We look forward to Connecting with you in the New Year

December 23, 2025

News

Happy Holidays from the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Your commitment to our region’s businesses, people, and progress is what makes our work meaningful—and the Toledo region stronger.

We wish you a warm, restful holiday season filled with time to recharge and celebrate with those who matter most. So that our team may do the same, our offices will be closed December 25 through January 2. During this time if you need assistance enrolling in the Chamber's health insurance program (read more below) please contact Jeff Lonsbrough, VP of Membership at 567.420.1234 or jeff.lonsbrough@toledochamber.com.

We will reopen on Monday, January 5 ready to connect, advocate, and support your success in the year ahead.

Rising ACA Costs Are Hitting Small Businesses and the Self-Employed — Here’s an Alternative Worth Exploring

Across the country—and right here in the Toledo region—small businesses and self-employed professionals are feeling the strain of rising health insurance costs.

Premiums on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace continue to increase, and changes to federal subsidies are making coverage less predictable and, in many cases, significantly more expensive. Nearly half of adults with ACA marketplace coverage are small-business employees, owners, or self-employed individuals.

For entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and small employers already managing tight margins, healthcare costs have become a growing challenge that impacts more than just the bottom line. That’s where a Chamber-supported solution can make a difference.

The SBDC Advantage: Helping Northwest Ohio Businesses Access Capital and Scale with Confidence

Got five minutes? That's all you need to check out last Friday's edition of Toledo Money, the second in our continuing partnership with them.

Last week Bill and Kaden sat down with Michael Tolson, VP of Small Business Services and Center Director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Chamber, to discuss the real impact the SBDC is having across the Toledo region.

Staff Favorite Things: Gabrielle Huff, Mannager, Local Government Affairs

“Kengo is a one-of-a-kind culinary experience in Toledo that is sure to impress anyone that walks through its doors for a bite. Whether you’re going to Kengo, or one of Chef Kengo Kato’s other restaurants, Kato Ramen, Papa Kato’s or Shobu by Kengo, it will be a perfect place to celebrate with friends or family and enjoy some of the best food in the region. Any foodie in your life would definitely love a gift card for one of the restaurants under the Christmas tree!”

Events

Grounds for Discussion

presented by NAMI Greater Toledo

January 13, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. |

Burkett Restaurant Equipment - 28740 Glenwood Rd., Perrysburg

No-cost to attend, but registration is required.

This no-cost, casual, monthly morning gathering designed to spark conversations, expand your network, and help you build relationships that strengthen your business. Over coffee and open dialogue, you’ll meet new peers, exchange ideas, and walk away with connections that matter.

Focus on Business

presented by KeyBank

January 21, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |

TMA Glass Pavilion

Join fellow business leaders for a fast-paced, high-impact lunch that keeps you informed and connected. Each month features a keynote speaker sharing fresh perspectives on issues shaping the region’s business environment, as well as economic updates from the Chamber, RGP and Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

At our January luncheon, we will dig into how child care isn’t just a family issue — it’s a workforce issue. Many working parents struggle to afford reliable, high-quality child care, forcing some to leave the workforce or limit their availability. That instability doesn’t just harm employees: it hurts employers’ ability to recruit, retain, and rely on talent — a critical concern for businesses in our region.

Our keynote will explore how new public-private efforts, such as Ohio Child Care Cred Program and Michigan's Tri-Share Child Care Program, are helping address the gap. These initiatives share the cost of child care between employees, employers, and the state — making care more affordable for working families while giving employers a powerful retention tool.

Ultimately — ensuring accessible child care is not only a benefit to families, but a strategic investment in our workforce, our economy, and our future.

Morning Access

February 6, 2026 | 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. |

The Toledo Club, 235 14th St., Toledo

Get uninterrupted, direct access to the elected officials whose decisions shape our region’s business climate.

In a no-speeches, conversation-first setting, you’ll strengthen relationships, ask questions, and share the challenges and opportunities your organization is experiencing. Walk away with clarity, connections, and influence...

all before 9:00 a.m.

Training & Development

Transitioning to Supervisor: Frontline Leadership Essentials

Taught by In2Great, LLC

February 9th & 10th, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - noon |

300 Madison Ave., 8th Fl, Toledo

Strong supervisors are the backbone of strong teams. In just two half-days of focused, expert-led training from In2Great, your supervisors will learn how to manage conflict, set expectations, build trust and navigate the shift from peer to leader. Give your new and emerging leaders the skills and mindset they need to lead confidently — improving communication, strengthening culture and reducing turnover.

Step into the new year with renewed energy and practical tools with our featured December courses from the Center for Training & Development

As the year winds down, it’s the perfect moment for businesses to pause, reset, and spark new ideas. This December, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Training & Development is featuring courses focused on creativity and innovation—two of the most powerful drivers of growth in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re looking to strengthen problem-solving, inspire fresh thinking, or equip your team to adapt in a changing economy, these courses help leaders and employees step into the new year with renewed energy and practical tools. End-of-year reflection naturally creates space for creative thinking, making December an ideal time to invest in learning that fuels innovation and sets your business up for a strong, forward-focused 2026.

Personal Creativity

This course examines how one can become a more creative person. By stimulating creativity through various techniques (mind-mapping, DO-IT, SCAMPER, right and left brain thinking) participants learn to tap into their personal creativity and apply it to organizational challenges.