Chamber Business Connection Volume 7, Issue 4

BUSINESS CHAMBER

AUGUST 2022 | VOLUME 7, ISSUE 4

Grove City has many wins in Best of the Bus’ once again

Strummin’ Strings with Jimmy Ray Chamber News Letter from the Director Member Spotlight Member Anniversaries

HR Essentials: Managing Conflict in the Workplace

CONNECTION

43 Years Celebrating the Arts Upcoming Events:

Farmers Market Special Guests Arts in the Alley 2022 Voice of Grove City Arts in the Alley Community Parade Boo Off Broadway

Member News, Grand Openings, and more...

GROVE CITY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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#GC

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@ GroveCityOhio

IN THIS ISSUE: Chamber News

10

HR Essentials

18

Member News

11

Resource Roundup

19

A Day on the Green- Chamber Open

14

20

“Ike” Stage Treasures Arts in the Alley

15

Strummin’ Strings with Jimmy Ray

Business Tips

16

43 Years Celebrating the Arts 22

CHAMBER DESK

CITY DEMOGRAPHICS Population: 42,400 Median Age: 39.7 Population Over 18: 79% Population Over 65: 17% Number of Households: 16,197 Average Home Price: $189,268 Median Income Per Household: $74,451

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Letter from the Director

Encouraging note from Director, Shawn Conrad.

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Member Recognition

Welcome new and celebrate current members.

Want to learn more about the demographics of Grove City?

Visit: GroveCityOhio.Gov/about-us-and-tourism/community-information

Cover image: 2022 GC Foundation Spring Award Recipients

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 3

IMPROVING THE PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND PERSONAL GROWTH. 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

Save the Date: October 21, 2022 | 6:30-10:30

Buy apparel, blankets & more through our online store.

tinyurl.com/gccfshop

Support us with your everyday online shopping with Amazon. Add us as your Amazon Smile Charity

tinyurl.com/gccfsmile Participate in our

New Annual Let's Wreath Fundraiser.

Donate a Wreath & Buy one for your home or business

gcchamberfoundation.org/wreath-it

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

2022 is flying by and here we are soaking up the last bits of summer.

Our Chamber Farmers’ Market will continue to run this month and into early September. Don’t miss out on shopping local, especially as some of our favorite produce items come into season in late summer. We also enjoyed another Chamber Open golf outing last month with some of the highest attendance we’ve seen—thank you all!

As summer turns to fall, we look forward to our annual Arts in the Alley festival which will be held Sept. 16-18. We’re already excited to see everyone together, and hope you’ll check out the preview in this issue to get excited for a weekend of celebrating the arts.

Lisa Zeigler President

Kay Anderson

Chris Moscato 2023 President Elect

Wayne Coakley

Nick Connaughton VP Finance

Lisa Graves

Ed Fleming Immediate Past President

Lynn Weita

Rachel Kutay VP at large

Letter from the Director

Katie Fleming

We continue to welcome new businesses opening in our community and joining the Chamber family. It’s so special to watch hard work and determination pay off at a ribbon cutting ceremony or open house celebration! We know the work doesn’t end at the ribbon cutting, which is why we’re here to support you and your business as you grow.

Greg Dawkins Heather Miller

In supporting members new and not-as-new alike, we continue to offer Chamber 101 sessions in odd-numbered months where attendees learn about making the most of Chamber membership. We continue to hold Power Hour learning sessions and will announce new additions to that schedule as they are booked.

Trent Soles Dylon Sparks

We hope you enjoy this edition of Chamber Business Connection and we’ll see you out at an event soon!

-Shawn

Staff Executive Director Shawn Conrad Events Manager Marilyn Reiner Administrative and Events Coordinator Heather Brokaw Member Service Specialist Kaziah Conrad

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 5

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CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 7

Celebrating Anniversaries

RECOGNIZING MEMBERS

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ONE YEAR: The Law Office of Brian M Garvine American Nitrile Operations Balanced Family Academy Hunter Marketing Mohamed Yusuf Minuteman Press Zangmeister Cancer Center MCT Carpet Care Direct Auto Insurance Tammy’s Pizza Vitality Athletic Center

FIVE YEARS: First Baptist Church of Grove City

Jet’s Pizza US Bank Courtyard by Marriott Pool Plus and Commercial Pools Inc. TechnoAir Bible Baptist Church

TEN YEARS: The Hope Healing House Foundation Precise Collision and Glass B&B Industries Inc. American Air Furnace Company

FIFTEEN YEARS: FedEx Ground-SP

Buffalo Wings & Rings Aerus Coldwell Banker-King Thompson/Kay Kaho

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

LMD MANAGEMENT

THE AMERICAN PIE PARTY

POOL PLUS AND COMMERCIAL POOLS INC.

LMD Management is a management company serving the greater Columbus area and focusing on delivery business operations and last-mile delivery operations. Team oriented, LMD Management utilizes the variety of talent their team members bring in order to best serve their clients. Focus areas of team members and services provided range from, but are not limited to, operations, finances, and safety.

Proving the power of laughter and fun, The American Pie Party uses pie-in-the-face humor to raise money for families battling childhood cancer. The goal is to fund unexpected medically-related expenses otherwise not covered by insurance. Parties can be hosted and even held as a ‘tie-in’ to another event. Additionally, they aim to be an overall resource for families impacted by a cancer diagnosis

Serving Central Ohio since 1978, they are indeed “your total pool people”, with licensed, insured and professionallytrained staff. Services include: residential, commercial, a retail store, and a service department. Two Central Ohio stores (Dublin and Grove City) offer a variety of pool and spa supplies and equipment. Take care of your pool in ’22 and it’s not too early to plan a new pool for ’23.

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738 Bovee Ln, Powell (937) 441-1020 lmdmanagement.com

PO Box 291 Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 296-0481 theamericanpieparty.org

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3949 Hoover Rd (614) 766-0050 commercialpools.com

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Victoria Williams Heart & Home Realty Adobe Bright Ideas Learning Sip & Shop Boutique LMD Management Jason Foster, MD Dynegy

Strawser’s Ice Cream, Pop & Candy Shop The American Pie Party Briana Seeholzer Emelio’s Catering Brian Parks | Realtor, Kelly Hamilton Group at Red 1 Realty Elite Fire Services

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 9

FARMERS MARKET UPDATE With a little over a month of Saturdays left in the Farmers’ Market schedule, Grove City has enjoyed a great 2022 market… but isn’t over yet!

Many seasonal favorites are still appearing as more local produce comes into season. Shoppers are out early for first pick of the freshest picks and many vendors enjoy sell-outs before the market closes at noon.

Other locally-made or produced goods are still available ranging from meats to treats. Vendors may vary product by week and also enjoy sell-outs of their most popular items. A full list of market vendors can be viewed on the Farmers’ Market website: https://www.gcchamber.org/farmers-market/ Just a few weeks ago in July, the Chamber was thrilled to re-introduce Cooking Demos and Fit Corner to the Farmers’ Market after a long absence. For years, these were ‘staples’ of the Market that made it a full experience beyond shopping for produce and products.

In July, the Market welcomed MidOhio Food Collective, represented by Jennifer Parsons. New business The Fitness Movement was represented by Trisha Justice.

There will be a few more special guests joining the Market in the coming month. Check them out below: August 6: Cooking demo by the Garden Bar August 20: Cook-off challenge between Grove City Division of Police and Jackson Township Fire Department August 27: Trish Zelenak of Trish Z Fitness The final Saturday of this year’s Market season will be Saturday September 10. Like the others, it will be open 8 am-noon.

This year’s Farmers’ Market is made possible by the many vendors, patrons, volunteers, and sponsors of the Market. This year’s sponsors are: Mount Carmel Grove City, Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Georgesville, Zangmeister Cancer Center, Auto Service Experts OH by Sanderson Automotive LLC, Cruise Planners-David Todd, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, WesBanco, Hirth Norris & Garrison, Shepherd Insurance Partners, Edward Jones- Chris Gourley, Heritage Cycles, Coldwell Banker Realty Kay Kaho, Leavitt Group Midwest Scott Molino, Morley Parren Bright Insurance.

Summer Open Houses and Ribbon Cuttings We have, and continue, to celebrate business in our community! Check out these photos from recent events.

The Grove Pediatric Dentistry opened its doors this spring and celebrated the occasion on June 21. They are located on Hoover Road.

Strawser’s Ice Cream, Pop & Candy Shop started July in a big way by holding their ribbon cutting festivities on July 1. They are located on Broadway, at the corner of Park Street.

Still to come…Join Us The Fitness Movement Grand opening and ribbon cutting on Friday August 5, 6:30-8 pm. The Fitness Movement is located at 3044 Southwest Blvd.

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CHAMBER NEWS Best of the ‘Bus Grove City winners It’s that time of year again and once again Grove City brought home some Best of the Bus awards. Some great businesses were victorious, and we’re pleased to share our own Arts in the Alley festival was recognized as well! Read on to see who from Grove City is a winner, and visit the link below for the full list of winners: https://www.cityscenecolumbus.com/arts-and-entertainment/bestof-the-bus-2022/ Best Festival - Suburban Grove City Arts in the Alley For 43 years, Grove City has highlighted central Ohio’s artisans in every genre of art. Its vendors, youth artists, crafters, photographers, quilters and concessions won it the title for the second year in a row.

Best Volunteer Experience Mid-Ohio Food Collective Thanks to the help of its volunteers, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective provides more than 170,000 meals to central Ohio residents every day.

Best Summer Concert Series - Suburban Grove City Summer Sizzle Concerts Held every Friday from the end of May to the middle of August, Grove City’s concert series showcases the musical talent of central Ohio.

Best Boutique The Farm Table on 62 Best Senior Living Community StoryPoint Senior Living Best Brewery Grove City Brewing Best Bakery Buckeye Sweets and Treats We also want to recognize some Central Ohio businesses with a Grove City presence who won a Best of the Bus category.

They are as follows: Best Credit Union: Kemba Financial Credit Union Best Financial Advisory Firm: Edward Jones Best Retail Wine Selection, and, Best Retail Beer Selection: Giant Eagle Best Barbeque: City Barbeque Best Wings: Roosters

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 11

LOCAL NEWS Grove City EcoFest Explore fun ways to create a healthy lifestyle while making a positive impact on the environment at the Grove City EcoFest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 6. Gather with friends and neighbors in Town Center Park, 3359 Park St., for this waste-less event.

Visit the Art & Kids Zone featuring handson, recycling activities, live animals, crafts and games. Discover eco-practices and learn to reuse and reduce household and work products in the Sustainability Zone. The Health and Wellness Zone highlights local businesses demonstrating eco-friendly products, services and wellness programs. Pick up a Keep Grove City Beautiful event passport and collect stamps at the various activities for a prize.

Interested in driving or riding in an electric vehicle? Register on-site at the Drive Electric Columbus Ride & Drive booth, all drivers must provide a valid driver’s license.

The family-friendly bicycle ride, Bike with Mayor Ike, begins at 9 a.m. After the ride and during the event, bicycle parking is available at the Heritage Bicycles secure bike corral.

Food and merchandise vendors will be available.

Visit the EcoFest website for full event details. For additional information, call 614-277-3058.

Grove City Welcomes New Police Chief Rick Fambro Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage announced the appointment of Richard S. Fambro as the chief of the Grove City Division of Police, effective Sept. 12.

Fambro brings significant experience and success as a 32-year veteran of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, retiring this year as colonel and superintendent of the organization’s more than 2,200 public safety associates.

“We are truly fortunate and pleased to welcome Colonel Fambro as he joins our extremely dedicated and organized team of law enforcement professionals,” said Mayor Stage.

Fambro enjoys a history of successes in the areas of strategic operational planning, policies and development procedures, crisis management operations and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

“I am truly grateful and appreciative of Mayor Stage’s confidence in me to lead the dedicated women and men of the Grove City Division of Police,” said Fambro. “My first objective is to learn from the Police Division’s sworn and professional staff, as well as interacting with and working on behalf of the community.”

“Colonel Fambro is a highly respected leader who has positively influenced law enforcement policies and practices across the state,” said Safety Director and Interim Chief Kevin Teaford. “His experience and character make him an outstanding choice to serve as our next chief of police. The police division and our community are fortunate to have such a leader at the head of our internationally accredited police team.”

Fambro replaces former Chief Richard A. Butsko, Jr., who retired in March.

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CHAMBER NEWS Grove City Chamber Foundation News The Grove City Chamber Foundation, the Chamber’s “charitable arm”, continues to carry out its mission by awarding scholarships to local students, and raising funds to support those scholarships.

Currently, the Foundation can be found every Saturday at the Chamber Farmers’ Market where their booth is selling Silver Bridge Coffee as a fundraiser in partnership with Silver Bridge. This is also a great time to meet those involved with the Foundation and learn first-hand how you or your business can get involved.

Coming up on September 17 is the third 2022 deadline for Chamber Affiliate scholarships. The Affiliate scholarship is for current Chamber member business/organization employees, current individual Chamber members, or an immediate family member of such employees or Chamber members. The fourth and final 2022 deadline for the Chamber Affiliate scholarship will be December 17. Follow this link for more information and the application: https://gcchamberfoundation.org/scholarships/ In October, the Foundation will hold its big annual fundraising night, Fall for the Foundation Gala on October 21, 2022. This will be held at the Aladdin Shrine Center (1801 Gateway Cir, Grove City) from 6:30-10:30 pm. This is a can’t-miss night of food, fun, fellowship and putting the ‘fun’ in ‘fundraising’. Ticket sales will open in September, and sponsorships are available. Learn more by visiting the fundraiser night website: https://gcchamberfoundation.org/foundation-fundraiser/

Get ready for Boo off Broadway Whether you’re Team: Never Too Early for Halloween, or Team: It’s Still Summer, we hope you’re getting ready and looking forward to this year’s Boo off Broadway!

This year’s event will take place on Saturday October 29 from 12-4 pm and be packed with just as much, if not more, family fun for all ages. Participants can look forward to another costume parade, lots of candy, and special appearances by princesses and superheroes.

We hope our potential business participants are ready to think Halloween, because it’s time to sign up and claim your booth space.

Visit the Boo off Broadway website to fill out the form (use the “2022 registration” button: https://www.gcchamber.org/boo-off-broadway/ Sponsors are beginning to line up—though there is still room for more! Sponsorship information is also on the above Boo off Broadway link. Thank you to the following businesses who have already committed to sponsoring: Presenting Sponsors: Shepherd Insurance Partners, and The Antry Isaacs Team Saxton Real Estate.

Additional sponsors: Wright Patt Credit Union, and Cutler Real Estate.

Stay tuned for more exciting Boo off Broadway announcements as we get closer to spooky season!

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CHAMBER OPEN

A Day on the Green It was another great day for golf when the Chamber Open teed off at Hickory Hills Golf Club last month.

With over 20 teams, it was one of the larger turnouts for the Chamber Open making for a great day of golf, networking, and socializing. Golfers enjoyed their day on the course and the many activities and opportunities to network off the course.

This year’s Chamber Open was in support of Buddy Ball and we’re excited to be able to provide financial support, but also the opportunity to learn about their work in making baseball accessible for all. Learn more about them here: www.grovecitybuddyball.com/ We had a great auction and raffle with some great items. Thank you to all who donated and supported, and congratulations to those who went home with some great prizes!

A big thank you goes to this year’s Chamber Open sponsors.

Presenting Sponsor: Flyer’s Pizza and Subs Eagle Sponsor: Eldorado Scioto Downs Hole in One Sponsor: Franklin County Banking Center Beverage Cart Sponsors: Carriage Court and SWACO The Chamber Open is fun, but also a ‘game’ in that there is competition! A big congratulations goes to our following winners: Champion Team: The Naz Longest Drive: Mike Brinker of Elford Inc. Women’s Longest Drive: Michelle Fulks of Stark and Associates Longest Putt: Sean Heffernan of McCarty & Heffernan, LLP Closest to the Pin: Max Fischer of Park National Bank We hope everyone had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to 2023’s Chamber Open!

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EVENT NEWS

Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage Treasures Arts in the Alley The festival of music and art brings together artisans of every variety, including photographers, sculptors, crafters, quilters; and it continues to draw thousands of visitors to our community. But it’s more than simply a festival of artistic and musical talent. It’s a weekend filled with laughter, friendship and community; when we welcome visitors as our own neighbors and enjoy time with family.

The Saturday morning parade down Broadway and onto Columbus Street is one of my favorite traditions. With more than 100 entries, I often have the flexibility to fit in with a participant at the start of the parade then swing back around and join another entry near the end of the parade. Seems silly maybe, but it gives me a chance to say hello to as many of the people watching the parade as I can.

Just as many others do on that Saturday, I’ll stick around Town Center after the parade to watch the Grove City and Central Crossing high school marching bands and choirs perform, and take in all the wonderful items vendors are selling. Many of the vendors have been part of Arts in the Alley for years and I have come to know some on a personal level as a result. It’s like a reunion at times.

I enjoy making my rounds to many of the shows (craft, fine arts, photography, quilt and youth art) to see the entries and cast my People’s Choice vote for each. It’s fun to see which flower-themed pieces of art in each category have been selected by the judges to contend for the Helena McComb Award, an award given by the McComb Family in memory of one of the festival co-founders.

There’s something about this hometown, 43-year tradition that warms not only my heart, but the hearts of everyone who visits.

Support Local Nonprofits at Arts in the Alley Did you know food and concession booths at Arts in the Alley are all in support of a variety of local non-profit organizations? They are! Arts in the Alley is pleased to have this community component of the festival that allows many non-profits an opportunity to be seen and raise funds in the name of food and fellowship.

The list of vendors and the types of food continues to grow as we approach Arts in the Alley time, but a tasty line-up is underway. Currently attendees can look forward to: pizza, grilled bologna sandwiches, kettle corn, deep fried cheese, corn dogs, New Orleans shaved ice, Lemon shake ups, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, pulled pork, chicken salad wraps, popcorn, cookies, and plenty of water and bottled drink options.

Groups include church groups, civic organizations, and local scout troops.

All of these groups look forward to serving up great food to you and your family and friends next month at Arts in the Alley!

A special Thank You to Heartland Bank, our 2022 presenting sponsor, for their ongoing support of the Arts in the Alley Festival CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 15

BUSINESS TIPS

Tips for Hybrid Work: Home, Office, Coffee Shop, Repeat

By Sarah Hann & Danielle Slone We worked from our offices. Then we worked from home. Then we dabbled in getting back to the office, only in some cases to be sent back home. And now some of us are here in this funny little place known as “hybrid work” where time is split between the office, the at-home office, and even other remote sites along the way as we find new ways to dice up the traditional workday.

For some, this routine is old news. For others, this has opened the door to creating more balance in work life and home life. But like many things in life, it can be a double-edged sword and you wind up too caught up in work when home or neglecting work for every home item. We’ve come up with some helpful tips based on our own collective experiences.

Create boundaries: Know the boundaries of your work and home life. If at home, make it so others know you’re working and how they should get your attention if needed. If adapting work around personal life, inform your co-workers of any schedule changes so they can still best contact you. Somewhere in this sea of work, home, and work-from-home is where working from alternate locations can become handy.

Maximize time: Only have an hour? It’s probably not the time to start working on your long-haul, do-notdisturb project. Pick an action that best fits with the window of time you have. Might get cut short? Work on something that can be packed up quickly, but don’t forget to hit the save button!

Set goals for your time: Your office, home office, and public places like the coffee shop or bakery can offer assorted distractions that get you “off pace” and your three hours was spent on YouTube and Wordle. Clearly spell out your goals or “must do” items to stay focused whether you’re at home, the office, or somewhere else.

Only have an hour?

It’s probably not the time to start working on your long-haul, do-not-disturb project.

Know your tech (or even data security) limits: If your favorite coffee shop has weak Wi-Fi, your hour there might be best for emails or some offline work rather than uploading a YouTube video. Consider the security of your connection, and potential for wandering eyes, if you’re working with material that has some layer of security. Re-visiting policies regarding data and information security would be a good idea, too.

Manners and courtesies: You know the rules for your office, and perhaps your home office has no rules. But when working remotely in public spaces, let’s remember some common courtesies. If you need a phone or video conversation, first consider if your current space is suitable—could people overhear what you’re saying? Are there awkward background noises that would bother the other party or parties on

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the call? However, wherever you chat, no one wants to hear both sides of your conversation, so use your ear buds or headphones rather than speaker phone.

Chances are you aren’t the only patron, so use your ‘library voice’ so others can enjoy the space. If electric outlets are at a premium, arrange your cords in the event you need to share with someone else.

Organizing/packing the mobile office: If you’re a member of Overpackers Anonymous, this might be a challenge, but you want to strike a balance between overpacking and missing valuable items. Find a handy way to store your go-to supply items and consider mobile versions of things such as pens, notepads, earbuds and charger cords. As for work items, consider what you’ll realistically get into based on the time you have and the goals you’ve set.

With a solid game plan, hybrid work can be a game changer as we try to find a more pleasing work-life balance. We can adapt work around life and miss fewer family activities, and we can strike when the iron is hot and work at our peak hours.

1130 Auto Mall Dr, Columbus, OH 43228

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 17

HR ESSENTIALS

Managing Conflict in the Workplace

by Rachel Kutay from My Business Resource Conflict is a normal and healthy part of any relationship. Two people can’t be expected to agree on everything all the time.

Since relationship conflicts are inevitable, learning to deal with them in a healthy way at work is crucial. By learning the skills you need for successful conflict resolution, you can keep both your personal and professional relationships thriving.

What is conflict? Conflict is a struggle between at least two parties who perceive that they have incompatible goals. Fundamentally, conflict arises from differences – differences in values, motivations, perceptions, ideas or desires. Sometimes these differences might seem trivial, but when a conflict triggers strong feelings, a deep personal and relational need may be at the core of the problem. It may be a need to feel safe and secure, a need to feel respected and valued, or a need for greater closeness and intimacy.

In the workplace, conflict can arise because employees have diverse points of view and communicate with one another differently. Often, they have established expectations of one another that haven’t been communicated and then subsequently are not met. Successful conflict resolution depends upon your ability to manage stress while remaining alert and calm, controlling your emotions and behavior, paying attention to the feelings being expressed, and being both aware and respectful of differences. Unresolved conflict in the workplace can lead to wasted resources and energy, decreased productivity and morale, poor decision making, and worst of all a toxic culture.

When we talk about conflict, there are five “styles” or “conflict personalities:” competing, accommodating, avoiding, compromising, and collaborating. But unlike your personality (which essentially doesn’t change once you’re an adult), we can learn how to use all of these styles and understand how to use them in different situations. Your preferred conflict style is never “good” or “bad;” but if it’s overused or underused, it might be ineffective.

Here are some conflict management Quick Tips: • Make the relationship your priority.

• Pick your battles.

• Be willing to forgive.

• Know when to let something go.

• Remain calm.

• Deal with only one issue at a time.

• No “hitting below the belt.”

• Avoid accusations.

When we’re able to resolve conflict in a positive way, it results in a flow of more accurate information in our businesses, which can help leaders make better choices. Positive conflict increases understanding and encourages collaboration, leading to a healthier work environment for all.

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RESOURCE ROUNDUP To best serve Chamber members, we’ve browsed online for some of the current and upcoming business resource offerings. Some may have upcoming deadlines, so if you’re interested in it we encourage you to act quickly.

State of Ohio: Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Program Per the website, this program “is designed to stimulate the growth of existing women-owned businesses by providing loans at market rate or below market rate interest…” It states that the business must have its principal place of business and its business operations located in Ohio, and have been operating and generating revenue for two years.

There is a lot of additional information, and fine print, to share, so we encourage you to go straight to the source as we found it: https:// development.ohio.gov/business/minority-business/womens-business-enterprise-loan-program State of Ohio: TechCred Program The next application period for TechCred will open September 1, and close on September 30. TechCred is a state program that assists employers in building a stronger workforce through continuing education trainings, or tech-focused credentials (hence, TechCred). Trainings are designed to prepare employees for tech jobs in Ohio and many can be done online. Wondering how many businesses could be approved in an application period? It was announced that in the May application period 293 businesses were approved for funding.

Use this link to learn more about the program: https://techcred.ohio.gov/about State of Ohio: Disability Webinar Series Through the end of 2022, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is offering a free webinar series for employers, the Employers’ Reasonable Accommodation Handbook. Each monthly session (which lasts one hour) will focus on a different disability group, while the final session will cover what employers can (or can’t) ask and best practices for disability inclusion. Each session also has some HR re-certification credit approvals (view full approvals on the webpage) To view the sessions, register, and learn about the credit approvals visit https://bit.ly/3SeADtK

Federal: SBA’s Disaster Assistance Page We hope no one needs this anytime soon, but the US Small Business Administration can offer a variety of assistance and resources in the face of assorted disasters, including declared weather events. It’s not limited to weather though, so check out all the options in the event you could use the assistance now, or know what’s available should the need arise.

Visit the Disaster Assistance Page: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 19

LOCAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

Business Owner Strikes a Chord in Grove City: Strummin’ Strings with Jimmy Ray

By Sarah Hann and Katie Browder-Person, Photos by Danielle Slone Heart, soul, and rock-and-roll, Jimmy Ray Guitars is quickly becoming the area’s go-to for all things guitars.

Owner Jimmy Ray turned his lifelong love of music and passion for guitars into a Grove City shop preparing to celebrate its first anniversary.

With a strong personal collection of guitars, Jimmy sought out and bought other collections to build his shop inventory.

Traveling both near and far for these great finds, Jimmy Ray has enjoyed sharing his passion for music and guitars with the local community.

The Business Seeing a guitar-shaped hole in the business scene of Grove City, Jimmy brought his years of entrepreneurial experience and combined it with his passion for guitars and desire to serve the central Ohio community.

“I want to be the one people come to,” he said.

Doors opened last September with a grand opening celebration.

Jimmy said opening, owning, and operating a business has been a humbling experience to new degrees. This brought him to consider big-ticket questions such as “why do you do this?”, “why do you keep doing it?” and “are you happy doing it?”

Given the number of times Jimmy says he loves what he does, he’s quite happy. And it shows in his customer service. He jokes with his customers, listens to them when they are having a challenge and hands them a guitar when there is something in their soul they just need to get out. People stop in throughout the week, just to say “Hi” and soak in some of his charm.

“I want to be the one people come to”

The Experience “I want it to be your home away from home,” said Jimmy when asked why this shop was so important to him to open in Grove City.

Jimmy thrives on making people feel welcome to the point of it being like home. Customers who know their way around a guitar add to the feel and make it sound like home, too. And it’s not just locals, he’s had customers come from neighboring counties and even as far away as Cincinnati.

But the welcoming environment is just one part. Jimmy also thrives on helping people through guitars, whether that’s working with a seasoned musician or introducing the instrument to someone for the first time.

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Unlike past business experience, including a tattoo parlor and a home improvement business, there’s more decision-making in-store in selecting a guitar. He makes it about the one-on-one experience and help to find ‘the one’ guitar that is the best fit for a person, not unlike finding the right pair of pants.

“I give my 100% to everyone who walks in the door.”

Not every day are Google Reviews considered “must read”, but Jimmy Ray’s are. It’s clear from the continuous praise that this shop is a much needed and appreciated piece of the city.

Reviews like this make is all worthwhile, according to Jimmy Ray. “This guy keeps his customers happy. He did some repairs for me and saved me from spending too much money somewhere else. He’s also a great dude! “ “I went into Jimmy’s today with several questions and had the pleasure of dealing with the gentleman named Jimmy. He had answers to every question I had as well as he builds beautiful guitars. He assisted me personally in finding the right guitar for me and for an amazing price. I will no longer go to any music store other than Jimmy’s. Thank you for the amazing customer service and assistance.”

Play, Tune, Clean While guitars in the shop come from a little bit of anywhere and everywhere as Jimmy seeks out sales, he does have guitars he’s custom built. In many cases, this is to bring the original instrument to its full potential. He said “play, tune, clean” is a constant to keep them in their best condition possible.

This summer, Jimmy Ray’s held its first all-day Saturday sale with 10% off of guitars with a great turnout. Jimmy plans to repeat the sale with some form of frequency in an effort to continue with his intention to keep guitar ownership affordable.

Gift certificates are also available, which is a great option for family members to give to the aspiring, or avid, guitar player so they can select something themselves.

As for what comes next as year one rolls into year two, Jimmy said he’ll keep on doing what he’s doing and where he’s doing it.

“I know I’m in the right spot. I know I’m doing what I’m needed to do.”

Ready to find your sound at Jimmy Ray’s Guitars? Visit the store located at: 3558 Broadway Grove City, near Jolly Pirate Donuts.

Find them online: jimmyrayguitars.com

WHATS TO COME...

43 Years Celebrating the Arts...

by Sarah Hann In just over a month, Arts in the Alley will return with its 43rd edition of celebrating the arts.

Attendees will enjoy familiar favorites, along with plenty of new features to make the 2022 festival its own unique event unlike the year before, making it a must-attend event over the course of the weekend.

Coordinators behind the scenes aim to make it “an event people look forward to every year” as Trent Soles, Chamber board member and Voice of Grove City coordinator, put it. This includes consistently seeking out new vendors, new show participants, and new contestants in The Voice of Grove City.

And while Trent explained that all elements of Arts in the Alley are connected—and they most certainly are, we’re going to break it down by each ‘element’ to show what can be expected.

The Vital Details: Sept. 16- Sept. 18 Arts in the Alley will kick off on Friday evening, September 16, with opening rounds of The Voice of Grove City. Additionally vendors will begin showcasing their creations and food vendors will serve up snacks and dinner.

The fun continues Saturday with the Community Parade stepping off at 9:30 am at the corner of Southwest Blvd and Broadway. The parade will kick off a full day of fun with vendors, music, show displays, and more.

The fun does have to come to an end, though Sunday will bring the announcement of a variety of winners. Show winners will be recognized and from the finalists’ performances, a Voice of Grove City winner will be chosen.

The Vendors The big news is over 30 new vendors will be joining us this year as the vendor list continues to grow as September approaches. In short?

Expect a lot of vendors, with plenty of first-time vendors! Vendors are coming from near and far and will be ready to share their creations.

Vendors registered so far already cover a vast range of arts: wood, photography, fine art, jewelry, ceramics, glass, leather working, and a variety of home décor art. There will be something for everyone. Many vendors will also showcase how they create some of their pieces, so give yourself time to stop, watch, and learn along the way.

The Voice of Grove City

In chatting with Voice of GC coordinator Trent Soles, the Voice of Grove City is continuing to grow while entertaining and offering a platform for vocal talent.

Entries continue to roll in from across Ohio, and while a few competitors may return from 2021, remember that there is always a new winner named each year!

Two emcees along with a strong, and diverse, panel of judges have been lined up with emcees engaging the audience and the judges leading the way in narrowing the contestant field. The judges aren’t the only ones with a say—the People’s Choice winner from Saturdays field of 10 will automatically advance to the Sunday finals.

But, it’s not all about the competition, as Trent said one of the original goals was to ensure people had a stage for their performing talent, and an opportunity to learn.

Similar to the tv show format, The Voice of Grove City added a coach last year. The coach’s job is to help carry out this original goal—“help people be able to share their gift”.

22 | CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022

Contestant entry is currently underway and contestants must be at least 13 years of age. Entry for 2022, in addition to judge information and a 2021 recap, is available on The Voice of Grove City website: https://artsinthealley.us.launchpad6. com/ Contestant entries for 2022 must submit a video, and can also be viewed on the website. Please encourage the aspiring singers in your life—we’d love to have them join us on this year’s experience!

The Shows To share and encourage artistic talent both near and far, Arts in the Alley has five shows to enter: Craft Show Fine Arts Show Photography Show Quilt Show Youth Art Show Each of the five shows has its own special criteria, classes, and even distinctions for professional or amateur artisans. Such information will be available closer to show time—keep up with https://www.gcchamber.org/arts/ for the latest.

All shows bring together a variety of entries to share the uniqueness of their field and individuality and talent of the artist. The Youth Art Show showcases many works that local students completed during the past school year.

Artists looking to compete for the Grove City Easel Award have ‘tweaked’ criteria this year in that the theme “My Hometown Original” has been expanded to include works with a hometown theme beyond Grove City. The winning piece will still be entered into the City of Grove City’s art collection.

Entries into any of the five above-listed shows that feature or use flowers are considered for the Helena McComb Award. This award is in memory of Helena McComb, who was instrumental in the earliest days of the Arts in the Alley and building it to become the event we love. With her love of flowers, it’s a fitting way to honor and remember Helena.

The Food As mentioned in this issue’s non-profit spotlight, food vendors are all local non-profit organizations. A variety of festival favorites will be available while supporting a variety of groups ranging from civic organizations, scouts, and school groups. If you haven’t read the spotlight piece yet, check it out for all of the tasty details.

The Parade While Arts in the Alley now has an opening night on Friday, we know no other, or better, way to kick off Saturday’s festivities than with the Community Parade. We thank our friends at the Grove City Girls Club for their continued support and collaboration. Entries lined up so far include marching bands, floats, community groups, and more. Parade entries are still being accepted—registration deadline is August 31. After August 31, an entry is subject to a $50 late fee and placement at the end of the parade. Find the parade application online at: https://www.gcchamber.org/arts/ It takes many to make Arts in the Alley a success, and soon we’ll share some volunteer opportunities—though if you’re interested now feel free to contact the office: 614-875-9762. It also takes lots of sponsors and we’ve begun to assemble this year’s group of sponsors. As of ‘press time’, sponsors include: Presenting sponsor: Heartland Bank and additional sponsors - OhioHealth, Mount Carmel, Wright Patt Credit Union, The Goddard School, Zangmeister Cancer Center, Performance Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Georgesville, Cruise PlannersDavid Todd, Houk CPA, Broadway Fireplace & Décor.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Need something else for Arts in the Alley? It can all be found here: https://www.gcchamber.org/arts/

CHAMBER BUSINESS CONNECTION JUNE 2022 | 23

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No matter what kind of health care you need, receiving that care with empathy and compassion is essential to your recovery. That’s why we have nurses like James. He doesn’t provide deeply personal care because it’s his job. He does it because it’s who he is and what he was called to do. It’s his specialty.

BECAUSE COMPASSIONATE CARE IS MY SPECIALTY.

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