Like others in the region, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce was encouraged by the announcement of the creation of the Route 23 Connect Initiative a year ago. This initiative of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), along with regional partners at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), was designed to determine the feasibility of a free-flowing connection between the Columbus and Toledo regions. Improving the connection has been a long-standing priority for the Chamber, TMACOG and others.

05.18 – ODOT's recent decision to cancel the Route 23 Connect Initiative Study demonstrates the dire need for you – our business leaders in northwest Ohio – to speak up.

We need your help. Join your fellow Chamber members and economic development leaders for a conversation with legislators from the Toledo region and members of the House and Senate leadership at Bricker & Eckler in Columbus. This is your chance to speak up – your voice will make a difference in accurately representing the region and ensuring our challenges and opportunities get the attention they deserve.

Happy May, Toledo! Before we get into the upcoming events that you can’t miss in the next few months, let us first celebrate and recognize our newest members who joined the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce member community in April 2022. When you stop by these businesses or meet them out at one of our networking events, don’t forget to congratulate them and offer them a warm welcome to our community.

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the Toledo Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and not only is our SBDC team an award-winning one, it's also growing! While we look forward to formally introducing you to the SBDC's new marketing counselor, Sean Moore, in person at one of our upcoming events, we'd like you to get to know him a little better through this Q&A. Learn a little more about Sean, his career and what he enjoys outside of the office.

​The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Toledo Small Business Development Center at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce has won its 2022 Great Lakes Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Award. Through this award, the SBA recognizes the year's most outstanding SBDC among the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

In celebration of Pride Month, the Toledo Chamber is featuring LGBTQ+ business owner and leaders in our community. Throughout Pride Month, we will be sharing your answers to this questionnaire across our social media platforms and with our business community. Thank you for sharing your input and story with us, and for your ongoing partnership.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is winding down and funds will be depleted in coming weeks. The deadline to request increases or reconsiderations was May 6, and borrowers should be aware that they will lose access to the EIDL portal around May 16. Borrowers are encouraged to enter their portal and download any loan documents needed before then.

05.16 – Learn the skills you need to make the social media presence of your business known! Obtain the basic knowledge to drive interaction on platforms including Facebook and Instagram. This business development class will be led by the Business Development Services Team of the SBDC.

The SBDC provides one-on-one counseling centered on the business planning process, including financing, market research, marketing strategies, and management and cash flow analysis.

05.17 – Toledo. The Glass City. The two are interchangeable, and for good reason.

This year, in the United Nations’ International Year of Glass, more than a dozen local organizations are joining forces to celebrate our region’s rich history in glass and manufacturing, showcasing Toledo as the birthplace of the Studio Glass Movement and the vibrant art scene we have cultivated here.

Join us on May 17 at the FOCUS|2022 luncheon presented by KeyBank to learn about how your organization can get involved in the upcoming celebrations and create and honor all things glass in the Glass City.

05.19 – The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and V+A Risk are offering this annual safety training and BWC updates seminar for members enrolled in the group rating program and those who are interested in safety training. This is an ideal opportunity to fulfill your two-hour safety training requirement.

05.26 – The Toledo Region Workplace and Inclusion Committee is hosting the City of Toledo's inaugural Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Conference, a collaboration between business, city, and academic leaders tackling one of the biggest questions in the business world: how do we address racial inequity? Register to discuss the common challenges, key strategies, and best practices for supplier inclusion and move the needle on diversity, equity, and inclusion in your own workplace!

June 10-July 14 – Summer in the City is a unique opportunity for summer interns to connect with and explore the Toledo Region.

Designed to help interns build networks and show them what life would be like when they choose Toledo as their hometown, the program is geared towards college juniors, seniors and graduate student interns who are working in Toledo for the summer.

The Cocoon: The Cocoon Thanks Wood County Commissioners for Funding Approval

Ohio EPA: May 19: Ohio Brownfields Funding Opportunities & Ohio Materials Marketplace

Fallen Timbers Battleground Preservation Commission: May 29: Memorial at the Monument

Lucas Metropolitan Housing & United Way of Greater Toledo: Launch the Thumbs Up Initiative