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Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce (view source)
Revision as of 10:30, 25 January 2021
, 10:30, 25 January 2021→Historical documents
* In November, Charles E. Manges, CCE, was hired as President by the Board of Directors, bringing 15 years of chamber experience to his new position.
* In November, Charles E. Manges, CCE, was hired as President by the Board of Directors, bringing 15 years of chamber experience to his new position.
* In preparation for 1982, the Directors approved the creation of 11 new committees: Ambassador, Legislative Affairs, Community Relations, Enrichment, Education, Communications, Small Business, Commercial & Retail Development, Retention & Expansion, Economic Expansion, and Economic Development.
* In preparation for 1982, the Directors approved the creation of 11 new committees: Ambassador, Legislative Affairs, Community Relations, Enrichment, Education, Communications, Small Business, Commercial & Retail Development, Retention & Expansion, Economic Expansion, and Economic Development.
====1982====
* The scope of activities now being initiated by the Chamber necessitated the change in name from the Wooster Chamber of Commerce to the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce to better identify the increased involvement and range of projects being undertaken. Inquiries, averaging 75-100 per year, from potential new businesses and industries expressing interest in the Wooster area required extensive, up-to-date statistical information. Receipt of a P.I.C. grant enabled the Chamber to produce a 125-page economic study of Wooster and Wayne County to supply this vital information.
* Chamber members actively assisted with plans for celebrating the city's 175th anniversary, and OARDC's 100th anniversary.
* A tradition of 46 years was altered when the Chamber encouraged the city's retail and commercial businesses to stay open on Wednesday afternoon.
====1983====
* Realizing the potential economic impact of the tourism industry, the Chamber played a major role in the creation of the Wayne County Visitor & Convention Bureau to provide ongoing promotion of Wayne County as a tourist destination.
* The giant Christmas tree atop Madison Hill was lit for the first time. Now an annual event, as the community gathers on the square to sing Christmas carols and officially open the Christmas season, this celebration of August Imgard's first Wooster tree was made possible by a special Chamber committee whose original members included Jody Tyler, Dr. Burney Huff, and Al Burger.
* Economically, the Chamber continued to work with Premier Corp. to gain a right of way, now known as Venture Blvd., which opened the way to a new industrial park.
* A distinctive new logo was designed for the Chamber.
* Pedestrians no longer "scrambled" in all directions at once across the square, after the Chamber recommended the elimination of this hazardous situation downtown.
====1984====
* Ted Evan's melodious voice, followed by, the time is ---, the current temperature is ---, has been heard over 10 million times by area residents since the Chamber began providing the community with the time and temperature service in 1984.
* Responding to requests for additional Chamber membership activities led to sponsorship of the first Chamber Golf Outing.
* Public relations activity accelerated with the publication of a city/county map. To date, over 50,000 copies have been distributed.
* Late in 1984, the Chamber sponsored a 5 1/2 hour video conference on downtown revitalization which resulted in the Chamber's Directors naming a Downtown Revitalization Committee to address downtown concerns. These committee members ultimately became the first board members of what is now known as Main Street Wooster, Inc.
* At the suggestion of a local manufacturer, I Waski Kogyo, Inc., of Nara, Japan, was presented an honorary membership in the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, a membership they display with pride.
====1985====
* After 29 years on the square, growing pains prompted the Chamber's move to larger offices in the Central Trust Bank building. These expanded facilities provided space for the addition of new Chamber services. One important new service was the Small Business Resource Center which provides the wide array of information requested by beginning and existing small businesses in our community.
* The board approved the creation of a Chamber Foundation to accept funds to be used for economic development and educational programs promoting the free enterprise system.
* The College Hills and Cleveland Road Business Associations were created to meet the needs of business development and expansion in those locations.
* It rained a little on the first Chamber-sponsored Oktoberfest celebrated in downtown Wooster.
====1986====
* To better meet the needs of the membership and serve the area, the Chamber was reorganized into 4 divisions with directors responsible for the following: Industrial/Commercial, Membership Affairs, Community Affairs, and Marketing.
* To better reflect the Chamber's purpose and goals, the Board of Directors adopted the following mission statement: "To effectively maintain and increase the economic base of the Wooster area as measured by employment and per capita income, while improving the quality of life of our residents."
* With assistance from the Chamber, the Seaman Corporation chose Wooster's new industrial park area on Venture Blvd. for its new plant instead of moving to Tennessee.
* The Chamber's Economic Expansion Committee was instrumental in getting 13 acres on Portage Road rezoned commercial.
* Planning Assistance was given to the city when Wooster was selected as the state capital for a day.
* It rained a lot on the 2nd annual Oktoberfest. A thunderstorm accompanied the Christmas Parade.
====1987====
* At a special meeting, the Chamber and its Manufacturers Association hosted guest speaker, J. Peter Grace.
* A cooperative effort among the Chamber, City Administration, and Clear Picture, Inc. brought "TV 5's Morning Exchange Live at OARDC'S Fisher Auditorium" to Wooster.
* Work began toward the publication of a Wooster Community Booklet, the first in 12 years. This booklet was completed in 1989.
* A fifth division, Administration/Financial, was added to the plan of action during the Directors fall retreat.
* Economically, the Chamber began working with Scot Industries of Lone Star, Texas, as they considered the Wooster area for a new plant location. Final approval of plans in May 1989 led to the beginning of construction on a 105,000 sq.ft. building for their new facility.
* The Chamber also assisted with TRING's expansion, and the location of a Drug Mart in Wooster.
==Timeline==
==Timeline==