Business Retention SupportBUSINESS RETENTION SUPPORT for Members of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce
Mission: To maintain strong, sustainable businesses and increase employment opportunities, while animating the streets and sidewalks of OTR.
Goals:
• To connect businesses with trained employees.
• To provide contacts to lending organizations.
• To make referrals to resources and information that will strengthen business operations
• To inspire collaborative relationships between businesses, residents and strategic partners Tools: Training Tools
1. Marketing
2. Employees
3. Business Coaching Referrals
4. Capital for Growth
5. Feedback
Training Tools
Tips that can help strengthen your business are presented in concise informative format. Each document can be downloaded at your convenience. Review and share this information with your staff.
• Business Plan Template
• Cash Flow Template
• Business Tips
• Insights from an OTR Entrepreneur - Share your insights. It will help others and generate visibility for you and your expertise. Email otrchamber@zoomtown.com with your best practices. Marketing
• Marketing Tips
• Show It. Sell It.
• Do You Want Satisfied Customers?
• Words That Will Turn Your Customers
• Eight Ideas to Grow Your Email Database Employees
Looking for qualified, experienced employees? OTR has several organizations that train and match skilled workers with jobs.
• Tips on Conducting Interviews
• TIPS on Training Employees
• Resources
Super Jobs Center- Business Services Unit is located at 1916 Central Parkway, Cincinnati 45214 and is part of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Super Jobs provides employers with assistance posting current job openings, reviewing resumes, finding employees for current job openings, reporting new hires and the labor market, tax credit programs, and unemployment compensation. For more information contact Super Jobs Center at business.services@superjobs.com or call (513) 458-6140.
Venice on Vine, an OTR restaurant started by two local nuns, operates as an educational program to provide on-the-job training to inner-city residents. If you need employees for restaurant, coffee house, catering or food service, please contact Venice on Vine at (513)221-7020 or visit the store located at 1301 Vine Street.
Cincinnati State Culinary School can provide your company with an excellent pool of highly qualified job candidates for independent restaurateurs to corporate, institutional and large scale hospitality recruiting. Contact (513) 569-1621 for more information.
Cincinnati Cooks! is a job training program affiliated with the Freestore Foodbank. If you need employees for restaurant, coffee house, catering or food service, please contact Cincinnati Cooks at (513) 651-0700, located at 425 Ezzard Charles Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45203 Business Coaching Referrals
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) One-on-One Business Coaching
OTR Chamber of Commerce is proud of our relationship with SCORE, the volunteer arm of the Small Business Administration, and pleased to match you with a retired executive that has the skills and experience to help in all aspects of small business, such as marketing, operations and accounting. Contact the OTR Chamber of Commerce at otrchamber@zoomtown.com or (513) 421-2690 and a SCORE counselor will be selected with your specific needs in mind. SCORE has many seminars that can benefit you and your business. They include: sales and marketing, financial management and funding, web site fundamentals, hiring and retaining the best employees. Visit www.scoreworks.org to register for a seminar.
Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI) offers an Entrepreneurial Training Academy, technical assistance and business education classes (including financing!) Call (513)569-4816 or visit www.gcmi.org for more information.
Smart Money Community Services provides financial services and economic education to undeserved individuals in Over-the-Rhine. Contact Smart Money Community Services, located at 19 West Elder, 2nd Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, at (513) 241-7266 or visit www.smart-money.org for more information.
Capital for Growth
The Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce extends partnerships, contacts and our relationships to other organizations and financial institutions to support OTR merchants and businesses.
Horizon Certified Development Company (HCDC) has been certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration to offer the SBA 504 Program that enables small businesses to purchase, construct or renovate owner-occupied real estate and purchase equipment with a low down payment and fixed interest rate for a term of ten or twenty years. Call (513) 631-8292 or visit www.HCDC.com for more information.
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nation-wide. OTR Chamber will personally contact and match you with a retired executive to give you individualized assistance. Contact the OTR Chamber at OTRChamber@zoomtown.com or (513) 421-2690.
Cincinnati Empowerment Corporation (CEC) was incorporated with the purpose of managing the federally funded Empowerment Zone Grants awarded to residents, businesses, and organizations within an eligible empowerment zone. OTR Chamber will personally contact the appropriate person on your behalf. Contact the OTR Chamber at OTRChamber@zoomtown.com or (513) 421-2690.
Smart Money Community Services provides financial services and economic education to underserved individuals in Over-the-Rhine. Contact Smart Money Community Services, located at 19 West Elder, 2nd Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, at (513) 241-7266 or visit www.smart-money.org for more information.
SBA Express Loans allows owner-operated business to obtain loans with lower down payments and lower interest rates. SBA Loans are administered by HCDC. Contact HCDC at (513) 631-8292 or visit www.HCDC.com for more information.
“Grow Cincinnati Fund” encourages the expansion and increases the capacity of small business by providing “gap” debt financing and access to technical assistance. Funding is available through the City of Cincinnati to successful growing or qualified emerging small businesses. OTR Chamber will personally contact the appropriate person on your behalf. Contact the OTR Chamber at OTRChamber@zoomtown.com or (513) 421-2690 to discuss.
Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI) Loan Fund was created to increase the number and capacity of for-profit businesses, operated by low-to-moderate income individuals. The maximum loan term is 5 years (60 months). The interest rate will be in relationship to prime based upon risk, term and conditions. Call (513)569-4816 or visit www.gcmi.org for more information.
Feedback
OTRCC works hard to provide services that promote economic vitality. We’d love to hear what we can do for you. Please download and complete the attached survey and return it to us. It will help us continue to refine and improve benefits, programs and services for OTRCC members. Thank you.
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