BRIGHT SPOTS - Did you know that T & M Tactical, which was started by local law enforcement officers, now manufactures and distributes lighted gloves and other products around the world? Learn about this and other bright spots in our community by visiting our This is Zanesville & Muskingum County, Ohio webpage, and check back frequently to see new content.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS - We are pleased to introduce a new service, courtesy of the Chamber and the Muskingum County Library System. A set of local economic indicators has been formatted into a dashboard so you can get a sense of the state of the local economy by looking at a handful of local indicators. Take a look at this month's economic dashboard and watch for updates each month.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY - Every business person agrees great customer service is a priority. But, they typically do very little to make sure that emphasis is consistently implemented throughout the organization. So, take this one simple step to improve your customer servce: Attend the upcoming live seminar titled "How You Can Create A Customer-Focused Culture In Your Organization." It will be held on Friday, September 12 at the John McIntire Library in Zanesville from 9 am to 12 noon. The presenter will be Dave Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Signature Worldwide in Dublin, Ohio. Signature Worldwide delivers sales and customer service training, marketing, and mystery shopping services to both front line personnel and managers in service-based industries. For more information or to make a reservation visit the Chamber website.  

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES - Here are several markets or strategies you might consider targeting to grow your business:

• The Ohio shale oil and gas industry is big, it's nearby, and it presents a lot of opportunities for businesses. One way to reach the players in this industry is by advertising in Shale Mart, which is a print and online publication. Chamber members receive a discount on advertising through Shale Mart. The deadline for the next edition is September 8. For more information email sales@shalemart.com.
• The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has a major procurement installation in Columbus. The DLA does all the buying of services and supplies for the military. The Columbus location holds seminars on how to do business with their agency. They also provide an online brochure to help you get started.
• TechSolve and various partners will be hosting the Airbus Ohio Supplier Summit in Ketteringon September 15, 2014 .  This event will educate attendees about the requirements and current needs of Airbus.  For more information and to register, please visit www.techsolve.org/event/airbus-ohio-supplier-summit-2014. 
• The SBDC at Washington State Community College will be hosting "Exporting 101" in Marietta on September17, 2014.  This FREE workshop will feature speakers from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  To register, please email sbdc@wscc.edu or call 740-373-5150.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is offering a webinar on September 23 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. NOAA is focusing on helping Ohio businesses access funding through the SBIR program. Reserve your webinar seat now at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/475602834
• Come to the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) seminar at the Ohio Conference on Freight (OCF) and find out how the FTZ program can help your business. The FTZ is a federal program that enables companies who import product to save on U.S. Customs costs and provides an avenue for significant logistical flexibility. It will be held on September 18, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus from 1:30 pm to 3:45 pm. For more information contact Angie Atwood, Foreign-Trade Zone Administrator, Columbus Regional Airport Authority at 614.409.3622 or aatwood@columbusairports.com.
• Kegler Brown, in partnership with Ohio Development Services Agency, will present "Growing through China: A Comprehensive Look at Market Opportunities" as a panel discussion on Wednesday, September 17, starting at 8:30 a.m. The panel, which brings together local industry professionals and the State of Ohio's in-market representative from Shanghai, China, will share best practices for conducting business in China and how the world's second-largest economy is increasingly playing an important and influential role in the global economy.  Please register by Wednesday, September 10, by contacting Ashton Lahman, alahman@keglerbrown.com or (614) 255-5515. 

ENERGY JOBS - An Energy Jobs and Career Fair is being hosted by Senator Rob Portman on September 26 in St. Clairsville at Belmont College from 10am to 2pm. The jobs fair will connect job seekers directly with employers from the energy sector and discover training and employment opportunities. The jobs fair is free to attend and free to exhibit. Energy related companies that would like to participate can sign up at http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/energy-jobs-fair

SAFETY GRANTS - The purpose of the Ohio Safety Intervention Grant Program is to gather information about the effectiveness of safety interventions so the results can be shared with other Ohio employers. The program is available to any Ohio state-fund or public employer who wishes to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation. For more information visit the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation website.

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