Port Clinton Area Chamber & Main Street Port Clinton

2016 Accomplishments

marketing

  • MAINTAINED the Chamber website which offers many free advertising opportunities for    members including their own directory page, member spotlights, job postings, coupon page and event page - www.portclintonchamber.com
  • TEAMED with the Port Clinton City Schools, City of Port Clinton, and Magruder Hospital to create the Guide to Local Activities.
  • PARTNERED with Ottawa County Chambers and LESI to co-host booths at the Great Lakes Home & Flower Show, Ottawa County Fair  and the National Matches at Camp Perry.
  • EXPANDED the 2016 Growing and Starting a Business Booklet in Port Clinton.
  • CREATED and distributed 6,000 Downtown Coupon Pages.
  • DESIGNED a Port Clinton Page and encouraged members to purchase ads in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Travel Planner at a discounted rate.
  • MAINTAINED four Facebook pages and Twitter accounts with daily posts.
  • COMPLETED the 2016-2017 Ottawa County Chamber Directory with Marblehead, Oak
    Harbor and Genoa. With 2,400 copies distributed from our office and 1,100 at events.
  • COORDINATED the professional printing of the 2017-18 Ottawa County Map & Resource Guide using local chamber members.
  • MARKETED Chamber members by placing materials at the Ohio Turnpike plazas.
  • TEAMED up with Lake Erie Shores & Islands to showcase the Port Clinton area and our        members at the AAA Great Vacations Travel Expo.

membership

  • MAINTAINED 390 members and supporters while welcoming 23 new members.
  • ASSISTED and participated in 24 ribbon cutting ceremonies for businesses and members.
  • EXPANDED the Ambassador’s Program.
  • COORDINATED 10 Business After Hours held at various businesses with an average attendance of 60 members.
  • PROVIDED relocation packets to people moving to or considering a move to the Port Clinton area, distributed tourist information packets, and provided area information to students studying Ohio history.
  • DISTRIBUTED two hardcopy issues of the Compass Newsletter to 1,800 businesses in Northern Ohio and four digital issues of the Newsletter were emailed to our  members.

Benefits

  • CREATED the  2017-2018 Member Benefit Guide.
  • CONTINUED the Member Discount Card  Program.
  • ACCESS to group health insurance & worker’s compensation.
  • DISCOUNTS for electric & gas consumption. Shipping discounts available with FedEx along with a  bulk  mailing rate for postage on large mailings.
  • 14,528 REFERRALS received for daily inquiries via email, phone, website, social media & walk-ins for products & services for chamber members only.
  • CONTINUED the Lunch N Learn series where guest speakers focus on topics that are relevant to our members and their businesses.
     
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events

  • RECOGNIZED outstanding businesses and their contributions during the 2016 Annual Dinner at the Mon Ami Historic Restaurant & Winery with over 200 members attending.
  • HELD the 7th Annual Laura Schlachter Sunset Cruise on Lake Erie on the Jet Express in July with over 230 people attending a wonderful evening on Lake Erie.
  • PLANNED the Jerry Lippus Memorial Classic Car Show in August.
  • HOSTED the Chamber Golf Outing at the Catawba Island Club in September and raised $500 to fund a scholarship for a graduating senior in Ottawa County to be awarded in May 2017.
  • CO-HOSTED Candidate's Night with the Port Clinton Business and Professional Women.
  • COORDINATED the 5th Annual Downtown Port  Clinton Trick or Treat and Zombie Pub Crawl.
  • ORGANIZED and planned the Community Christmas including the Gift of Lights, 3rd Annual Lighted      Holiday Parade, 2nd Annual Chili Cooking Contest, children’s activities and caroling.
  •  WITH support of the Catawba Island Club, hosted the Holiday Mixer as a thank you to Chamber    members in December.
  • COORDINATED the 36th Annual Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival over Memorial Day     Weekend including the Frontier Communication Grande Parade, & Skipper Bud’s Kid’s Fishing Derby.
  • PLANNED the 2nd Speed Networking event held at the 1812 Food & Spirits where businesses could network in a fast-paced atmosphere.

FACTS

  • COORDINATED over 7,100 volunteer hours worked in the community in 2015.
  • DISTRIBUTED $60,000 in Downtown Improvement Grants in the past four  years to downtown businesses and building owners.
  • DONATED over $400 to the Holiday Bureau.
  • COORDINATED the purchase of decorative light posts and electrical equipment for Second Street
  • CONTINUED Gift Certificate Program, keeping dollars in the local economy.
  • COORDINATED seasonal plantings in downtown streetscape planters.
  • WALLEYE FESTIVAL chosen as one of the “Best  Festivals” by the readers of Lake Erie Living  Magazine and won The Beacon’s “2016 Best of the Best Award.”
  • FOUNDATION served as Fiscal Agent for the  Fireworks Committee.
  • AWARDED scholarships for a high school student and Leadership Ottawa County.
  • OPPORTUNITIES to contribute to the Chamber’s  success by inviting members to serve on committees that direct Chamber activity.
  • BUSINESS counseling and member assistance for various services are available.  The Chamber/Main Street   provides referrals and diligently works to  provide business related workshop information offered by other organizations including NOACC, BBB, the Ohio Chamber and the Center for Non-profit Resources.
  • WORKED closely with City Council and Administration for the creation and adoption of the City’s Downtown Revitalization Plan.
  • SUCCESSFULLY received $300,000 CDBG Downtown Revitalization Funds from the State of Ohio through the Ottawa County Commissioners. Funds are        available to business and building owners to make façade and/or code improvements to their buildings. A target area was identified to include Madison between the Portage River and the railroad and Second between Jefferson and Monroe.