In The Know
The Weekly Newsletter of The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce   



March 30, 2018
Today's Featured Video

It's Time to Celebrate Spring!
An International Tour of How Cities Bloom in March...Literally

Springtime has been a bit of a slow starter this year in the Ohio Valley. A snowstorm blanketed the first day of the season with the stuff of winter instead of the blooms of March, and rain has dominated the forecast since then. If you're not quite feeling spring just yet, we understand, which is why this week's video will take you on a tour of how the rest of the world is celebrating the arrival of fresh smells and warm(er) weather. Here's to a sunny, Spring-filled Easter weekend!
April's "First Friday" Set
At JC Wine Cellars!
Come see what all the fuss is about. "First Friday" has become one of our members' favorite events. It's casual and fun with no speaker, agenda, or program. Just an enjoyable way to end the work week on the first Friday of each month with fellow members, great food and drink, prizes, and more. April's host is JC Wine Cellars in East Springfield, Ohio, and the date is Friday, April 6th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If you've never experienced JC Wine Cellars, now's the time to do it. Owners Janet & Gary Meal have been wowing diners for 20 years with their amazing menu and unique atmosphere. No RSVP necessary for First Friday, but if you plan to stay for dinner, reservations are strongly suggested. Phone 740-543-4200.
"Plant Your Money Locally" Gift Card Tree
Can you help us with this annual tradition?

One of the most sought-after door prizes each year at the Annual Golf Classic is the Chamber's Gift Card Tree filled with hundreds of dollars in gift cards and vouchers from local businesses. Please consider donating a gift card from your own business - any amount is appreciated - or purchase one from a local restaurant or retailer in your business' name. Either drop it in the mail or let us know if you'd like to have it picked up. It's great exposure for your business at the outing, with over 150 golfers, volunteers, and guests in attendance. In addition, you'll be listed on our Facebook page and signage at the event. It's also a great way to support the chamber. To participate, please email Geena Diomedi by clicking here , call the chamber offices at 740-282-6226.
Modern Marketing 101: Utilize A Social Media Marketing Calendar
This week's installment of Modern Marketing 101 provides great information on how small businesses are using social media. See how you stack up by checking out this survey conducted by Clutch.co.

And don't forget to check out last week's article , "Snapchat Usage and Advertising: A Marketer’s Guide to Maximizing Returns from Snapchat," as well as this article from  Forbes Magazine  about digital marketing trends in 2018. And our first two installments, "Effective Facebook Marketing Strategies for 2018" by The Balance and "How To Use Hashtags On Every Social Media Network" by Sprout Social, can be found by clicking  here  and  here .

Remember to print or save these articles each week. Before you know it, you'll have the marketing manual you've always wanted - one you can refer to again and again.
Member Morsels
Remember to visit individual member websites by clicking on the business name or logo.
The new religious film , Paul, Apostle of Christ , comes to the Ohio Valley for a limited time only this Easter weekend. In the film, two apostles, Paul and Luke, "struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spread their message to the world (http://www.paulmovie.com/site/) ." To read more about the film, visit the official website by clicking here . If you would like to view the trailer, please click here .

Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 11 a.m.
Monday, April 2, 2018 at 1 p.m.
AMC Classic Steubenville 6,  100 Mall Drive, Steubenville.
Price: $8 per person.

There are only a limited number of seats available. Please contact Michael Hernon for more information by clicking here.
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Eastern Gateway Community College will be holding its annual EGCC Career Fair. The fair is open to students, alumni, and community residents looking for work in and around the Steubenville area. Employers will be set up inside of Founder's Hall and will be recruiting for a number of positions in various fields for full-time, part-time, and summer/temp jobs, as well as internships.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Founder's Hall
Price: Free

For more information, please contact Leanna Lulla at 724-554-9916 or email her here .
Because of expected inclement weather, the date for Franciscan University's Third Annual Hilltop Communities Block Party has been rescheduled for a later date. This event is open to all who live in the hilltop communities. The day will feature facepainting, a cookout, snow cones, music, football, Frisbee, and other activities.

Saturday, April 21st, 2018
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tower of Power Church parking lot
1310 Maryland Avenue Steubenville, OH

Working Partners® continues to work hard for businesses throughout the state of Ohio, helping them to create and maintain drug-free workplaces. Here are a few articles, along with free new resources designed to help you refine your drug-free strategy:


Opioid Toolkit released, March 14 – The Ohio Chamber of Commerce contracted with Working Partners® to develop the Opioid Toolkit containing free resources to better prepare Ohio businesses to prevent and respond to the drug problem in their workplaces. The project was funded by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Additionally, the Opioid Toolkit contains Generation Rx resources contributed by The Ohio State University and Cardinal Health Foundation; developed by Working Partners®. See the article about the press conference and link to the toolkit below.


When working in the Steubenville or Weirton area, the Holiday Inn Weirton invites you and your business to contact their Director of Sales, Brad Degenkolb, to inquire about corporate rates. The Holiday Inn Weirton offers corporate rates for local businesses, contractors, or subcontractors working on projects throughout the area, as well as extended-stay business in the oil and gas field.

The benefits of choosing the Holiday Inn Weirton for your corporate travel are numerous and include: the area's only hotel to offer a restaurant and sports bar on-site; spacious guest rooms featuring free WiFi, microwaves, and refrigerators; corporate rates offered with Last Room Availability and No Blackout dates; dedicated Corporate ID to reserve your rooms on the IHG Mobile App or Holiday Inn Weirton website; and rates that qualify for IHG Reward Club Points. Holiday Inn Weirton is also the #1 Hotel in Weirton according to TripAdvisor.com .

Want to learn more? Contact the hotel directly at 304-723-5522 and ask to speak with their Director of Sales. You can also download the official flier here .
Do you want your Morsel included in "In The Know"?
There's no charge. Just click the button below and fill out the short online form.
Deadline is Wednesday at noon.
Small Business Start Up Class
Led by Joe Belinsky, Business Advisor,
Wednesday, April 4th, 2018
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Jefferson County Chamber Offices
630 Market Street - Steubenville
Please use rear entrance
$30 Chamber Members
$40 Non Chamber Members
Please register in advance by calling 740-282-6226 or emailing here .

Do you have an idea for a business but are not sure where to start? Or are you in the early stages of operating your own business but could use some guidance? This workshop will present an overview of issues related to starting and operating a business, including business and financial planning, market demand, financing and more.
Coffee & Connections
Wednesday, April 11th, 2018
8 to 9 a.m.
587 Bantam Ridge Road - Wintersville
Price: $10 per person, $12 if invoiced
RSVP by clicking here .
*As a courtesy to the caterer please remember to RSVP

April's event is going to be a special one hosted by The Jefferson County Farm Bureau with its board members serving as celebrity chefs, concocting made-to-order omelettes with all of your favorite fillings. All of the ingredients featured will be locally sourced! "Member Orientation" will immediately follow at 9:15 a.m., new and old members welcome. Learn about the latest Chamber programs and how to get the most from your dues investment. No charge and you need not attend Coffee & Connections.
CPR/AED/First Aid Training Class
Thursday, April 12th, 2018
4 p.m. to approximately 7 p.m.
Jefferson County Chamber Offices
630 Market Street, Steubenville
Chamber Members: $55
Non Members: $75
Space is limited, please RSVP by April 6th.
For more info, please call Joy Grimm at
740-282-6226 or email here .

Led by Chief Clark Crago of TEMS Joint Ambulance District , this course will prepare attendees to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and infants. It also meets OSHA/workplace requirements, and for members of the Jefferson County Safety Council, it will count as one of the 10 required meetings for the Safety Council year. Chamber and Non-Chamber attendees are welcome.
The Herald-Star Speaker Series Featuring ABC News Personality, John Quinones
Thursday, April 19th, 2018
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Lanman Hall - Catholic Central High School Steubenville
$20 Reserved Seating
$50 Preferred Seating
VIP Seating: $75 Single Ticket, $125 Couple Ticket
The number of VIP packages will be limited to 60, which will ensure an intimate atmosphere for the reception.

Private reception with John Quinones will run from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
For more info, please call Diana Brown at 740-283-4711 or email here .

John Quinones has worked at ABC News for more than 30 years and is the host and creator of the television show "What Would You Do?," the highly rated, hidden-camera ethical news magazine. He will challenge everyone in attendance to examine the what-would-you-do moments we face every day.

Sponsored by Trinity Health System and Eastern Gateway Community College
2018 Quarterly Workshop Series Marketing 101
Thursday, April 26th, 2018
9 a.m. to 12 p.m .
320 N 4th St, Steubenville, OH 43952
This three-hour session is for anyone, from new business owners or managers to long-timers who have been at it for years. From non-profits and educational institutions to restaurants, retailers or contractors, all attendees will walk away with solid, doable strategies and useful information. The workshop will start with a brief informational session, then move on to casual "table talks" that will allow you to ask questions and talk face-to-face with marketing professionals and other business owners just like you.
Price: $30 Chamber members
Non-members: $45
To RSVP click here .
32nd Annual Chamber Golf Classic
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018
8:30 a.m. Registration
10 a.m. Shotgun Start
$500 per foursome, which includes golf, cart, box lunch, all-day beverages, and a steak dinner. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities available. Watch In The Know and your mail for details. Space is limited. Click here to register your team today.
To RSVP or get more information on any Chamber event, please visit the Chamber  website  and click on the event you wish to view on the scrolling event calendar. Or print a hard copy by clicking the button below.
Around the State. Around the Country.
Up-to-Date Information from the Ohio and United States Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Chamber PAC Announces
2018 Primary Endorsements

Yesterday, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (OCCPAC) released its General Assembly endorsements for the May 8th Primary Election. OCCPAC has tapped 19 General Assembly candidates for endorsement.

With many term-limited legislators and an ever-shifting national political landscape, 2018 will be a year of change in Ohio politics, one way or another. It is the mission of OCCPAC to identify pro-business candidates for the General Assembly that will champion free enterprise and pro-growth policies here in Columbus. The candidates that we have endorsed will do just that. They are all advocates for policies that will put Ohioans to work and make our state an attractive place to do business.”

OCCPAC utilizes a member-driven approach to endorsing candidates for the General Assembly. Several sets of criteria are used to evaluate each race. For incumbents, the Ohio Chamber’s Free Enterprise Index score is used as the leading indicator of a candidate’s commitment to improving Ohio’s business climate. Other criteria applying to both incumbents and non-incumbents includes a candidate questionnaire, personal meetings with candidates and input from member businesses.
Read the article in its entirety by clicking   here . 
Here’s How to Make Cities Smarter

Last week, seven forward-thinking members of Congress, co-chaired by Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) launched the Smart Cities Caucus. The aim of the caucus is to improve lives through technology by listening to stakeholder groups and proposing legislation to further develop smarter infrastructure.

C_TEC at the same time participated in a panel series with Future Tense, a partnership of Arizona State University, Slate, and New America, to discuss what is needed to foster the cities of tomorrow. Two elements were discussed that will help spur smart city development –creativity and connectivity.

It is important first to understand what exactly one means when using the term “smart city.” Generally, smart cities are those municipalities that employ sensors and data analysis to more efficiently run a city. During an address at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, Rit Aggarwala, head of Urban Systems at Google’s Skywalk Labs, described smart cities not as products but as platforms that could fundamentally change the way people live in cities. According to one study by ABI Research the benefits of smart cities, which will be more realizable with open data policies, blockchain, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence could produce $20 trillion in economic benefits.

Read the article in its entirety by clicking   here .
  The Library Link
 Great Books About Business With Just A Click

Your link to success begins at the library. Each week in "In The Know," 
  you to a business book or magazine that will inspire, teach, inform, or elevate you, professionally and personally. This week's book is:

When to Jump:
If the Job You Have Isn't the Life You Want
by Mike Lewis

An inspirational book that lays out the "Jump Curve," four steps to wholeheartedly pursuing the career of one's dreams, through experiences from a variety of people who have jumped and never looked back.

View or download the book by clicking here .
Today in History

- March 30, 1867 -

William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State at the time, purchased Alaska from czarist Russia for $7 million as part of a peace-treaty deal. Russia had been trying to persuade the United States to purchase Alaska since the Buchanan administration. However, the Civil War stymied progress on the deal until the Johnson administration. Following the Civil War, Secretary Seward was intent on expanding the country's holdings and saw Alaska as a prime opportunity, given it was one-fifth the landmass of the United States. The acquisition was immediately derided as "Seward's Folly," and the Senate came within one vote of failing to ratify the peace treaty. The country began singing a different tune, however, in 1898, when gold was discovered in Alaska. For more information on the early days of Alaska, please see this article .

- 90,000,000 -

The number of chocolate bunnies made worldwide for Easter each year. Consumers are expected to spend $2.6 billion on candy for Easter 2018.
Source: WalletHub
Questions about Oil & Gas?
These non-profit organizations are here to help you stay up-to-date on the oil and gas industry
in Jefferson County:

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Contact Us
The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
630 Market Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
Phone: 740.282.6226
Fax:  740.282.6285
Get The Information You Need - The Chamber Staff Is Here To Help
Joy Grimm
Accounting & Administrative Coordinator

Contact Joy with billing questions, invoicing issues, to update your company information or to register for an event.

Janet King
Investor Relations Coordinator

Janet will assist you with utilizing your membership benefits, answering questions about member programming or how to promote your business through the Chamber.
Geena Diomedi
Administrative Coordinator

Geena is your go-to for assisting with an Eblast or In The Know blurb, answering questions about the Chamber's social media platforms or getting contact information for other chamber members.

Tricia Maple-Damewood
President

Contact Tricia with suggestions, input or feedback on member programming, how to get involved on a committee or special project or with questions or information about anything related to the Chamber.