​If there’s a gift we’ve been given from the recent abhorrent vandalism at the Shaary Tefilla Temple, it’s the less-than-subtle reminder that prejudice and hatred isn’t gone. Not from the world, not from our country and not from our communities.
 
As Governor Holcomb has shown, it’s provided some impetus for us to address the fact that Indiana remains one of only five states in the country without a hate crimes bill. While we’d argue it’s pretty disappointing we need any more reasons to get off that short list, it’s focused our attention, and provided us with an opportunity to get something done. We support the governor’s view.

Among the most prevalent topics discussed by the Hamilton County Business Issues Committee (consisting of all four county chamber presidents and one business representative) is infrastructure. On their current radar:

• 146th and Allisonville
• State Road 37
• 236th Street and State Road 31
• 276th Street and State Road 31

Why does this matter?

On July 18th, the Alcohol Code Revision Commission had their first of five meetings. If you are looking for the words “cold beer,” you won't read them here, nor in the minutes of the meeting. What is the purpose of this group? If you go to the website, it says they have three primary functions:

• To protect the economic welfare, health, peace and morals of the people of this state
• To regulate and limit the manufacture, sale, possession, and use of alcohol and alcoholic beverages
• To provide for the raising of revenue

 
The “what we do” is probably not why you are reading this; you want to know what happened.

​The OneZone Board of Directors are dedicated and active member volunteers, who serve as ambassadors for our 1,300 members and provide guidance and direction for the Chamber. Board Member Courtney Lloyd of STAR Financial Bank, Chair-Elect, has been active in the Chamber for over ten years. Her leadership roles have ebbed and flowed, but at the center has always been a desire to have an impact for her fellow members and the communities that OneZone serves. 

​Big goals, tight budget: How do you build your brand, woo new customers, and level-up your business when money’s tight?
 
Below are four simple yet high-impact suggestions for your consideration. Best of all: They’ll cost you little or nothing more than your current marketing investment.

​Virtual learning has emerged as a cost-effective training, ongoing education and engagement tool for many businesses, limiting your need for printed materials, additional meetings and expensive onsite facilitators. It can also reduce a hidden budget drain and headache for business leaders: employee turnover.
 
With the cost of replacing a skilled employee reaching an estimated 1.5 to 2 times their annual salary, it’s no wonder this is a sore spot for businesses. Creating a readily accessible virtual learning system for your employees can prevent and counter those losses.
 
Below are three ways virtual learning systems help you retain employees while growing their skills and value to your organization over time:
 

​Life was simple back in 2017 when you could walk into one of two Ricker’s convenience stores and order a burrito and beer. Eventually, the state cried “foul!”  There was discussion about a “loop-hole” in the Indiana alcohol laws that Ricker’s had walked through.

How to solve this crisis? The answer from the General Assembly was to form a committee, and the Alcohol Code Revision Commission was born. Former State Senator Beverly Gard, appointed by Senate Pro Tem David Long, was named chair of the commission. Recently Speaker Brian Bosma replaced Gard with former State Representative Bill Davis. We hope that this change in leadership does not also signal a change in momentum for the commission.