Community Resident (DCR) target group provides a credit to employers that hire individuals between the ages of 18-39 who reside in a Rural Renewal County (RRC).
  • Five RRC’s in Ohio:  Crawford, Monroe, Paulding, Seneca and Van Wert. 
  • An eligible DCR can receive a maximum credit amount of $2,400 per new hire.
  • Ohio has an automated system that makes applying for the credit very easy. 
  • Applications must be submitted to the Ohio WOTC office within 28 calendar days.  
Basically, this WOTC is available to any business, large or small, that has hired a new employee who is between the ages of 18 and 39 and is a current resident of Crawford County. They must work at least 120 hours and at 400 hours the federal tax credit can be maximized at $2,400. Note: applications must be submitted to the Ohio WOTC Office within 28 days of the start to work date to meet the timely filing criteria.

Don’t miss this tax credit by missing the deadline! 

For more information, please contact the Office of Workforce Development:

Miranda Jones Joins Chamber 

On January 3, 2017, Miranda Jones joined the chamber staff as a full-time employee in the newly created position, Member Engagement Director. In this new role she will be responsible for managing Chamber membership accounts, growing member relationships, and supporting members’ use of marketing resources and opportunities with the ultimate goal of retaining memberships. Additionally, she will operate as the Executive Assistant to CEO/President Joe Kleinknecht. 

Miranda formerly served the chamber in both part time and volunteer positions. Most recently, she assisted on a part time basis handling the chambers social media, website, & newsletter. Prior to joining the chamber part time, Miranda was employed in Marketing at Schilling Graphics and served as the Administrative Assistant to CEO Doug Schilling, leaving there in November of 2016. During her employment with Schilling Graphics, she served as the Chairman of the Chamber Ambassadors. In this volunteer role, Miranda planned and assisted with events including the Chamber Chat sessions beginning in March of last year. She is also an active member to the Galion Kiwanis club and will become club President in October of 2017. 

Miranda grew up in Bellville, Ohio before moving to Galion in 2010. She graduated in 2000 from Clear Fork High School, where she participated in basketball, National Honor Society and graduated with Honors as the class Salutatorian. Miranda attended the Ohio State University where she pursued a degree in Communications.

Miranda and her husband, Brandon Jones, live just outside Galion with their three children, Ethan, Reilly and Victoria. They are an active family, as both boys participate in school sports and in her “free time” Miranda likes to run.

Miranda has a passion for Galion and wants to see it grow with successful businesses, job opportunities and family friendly activities and events. "I want Galion to be the place where my kids will be proud to say they grew up. I want to show them that hard work and dedication can have a positive impact on a community as a whole."

Chamber CEO/ President, Joe Kleinknecht said, “We are very excited to have Miranda on staff because she truly understands the mission of the Chamber. She has a certain energy and enthusiasm that is contagious and is always coming up with new ideas on how to help our members."

Please join us in welcoming Miranda to the Chamber Staff. She can be reach at the office, 419-468-7737 or via email, mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org. 

2017 Health & Wellness Fair
Sponsored by the Galion Safety Council
This Event Counts Towards and Replaces the February Safety Council Meeting

More Information About the Galion Safety Council
RSVP Today for the Chamber's Hotel Event
Sleep Inn & Suites, 6698 W. Brandt Road, Galion is scheduled to open February 15th, 2017.

As a way to show our support and appreciation, the Chamber plans to "Take-Over" the entire hotel the evening of Friday, March 3rd. Our goal is to have all 62 rooms booked with our chamber members. Cost of the complete "Take-Over" Package is $130 plus applicable taxes per room.

A social/ networking event will take place that evening in the lobby of the hotel from 6pm - 9pm for registered guests. Food will be catered by Ralphie's and a cash bar will be available with draft beer from the Eighteen-O-Three Taproom. Throughout the evening, we will have door prizes, give-aways and entertainment. You don't want to miss this opportunity!

To hold your room, please email Miranda Jones at mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org by Friday, February 17th Miranda will add you to the event's priority list (include your name, contact number and room preference for the evening.) The hotel's system will be ready on February 13th to begin taking reservations and someone from the hotel will contact you on that date to finalize your reservation. 

Space is limited! Email Miranda to hold your room today!

A limited number of sponsorships for the 2017 Annual Economic Development Update & Business Forecast Breakfast  are still available for $125 (includes two tickets to the event, recognition in program and acknowledgement during event). If you would like to become a sponsor, or would like more information, please contact Joe Kleinknecht at the chamber office, 419-468-7737 or via email, ceo@galion-crestlinechamber.org.

Would you like your picture updated for the running presentation? Or do you have a new picture to submit? Contact Miranda Jones at the chamber office or via email, mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org.
January 10th a Ribbon Cutting was held at
Tim Hortons, 815 Harding Way West, Galion
January 26th a Ribbon Cutting was held at
SCAT, 107 N Poplar Street, Bucyrus

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

Tim Horton’s, 815 Harding Way W., Galion, Ohio 44833, 419-777-7452, www.timhortons.com 

Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation (SCAT), 107 N Poplar St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820, 419-617-7191, senecascat.org/

Crossroads Original Designs Gives Back to Crawford County.

Crossroads owners Jason and Justin McMullen recently presented Josh Noblet, Executive Director of the United Way of Crawford County, with a check for $12,610. These funds were raised during Crossroads’ biannual open house events this past year; therefore, much of the credit goes to all of the individuals who purchased a pre-sale ticket and helped Crossroads meet its fundraising goal.

H&K Watkins Reaches Milestone

H&K Watkins celebrated their 1-Year Anniversary the evening of January 11th with a Customer Appreciation Event. In all, over 60 people turned out to celebrate with cupcakes and punch and the opportunity to win one of their many assortment of prizes. Everyone in attendance received one of their handcrafted bath soaps! Congratulation on a great milestone and best wishes for another successful year!

Stine to Join Crawford Partnership as Community Development Director

CRAWFORD COUNTY-- The Crawford County Partnership for Education & Economic Development is pleased to announce the addition of Erin Stine as Community Development Director, effective February 20th.

Stine comes to the Partnership by way of the Crawford Success Center, where she effectively guided the Center from concept to reality over her two years as Director.  During her tenure, more than 300 students enrolled in and completed college-level coursework at the Center—many of whom are first-generation college students. In addition to guiding the academic services offered through the Center, Stine also has excelled in marketing the center, fundraising, and building strategic partnerships between the Center and key stakeholders in the Crawford County community.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Have you heard about a government program that will pay your monthly bills? Perhaps it's one of President Trump's new actions? Of course it's a scam and The Federal Trade Commission just issued an alert that crooks are approaching some African-American church communities with this pitch. And because it comes up in church, some in the congregation might even fall for it. Naturally participation requires an up-front payment or processing fee of hundreds or even thousands of dollars...but of course, it's all nonsense!
Victims don't realize they are being cheated because all looks truthful at first. After you give them your money, they actually "pay your bills" electronically with this so-called "government money", which you quickly verify. But then, before it is actually posted, they cancel the payment. You think your bill is paid until you get a statement next month, when you learn that you're stuck with not only the original bill, but also a late fee because your payment wasn't actually processed. And now the scammers have disappeared with your bank or credit information.

As we have warned many times, there is no federal program that pays your monthly bills. Even if there was, it would not require an advance fee or payment. It's just another fraud.

NEXT: Gas Pump Skimmers! This morning we see in The Blade that a skimmer has been found at a gas station pump in Maumee. When using your credit or debit card at a gas station or ATM (including your bank ATM) always look closely to be sure nothing is loose or doesn't fit exactly. If you see a problem, notify the management and don't use your card.

NEXT: TAX REFUND SCAMS! Every year we hear from consumers who were shocked to discover that someone had used their Social Security Number to file a fake tax return in their name. The crook has already received the refund and the real consumer must file papers explaining that it wasn't him. This is why the Federal and state governments have created tests which are sent before the refund is released. They really cut down on the fraud. But another important tip is to file your taxes as early as possible. If you wait until April 15 you give the crooks time to steal your identity and money.

NEXT: A phony work-from-home "logistics inspector" job opportunity is being advertised around the country on Craig's List. The Lexington, KY BBB received an inquiry from a job-seeker in Miami, Florida. She responded to a listing on Craig's List that appeared to be a legitimate job offer for a "logistics manager." The woman was told that the company, "The Packard Group," was located in Lexington, KY. The job paid $2700 a month base salary plus medical benefits to receive packages at home, inspect the contents, take photos of them, and re-ship them to other addresses.

This is just the old "package re-shipper" work-from-home scam that we always warn about. Some of the language used on the website and in emails to the job-seeker was oddly worded or contained grammatical errors, classic signs of a possible scam. The biggest giveaway was the fact that the Lexington address on the company's website is fake. A BBB representative visited the office suite rental building, and confirmed there is no "Packard Group" at that location.

FINALLY: Breathometer, Inc. has just recalled all its devices and is providing refunds. This was a neat machine featured on TV's Shark Tank. You buy a Breathometer and download an app to your smartphone. To check your blood alcohol level, simply blow into the device. Within seconds, the phone displays your blood alcohol content, and tells you how long it will be before you are sober enough to drive.

According to the FTC, Breathometer claimed its breathalyzer devices could accurately calculate blood alcohol content from 0.000% to 0.250%. They claimed that "rigorous government lab-grade tests" proved the devices accurately measured a person's blood alcohol content -- implying the devices had been tested in a manner consistent with government criteria. The FTC says that is false. So too is the claim that Breeze is a "law enforcement grade" breathalyzer. What's more, in most cases, Breathometer didn't test to see whether the device could accurately detect a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, and its own data showed that Breeze gave inaccurately low results.

The company has disabled the app, and the FTC's proposed settlement requires them to contact people who bought these products and provide full refunds.

Dick Eppstein, BBB
  Ohio Safety Conference & Expo Coming in March

The 2017 Ohio Safety Conference & Expo is set for March 8-10 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This annual event is a must for Ohio employers as all workshops and educational sessions offer IACET CEUs applicable to BWC program requirements. There is also an expo marketplace that highlights safety services and products as well as safety innovation displays. Registration and additional information on the workshops and educational sessions will be available in January at https://bwc.expoplanner.com.

  The Power of Utility Bill Data

Did you know that everything you need to effectively manage your company’s energy use is on the utility bill? What you don’t measure, you can’t manage. My Utility Cabinet (MUC) can help solve this problem. The ultimate database for you to access all things utility and business related. Having access to this data and reporting will allow for better management of utility usage and costs. 

Our clients are able to benchmark their facilities and view reports to see if their buildings are efficient or not. The system will help track and analyze utility usage and will assist in eliminating incorrect fees and late charges. MUC is completely scalable and allows for continuous data mining and analysis. It can also provide seamless integration with your accounting software. Analytics for electric, natural gas, water, sewer and many more. 

Energy is the core of your business and finally managing your utility costs has gotten much easier and more accurate. To learn more about this comprehensive utility management tool, check out:  aes-energ.com/muc
Galion City Council Calendar