From the A-T http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/507182.html?nav=5005
In a different matter, the commissioners met with Vicki Lowery of the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce.
Lowery said planning to display three murals on the side of the County Services Building is moving forward. She showed the commissioners updated versions of the murals as they might appear on the building. She said she was reluctant to say exactly when the murals would be placed on the building. The side of the building has been newly painted and the brackets to hold the murals are in place.
In another matter, Lowery said the Chamber has had new requests from businesses to purchase banners displayed along Washington Street downtown.
The banners are displayed from brackets on light posts, Lowery said. The Chamber currently has no additional space to add more banners. Lowery said she received a suggestion from Heidelberg President Dominic Dottavio that additional banners be placed along other streets between Heidelberg and Tiffin University. Because light posts like those on Washington Street are not available on the other streets, Lowery said the banners would need to be displayed on utility poles. The Chamber is gaining information about the plan.
Commissioner Mike Bridinger asked Lowery about the general economic climate in Tiffin.
Lowery said the economic environment in Tiffin is good, despite negative media accounts nationally. She said economic changes are cyclical, so downturns do occur, but some manufacturers are expanding in Tiffin.
“It’s so easy to get caught up in the negative,” Lowery said.
Vicki Lowery, President/CEO, Tiffin Area Chamber; vlowery(at)tiffinchamber.com; 419.447.4141; www.tiffinchamber.com
Colleges Attended: Marion College and Wright State University. Achieved bachelor’s degree. Continued Professional Development: Ohio State’s Economic Development short course. Entered Chamber Profession: 2004. Previous Chambers: Tipp City Area Chamber. Areas of Expertise: Marketing
Filed under: Uncategorized
What I’d like to hear from the Chamber is cold, hard facts. Is business up or down from the previous quarter. Simply looking at revenues from sales tax as compared to the previous quarter or the same period last year would be one indicator. They should report on major items such as housing starts in the County, number of property transfers, car titles recorded, etc. Also helpful would be a listing of businesses that have opened, relocated, expanded, or closed
Who cares about all that - things will be great once we have murals to look at!
Speaking of murals. In an effort to raise money to restore the courthouse clock tower, let’s shroud the tower in a mural showing what it will look like when completed.
Bucyrus Ohio has some AMAZING murals. You can see them at http://www.bucyrusohio.com or http://www.ericgrohemurals.com.
gwn - they are amazing! There is a great ice cream spot that you can enjoy a treat and admire the murals. We were just down there last month.
speak easy - I was disgusted with her answer. I don’t want some politically evasive answer, I want the truth, cold facts. Answers like Lowery’s appear to be amateurish and evasive. I have spoken to her and was not impressed. I think they hired a person ill equipped for the job.
Tiffin and Seneca County - Home of the Peter Principle!
Scout - The Chamber should have these facts on file and updated to hand out to prospective businesses, or any concerned citizen. They are marketing Tiffin, so they should know the community inside and out.
Hey Puddin: That’s not completely accurate, because these people can advance to the State or Federal level.
Let her go to Capital City.
Speak - I would think posting them on their website would be a good idea too.
Scout: you are operating with a set of foreign values! The norm in many circles around here is to shun the “good idea.” While I can appreciate your keen insight and noble intent, there are those among us who go off on their own tangents to satisfy their personal agenda.
Besides, it take WORK to do what you have suggested.
“some manufacturers are expanding in Tiffin.”
New dollar stores and payday loan stores may be an expansion in one sense, but it doesn’t indicate a good economy.
She couldn’t answer Bridinger’s question about
the retail industry in Tiffin because she never
goes into any of businesses. I hear all you
get from the Chamber is a “please join and pay
your dues” letter.
For all of you who don’t read The Blade, you missed the statement by Mr. Sauber regarding the new hospital. The article reports: “Not far from the health campus, a new Lowe’s store is under construction - a project Mr. Sauber attributes directly to the new hospital.” What possible connection is there between those two types of businesses? Sure the hospital has a maintenance staff, but I would bet that never entered the minds of the Lowe’s executives, when choosing a location for their store.
Is the rumor mill correct in town? (edited) What an interesting connection.
Although it apparently was edited out, I can imagine what rumor mill you’re asking about. And yes, it is interesting. Who’d have thought the city and county had any interest in working together?
Everything NEW in Tiffin is building as far west as possible (Findlay’s East side). The City and County Goverment Agencies have bought up about all they can when it comes to vacant downtown buildings. The MINORITY VOTE is doing all that it can to Save the Court House, why ? And the thousands of Tiffin Jobs Lost since the 80’s are being replaced , 2 or 3 at a time. Minimum wages are up but so is a gallon of milk. Chamber of Commerce said that they would rather let a parcel of land sit vacant than to let a business build there that was not part of “their plan”. Maybe if they post their numbers they can also post how much they all get paid a year. Post how much empty retail space or manufacturing space there is in Tiffin, How many homes there are for sale on the market…… Murals and Banners on the Poles, That’s what we need. … Maybe they can paint a mural of the Courthouse on the Riverwall..
I confirmed what I posted, but I understand we have to be careful on this blog and I do apologize. It turns out it is true, and it is being discussed everywhere you go so it will be out eventually. Keep the great comments and TRUTH coming!
insider - thanks for understanding. We really try to find a balance between allowing views out and staying clear of legal issues. It also occured to me that the other parties of those alledgedly involved would be taking this pretty hard.
I think a local person would be the best person to run the Chamber. Local people know much of the area history and business. Can’t we start promoting and giving good local jobs to local people so they do not have to move away. I think if you give some or our local talent a chance we might find out that they can do a great job.
I was driving up 23 to 53 from Upper today and couldn’t help noticing the bill board on U.S. 23 telling drivers to visit the little box shops of Tiffin. Guess what, that downtown on the billboard looks nothing like Tiffin’s downtown. Its sort of like the Chamber videos that aired during the holidays. They seem to all focus on the block by the Ritz Theater. Doesn’t tiffin’s downtown go any farther than that.
Yes, it is much more expansive than the RITZ. We also have a Gibson monument, where he is pointing the way to Findlay! He is saying: “It all happens in Findlay, good people! Go west!”
Let’s face it - until there’s some of that famous PRIDE THAT SHOWS in downtown, demonstrated by store owners cleaning up their premises, and a courthouse that looks like we have pride in our downtown, as well, what’s there to show?
Perhaps Mr. Bell’s plan, which would move the location of Mr. Gibson, will have him pointing to the rest of the downtown area, as if to say, “This is where it’s happening, folks!”
It’s amazing