While last year was challenging, Paul Nisbet, outgoing chairman, said the area was booming with new projects, including Premium Outlets: Cincinnati in Monroe and the Eastpoint building in Middletown, where the Paychex office is located.
Chamber officials voiced disappointment that SunCoke Energy, a new $340 million coke oven facility that would provide raw materials for AK Steel’s Middletown Works, did not conclude in 2009 but “our hope and expectation is that we will get this up and running sometime soon,” Nisbet said.
While the chamber said its 2009 new member rate was comparable to past years, the organization “lost more members than expected,” some in part to business closings and relocations. A challenge of the chamber is working as a mediator between its coverage area, since businesses are often competing and don’t always have the same interests, said Jim Kleingers, incoming chamber chairman.
One initiative Kleingers said he plans to take on personally as chairman is getting input from members on the chamber’s strength and weaknesses and use that information to better serve the community. He said he hopes this will also help the chamber be a better facilitator in helping with job retention and growth.
“The way out of this thing is economic development and jobs, and business offers both of those,” he said.
Several businesses and nonprofit agencies were recognized for their ongoing commitment to the area through the chamber’s Faith in the Future and Community Spirit Awards. These awards recognize capital investments and employment increases.
• Abilities First received a Community Service Award. The special needs group started a new autism program, expanded its group homes to six and increased its employment by 15 percent to 144 workers.
• Middletown Tube received a Faith in the Future Award. The manufacturer expanded its work force and invested $578,000 in new equipment.
• Otterbein Homes received a Community Service Award for building a new $500,000 facility near the Atrium Medical Center campus and adding 85 new employees.
• Quaker Chemical received a Faith in the Future Award. The manufacturer expanded its current location in MADE Industrial Park by 12,000 square feet, invested $20 million in new equipment and added eight employees.
• Hospice Care of Middletown, Inc. received a Community Service Award. The agency increased its patient care by 20 percent year over year.
• E Technologies received a Faith in the Future Award. The professional technology company added 40 new employees and expanded its offerings globally.
• Digital Visuals received the Entrepreneurial Community Spirit Award for its development and business growth in downtown Middletown. The company purchased a larger location to accommodate an art gallery and added a spirit wear ship and softball practice facility.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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