THIS WEEK 
August 26, 2015
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HOW ARE WE DOING?
CONTENTS
Bright Spots
Economic News
Local Economic Dashboard
Road Closure
Minimum Wage Increases
Student-Business Connector
SizeUp Local Business Intelligence
Local Lists
Job Fair
Focus on Sales & Marketing
BRIGHT SPOTS Did you know that the Muskingum County Library offers a digital download system, which was used 31,000 times last year to download videos, music and audiobooks? 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. ECONOMIC NEWS FROM INSPERITY.COM "Consumer spending, representing roughly 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, advanced 0.2 percent in June and was up 2.8 percent from a year ago. Consumer spending rose by the smallest amount in four months as shoppers cut back on purchases of cars and other big-ticket items. However, for the full April-June quarter, consumer spending posted a solid gain, rising at an annual rate of 2.9 percent, much stronger than the 1.8 percent growth rate for spending in the first quarter." ECONOMIC DASHBOARD The latest monthly Economic Dashboard for Muskingum County has been published to the Chamber website. The dashboard is provided in partnership with the Muskingum County Library System. It provides a snapshot of the state of the local economy by measuring unemployment rate, home sales, auto sales and a handful of other indicators. ROAD CLOSURE The Zanesville Public Service Department and the Ohio Department of Transportation report that beginning Friday August 28th, US 22 in Muskingum County will be closed. The road will close under the railroad bridge on US 22 in Zanesville for repairs to the railroad bridge. The road will reopen Monday, August 31st at 8:00 p.m. DEALING WITH MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES From AreaDevelopment.com: "Much time is spent on Sunday morning talk shows debating the wisdom of raising minimum wage rates. However, small business owners can make better use of their time by dealing with those realities they can control - finding ways to motivate employees to improve their performance." Read More.
CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH BUSINESSES
The Student Business Connector is a new tool we are creating for use by students, parents and educators who are seeking work-based learning opportunities for high school and college age students. It will also be a way for employers to help educate the community's young people about the real world of work and the expectations of employers. This in turn improves the preparedness of the local workforce over the long term, retains young people in the area, and helps students identify rewarding career paths. WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need you, as an employer, to participate in a survey we are now conducting to gather information about what opportunities you offer for students to engage with your businesses. Please tell us if you offer internships, jobs, job shadowing, tours, presentations and more. This is the information we need to build the Student-Business Connector tool, which will be designed in simple directory format (example available at www.zmchamber.com/student-business-connector.html ).
LOCAL BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Area businesses now have access to a great new service that enables them to look up information about the local marketplace. SizeUp LBI (which stands for Local Business Intelligence), is a free online resource for demographics and business data that can help you make business plans and better understand how you measure up to competition, where you customers are, and how you should be marketing to them. The new SizeUp service is brought to you by the Chamber's Muskingum Growth Partnership.
LOCAL LISTS TELL THE STORY
Check out the illustrated lists about our community that are published at zmbrightspots.com and posted on our social media accounts as part of the effort to tell the positive and complete story about Zanesville and Muskingum County as a place in which to live, work, locate a business, and enjoy life. JOB FAIR COMING A job fair for Muskingum County employers who are actively hiring will be held on Thursday, October 1 from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Muskingum County Welcome Center. There is no cost for employers (Muskingum County only) to participate but you must reserve a space in advance. For more information and to reserve your space contact tpoorman@zmchamber.com. The Job Fair is presented by WHIZ Media Group, WYBZ 107.3, the Port Authority, OhioMeansJobs-Muskingum County, the Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association, and the Chamber. Also, here is a useful article on one strategy for finding new talent when you need it. FOCUS ON SALES & MARKETING Here are a handful of sales and marketing resources to help you grow your business.
You can also add your own event by clicking the submit event button at zmchamber.com.
Goss Supply & Rental
Longaberger Country Club
Norvell Hearing Aid Center
Partyland Supply Co.
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