GC Chamber Business Connection : Winter 2023 Issue

Grove City Area Chamber

BUSINESS CONNECTION VOL.8, ISSUE 6

Holiday Happenings: Local events to add to your calendar Congratulations to the Newly Voted Council for Grove City Another Successful Fundraiser for Education!

GCCHAMBER.ORG

@ GroveCityOhio

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IN THIS ISSUE: An ‘Awesome’ Moment

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Member Spotlight

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NonProfit & Community

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Events

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Wellness

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Holiday Guide

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CITY DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 42,366 Median Age: 40.1 Population Over 18: 79.5% Population Over 65: 17.7% Number of Households: 18,029 Median Home Value: $244,151 Average Income Per Household: $111,247

Local Feature: Texas Roadhouse Celebrates 10 Years

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Business Quick Bits

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Foundation News

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CHAMBER DESK 4

Letter from the Director Encouraging note from Director, Shawn Conrad.

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Member Anniversaries Welcome new and celebrate current members.

Want to learn more about the demographics of Grove City? www.grovecityohio.gov/resourcesandtourism/communityinformation/

Population and number of households data is published by MORPC. The remainder of the demographics are estimates provided by Esri. Please note that all of these figures are 2022 estimates, as this is the most recent estimate published by MORPC.

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023 | 3

RECOGNIZING MEMBERS

An ‘Awesome’ Moment Did you catch Grove City’s own The Awesome Company on The Kelly Clarkson Show recently?

Jacquie Mahan and team members traveled to New York City in the fall to tape the show, which aired on Tuesday November 21, locally seen on Channels 6 and 28.

Located in Grove City, The Awesome Company is in the business of both screen printing awesome items, and employing awesomely autistic people. They complete custom orders in addition to having their own collections available for order and purchase.

Learn more about The Awesome Company, Visit their website> Check out more about the show, including past episode clips, at: https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/

It’s Kelly!

ries o m e M The Awes ome Company 4 | CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023

YOUR CHAMBER Chamber Business Connections is published bi-monthly by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce with revenue from member dues, advertising, and sponsorship. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content in this publication, by any method or purpose whatsoever, without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Only chamber members can advertise in Chamber Business Connection. To plan advertising contact the chamber.

Your Board Chris Moscato President

Mellissa Forte Board Member

Katie Antry Fleming President Elect '24

Brenda Newman Board Member

Greg Dawkins GC Chamber Foundation President Nick Connaughton VP Finance Nikki Fleming 2023 VP at Large Jeffrey Buskirk 2023 VP Government Relations

Carol Riffle Board Member Andrea Ruede Board Member Trent Soles Board Member

Staff Executive Director Shawn Conrad Events Manager Marilyn Reiner Administrative and Events Coordinator Heather Brokaw

Letter from the Director It’s almost a wrap on another year as 2023 is in its final days. I hope you had a wonderful year full of all “the good stuff” life has to offer-- good people and good memories.

We’re closing out another great year here at the GCACC, but we couldn’t have done it without the help of so many people.

Our staff is hard at work daily to serve our 750+ members. In partnership with the Chamber Team is our dedicated Board of Directors, and we thank them for their time and dedication, including 2023 President Chris Moscato.

We have wonderful relationships and connections across the community for which we are very grateful. All of these groups help us achieve success, which in turn leads to your success.

We wouldn’t get very far without our many sponsors, so I’d like to extend another thank you to all 2023 sponsors. Sponsors of our final 2023 event, Boo off Broadway, have been mentioned later in this issue.

And last but certainly not least, thank you to you--our members!

Your passion for your businesses, your industries, and your community helps fuel our passion to serve you to the best of our abilities. Our Chamber continues to grow both in membership and opportunities because of you.

Speaking of opportunities, it’s not too early to start thinking about the opportunities ahead in 2024-- we’d love to see you involved! Our calendar is already filling in with events and of course opportunities to become a sponsor. Member benefit opportunities are bountiful and if you’re overwhelmed by the options, we’d love to walk through them with you.

We’re looking forward to celebrating our 2023 successes and kicking off 2024 at our Annual Meeting on Wednesday Feb. 7, 2024 at the Ballroom at The Pinnacle. You can purchase your tickets here.

From our Chamber family to all of your families, we wish you a joyful holiday season and all the best in 2024!

-Shawn

Member Service Specialist Kaziah Conrad

The Chamber Business Connection is published by Katbro LTD

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023 | 5

RECOGNIZING MEMBERS

Celebrating Anniversaries

1 YEAR:

5 YEARS:

Nationwide Energy Partners FST Logistics Fast Response Heating & Cooling Highlife Recovery Acrodyne Mfg Co FOP, Ohio Labor Council, Inc. Loewen & Associates, dba Aflac Kimberly M Gill, DDS MS LTD Columbus Building Services, Inc. SERVPRO Leslie Redman Larissa Hall Farmers Insurance/ Conetta Hernandez Insurance Agency State Farm Insurance Agent | Gary Snowden Wavefront Software, Inc. ServeMaster by Neverman Dedicated Senior Medical Center Columbus Nephrology, Inc. Ohio Peterbilt ARC Industries, Inc.

First Presbyterian Church of Grove City Massey's Pizza Sports Bar & Grille Comfort Suites Cutting Edge Assembly Bowden Fence Company

15 YEARS: Parkway Village Apartments Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Moses Wambua

Attention new 2023 Chamber members!

The Grove Community

Don’t forget that your GCACC membership includes one free half-page ad for this publication, the Chamber Business Connection, so don’t miss out on running your ad in one of the upcoming 2024 issues.

Options Medical Weight Loss Kinetic Networking Aplus Restore New Life Baptist Church Samuel Jefferson Contracting LLC Zanzi's

February Issue (Submit ads by January 15th) All ads can be submitted digitally via email to Heather, heather@gcchamber.org Need an ad? E-magazine creative team KatBro can lend a hand contact content@katbroconsulting.com

The Chamber online calendar: https://business.gcchamber.org/events/calendar 6 | CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

E.E. WARD

EDWARD’S PRESSURE WASHING

SOAP BOX

Continuously recognized as a leader in the moving industry and for customer service, E.E. Ward is the oldest African-American owned business in the United States, and calls Grove City home. E.E. Ward has additional offices in Charlotte and Raliegh North Carolina and celebrated 142 years of business this year. Services range from household moves, to moving a variety of businesses and offices. They are also a wealth of information with all things moving and storage.

Edward’s Pressure Washing & Handyman Services offers a variety of home maintenance and repair services to residents of the Grove City and Greater Columbus area. Given the name, they offer pressure washing for home and commercial buildings. They believe in cost transparency, so your bill will never include undisclosed or hidden fees. They current offer a member-to-member discount that can be found in the Directory by clicking here.

Soapbox Global Laundry is both a veteran and family-owned business taking care of laundry needs right here in Grove City, and takes pride in the service they provide to their customers. Laundry services include a laundromat, wash and fold, and dry cleaning. Pick up and delivery and same day service are also available. Customers love they can pay with cash, card, or even on the app.

Wash and fold service can also be ordered online.

2235 Southwest Blvd, Suite A 614-401-6796 eeward.com

(614) 578-7661 pressurewashinghandyman.com Facebook: @EdwardsPressureWashing

3969 Hoover Rd. 614-594-2220 sbglaundry.com

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT Non Profit Directory As the year comes to a close and the holidays are upon us, it’s nearly impossible to choose just a single non-profit member organization to recognize. Instead, we’ll first point your attention to our Member Directory’s non-profit section, where you can learn about these members and their many missions: Almost three dozen organizations serve almost every need imaginable of our neighbors and Central Ohio community. They foster a sense of belonging and service for those who donate their time to their missions. We’re so grateful to have a community of people who look for ways they can help others.

We hope this holiday season you’re able to donate the gift of your time, or perhaps money or other goods, to an organization dear to your heart. An hour of your time or a little contribution in a basket can add up and go a long way in serving others.

Lastly, we’re already looking ahead to 2024 and would love your help in spotlighting our non-profit members. Use this Google Form to share about your non-profit

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

It’s a Grand Ole Time...

Congratulations to the following businesses for celebrating ribbon cuttings and open houses this fall!

Options Medical Weight Loss Clinic held their ribbon cutting on November 16. Located at 4082 Gantz Road, the Grove City location has the additional distinction of being the 19th location opened for the business.

Grove City Salon & Day Spa celebrated their opening on November 17. They’re located in the Historic Town Center at 3880 Broadway.

Skylark’s Toys & Comics opened their second location at 4222 Buckeye Parkway and celebrated on November 4.

We’re already looking ahead to celebrating businesses in 2024, so if you’d like to hold a ribbon cutting, host an open house or have an anniversary event, reach out to us today so we can work together and make it a great success! Call the Chamber Office at 614-8759762 to discuss or fill out this online form:

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EVENTS

Halloween Spirit at Its Best

by Sarah Hann

The rain didn’t dampen the Halloween spirit at this year’s Boo off Broadway, held on Saturday October 29 in the Town Center Park.

78 businesses and community organizations set up with games, prizes, and of course lots of candy to create familyfriendly Halloween fun for all ages. Several thousand kids, and kids-at-heart, came for the festivities which also included meeting princesses, superheroes, and real-life first responder heroes of the Grove City area.

Boo off Broadway continues to be an exciting ‘final’ event for the calendar year for the GCACC and we appreciate everyone who has supported and embraced this event. We want to extend one more big thank you to the following sponsors of the 2023 edition of Boo off Broadway, without their support we couldn’t put on such a fantastic event!

Thank you to: KL Home Team Howard Hanna (Presenting Sponsor), Shepherd Insurance Partners (Presenting Sponsor), Credit Union of Ohio, Cutler Real Estate, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Auto Service Experts OH by Sanderson Automotive LLC, Creative Mobile Interiors, and Monterey-An Optalis Health & Rehabilitation Center.

We’ve included some of our favorite photos from Boo off Broadway in this issue of Chamber Business Connection, but even more photos from this year and “Boos” of past can be found on the GCACC Facebook page

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WELLNESS

Meet Breathworx 614 What’s your relationship like with stress? What about overwhelm or anxiety? According to Mental Health America, 4 in 5 workers feel emotionally drained from their work, which is an early sign of burnout.

Hi, I’m Tiffany Berger, creator of Breathworx614. I am a Breathworker and Well-Being Life Coach. I am a wife, mom to three, Grove City Alumni, educator, community leader…I wear all the hats and do all the things, and I am proud to say, I now do so with joy and a passion for living! However, it wasn’t always like that. Prior to launching Breathworx614, I was an educator, a burned-out educator. Unaware of the importance of prioritizing all states of my being (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual), when Breathwork found me, I realized how depleted I was. After receiving ultimate self-care from Breathwork, caring for each state of my being became a priority for me. I was blown away by what well-being felt like!

It is now my passion to guide our community in transforming their lives by prioritizing their well-being with the use of somatic coaching, like Breathwork and other life enriching techniques. Because our behavior mimics our beliefs, Breathwork allows us to get into our body’s consciousness to change our behaviors and beliefs simultaneously. Breathing with attention and intention allows us to gain awareness of the destructive thoughts our mind creates and then transform such thoughts to support the life experience we desire. Whatever beliefs and thoughts we carry, we shift our behavior to match that belief. Breathwork allows you to shift the body and the mind at the same time in a holistic way. This leads to lasting mental transformation!

When we are consciously breathing, we are tapping into our nervous system. We can move from our sympathetic nervous system responses (fight, flight, freeze) to our parasympathetic portion of our nervous system, the part that is responsible for rest, digestion, and renewal. The more we engage in conscious breathing, we maximize our tolerance to stress, overwhelm, and anxiety. We add soothing to what has been triggered for a lifetime in some cases. As we return to wholeness and experience well-being, we feel less stuck and more encouraged, even empowered. We become motivated and aligned to live out the life we desire. Life becomes a little brighter and a little easier. And we are not as triggered by what used to stress us out, achieving emotional freedom!

As your beliefs and emotions begin to shift, your body begins to physically feel lighter. The breath massages out the tightness and tension.

Heck, I even cleared weekly migraines with Breathwork! Intentional time in stillness offers connection with our Creator. As you experience well-being, you are reminded of how joyfully life is meant to be lived and who you were created to be.

Breathwork teaches you that you don't have to collapse into the part of you that is in pain. You can use your breath to feel your way through it. That's how transformation occurs.

Our breath nourishes us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Reconnect with your breath today to experience well-being daily.

You are worth it!

Source: Mental Health America. 2023. Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace. Creating a Culture of Support & Well-Being, 4.

CITY NEWS

Council Corner As 2023 comes to a close, there are many bits of news to share about the City of Grove City. Read on!

Congratulations! to the following candidates who won their election in the November General Election.

For Mayor: Richard “Ike” Stage For Council-At-Large: Jodi Burroughs For Council member, Ward 2: Randy Holt For Council member, Ward 4: Melissa Anderson For Council member, Ward 5: Rodney Dew Beginning in January 2024, Grove City’s City Council will officially grow from five elected members to seven elected members. The seven will consist of one from each of five wards, and two-at large members. The additional at-large member and the Ward 5 member are the new additions. Members will still serve four-year, overlapping terms. Learn more about City Council here> Ever wonder what’s under development in Grove City, what a new construction project is going to be? This interactive map operated by Grove City’s Development Department shares just that information, broken down in the various stages of progress, too: https://www.grovecityohio.gov/development/ongoing-development/ With tax season approaching, we also wanted to share this resource for all things City taxes in Grove City.

Source for election results: Franklin County Board of Elections

HOLIDAY GUIDE

Holiday Happenings

Photo Source: Dispatch.Com

Looking for a holly jolly good time this December? Check out a few events and ideas we’ve pulled together.

Aladdin Shrine FEZtival of Trees: Now through December 3. Here’s your chance to win a tree with all the trimmings. The tree auction and Santa’s Workshop will be open December 2. Learn more at their website: https://aladdinshrine.org/2023-feztival-of-trees/ Grove City Christmas Celebration & Mistletoe Market: Celebrate the season this weekend by shopping local, visiting Santa, and enjoying many other holiday favorites. Learn more here: https://www.grovecityohio.gov/event/grove-city-christmas-celebration-10/ Cram the Cruiser Toy Drive: Spread some joy by donating a toy to Cram the Cruiser with the Grove City Division of Police on Sunday Dec. 3. Dropoff times and locations can be found here: https://www.grovecityohio.gov/topic/cram-the-cruise-toy-drive/ You never know what’s joined our event calendar, so keep up with what’s happening by visiting: https://business.gcchamber.org/events/calendar

Photo Source: Dispatch.Com

Need some ideas that are a little less date-specific?

Check out everything our home state has and celebrate the holidays in the Heart of it All with this Ohio holidays online guide.

Stay and play in Grove City—check out our members who are hotels, restaurants or other entertainment venues by browsing our Member Directory.

Photo Source: Scioto Post

Grove City Division of Police 9th ual Ann

CRAM THE CRUISER

Holiday DR IV E TO CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES

Spread Joy

Please contribute

NEW TOYS • NEW BOOKS • GIFT CARDS

SUNDAY, DEC. 3, 1-4 P.M.

Grove City United Methodist Church, 2684 Columbus St.

Drive through with your donation or stop and visit with officers!

Meet Police Chief Scott and enjoy an up-close look at Grove City Police cruisers!

Additional Drop-off Locations through Dec. 1: • Safety Complex, 3360 Park St. • City Hall, 4035 Broadway • Kingston Center, 3226 Kingston Ave. • Welcome Center & Museum, 3378 Park • Evans Center, 4330 Dudley Ave. St. • Service Dept., 3262 Ventura Blvd.

Donate online at childrenservices.franklincountyohio.gov.

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GroveCityOhio.gov @ GroveCityOhio

HOLIDAY GUIDE

Celebrating at the Office: Ideas to spark up the season

Food Station Tour Through Each Department Take the classic holiday potluck to an elevated level by assigning each office department a different food station. This work Christmas party idea gives everyone the chance to mingle with more than their cubicle-mates and smaller teams. Break it up by appetizers, entrées, sides and desserts, or assign each department a different type of cuisine!

Karaoke Night Karaoke is such a wonderful crowd-pleasing activity, so bring the energy and performance mentality into the office for a fun Christmas party idea. Rent a karaoke machine or use office equipment for the perfect setup. Have snacks and drinks at the ready for everyone to sit and sing along to holiday classics, karaoke staples and forgotten hits from the past.

Unique Gift Exchanges There are affordable and creative ways employees can exchange gifts. Some gift ideas include: Cookie swap Themed gifts (gift cards / movies / candy) Secret Santa: pick names and price limits White elephant: everyone brings a wrapped, unmarked gift to exchange.

Holiday Costume Party Why let Halloween have all the fun? Curate an evening full of laughter and casual fun with wild getups and clever costume ideas for your staff. How many Santas will make an appearance? What other wintry characters and concepts will attend the party? Make sure to have plenty of photoshoot moments at the ready for this Christmas party idea.

Christmas Break Preparation list

HOLIDAY GUIDE

The Office Gift Exchange:

Some gifts almost everyone will enjoy!

Candles: Keep to simple scents such as Vanilla / Lavender/ Pine / Citrus

Try a handmade journal or notebook as a custom and unique gift

The gift of warmth with throws/shaws/ & blankets

Who doesn’t love Hot Cocoa Bombs! Pair with a custom coffee mug :)

Support Local Stores

The gift of fresh(er) air

Make it a gift box filled with a few small unique finds displayed

Instead of a chainstore - why not a gift card for a local favorite to make it unique →

Click here to Play GCACC Holiday Word SEARCH 16 | CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION

Unique Holiday Gift Ideas for Business Owners to Wow their Clients Holiday season, that magical time of the year when jingle bells ring and clients eagerly wait to see what goodies they will get from their service providers. If you are a business owner trying to choose the perfect gift for your clients, it's important to balance both the cost and the impact it makes. Here are a few ideas for this holiday season.

1. Custom-Made Treats: What screams holiday more than gourmet cookies or chocolates?

Elevate this classic gift by getting your company’s logo or your client's name on them. It’s personal, sweet (literally), and a safe choice. Just make sure your client isn’t allergic to any ingredients. Find a bakery in the GC Chamber Directory.

2. A Gift of Growth: Potted plants can make excellent corporate gifts. Succulents or lucky bamboo require minimal maintenance and are a perfect desktop companion.

Attach a playful note that signifies the growth and development of your business relationship. Find a florist in the GC Chamber Directory

3. Sustainable Swag: For clients who appreciate environmental friendliness, eco-friendly gifts like a reusable shopping tote with your company’s logo or a set of stainless-steel straws could make for an exceptional and thoughtful gift. Find Promotional Products in the GC Chamber Directory

4. High-Quality Tech Gadgets: Think about branded power banks, wireless charging stations, or noise-canceling headphones.

Tech gifts can be great choices since they tend to be both practical and fancy.

6. Holiday Gift Baskets: Fill a basket with a collection of treats that can include gourmet coffee or tea, nuts, cheeses, or unique sauces and dips. Don't forget a little holiday-themed decoration.

Find a Gift Basket Vendor.

Remember, your gifts should express appreciation and maintain a relationship, not persuade or bribe. Ensure your gift fits within the legal and ethical boundaries of corporate gifting, considering the recipient’s company gifting policy, culture, and individual preferences. Finally, the secret Santa in the hat is - make it personal and show that you’ve put thought into it!

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LOCAL FEATURE

Texas Roadhouse Celebrates 10 Years in Grove City For ten years, Texas Roadhouse has been providing the Grove City community with outstanding customer service, solid employment opportunities, and an abundance of their signature rolls and honey cinnamon butter.

Keliann Beal, Service Manager, has been here since the doors opened in September of 2013 and has seen first-hand how the community has embraced Texas Roadhouse through the years. In this decade of business, sales increased such that a physical expansion was needed—we gathered to meet in space that has been added since September 2013.

Fun fact from memory lane: Keliann brought up that Texas Roadhouse was Executive Director Shawn Conrad’s first ribbon cutting as the GCACC Executive Director!

Ten years of business doesn’t happen without bumps and road blocks, with the Covid pandemic and restaurant shutdown the biggest of them all. But, as Ryan Glass, Operations Manager, recalled, the community rallied behind Texas Roadhouse as the restaurant pivoted to curbside service. Some evenings had traffic backed up onto Stringtown and beyond. Diners have definitely returned to Texas Roadhouse’s dining room, but the handy carry out window makes for easy pick up for a tasty dinner at home.

As much as the community embraces Texas Roadhouse, they in turn seek to embrace the community. As Sara Holben, Local Store Marketer, said, they “like to keep it local” as they establish a variety of community partnerships. They look for opportunities to partner with the area hotels, support the local schools and be involved. They celebrate veterans and first responders, and host many dine to donate nights for local non-profit organizations.

A recent dine to donate night of note was the November 20th in support of “TV Strong”, benefitting the families impacted by the Tuscarawas Valley Schools charter bus crash. Grove City was one of twelve Central Ohio area Texas Roadhouse locations to participate, in which 100% of profits for the day were donated to TV Strong.

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LOCAL FEATURE As Keliann put it, they’re a “people first company” when it comes to supporting their employees and building a team and family-oriented workplace. Within the Grove City location they’ll run contests with prizes and recognize outstanding efforts. But the support goes beyond the restaurant level as Ryan told us about Andy’s Outreach, a non-profit for, and by, Texas Roadhouse employees. “Roadies helping Roadies” as he described it is able to help employees when in times of crisis, such as house fires to a death in the family. Ryan shared that it's brand-wide and works fast to deliver a check to the Roadie in need.

Check out this YouTube video to learn a little more about the story behind Andy’s Outreach: There’s no big secret to the success that is bonding with the community.

Keliann, Ryan, and Sara all echoed the importance of being involved in the community and active in their own business. Keliann shared how managers make the rounds of the restaurant, meeting customers and forging relationships such that they now know their regulars. Customers return often, some weekly, as they can count on their local Texas Roadhouse to deliver a great meal, great service, and feel welcomed to the dinner table.

Holiday Information Sara shared with us a few details for the holidays with Texas Roadhouse.

Gift card special: Buy $30 in gift cards and receive $5 off your next visit. This will run until 12/26/23.

Holiday lunch hours: On 12/26, 12/27 and 12/28 (Tues, Weds, Thurs), Texas Roadhouse will open at 11 am for lunch. They are always open Friday-Sunday for lunch, making this a special chance to enjoy lunch on a weekday during the final week of 2023.

Looking for other details on Grove City’s Texas Roadhouse? Find them online at: https://www.texasroadhouse.com/locations/44 0-grove-cityoh

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BUSINESS NEWS

Business Resource Quick Bits We love using the Chamber Business Connection to connect members with additional business resources, and we hope you’ve at least explored those options if you haven’t fully tapped into them. As we wrap up 2023 and with our next issue not until February 2024, it can get a little tricky delivering this news to you timely, so below we’re sharing some of our favorite web sources.

Ohio Business We’ll be honest, there’s a lot packed in here so brace yourself for potential overwhelm and remember the search box is your friend as you look for what you need. If it has to do with doing business in Ohio, it’s in this website. Everything from adult education to workers’ compensation can be found, in addition to information on doing business with the State of Ohio should that be of interest. https://ohio.gov/business Minority Businesses This ‘corner’ of the Ohio Department of Development’s website covers many bases for minority businesses—from certifications (which we’ve discussed in previous issues) to resources for veteran-owned businesses. Additionally several loan opportunities can be found here, which will have their own deadlines and requirements. https://development.ohio.gov/business/minority-business/01-minority-business Small Business The SBA’s federal website can get you in touch with all things small business from guides to funding programs. If you’re looking for the latest opportunities from the SBA, you’ll want to click on “newsroom” in the upper right corner of the page (note: location may vary if you’re viewing on a smart device). https://www.sba.gov/ Ohio Opportunities This has become a ‘must view’ when creating every issue of Chamber Business Connection in 2023. Press releases from the Department of Development may seem like a journalist ‘nerd’ thing (and this journalism nerd agrees), but those releases are first word of new opportunities such as grants or other funding or cost-offsetting opportunities. We’ll continue to watch this site in 2024, but sometimes opportunities appear and have deadlines before our next issue, so we encourage you to check it out as well. https://development.ohio.gov/home/news-and-events/all-news/

All of these resource websites offer a subscribe for updates option.

Make sure to add them to your inbox to see the most up to date business opportunities available.

Bringing Productivity and Flexibility Into Harmony This originally ran in mid-November 2023 as a blog post with Sedgwick, the GCACC’s workers comp partner organization. Reach out to our rep Julia Bowling to learn more about Sedgwick as a GCACC benefit: julia.bowling@sedgwick.com More than three years after many transitioned to working from home on account of the pandemic, employers are still trying to pinpoint where employees are most productive and how to optimize organizational performance. The COVID era gave rise to a variety of flexible work arrangements, and today’s competitive talent pool considers flexibility a benefits entitlement. On the other hand, many organizations find that culture and belonging are best developed when employees work together in the same facility and therefore continue to push return-to-office agendas. This blog will explore some of the issues employers should consider as they work to bring employee productivity and flexibility into harmony.

Making hybrid work The prevalence of flexible work post-COVID has forced employers to think less about the value of hybrid work and more about ways to make hybrid work.

At the micro level, there are technical matters of organizational policy, regulatory compliance and risk management to sort out. For instance, if an employee is accommodated in the office under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what kind of job accommodations should they receive when working at home?

The same might apply to an employee who sustained an on-the-job injury and transitioned back to work on light duty. Further, having people work in two different locations throughout their week — and possibly bringing equipment back and forth — ushers in a variety of liability issues with which employers must contend.

At the macro level, employers are being challenged to keep workers engaged and connected to the organizational culture — regardless of where they are located. This is especially important for younger workers and those whose tenure has only included remote or hybrid work. These groups are less likely to have had shared, in-person learning experiences, or the visibility and exposure needed to effectively navigate internal organizational structures. No matter where they’re based, highly engaged employees put in more discretionary effort and are supportive of their teammates, so building a sense of connection is critical to productivity.

Workforce well-being Another important factor affecting productivity is employee mental health and well-being. Especially after the COVID pandemic, much of the workforce views flexibility as directly linked to achieving a healthy work/life balance. With many workers also serving as family caregivers, remote and hybrid work arrangements enable them to fulfill their job duties and be present for their children, parents or other loved ones. This kind of employer support helps workers feel valued and remain productive; work flexibility, in turn, promotes workforce well-being and talent attraction and retention.

But while employees appreciate the benefits of flexible work, they also crave the social interaction, belonging and boundaries between work and home that often come with being in an office. The isolation of remote work can be unhealthy for employees and organizations alike — and that’s why many employers are advocating for in-person collaboration at least part of the time. Some are even offering incentives, like transportation allowances, free on-site meals, bonuses and more, to come into the office. Hybrid arrangements aim to provide the “best of both worlds,” but for some employees and employers, the combination isn’t enough to meet their respective needs.

Organizations are trying a variety of tactics to help employees feel supported while working remotely or on their own schedules. Here are two trends worth noting: Priming front-line managers for team connections: Remote environments don’t naturally allow for chance encounters, casual conversations and interpreting body language. Managers must make the effort to listen to their employees — getting to know them, what’s going on in their lives and the challenges they may be facing. Managers showing genuine concern for their teams is a meaningful way of demonstrating how caring counts.

Employee resource groups: As explored in a previous blog, ERGs (which Sedgwick calls colleague resource groups, or CRGs) provide valuable opportunities to forge new connections, gain a stronger sense of belonging, learn about diversity and inclusion, and network internally. Employers are expanding and promoting their ERG offerings, as they’ve taken on even greater significance in the world of remote and hybrid work.

Employer-provided benefits Benefits are another avenue for giving employees flexible options that align with organizational productivity. Organizations are increasingly taking a “whole health” approach to taking care of employees through their benefit offerings.

Much of the remote/hybrid workforce finds it difficult to disconnect, as they’re often tethered to work via technology. (Despite concerns that people are doing less work at home, away from the watchful eye of in-person managers, many are actually working longer hours than they did in the office.) Paid time off is essential to helping employees avoid burnout, pursue interests they enjoy, and take care of personal and family needs. Employers benefit from supporting employees in taking time off in healthy and appropriate ways, as well as offering flexibility in how they use their time.

Benefit programs continue to evolve to address the wide-ranging needs of a diverse workforce. Whether it’s caregiver support, family planning resources, addressing chronic health conditions, mental health coverage or a variety of leave types, employers today seek to offer flexible and inclusive benefits that meet employees where they are and help them remain productive.

Many organizations are working to better coordinate and integrate their benefit offerings. This serves to promote utilization and tracking, as well as to improve the employee experience by making processes easier to navigate. Trusted partners and program providers can help employers support productivity and ensure consistency and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions and geographies without sacrificing flexibility for employees — especially for those working remotely.

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023 | 21

FOUNDATION NEWS

The Grove City Chamber Foundation has enjoyed a big and successful fall, ranging from the Fundraiser, to awarding additional scholarships.

Read on…

Fall for the Foundation October 20 was another big night for the Foundation’s fundraising efforts as the community and business leaders gathered to ‘Fall for the Foundation’. Dinner by Metro Cuisine and fellowship was enjoyed, in addition to entertainment by Tracy Carter and Michael Kent. President Greg Dawkins shared with us that over $28,000 was raised over the course of the evening.

Ample opportunities were had to support the Foundation and in turn potentially win big—from special and even lucrative silent auction items to the reverse raffle. A special congratulations to our reverse raffle winner, Tim Bowers, and congrats to the many who won their sought-after auction items. We thank all who bid or took a chance for their support.

2023 Scholarships A big congratulations to third quarter scholarship recipients Brandy Bennett and Nikkemma Moneyham. Both received a Chamber Affiliate Scholarship to put toward their education.

One more 2023 Chamber Affiliate Scholarship deadline remains and is coming up quick on December 15, 2023. To view eligibility requirements and fill out the application, visit: https://gcchamberfoundation.org/scholarships/ Dates for 2024 scholarships are beginning to be added to the scholarship website above, so mark your calendars to be ready for 2024!

Big Thank You’s Last but not least, we want to thank the many sponsors and supporters who made the 2023 Foundation Fundraiser, and in turn our efforts this year and into next, such a success.

22 | CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023

Foundation Sponsors:

Fundraiser Auction Donors:

Jolly Pirate

Platinum : Grove City Smiles

Air Quality Solutions / Larry & Mary Titus

Longhorn Steakhouse

Gold: Credit Union of Ohio, Kemba, Meyers

Auction Shake Up

Matt Rogers

Jewelers

Ballet Met

M & O Spirits

Silver: OhioHealth, Monterey & West Park,

3 Brothers

Meijer - 665

WesBanco, Franklin County Banking Center

aBODYTru

Meyers Jewelers

Bronze: Fire Systems Professionals, Servpro,

Advance Auto

Moo Moo's Car Wash

Buckeye Pawn Shop, Capital City Mechanical

Baskets N Boughs

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

Copper: Schoedinger-Norris, Tosoh, Grove City

Big Bounce

Olive Garden

Realty

Bob Evans - Stringtown

Patrick Castro & Kristie Doyle

Gary Gabriel -Scholarship Sponsor

Buffalo Wings & Rings

Patty Boso

Friend of the Foundation: Moses, Mouser &

Cardcollector 2 Sports Cards

Pinnacle Golf Club

Associates, Cruise Planners, Caroline Shroyer,

Charlene & Tim McFarland

Precision Jewelers

Danielle Hobson, Ike Stage, Morley Parren and

China Bell

Raising Canes

Bright Insurance, Greg Skinner

Cincinnati Reds

Sterling Exchange

Thank you to John Dunn for your donation

Columbus Blue Jackets

Sue & Don Ross

Corporate Table Sponsors: Franklin County

Columbus Museum of Art

Superior Beverage Group

Banking Center, Columbus Building Systems,

Dairy Queen

Tami Washington

Heartland Bank, Jeff Buskirk, Electro-General

Debbie Boso Lewis

Texas Road House

Plastics, Corp.

Der Dutchman / Amish Country

The Inn at Honey Run

Diane Boso Walker

Tropical Fruit & Nut

Photos services provided by Columbus Prime

Dignified Home Loans

Tropical Smoothie Café

Realty

Divine Angels

Valmer Title

El Vaquero

Visit Grove City

Fazoli's

Walnut Creek

Five Guys

WesBanco Bank

Flyers - 665

Wheaton Dental

Frisch's Big Boy

Zamarelli Pizza Palace

Fusion Steakhouse

To support the Foundation Scholarships visit their website GCChamberFounation.org

Giant Eagle Goodfolk and O'Tymes Good Year / Grove City Greg Dawkins Grove City Brewing Hickory Hills Golf /Club Home Depot HR Personal Expressions

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EDITORS DESK

From the Editor’s Desk: Win With People

By Sarah Hann Legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes was quoted as saying “you win with people”.

I’ve admired this statement since high school (which is not 25+ years ago, but also not yesterday!). To me, part of success is working (or competing) alongside people with whom you’ve created a certain synergy and working relationship. To me, there’s victory in putting forth a solid team effort. It’s why I love team sports and love watching business teams come together and grow.

Admittedly, I had mentally filed this quote away even though 17-year-old Sarah swore it would be on her desk someday.

But as I reflect on this month’s interview with Texas Roadhouse that focused on people, and another year with the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, this quote came back to me faster than song lyrics from the 90s.

As a Chamber with 700+ unique members, we all come together for the common purpose of growing and developing business and commerce in the Grove City and surrounding community. Developing business doesn’t happen on its own. It takes people who can draft plans, crunch numbers, pitch ideas, dream big, and carry out the actions. Chamber events don’t happen on their own either. Those also take people to plan, coordinate, sponsor, carry out, and of course show up to participate.

We win with people.

As we approach a new year (and my fifth with the Chamber), let’s make time to develop and foster relationships with our people—our employees, our families, our business neighbors. Let’s show we care by listening to ideas, taking concerns to heart, and valuing each other.

Let’s even build new business relationships, with the Annual Meeting on February 7 a great place to start. Even when other challenges throw us off course, let’s invest time and energy into those around us, because despite outside challenges we can still win with people.

Have a suggestion, column, upcoming event, or topic for the magazine? Email Marketing@gcchamber.org CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION DEC 2023 | 26

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. Buy tickets to our Annual Fundraiser Dinner & Show Dinner * Dancing * Silent & Live Auctions * Raffles https://gcchamberfoundation.org/foundation-fundraiser/

Buy apparel, blankets & more through our online store. tinyurl.com/gccfshop

Now selling a local favorite - Silverbridge coffee. Every bag (or box) of coffee you buy goes towards scholarships for 2024. Visit our site at https://gccfcoffee.square.site

GCCHAMBERFOUNDATION.ORG

WHY ADVERTISE WITH GCACC? As a member of GCACC you are offered discounted advertising within the chamber produced publications; our Business Connection E-Magazine, Business Weekly Connection e-newsletter, AND our social media channels. We are already reaching your target audience in the Grove City and Central Ohio area. Partner with your chamber by purchasing an annual ad package and save.

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