The last week of 2016 was a great week to reflect on our community with the advancements, the acknowledgements, addressing concerns, opportunities to develop strategies and vision. I think it is fair to say there was positive movement in many areas of our region and those opportunities should continue into 2017.

The Chamber will continue to keep our mission first and foremost in our decision making for events and services - to promote economic and community development by providing services and addressing issues important to business.

We look forward to working with our member investors while we continue to advance our region as one to live, work and to visit. And I, personally, look forward to continuing our commitment to strengthen our area to help foster a better community for business and industry development and growth.

One way we want to stay connected and to increase awareness of your business is to spend some time with you, video what you do and promote it through our social media outlets. So beginning this month, I'm going to be dropping into businesses every Friday and spreading the word of the great businesses we have in greater Chillicothe. If you'd like to be one of the ones we highlight, give us a call and we'll make plans to visit you.

We're also finalizing our events and seminars for 2017. Be watching for our calendar of events on our website and mark your calendars for these special events.

The first event coming up is our annual Groundhog Day breakfast. This year's community forecast breakfast will be exciting with a special presentation and announcement from our community vision steering team and setting our goals and vision for 2017 and beyond. Make your reservations now to attend this special event, sponsored by Kingston National Bank.

I want to keep you up-to-date on information concerning the U.S. Labor Department's overtime rule. This past Tuesday, a federal court in Texas denied a request from the Obama administration to delay further proceedings in a case challenging the rule. Late last year Judge Amos Mazzant issued a preliminary injunction against the rule, and, in his opinion, suggested that eventually he would issue a permanent injunction blocking the rule. With Congress unable to fight the rule via Congressional Review Act legislation (the final regulations came to early and the window has shut), the incoming Trump administration will need to take steps to repeal it by issuing new regulations. So, in the meantime, the stay remains and the new overtime rule is NOT in effect. 

President & CEO

Randy Davies 

Exercising (Your Chamber Benefits)