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HOW ARE WE DOING?
BRIGHT SPOTS
"A Storybook Christmas" continues through January 4. There will be a daily music and light show from 6 - 9 PM at the Muskingum County Courthouse, and many businesses throughout the county have chosen their favorite story books and have decorated with that book in mind. For all the details go to www.visitzanesville.com. Learn about this and other bright spots in our community by visiting our Zanesville & Muskingum County BRIGHT SPOTS website, and check back frequently to see new content.
TELL YOUR STORY, WIN $20,000
Microsoft wants the story of your business - your dream, the ups and downs, the challenges and victories, the tears and the laughter. All you have to do is tell your business story in 2 minutes or less, upload your video to YouTube, and fill out the entry form at the contest's Facebook page . Microsoft's Small Business Contest is open to all businesses with fewer than 250 employees, and one winner will receive a $20,000 prize with other prizes for the runners up. You must have been operating for six months and be privately held. There are no other entry requirements, no fees and no purchases necessary. Get started now - the deadline for entries is January 11.
18,000 SEARCHES
The Chamber's online buyer's guide and member directory was searched 18,000 times in 2014. That means a unique potential buyer went to zmchamber.com and searched for a business by name, a product or service, or by industry. And the usage of the online directory is growing every month. Now THAT'S a place you want your business to be! And as a member you ARE there at no extra cost. This is just one way in which your chamber membership works for you all day, every day.
TRAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE
Incumbent worker training grants are available to companies in the region engaged in metal fabrication, polymers & chemical manufacturing and wood products manufacturing. The Upskill Your Workforce program can provide up to $1,000 per employee on a 1-to-1 match basis. The employers payment of wages during a training period will count as matching funds. Training modules can be stacked, so that as long as an employee continues to advance their skills, an employer can access training funds more than once (and more than $1,000) for the same employee. Funds are intended for technical or process improvement that directly impacts productivity, competitiveness, or employee compensation. Details and the application process can be started by contacting Von Williams (740-310-9417 vwilliams@APEG.com) or Laurene Huffman (740-516-0327 lhuffman@APEG.com) who are with the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth.
MANAGEMENT TRAINING
The American Management Association is offering some free webcasts on topics of interest to business people. For example, "5 Steps for Transforming Business Contacts into High-Performing Relationships" will be presented on January 7. Visit the AMA website for all the details.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
Here is a concise snapshot of the national economy Insperity: Consumer spending, representing roughly 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, advanced 0.2 percent in October and was up 3.6 percent from a year ago and has increased in 60 of the last 66 months. October's results were boosted by spending on non-durable goods such as clothing and on services such as utility payments and rent. Plunging gasoline prices and a strengthening labor market have supported consumer discretionary spending. Retail sales, which account for 30 percent of consumer spending, rose 0.3 percent in October and 4.1 percent from a year ago and have sustained year-over-year increases for 60 consecutive months. Sales were brisk at clothing stores, rising 0.5 percent, and increased solidly at furniture and health and personal care stores. Consumers also spent more at bars and restaurants for the sixth month in a row, a positive trend that indicates Americans are growing more confident as people eat out more when the economy is healthier.
GAS PRICES EXPLAINED
Why have gasoline prices dropped so low? How does shale gas and oil production in places like southeast Ohio affect gas prices? The American Petroleum Institute has a website dedicated to explaining why prices are what they are. It's appropriately called www.gaspricesexplained.org, and it might be worth a read if this topic interests you.
BUSINESS "SHARK" EVENT
Want to watch local companies go before local business "sharks" to compete for a $3,000 cash prize? Or even compete for the prize yourself? Then join us at MCBI's first ever Shark Tub event. You're invited to a fun evening at MCBI where you can invest "phony" money in actual companies, watch the Sharks in action, and enjoy appetizers and music. It's being held on January 22, 2014 from 6-9pm. Tickets are $10 per person. You can buy tickets online or call 740-453-3649 for more information.
    
  
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