December 2009
Ashland Area Council for Economic Development Newsletter
 "Happy Holidays from AACED. We look forward to hearing from you about any of the new programs or events in this edition. In early December we will also begin production on a companion publication that will include detailed articles with thought-provoking economic development concepts. Now, more than ever, we need to discuss new ideas with citizens. Stay tuned for this publication in the coming weeks."
Training Workers to Advance Grant Dollars Available in Ashland County

As part of a North Central Ohio workforce development initiative, the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services has recently approved $44,814.00 for incumbent worker training in Ashland County. Funds are to be utilized for training current employees in any of the following sectors: manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, or advanced energy. The grant funds can cover 75-90% of training costs, depending on the size of the company. Approval will be granted by a local committee made up of AACED and Ashland County Job & Family Services staff. General criteria for approval is that the training will advance the wage-earning potential of your employees and strengthen the company through new skills and/or product offerings. Please contact our office for more details. Additionally, if you are unemployed, we encourage you to contact the Ashland Job & Family Services office for information on individual training assistance.
Solar Improvement Districts

Recent Ohio legislation expanded the State's special improvement district law to include a new concept gaining momentum around the country-Solar Improvement Districts (SID).  A SID allows municipalities or townships to form districts where property owners can finance their solar investments (photovoltaic or solar thermal) over a term up to 25 years, with payments made through their property tax bills.   Local governments assist in the up-front purchase of these improvements through General Obligation bonds and/or State and Federal dollars.  Local governments will also establish their own eligibility criteria, maximum loan amounts and other terms and conditions as a SID is formed.  It is important to note that, as opposed to other special improvement districts such as Downtown Business Districts, property owners ONLYjoin SID's voluntarily; and, the properties that make up a SID do not have to be contiguous.  Thus, this is NOT a program that will create a new tax community-wide; rather, it is simply a process for interested property owners (residential and businesses) to pursue long-term financing in partnership with their government.  For additional details on the program, please see this information sheet from Bricker & Eckler.
 
Ashland Economic Development is exploring the feasibility of such a program in Ashland.  If you are interested in having solar panels or a solar thermal unit installed on your property, and would be interested in this program, please send the details of your project to Nikki McConnell at nikkimcconnell@ashland-ohio.com so that we may compile a list of potential projects for a feasibility study.
Professional Development Opportunity--"A Taste of Traning" seminar, January 13, 2010 at the Shisler Conference Center

The Business Training & Educational Services division at Ohio State University ATI in Wooster cordially invites you to a FREE business and professional development event--Wed. January 13, 2010 7:45am-Noon at the Shisler Conference Center. Sessions
will include team-building, strategic planning, marketing, and a Keynote Address on Business Growth by Kordell Norton.  For registration and a complete list of topics and presenters, visit www.ati.osu.edu/taste.
 
Consider a Student Intern or Other Types of Ashland University Interaction with Your Business

AACED continues to work very closely with Ashland University's Dauch College of Business & Economics, which now requires an internship as part of students' coursework. Recently, we helped professors coordinate a meeting where some of Ashland's leading companies shared their experiences with students in the new Supply Chain Management major (http://www.ashland.edu/programs/supply-chain-management). We are also always
looking for class projects, in which students can study an issue (such as sales and marketing strategies) at Ashland County firms. These types of relationships help achieve two very important goals--real-world experience for college students and fresh
perspectives for our business community. Addtionally, the State of
Ohio helps strengthen these relationships through programs like the Third Frontier Internship program (http://thirdfrontierintern.ohio.gov/3fip/index.php).
Please contact us or Ashland University for futher details.
 
Webinar:  Diversifying Medical Devices

December 9, 2009
10am - 11:30am
Cost: Free

Presented by:
Learn how your company may be able to make the
short hop into the medical device industry from your existing parts
and products.

Topics Covered:
Medical Plastics Market
Overview
Supplier Qualifications
Regulatory Environment

Conversion Step-by-Step
And plenty of Q&A opportunities
for expert panelists

Space is limited.

To register please visit:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/209195363
 
Free Event for Manufacturers

As a TechSolve partner, Braintree has been asked to provide the
following information these upcoming events for manufacturers who may be interested in participating in the aerospace industry supply chain.  TechSolve, the Edison Center for Aerospace, would like to invite you to join us on November 18th for Aero 101.  This event is structured to help manufactures move into the aerospace industry.  Aero 101 may be of interest to the manufacturers in your region who have been battling with the automotive industry, and for those manufactures of discrete parts who can easily switch between industries. We hope that you are able to make it to see what TechSolve has to offer Ohio manufacturers.

Aero 101
Cincinnati: November 18, 2009
Cleveland:  December 8, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Join TechSolve and the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) as we help create awareness and interest in the growth opportunities that the aerospace industry can offer Ohio manufacturers. Come to this full day of training to learn how you can become part of the aerospace supply chain.

Participants will learn:
Aerospace industry structure
Realistic entry strategies into the aerospace supply chain
Introduction to being an aerospace industry supplier
Introduction to contracting and sub-contracting
Company evaluation and industry readiness assessment
Concrete plan of next steps for successful entry into the aerospace

Cost: Free
November 18 location:
TechSolve
6705 Steger Dr
Cincinnati, OH 45237
Register:  www.techsolve.org/events
December 8 location:
Ohio Aerospace Institute
22800 Cedar Point Rd
Cleveland, OH 44142
Register: www.oai.org