The Chamber will host an Easter themed Scavenger Hunt as the April Business After Hours on April 18.  The Scavenger Hunt is open to teams of at least three, who represent a Chamber member business.  The first clue will given at the Chamber/FEDC Annual Meeting as well as at the Chamber office, located at 121 N. Main Street, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.  All teams must have at least one person with a smart phone and a Facebook account as the scavenger hunt will require taking pictures and posting to the Chamber’s Find That Egg event page.  The scavenger hunt will involve multiple Chamber member businesses and locations around Fostoria.  All teams must sign up by noon, Thursday, April 18 by contacting the Chamber.

Click here for the Complete Rules

The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce and Airborne Financial Group, LLC will host a tax workshop on Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fostoria Learning Center, 342 Perry Street.  The one-hour informational workshop will cover the many changes in 2018 Federal tax filing when compared to 2017 and will also allow time for questions and answers with Israel Wright, MSA, CFE, AAMS, Director of Airborne Financial Group, LLC.

The informational workshop is free and open to the public and will provide great information for those who prepare their own taxes or have general questions about the many changes they will or have seen in the 2018 Federal filings.  Topics to be covered in regard these changes will be standard deductions, personal exemptions, dependents and child tax credits, affordable care mandate, W-2 withholdings, 1099 miscellaneous situations, business expenses and audit flags. General recommendations will also be made to help attendees take steps for their 2019 Federal filings.

Airborne Financial Group, LLC is an accounting firm that also offers tax consulting and preparation, business consulting, personal finance coaching and business financial auditing. Airborne Financial Group, LLC has been in business for 23 years and moved its location to 336 S. Main Street in Fostoria in 2018.  Director Israel Wright runs Airborne Financial Group, LLC, is a professor at Oakland Community College, a published author and financial literacy presenter.  For more information on Airborne Financial Group, visit www.airbornefinancialgroup.com or visit their YouTube channel, Professor Wright.

For more information about the members and benefits of the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.fostoriaohio.org.

March Fostoria Area Business Newsletter

FOSTORIA,OH- The Fostoria Area Safety Council will award a $1,000 scholarship to a high school senior living in the 44830 zip code, wishing to pursue a degree in a safety related field.

Eligible students must be a U.S. Citizen and enrolled full-time at the senior level, reside in the 44830 zip code,  must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the field of Occupational Safety and Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, Risk Management, Civil and Emergency Services (e.g. Law Enforcement, Fire Fighter, EMT), Occupational Rehabilitation or a related field. In addition applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above.  Applications are available at the Chamber office, 121 N. Main Street, through the school counselor and on the Chamber website.  All completed applications must be received by April 30 to be eligible.

The Fostoria Area Safety Council is a facilitated through a partnership between the Ohio BWC and the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce.  The Fostoria Area Safety Council is a resource for local businesses to examine and resolve safety issues in the workplace, study reliable techniques and learn about safety related topics with the goal of creating and maintaining safe work environments.  For more information about Fostoria Area Safety Council visit www.fostoriaohio.org/fostoria-area-safety-council or call 419-435-0486.

FOSTORIA,OH- The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce is once again seeking students in grades 6 through 12 interested in starting or expanding a summer business.  The Chamber’s Student Start Up is designed to provide students with the real world experience of starting an actual business and expose them to an alternative to being an employee.

“We want to build a community that welcomes entrepreneurs and provides the tools and resources needed to be successful.  Through our Student Start Up program we can encourage young entrepreneurs and potentially plant the seeds for start-ups in our community now and in the future.” Sarah Stephens Krupp, Chamber/Small Business Director

Through a grant from the Henry H. Geary Jr. Memorial Foundation, the Chamber will award Student Start Ups in two categories; new Student Start Ups and a Student Start Up Expansion.  New Student Start Up applicants must have not received a past Student Start Up Award and meet the application requirements.  Student Start Up Expansion applicants must have been past recipients of a Student Start Up award and have plans to expand their existing business.  Ten new Student Start Ups and 4 expansions will be funded in 2019. Successful applicants for new Student Start Ups will receive $200 for start-up and will be eligible for a $100 bonus. Successful Student Start up Expansion applicants will receive $150 to expand their business and will be eligible for a $100 bonus.

All applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on April 26 and successful applicants will be notified by May 15.  Applications are available online at www.FostoriaOhio.org/SSUP, or can be picked up at the Chamber office, 121 N. Main St. in Fostoria.

The Fostoria Chamber’s Student Start Up program is available to all Fostoria area students, including students attending or living in the districts of Fostoria City Schools, St. Wendelin, Arcadia, Hopewell Loudon, Elmwood, Van Buren, New Riegel and Lakota.

For more information on the members, benefits and programs of the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce call 419-435-0486 or email Sarah@FostoriaChamber.com or visit www.FostoriaOhio.org.

The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fostoria Learning Center will host a free Google workshop live stream for small business on Wednesday, March 6 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Fostoria Learning Center.  The topic of the live stream is, “Give your website a Refresh” and will teach viewers how to refresh their website as part of a spring cleaning to-do list. The live stream workshop will also share information about search engine optimization and best practices for creating a search-friendly site.  For more information about the workshop and to register, click here.   Or register via email to Sarah@FostoriaChamber.com.

The Fostoria Area Chamber is a Grow with Google partner which allows us to provide resources, live streams, direct support from the Grow with Google team and provide access to tools, including training materials for businesses, job seekers, students and educators.

Grow with Google is an initiative that’s committed to helping people across the United States gain the digital skills they need to help grow their careers and businesses. You can learn more about Grow with Google at google.com/grow.

REGISTER

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6, 2019, Noon to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Fostoria Learning Center, 342 Perry Street Fostoria, Ohio 44830

WHO: The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce

WHAT: Give your Website a Refresh, a free workshop, in partnership with Google, to help small businesses get online.

WHY: Small businesses are the growth engine of our economy, creating 2 out of 3 net new jobs. And businesses that are online grow 40% faster than those that aren’t. We can help small businesses connect with more customers by helping them get online and on the map.

February 2019 Fostoria Area Business Newsletter