Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition Forming

The Chamber has formed a group called the Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition, and we encourage you to consider joining.  The purpose of the coalition is to conduct marketing and advertising activities that will help local firms enter the supply chain for the oil and gas industry in Ohio. We want to help make Muskingum County a focal point for oil and gas related activity and we want to support area businesses in their efforts to do business with oilfield production and service companies. An annual fee paid by each member will go directly to coalition marketing projects. You can view the coalition's 2012 marketing plan here. LINK Although membership development is just getting started, many local firms are joining because they support our goals for the coalition and for this industry in Muskingum County.  You can see who is currently a member here. LINK Again, we encourage you to become a member of the coalition.  We welcome any local company or organization that either wants to become part of the oil and gas supply chain or just wants to support the economic impact that this industry could have on our community.  Please visit the Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition website - www.muskingumshale.com - for a membership application or for more information

Monthly Art Walk This Friday

The Artist Colony of Zanesville holds an art walk downtown on the first Friday of each month in the evening, and it is the perfect opportunity for socializing, networking, and enjoying the local art scene. 

Its fun, its casual, and the artwork is first class.  You can start the evening at the gallery or venue of your choice, and make your way around town at your own pace.  There are of course a variety of antique stores, restaurants, and other businesses open, too, and the monthly entertainment line up includes adult comedy and music.

Again, this is great entertainment, a terrific networking opportunity, and the perfect way to support the arts. Please join us!

Pinterest Is Our Latest Social Media Venture

The Chamber has a Pinterest board now: http://pinterest.com/zmchamber/zanesville-and-muskingum-county-ohio/.  

Pinterest is a pinboard-style social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies, and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, 're-pin' images to their own collections and/or 'like' photos. It allows users to save images and categorize them on different boards. You can follow other users boards if you have similar tastes. Popular categories are home design, fashion, and crafts.

Another popular category is Travel & Places, so we created a board to showcase the terrific and interesting things to see and do in Zanesville and Muskingum County.  We are just getting started and will be adding more photos as time goes on, so watch for updates.

Enjoy!

Zanesville's eternal flame is a tribute to Medal of Honor Veterans.  This is the only eternal flame memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients in the United States.  The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.  It is bestowed on members of the United States armed forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.  The Flame is located in Zane's Landing Park in downtown Zanesville.

The latest Chamber newsletter was issued today.  Article topics include members news, welcome to new members, the Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition, saving on workers comp using the Safety Council program, tourism development, and more.  You can read the full newsletter here.

Who and What is the Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition?

The Muskingum Oil & Gas Coaltion is local companies joining forces to collectively market their products and services to the shale oil and gas industry in Ohio.  Their common goal is to enter the oil and gas supply chain and become suppliers and contractors to oilfield service companies, exploration and production firms, and their contractors.  Shale exploration is taking off in Ohio and Muskingum County companies want to be a big part of this industry and its positive economic impact.

Here's who is a member as of today:

Bob Sumerel Tire

Dennis & Nelson Insurance Group

Goss Supply & Goss Rental

Graham & Graham

H & W Trucking

JK Evans & Associates

Lang Employee Assistance Program

Micheli, Baldwin, Northrup LLP

Moyer Group, The/Merrill Lynch

RMX Freight Systems Inc

Shelly & Sands

Strauss Fence

Trans World Construction Services, Inc

Please visit www.muskingumshale.com for more information about the coalition.

Special Logo to Highlight Membership

Members!  Use this specially designed member logo on your web pages, emails, and printed materials to highlight your involvement in the chamber.  Why?  Because research shows that when customers know you are a chamber member they are more likely to do business with you.  Take a look at the statistics and download a copy of the logo here. Be sure to use the logo and take advantage of the credibility that comes from being a member.

Another Visitor Season Is Here

Travel and tourism is a big industry in Zanesville and Muskingum County.  In terms of employment, tax dollars and economic ripple effect, visitors have a very positive impact on our county every year.  Tourism is definitely an important economic development strategy for this community.

Plus, we are proud of our community and love to share all of its positive assets with our guests!  So thankfully, its time for another summer travel season which brings thousands of visitors to our area.  They come to do things like visit the Wilds or the Longaberger Homestead, compete in softball tournaments and rowing regattas, tour museums and historic sites, explore our state parks and artist's studios, and relax at area wineries and restaurants. 

And all that is just for starters. The diversity of things to do and see in Muskingum County is remarkable.  We are also now home to an impressive alpaca ranch, where high-end breeding stock are reared as part of an effort to grow the domestic supply of and market for alpaca fiber.  You can still buy pottery made in the local area for centuries and tour the now-modern production facilities, or join the Pottery Lovers for their annual exhibition and sale of antique art pottery.  We have bridges ranging from covered structures to the famous Y Bridge, which spans the Muskingum River.  The river itself is a destination for recreational boaters and is home to the Lorena Sternwheeler, a 100 passenger vessel that offers rides throughout the summer.

One post here cannot possibly capture the variety and diversity of attractions and activities that a visit to Muskingum County can offer.  Check out our visitor website, www.visitzanesville.com, for a complete list of things to do and places to stay.

Post-Seminar Thoughts on Oil & Gas Development

At our shale oil and gas supply chain seminar today, many interesting thoughts were shared by the presenters.  Here are a few:

• The development of the Utica shale play in Ohio is not in its infancy, it is in the embryonic stage.  In other words, it is all just barely getting started in comparison to other shale plays.
• Yet, once oil and gas exploration moves into this part of Ohio, it will do so rapidly.  The time to get ready if you intend to serve this industry is now.
• Safety was a theme that could not have been emphasized more.  These companies are serious about it.  Have the right certifications and be safe or you will not be part of this industry.
• Staffing up to meet the industry's needs could be tough because all employers will be after the same qualified people.  Drug testing is going to be a major requirement.
• Responsiveness is essential for industry suppliers, as is following through on what you promise to do.
• Most local companies have been successful by being responsive, customer-oriented, offering great products and services, providing fair pricing, and so forth.  Provide those same business practices and qualities in the oil and gas industry and you will be equally successful in that arena.

There were many more insightful pieces of information shared by our speakers.  These are just a few that come to mind.  If anyone who attended wants to share their take-aways, please do so.

Finally, many thanks to our presenters and our sponsors for making the program possible, and thanks to all who attended.  We appreciate your support.

Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition Launches New Website

The recently formed Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition has a new website, www.muskingumshale.com.  The site provides information about the members of the coalition and about the coalition itself, such as its goals, member benefits and marketing plans.  A member application is also included.  Membership is open to any chamber member business that wants to market to the oil and gas industry in Ohio.

For new businesses considering locating in Muskingum County there is a link to the site of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, the community's economic development agency.  The site also connects to the Muskingum County Shale Oil and Gas Information Clearinghouse, which provides links to a wide variety of shale related websites.

The Muskingum Oil & Gas Coalition is a partnership of local businesses formed to promote their products and services to the shale oil and gas industry and its suppliers.  Members share the goals of connecting local firms with producers and their suppliers, encouraging the formation of new enterprises to serve the energy industry, and generally making the community a focal point for energy development by attracting and retaining oil and gas related businesses.  

Chamber Stance on Oil & Gas Severance Tax

The Zanesville-Muskingum County, Ohio, Chamber of Commerce is opposed to increasing the shale oil and gas severance tax in Ohio at this time.

The Chamber is not opposed to Governor Kasich’s proposal to decrease the state personal income tax. There are compelling arguments in support of the Governor’s proposal. However, those points must be weighed against the opportunity to attain economic growth through shale oil and gas production and related commerce. Right now, encouragement of economic growth through this industry is the higher priority.

We are competing for oil and gas investment with other areas of the nation and the world, just like in all types of business attraction. Higher taxes will make it more difficult to compete with other places.

We are not willing to risk this new opportunity. We have the chance to experience unparalleled economic change in a part of the state that lags behind in employment, income and other critical measures. The increased job creation, business investment, supply chain growth, reinvigorated small businesses, and larger local tax revenue that would result from major oil and gas production could forever change that.

In the long term the Ohio shale play may become proven and profitable and additional taxes may be deemed necessary to accomplish other public policy objectives. Alternatively, this industry could provide the resources needed if allowed to grow unencumbered by new taxes. For now, our priority should be economic development through shale oil and gas production.

Tom Poorman
President
Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce

By Vote of the Board of Directors on May 8, 2012

Cash!

This is a blog post about a blog post.  Philip Campbell is a small business finance author who has a blog, and his specialty is cash flow management.  His latest blog post is called "3 really good reasons to put your focus on cash", and its worth reading.

In short, Philip says it pays to make it a priority to keep your cash levels under control.  When you run out of cash in business, your business is done.  Also, worrying about cash will cause you and your business to self destruct.  The solution is know where you stand so you can minimize the worry caused by uncertainty.

As Philip says, this is not about greed, its about peace of mind and keeping your business alive so you and your family can be safe and secure.

Philip donated several copies of his book "Never Run Out of Cash" to the Chamber several years ago, and its a very helpful read for any small business person.  We have a couple of copies left, and if anyone wants one just email tpoorman@zmchamber.com.

Income and Severance Taxes are Hot Topic

The Governor's proposal to reduce the state personal income tax in Ohio and pay for it by increasing the oil and gas severance tax is a hot topic right now.

On one hand, reducing the income tax is seen as a positive for a state that is trying to revitalize its economy by attracting businesses and talent.  On the other, paying for that by increasing oil and gas taxes is frowned upon by some because higher taxes could deter companies from investing in shale exploration.

So far, the state legislature has rejected the Governor's proposal, which is included in the budget bill.

Here is the explanation of the Governor's tax proposal.

And here is an explanation from the Ohio Oil and Gas Association about the issue.

So far our Chamber has not adopted a position on the issue.  But this is an important subject for the eastern and southeastern oil and gas producing regions of the state.  So we are studying both sides of the argument and may take a stance within the next few weeks.