Did you know your Chamber is participating in these LOCAL ISSUES?
Information: If we know about it, so do you. We feel it is important for the Chamber to stay informed about issues affecting businesses in our region so we can keep you informed. We get answers to the hard questions without anyone ever knowing who asked. We obtained information about The Glimcher development, Great Wolf Lodge, WalMart, and Arbor Square. Our partnership with the city, townships and county provide us with the ability to let you know often before the media releases a story to the public about business developments. I meet regularly with community leaders to exchange and share information. The board meets with council and trustees for the same reason.
Infrastructure: We communicate with the people in the know about roadway improvements, utilities, and traffic studies. The Chamber provides input on what is needed now and into the future.
The Chamber is taking an active role in the making of Western Row/I-71 exit a full interchange, improved signalization of Fields-Ertel and Mason-Montgomery Rd., monitoring the progress of the Montgomery Rd. widening (the Chamber presented a position in favor well in advance of the approval), and a connector between I-71 and I-75. The Chamber will monitor the progress of the Southwest Warren County Transportation Improvement study and keep you informed.
The Chamber, in collaboration with members and residents, challenged the City of Mason plans to widen US 42 (Reading Rd.) from Tylersville Road to 5th St. A PAC group, formed under the name Mason Core Association, worked to persuade the City to reduce the project size to three lanes. If the project had moved forward, several businesses would have been negatively impacted. This project did not move forward.
The Chamber presented a position paper encouraging the widening and improvement of Montgomery Rd. from Weller Rd. to the Little Miami River viaduct. The Warren County Engineer included our support letter in his grant proposal to ODOT. TRAC has approved improvements of Montgomery Rd. from I-275 to Kemper Rd. as Phase I of IV.
Local E.A.S.: Two-way toll free calling to and from Cincinnati. The Chamber led the fight to allow toll free calling to Cincinnati and later Cincinnati to the Mason area. Chamber leaders organized a group who provided testimony at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. This drastically reduced the cost of doing business in our and provided local residents lower phone bills. The Chamber has successfully lobbied the extended service to include Northern Kentucky in 2002. Discussions are underway to include Middletown, then Dayton.
Downtown Mason Association: This is a new name created by merging the Downtown Mason Revitalization Committee and the Mason Core Association. This merger creates one group with the same mission dedicated to the improvement of the core area with collaboration and inclusion. This group will function as a subcommittee of the Chamber Small Business Resource Committee and will utilize administrative support and the Chamber tax status as an immediate benefit. Composition is mostly business, but will engage local residents in the execution of the Poggemeyer plan for the Downtown Revitalization.
Healthcare: The Chamber supports the elimination of unnecessary mandates in healthcare. Affordable healthcare is a must for our member companies to remain competitive and maintain a stable workforce. We have acted with our partners of the Tri-State Chamber Collaborative to advise our state leadership of the need for reform. Last year our Healthcare Council partnered with Congressman Portman to begin educating business on the new Healthcare Savings accounts at a symposium. I believe we were a year ahead of our time. Everything presented then is now being investigated all over the country and you heard it here first. We were one of the first Chambers to recognize the significance of the new legislation and acted proactively. Now employers and providers alike are pursuing these ideas. The Chamber will remain at the forefront on this issue.
The Northeast Cincinnati Chamber continues to monitor the ISSUES that affect the business community and acts to insure the rights of local business are protected!