Chamber Launches Shop Small, Shop Local Campaign

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

If you don’t shop local, we won’t have local!

Small businesses are the heart of our community.

For every dollar spent locally $2 to $3.50 circulate around the community, helping boosting our economy through taxes which help our schools, safety forces, parks and neighborhoods.  Statistics show that 90% of small business owners donate money to charity while 70% donate time & money.  They are invested in our community and our community needs to invest in them.

The Chamber is launching a campaign to help raise awareness of who and what the small businesses are in our community and to help drive business their way.  It is a grassroots social media campaign designed to show the community the faces behind our local small businesses-the people you see at the grocery store, at school sporting events, at church and on the street- the business and individuals supporting our community non-profits and United Way, sponsoring your kids little league team and riding on a float in the holiday parade. You will begin seeing posts on our social media platforms and on our Shop Small, Shop Local tab on our web site featuring a local small business owner holding a red sign that says, “I AM SMALL BUSINESS” with the #ShopFostoria and #ThinkFostoria.  When you see these posts, please share them.  They only have an impact if we all share it, build awareness and take action by shifting our shopping.

So as you travel around town, you will begin to see red signs like this

in the windows of small businesses who are actively participating in the campaign.  Stop in and let them know you’ve seen their sign and will be sharing it on Social Media.

For the business it is free to participate.  They can complete a form on the Chamber website, www.fostoriaohio.org and we will send them free printables with the Shop Small Shop Local logo as well as thank you cards they can hand to customers that contain the #.  Once the business signs on I will stop out, get their photo holding the sign and post on Social media.

Small business invest in our community, let’s invest in them!  Shop Small, Shop Local Fostoria.

2017 Chamber General Election Guide

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

2017 General Election Guide

We encourage you to lift your voice and vote on November 7.  Fostoria sits in three counties which can make the voting process a little confusing.  Click on the link above for our “2017 General Election Guide” which will provide you with information on the issues as well as links about where to vote and what will appear on your ballot.

Also, be sure to pick up a copy of Thursday, October 19 edition of The Review Times for a comprehensive Election Guide including township trustees.

Small Business Roundtable

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

The Fostoria Chamber through a partnership with WSOS and their Economic Empowerment Project will host Hrishue Mahalaha, Managing Partner of Innovation Economy Partners, to facilitate a small business roundtable on Friday, October 13.  The roundtable will be held at the Fostoria Learning Center from noon -1:30 and its purpose is to gather key local business owners and managers to discuss ways in which their businesses could be better supported in the community.  The roundtable will discuss opportunities that reside in the regional ecology and those that lie within individual businesses.

Those interested in attending the Small Business Roundtable are asked to RSVP to the Chamber via email, sarah@fosotriachamber.com or by phone, 419-435-0486.

The Small Business roundtable as well as no cost short term business coaching are a few of the programs the Chamber is offering through the Economic Empowerment Project.

Fostoria is one of eight communities in the state participating in the Economic Empowerment Project with WSOS.  The project is grant funded through a Rural Development Initiative Grant.

Small Business Roundtable