Many people want to start a new business but are not sure where to begin. Rather than spend your time looking all over for what you need, the chamber has complied many great resources to get your started all in one place! Below are links to help you on your journey! First up is a questionnaire that will help you decide if you are ready for the next step! 

Self Evaluation 

Helpful Links

Meigs County Economic Development Office
Here you will find helpful information about programs such as the Revolving Loan Fund as well as different sites available for leasing or construction.  

Do you know your SCORE?
SCORE is an organization that can help mentor you through the beginning of your business! 

Athens/Meigs SBDC
The folks at Ohio University's Small Business Development Center can help you with business plans and goal setting!  

State of Ohio SBDC
The state of Ohio's SBDC website can help you locate even more resources that are available state wide.  

Internal Revenue Service
This IRS site will help you filing for a tax id number and deciding which type of business you want to start.  

Ohio Treasurer
The State Treasurer's office has several programs that are designed to help new and small businesses develop and grow! 

Ohio Department of Revenue
The state's Department of Revenue can help you with filing all the required paperwork for a business in the state of Ohio. 

Business License
This website will help you file your business license in the state of Ohio 

Common Sense Initiative
Helping you with regulations to promote fair competition
 

Many of our members are trying to get a better understanding of the new healthcare refrom that is set to begin at the end of this year. This webinar, although long, is a another great tool to use to help answer some questions you might have!

Healthcare Webinar 

Last year, the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce switched to a tiered membership structure to better serve our membership. This allowed businesses to choose how they wanted to invest in the chamber, rather than being told how they should invest. It gave each business an opportunity to market themselves regardless of how many employees they have or what kind of business they are! We believe these tiers are the foundation of a strong, powerful and respected chamber that its members can be proud to be a part of!

The board had a chance to review the tiers from the past year and modify them to add even more value for our members!  This letter is to inform you about some of the exciting changes you will see for 2013:

·         Each tier will be listed on the chamber’s mobile app! Yes! The Meigs County Chamber of Commerce will have an app you can download on your smartphone or tablet! We are excited about this addition to the already expansive list of tools the chamber provides to help market your business.

·         Along with the new app, Platinum members will get a free “Featured Listing” on the app. This allows those businesses who are Platinum members to not only just be listed on the app but to stand out with pictures and detailed information! This would cost a business $395 without the support of the chamber and this year we are including it in the Platinum tier!

·         Also new this year is a “Spotlight Drawing” that all members on the Silver tier and up will be eligible for. Two businesses a month will be drawn and then highlighted at the end of the month in the chamber newsletter, as well as, advertised on the chamber’s Facebook and web pages!

·         The chamber has been developing a “Welcome Packet” for new additions to the area, and will have it ready for 2013. Additionally, all business on the Silver tier and up will be in this packet, and the Platinum members will have an additional ad to go along with their listing! The “Welcome Packet” will be issued to anyone calling and asking for information about the area or stopping by the office. It will assist people who are moving to the area looking for information about where to go for banking, health care, construction, you name it!

The three main chamber events of the year, Spring Dinner, Golf Scramble, and Fall Dinner sections, have been simplified to eliminate for which events businesses want to use tickets. Also, the Gold and Platinum levels will enjoy more tickets to the Spring Dinner and the Platinum level will continue to receive extra tickets to the events as well as recognition

Membership Tiers
Membership Application

For the Retailer
The chamber works for business development for new and existing residents in the community. The chamber provides educational programs to assist businesses with their marketing and promotional activities.

For the Service Establishment
The chamber works for an increasing population, assuring additional customers and income. The expansion of industry increases the expansion of services as well.

For the Construction, Real Estate and Insurance Firms
The chamber provides an expanding market by promoting business and attracting new industries and residents. Potential customers are referred to chamber members on a daily basis.

The Chamber of Commerce exists in any town to make the community a better place to work, live and play. Businesses become members because they take great pride in their community. The Chamber is a non-profit advocate for its business. The Board of Directors is made up of volunteers who promote civic, commercial, industrial and agricultural progress within the community. Being a member in a Chamber of Commerce allows you to promote to the outside world that your business belongs to something important. The Meigs County Chamber of Commerce strives to deliver the support your business needs to be as successful as it can be. Southeast Ohio is a special place with special people. There is a small town hospitality and work ethic in the community to go along with progressive ideas and savvy business minds. The business leaders in the area provide guidance and are true role models in every sense of the word. Becoming a member of this Chamber of Commerce puts you in great company. Like a lot of things in life, you only get out of the Chamber what you put into it. If you are active at functions and meetings, not only will you meet and develop relationships with other businesses, your own business will grow as the result of information you gather. Our Executive Director values communication and loves hearing from members of the Chamber. He encourages feedback from all the members in order to better serve them as Director. Our world is changing every minute and the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce is changing with it. We are constantly gathering information and sharing it with members to better assist them on their journey. We invite you to come be a part of an exciting and growing organization.