News

The chamber is gearing up to help the local business community this holiday season and encourage local spending, giving and involvement. Watch your mail for details on the entire slate of “Shift Your Shopping” events and programs. There are also a select number of sponsorship opportunities that will put your business or organization front and center at all events and on all signage, marketing materials and more.

Shift Your Shopping Sponsorship Packages

Premiere Sponsor(s) – Two available. $1500 each. Your company name and logo featured on all marketing materials, signage , t-shirts, stickers and shopping bags in addition to the chamber website, scrolling gift list, on the parade float and on professional signage at the holiday open house. You are also mentioned in press releases, psa’s and receive a banner ad in the Chamber’s weekly newsletter for four weeks, reaching over 600 members and their employees. Sponsor staff and employees may participate at Small Business Saturday stations, hand out literature or coupons or assist with refreshments. Sponsor name and logo on Holiday Open House candy bar favor that guests take home with them.

Level Two Sponsorships – Four available. $500 each. Your company name and logo in all marketing materials and in press releases and on signage at holiday open house. Sponsor may provide favor/giveaway item for holiday open house. Sponsor receives business card ad in the Chamber’s weekly newsletter for four weeks, reaching over 600 members and their employees.

Nearly 300 guests came out on Wednesday evening to attend the 109th Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner, at St. Florian Hall. This year’s theme is “A Salute To Manufacturing” gave a much-deserved nod to the local manufacturers who live and work in Jefferson County. The featured speaker, Mr. Rob Brundrett, Director of Public Policy Services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, provided insight and information about Ohio’s strong manufacturing base, its history and its future.

This important annual event would not be possible without the support of member sponsors, most of whom have been on board for many years.

Annual Award Winners

Winners in 5 categories were honored Wednesday evening at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner. Pictured from left is: Therese Nelson, Young Professional of the Year from Nelson Fine Art & Gifts, Nicole Adamski, Ambassador of the Year, from The Inn At Franciscan Square, Jay Cruz, from The Inn At Franciscan Square winner of New or Emerging Business of the Year, Mike Zinno, from the Jefferson County Board of Departmental Disabilities, honored as Business/Organization of the Year and Steubenville Mayor, Domenick Mucci, recipient of the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ohio has a long and diverse business history, and its many miles of shoreline, numerous ports, abundant water supplies, and more recently, inexpensive energy sources, make it one of the most enduring states in the nation for manufacturing. Jefferson County alone is home to many manufacturing businesses, ranging from small, independently owned facilities to large corporations with a multitude of products being produced and shipped across the country and around the world each year.

The theme for the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s 109th Annual Awards Dinner & Meeting on Wednesday, October 18th is “A Salute To Manufacturing” and will give a much-deserved nod to the local manufacturers who live and work here. The featured speaker will be Mr. Rob Brundrett, Director of Public Policy Services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA).

Mr. Brundrett coordinates OMA’s day-to- day lobbying efforts at the statehouse and before the executive branch. He works extensively with manufacturing leaders on a variety of issues, including workers’ compensation, environment, healthcare, workforce, and taxes. He also manages important legal and ethics compliance functions for OMA. Prior to being named Director of Public Policy Services, Mr. Brundrett worked as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Auditor of State, Dave Yost.

Did you know that there are only 330 drive-in movie theaters left in the US? This is down from over 4,000 in the late 1950’s. And Jefferson County is home to one of them. Why not bring your families, employees or co-workers out for a nostalgic night at the Winter Drive-In in Wintersville.

We’re making it easy and affordable to get a high-quality, professional photograph for all of your business needs. 

As the holiday shopping season looms on the horizon, now’s the time to make sure your customer service is top notch.  The Chamber is excited to announce, “Customer First”, a mystery shopping program that is affordable, easy to implement and can provide crucial information to our local business owners and managers.

If you’re not familiar with mystery shopping services, you’re not alone. Many small businesses either have not heard of them or believe they are too expensive to utilize and not important enough to explore. In short, mystery shoppers are hired to pose as shoppers to assess your business operations. They discreetly and professionally perform a specific set of tasks such as purchasing a product or service, returning a product, registering a complaint, asking questions of sales reps, contacting your business by phone, and other related assignments.  The business owner or manager completes a short survey prior to the visits to outline what information they are interested in gathering. Afterward, the business is provided with a comprehensive, confidential summary report that outlines the results.  You may use it in a variety of ways; from rewarding employees who stand out to putting training and policies in place to remedy problem areas. Phone shops are also available to help ensure that all calls to your company are being handled politely and professionally.

In essence, a mystery shopping program will provide objective quantitative and qualitative feedback about the experience that the shopper had at your business. From their feedback, you are able to determine if your employees are living up to the standards you’ve set for them and if they’re following company procedures and practices on a regular basis and/or when the owner or manager is not present.

Promote local shopping by making the decision to patronize your business an easy one.  Utilize the chamber’s new program to get an honest, all-encompassing view of an actual customer experience.  Click here for more information and pricing or contact the chamber offices at 740.282.6226.

It’s the first Friday in July, and you know what that means.  It’s time once again for the Chamber’s one-and-only “non-event.”

In case you haven’t had a chance to join us yet, First Friday is a casual, post-work gathering at one of our member restaurants with specially priced appetizers, drink specials, and more. And by casual, we mean no program, no speaker, no registration, no meeting, and no real purpose other than to wind down and hang out.  Now in its 5th month, First Friday is a big hit with Chamber members who seem to really enjoy the opportunity to socialize while being off-the-clock and leaving all pretense of business at the office.

We’d like to invite you to come on over to Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar this evening from 5 to 7. Feel free to bring a friend, co-worker, or spouse. Damon’s will have some great appetizer and drink specials along with gift card giveaways and other surprises.  And there’s no charge and no need to RSVP – because, you know, it’s not really an event. See you there.

It’s A Chamber Buy One, Get One Offer.

The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce purchases many gift cards from its members throughout the year to be used as door prizes and giveaways for various promotional projects.  We are in the process of replenishing these gift cards and want to extend a special offer that’s exclusively for Chamber members.

For every $10 gift card that is donated by your business, the Chamber will purchase another $10 gift card from you as well. Please mail your gift cards to the Chamber offices at 630 Market Street, Steubenville, Ohio 43952, and we’ll reciprocate upon receipt.

And if you’re not a business that offers gift cards, consider supporting your favorite restaurant, retailer, or other business by purchasing and sending one in from them.  We’ll match those as well.