Commissioners issue Small Business Saturday proclamation, meet new workforce development director

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton welcomed representatives from the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and Grow! Highland County to their Wednesday, Oct. 30 meeting, as commissioners proclaimed Nov. 30 as Small Business Saturday and encouraged the community to support local businesses throughout November and beyond.

Accepting the proclamation were staff members, board members and ambassadors of one or both organizations (which overlap in many cases) and/or representatives from local small businesses. Those in attendance included Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Jamie Wheeler and Grow! Highland County Enterprise Facilitator Heather Noland, along with Kim Boyer, Haylee Brown, Amanda Hall, Heather Hughes, Mallori Johansen, Addy Knauff, Amanda Knauff, Robert Moots, Katy Jo Roades and Rachelle Trefz.

“Small business is the backbone of our world and our area, and we appreciate small businesses,” Wheeler told commissioners. “November is Small Business Month, although every month is Small Business Month. We encourage everyone to support local.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, “Saturday, Nov. 30 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Please join SBA and organizations across the country in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business.

“Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by SBA since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. Historically, reported projected spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $17.9 billion according to the 2022 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey commissioned by American Express.”

On a related topic, Wheeler told commissioners that beginning Nov. 4 and running through Dec. 20, the Chamber will restart their successful “Moose on the Loose” social media campaign, which debuted last year. Local businesses take turns hosting the stuffed “Marvin the Moose” for a day and can post about his visit on social media and/or plan activities specifically for Marvin’s visit.

“Chamber members have signed up to host him, and this year, we're doing it a little bit different,” Wheeler said. “There’s going to be a passport that members of the community can get and get it stamped. If you get it stamped 10 times, you go in a drawing for a prize basket that will be worth well over a couple hundred dollars. It’s just a way to kind of encourage everyone to support our local businesses.

“Marvin's going to go a lot of places, I think. Last year, he traveled a lot of miles, and so we got him stitched back up and ready to go.”

To follow Marvin’s travels in 2024, Wheeler said to check to the Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page, which will announce his location for each day.

“It is up to that business to kind of interact with Marvin, or maybe some of them will have specials, and they will do behind the scenes of what goes on in their business,” Wheeler said. “Last year, he learned a lot of things, went through a lot of health screenings at our local doctors’ offices and hospitals, has been X-rayed a few times. It's an adventure to watch.”

Otherwise, Wheeler said the Chamber has “just about wrapped up” their events for 2024, which included hosting the inaugural STEEL (Strengthening Together Experienced and Emerging Leaders) Conference Oct. 22. Daniels said he has heard “nothing but good” things about the event.

“It is time to start planning for 2025, which is the 35th anniversary of the Chamber,” Wheeler said.

After hearing from the local business representatives, Daniels read the county’s proclamation designating Nov. 30 as Small Business Saturday and encouraging the community “to join the Small Business Association and organizations across Highland County in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business.

“We urge all citizens to join in and support small businesses,” Daniels read from the proclamation. “Together, let us recognize the invaluable contributions of our small businesses and commitment to strengthening our local economy.”

In other economic development news, Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender introduced commissioners Wednesday to Heith Brown, who has been named workforce development director (formerly known as the ACCESS director).

As previously reported, according to former director Tim Dettwiller, the goal of the Highland County ACCESS (Alignment of Community Connections for Employer and Student Success) program is for “schools, businesses and community agencies in Highland County” to have open communication and to promote incentivized learning; students graduating with work exposure and experience leading them to informed career choices upon graduation; businesses making connections with potential future employees; and community partners providing clarity, leading to better utilization of their resources by schools and businesses.

Dettwiller stepped down earlier this year after being appointed superintendent of Wilmington City Schools.

Brown comes to the Highland County ACCESS/workforce development program from Hillsboro Christian Academy, where he was employed as a math teacher. He is also an assistant football coach for Hillsboro High School. Brown has a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University and will be pursuing a master’s in higher education.

“I”m very excited,” Brown told commissioners. “I decided to leave teaching when this position came open, because, I get to kind of help out kids all over the county, not just a select few at the Hillsboro Christian Academy.

“Right now, we're putting together the big picture for me to fully understand all the partners that we can kind of utilize in this aspect. Obviously, I really appreciate your guys's support, as well as we move forward in this endeavor.”

Although the job title name has changed, the duties remain the same, according to Bolender.

“He is going to be working with our local employers as well as students,” Bolender said. “We have some opportunity also to work with residents that are no longer in high school at OhioMeansJobs.

“That gives us a great opportunity as well to get some adults into some workforce development programs, get them into some internships and things of that sort. We are tickled to have Heith.”

Bolender said that after meeting with commissioners Wednesday, Brown was going to be visiting several area school superintendents. In the coming weeks, Bolender said local industries should also expect to hear from Brown.

“Heith is going to be reaching out to kind of gauge your interest in participating, being a host site,” Bolender said. “For families of high school students, when they say ‘Mr. Brown has an opportunity,’ we would really encourage you to allow your students to participate and explore what their future might hold.”

Bolender added that they are also working on planning events to spotlight certain sectors, particularly health care and agriculture, as last year they hosted a “manufacturing day” for students to explore local industries.

“I think you'll look forward to seeing an expansion of the opportunities that the students have,” Bolender said. “There are so many opportunities right here in Highland County, and we just want to shed a light on all of them.”

On another note related to workforce development, Bolender said that following two successful phlebotomy classes for high school students at Greenfield’s Workforce Development Center, they are now looking into opening up the program to other Highland County residents.

“We've had quite a bit of inquiries,” Bolender said. “Some of them we've sent to Southern State, because their goals were maybe a little bit different, but I think we're going to be able to field an evening class in Greenfield.”

Commissioners thanked Bolender and Brown for the update and welcomed Brown to his new role.

“It’s good to see you come in here, and I hope you just keep the excitement going,” Roades said. “It’s been a program that the past couple years has seen a lot of forward movement.”

Check back to highlandcountypress.com for more from Wednesday’s meeting.

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