Provides developers, business owners, residents, and others with activities to encourage investment, preservation and infill development of commercial districts and residential neighborhoods. Works to access loans and grants to fund projects.

Provides start-up and operating assistance to business owners located in or wanting to locate in the service area. Services include marketing of retail space, promoting local events and business features, merchant peer groups, business improvement practice guidance, and referrals to other development support services

Provides training to learn new job skills and to increase current job skill levels in a wide variety of professional employment areas. Provides background for testing for certification and professional licensure as well as continuing education credits where appropriate. Service is also available to employers wishing to increase skills of their employees as a whole. Areas covered include: bank teller training, truck driver training, training and education for those in the construction trades, small business development, customer service, careers working with aging individuals, health care careers (State Tested Nursing Assistant-STNA- training), Spanish for health care professionals, social work certification, human resources, meeting/event planning, food service/hospitality, classes to prepare for standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and other college entrance exams, police/fire/emergency training, and computer classes (including certification in advanced information technology).

Provides services for clients to find gainful employment or training. Specific services include: counseling and planning, mobility training, personal and work adjustment training, vocational training (including small business development), training supplies and books, artificial limbs, braces, eyeglasses, hearing aids, psychotherapy, student financial aid to attend post-secondary classes, physical therapy, wheelchairs (if needed for work) occupational supplies, placement, and follow-up on the job. Clients accepted in the program develop a plan for employment with a staff counselor that they meet with periodically during a specified time for follow-up. Services are time-limited. Services include transitional assistance from school to work or college for students who are graduating from high school.

Provides services to stimulate commerce, attract new businesses, expand existing businesses and foster a favorable business environment that represents our member-investors.

Works to provide retail, office, and residential opportunities in area. Supports merchants and links business with funding opportunities. Facilitates commercial redevelopment of individual and mixed-use projects.

Mentoring organization that provides free counseling, resources, and advice to people who are in business or want to start a business.

Service that provides small business owners and entrepreneurs with team-based business advice, business counseling and mentoring.

Assists in starting a business and refresh preexisting businesses.

Provides services for clients to find gainful employment or training. Specific services include: counseling and planning, mobility training, personal and work adjustment training, vocational training (including small business development), training supplies and books, artificial limbs, braces, eyeglasses, hearing aids, psychotherapy, student financial aid to attend post-secondary classes, physical therapy, wheelchairs (if needed for work) occupational supplies, placement, and follow-up on the job. Clients accepted in the program develop a plan for employment with a staff counselor that they meet with periodically during a specified time for follow-up. Services are time-limited. Services include transitional assistance from school to work or college for students who are graduating from high school.

Offers low cost or free trainings to grassroot organizations, small nonprofits and community residents to improve existing skills, build or improve organizational capabilities and create new ways in developing stronger and safer neighborhoods. Training topics include: grant writing, organizational development, financial stability, technology building and safe homes and neighborhoods.

Offers opportunities for community engagement as well as business development, legislative updates, problem solving, marketing, networking opportunities, and tourist information for the Parkman Township area. Sponsors various community events.

Offers a business incubator focused on food businesses and part-time commercial kitchen space to growing food businesses.

Provides services for clients to find gainful employment or training. Specific services include: counseling and planning, personal and work adjustment training, vocational training, training supplies and books, financial aid to attend post-secondary classes, artificial limbs, braces, eyeglasses, hearing aids, psychotherapy, physical therapy, wheelchairs (if needed to work), occupational supplies, placement, small business development, and follow-up on the job. Also helps disabled students who are transitioning from school to work or college after high school. Some of the above services are provided by other agencies through a referral process.

Provides the Chamber of Commerce for Ross County. Services offered to members include: business development, legislative updates, problem solving, marketing, networking opportunities, group purchase of services for small businesses (such as health insurance, freight delivery discounts, workers’ compensation premium reduction, etc.), and business to business referrals.

Makes loans to businesses in Lakewood for up to 40% of eligible cost, or a maximum of $30,000 per project, for exterior building repairs/renovations and interior building code improvements. A comprehensive improvement to the facade, in accordance with the architectural standards and sign ordinance, is mandatory.

Offers a broad range of consulting services for small businesses such as strategic planning, business management, marketing, and product development.

Promotes commercial development in downtown by providing a variety of services to businesses currently located downtown and assistance withdowntown relocation for businesses not currently located downtown. Offers information on city and county economic development programs, as well as assistance with predevelopment studies for business relocating to downtown.

Provides services for clients to find gainful employment or training. Specific services include: counseling and planning, mobility training, personal and work adjustment training, vocational training (including small business development), training supplies and books, artificial limbs, braces, eyeglasses, hearing aids, psychotherapy, student financial aid to attend post-secondary classes, physical therapy, wheelchairs (if needed for work) occupational supplies, placement, and follow-up on the job. Clients accepted in the program develop a plan for employment with a staff counselor that they meet with periodically during a specified time for follow-up. Services are time-limited. Services include transitional assistance from school to work or college for students who are graduating from high school.

Provides direct loans at below prime interest rates on a portion of a project to enable companies to acquire conventional financing or other financing on the remainder of the project. Will consider all projects of merit which create long-term, permanent jobs. Can be used for new businesses and expansions. Will also help small businesses apply for state and federal business loans.

Provides state-level information on starting a small business in Ohio. Offers a free information kit that contains the basics that businesses must know and the state-level regulations and forms.

Supports economic interests of Huron County through business development resources, membership directory, events, financial benefits, advertising, networking, and seminars.

Provides management counseling and guidance to small business owners and managers and those who are considering starting, growing or exiting a small business. Clients are matched with volunteers who provide one-on-one assistance. Offers seminars on a variety of topics about starting, growing, running and exiting a small business. Topics may include creating a business plan, keeping business records, marketing and finance.

Offers a free 10-week training program for individuals interested in starting and operating a small business. Training includes assistance with developing a business plan and information about budgeting, finance, marketing strategies, and legal issues.