It's More Important Now to Shop Local
By: Miranda Jones, Executive Director
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As the coronavirus pandemic continues, it is more important than ever to shop local and support local businesses and their employees who have been impacted by the extended restrictions on businesses. In other words, even if you are spending less and saving more (as the aggregate data indicates), when you do open your wallet, try to shop local whenever possible. This directly impacts the demand for local jobs. Businesses cannot hire people back if the local demand for their products and services is not there, thus, we need to support our local businesses to bring back jobs to our local economy.
Of course, we know returning to our “previous normal” won’t be happening anytime soon. I realize wearing face masks, waiting in long lines for businesses due to social distancing measures, curbside pick-up only, etc., may seem like an added hassle you would rather not deal with. Clicking on that “add to cart” tab for a non-local business may seem more appealing. But again, I know most of us want nothing more than to help those locally that have been negatively impacted by this pandemic. Thus, one the easiest things we can do right now to help our community economically recover is to shop local. As we shop local, businesses keep their doors open and possibly hire more people, which in turn, lowers the unemployment rate, and ultimately creates income for our local residents.
At the chamber, we knew that we wanted to implement an event that followed social distancing guidelines but was able to promote growth and success for our businesses and their employees. If you have not had the chance to participate in one of our Shop Hop events, we have one scheduled for Galion on Saturday, August 8th and in Crestline on Thursday, August 27th. The chamber tent is centrally located in both communities and we have created engagement opportunities for shoppers or people who just want to get out of their houses. Business scavenger hunts and searching for our "Shop Hop Rocks" are enjoyed by people young and old. We have heard from businesses and shoppers alike that these events have really helped bring awareness to the small niche stores and increase visibility of what each town has to offer.
We have always said that small businesses need more than just one day in November to be celebrated. Now is the time to keep our dollars local and help our neighbors get through this pandemic. It really does take a “village” to come together and help our communities thrive.
Remember, through all of this, be kind. Each of our businesses and our shoppers have their own struggles they are trying to overcome. It is important to have compassion and patience.
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AUGUST NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
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For Chamber Chat - we will be "Staying at Home". Click on the ticket area and join us with ZOOM. We will have a "Virtual Chamber Chat" at 8am on Wednesday, August 5th.
Chamber Chat is a monthly networking event that is free and open to all. Each month we have a different topic, activity or speaker. Chamber Chat is a great chance to meet other decision makers in the area in a relaxed setting
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Tee times and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Miranda at the chamber office,419-468-7737 or email, [email protected] for more details. |
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Galion, OH - Thank you to Oakstone Landscape, LLC crew members for giving their time to wash playground equipment before the parks reopened in June. We appreciate you helping to keep the community safe.
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Crestline, OH - Congratulations to The Village of Crestline. The Crestline Community Developement Team, with help from other area businesses and volunteers,held the 1st Annual Crestline Freedom Celebration on July 3rd.
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Galion, OH - The City of Galion has completed construction for Phase 1 of a recreation trail, a.k.a. bike path, which began in April of 2020. The trail provides a safer way for Galion residents to walk, run, and bike. The project was funded by the Egbert M. Freese Foundation. The new trail goes from the Galion Waste Water Treatment Plant north along the Olentangy River to Bucyrus Road and is .8 miles one way.
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Crestline, Oh- First Federal Community Bank is celebrating their first anniversary for their branch in Crestline. Thank you for being a great addition to the community!
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Galion, OH - RusMen Farms has hundreds of 800-pound round bales decorating their fields at the intersection of Galion-New Winchester and Iberia roads. Some are stacked, but everyone is wrapped in red, white, and blue netting — a patriotic display for our community. Thank you Sellman Family!
Full Article from Crawford County Now can be found HERE
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Do you have an anniversary, new associate or employee, sign, or business update? Contact Miranda or Candy at the Chamber Office, 419-468-7737 or email [email protected] so we can add your business to the Member Spotlight in our next Newsletter.
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2020 Community Campaign Readies for Launch
Respond. Recover. Rebuild.
It’s all hands on deck at United Way of North Central Ohio as we prepare to launch our 2020 Community Campaign under the constraints and uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic.
As we consider and plan how best to make sure we have the funds needed to continue our work in the community while addressing the rising needs resulting from the COVID-19 shutdown – 15% of our tri-county workforce is unemployed and more than 350,000 Ohio families sought free food from pantries and other sources during one week in June – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and ineffectual.
But United Way is unparalleled in our power to bring together partners, providers, and resources to address the needs of a community in crisis. COVID-19 presents a new challenge for us, but we’re ready for it.
This is the work we were built to do.
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Are you ready for the
Crestline 2020 Gazebo Concert Series?
Here is the schedule for August!
All concerts below are from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13th--- ANDREA & DARRYL GATLIN DUO / Broadway, 50’s, Rock, Country…performs January thru April in Southwest Florida.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27th --- BAKER 47 / 1960’s and 1970’s Classic Rock.
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COLUMBUS – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is deferring the due date for employers to pay their June, July, and August premium installments until Sept.1.
Governor DeWine said the deferral is designed to help employers focus resources on re-opening their businesses under his Responsible RestartOhio Plan, the state’s effort to restart the economy while keeping Ohioans safe amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“By extending the premium due date, businesses can continue to focus on the safety and well-being of their employees and customers during this health pandemic,” said Governor DeWine.
BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud noted the deferral is the second deadline extension given to employers since COVID-19 emerged in Ohio in March.
“We’ve said since the beginning of this pandemic we would do our best to relieve the financial pressures employers are facing in this unprecedented time,” said Administrator McCloud. “This is our latest step, and I’m grateful to Ohio’s employer community, our stakeholders, and our staff for putting us in a strong position to help.”
Among several actions to help the business community’s bottom line, BWC sent Ohio’s private and public employers nearly $1.6 billion in dividends in late April thanks to strong investment returns, declining injury claims, and other costs savings. The agency is also sending at least 2 million face coverings to employers and their workforce to weaken the spread of the coronavirus under its Protecting Ohio’s Workforce — We’ve Got You Covered plan.
For more on COVID-19, including prevention guidelines and its impact on Ohio, visit the Ohio Department of Health website coronavirus.ohio.gov.
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SCORE and Constant Contact present the new Real-Time Mentoring platform to connect small business owners with SCORE mentors LIVE.
Navigating this unprecedented crisis is new for small business owners, so it helps to have trusted mentors who can provide guidance along the way. And we know you need advice quickly. This new method of mentoring shortens the time a client connects with a SCORE mentor from days to minutes.
Mentors will be available:
Tuesdays and Thursdays
2 to 5 p.m. ET
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City of Galion Council Calendar |
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