Are you starting a new business and not sure where to begin? Rest assured you are not alone! When Bryan and I decided to take the plunge and form Indian Lake Outfitters, one of the first things we asked was "How do you start a business?" and "Where do you go to start a business?" We were given a very common answer "You need to join your local Chamber of Commerce."
The Logan County Chamber has many of the answers to most of your questions and they will greatly assist you in getting started down the right path. The Chamber works closely with several other organizations including the Community Improvement Corporation, the Convention and Tourism Bureau, the Small Business Development Center of Columbus, Indian Lake Chamber and local county villages and officers. Each organization plays a role in developing a new or existing business.
The Community Improvement Corporation does a lot of behind the scenes research that allows you as a new business owner, to get information regarding utilities, population, growth and comparison studies. The CIC continuously works towards economic development and incubator programs for small business start-ups.
The Convention and Tourism Bureau operates out of the Chamber office as well. Much of the CT's focus is to bring people to your community as tourists, sharing with them what you have to offer in the county vis Bus Tours, Home and Garden Tours, Rally at the Peak, community celebrations and many of your obvious tourist attractions - Mad River Mountain, Marmon Valley Farm, Indian Lake, Maries Candies, Piatt Castles, Ohio Caverns, Logan County Historical Museum and the Holland Theatre.
On the first Thursday of each month, the Chamber offers a meeting place for the SBDC to sit down with you and answer questions that arise about your business ventures. Their consulting services are free and extremely informational - you just call the Chamber to make an appointment.
Once your business is open, the Chamber continues to work for you on many levels. They offer a First Thursdays Chamber Chat each month, which is a great morning meeting over coffee. It keeps businesses informed of what is going on in the county. City and county officials are present, several forms of news media, advertisers and lots of local county business owners.
The Chamber can also connect you with other forms of business networking that goes on in the county such as the Logan County Meet Ups or the local Business Networking International, both great groups of like minded business professionals that pass business through word-of-mouth referrals.
If you haven't joined your Chamber, you should and if you're asking what your membership does for you and your business, attend any of these events or organizations for a warm welcome and open arms to grow and start your business!
No comments:
Post a Comment