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As organizations across Findlay and Hancock County start planning for 2026, many are looking for ways to grow events, attract visitors, and create a bigger impact - all without stretching their budgets.

In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Doug Jenkins is joined by Alissa Preston from Visit Findlay and the Convention & Visitors Bureau to break down the tourism grant programs available to local nonprofits, event organizers, and community groups.

They discuss:

• The different CVB grant programs available - from marketing support to tournament and tourism development funding
• What’s changing for 2026, including application timelines and new limits
• How tournaments, festivals, and special events drive overnight stays and local economic impact
• How organizations can align events with America 250 celebrations
• Updates to the new Visit Findlay website and event calendar, and how businesses can benefit from free listings

If you’re planning a tournament, launching a new event, or looking to grow something that brings people into the community, this episode offers practical guidance on how to get started - and how to tap into resources already available right here in Hancock County.

Chamber Amplified is a weekly podcast from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, featuring conversations with local leaders, organizations, and partners about business growth, workforce development, and what’s happening across our community.

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How do communities build a strong workforce for the future, and what role do local employers play in that process?

In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Doug Jenkins sits down with Tricia Valasek of Raise the Bar Hancock County to talk about how workforce development is evolving and what employers should be doing to prepare for 2026 and beyond.

Tricia shares a behind-the-scenes look at what workforce development looked like in 2025, including career expos, mock interviews, middle-school career exploration, as well as hands-on employer engagement happening across Hancock County. 

The episode also explores practical tools you can use to strengthen your talent pipeline, including:

• The Work Advance program for manufacturing careers
• YouScience, a skills- and aptitude-based career discovery platform
• Ways businesses can connect with students through job shadowing, internships, and career events

Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, educator, or community leader, this conversation offers real-world insight into how workforce pipelines are built—and why showing up early matters.

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Access to capital is one of the biggest barriers facing Ohio’s small businesses, and the state has rolled out a brand-new tool to help. This week on Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague returns to break down the newly launched Buckeye Business Advantage, a program designed to reduce interest costs for eligible small businesses across the state.

In this conversation, we cover:

• How the program works: A state-backed interest rate reduction of up to 3% for two years on loans up to $1 million
• Who qualifies: Ohio-based, for-profit businesses with 150 or fewer employees
• Why it matters: High interest rates continue to strain expansions, equipment purchases, and hiring
• Why it was created: What the Treasurer’s Office learned from Ohio businesses, lenders, and the long-running AgLink program
• How to get started: Why your first call is to your local bank, not the state
• We also touch briefly on AgLink, the Ohio Home Buyer Plus program, and the Treasurer’s perspective on the affordability challenges facing businesses and families.

Whether you're a manufacturer looking to expand, a startup needing flexible capital, or a local business planning to grow in 2026, this program could reduce borrowing costs in a meaningful way.

For more info about the Buckeye Advantage Program, click here. 

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This week on Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, we’re joined by Brooke Dirtzu from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland to break down the Business Outlook and Trends Survey (BOTS) and why you should take part.

The BOTS survey is a short, five-minute snapshot of what your business is experiencing, things like demand, prices, staffing, wage. Those responses become part of the data the Federal Reserve uses to understand economic conditions across our district. Even better? If we collect 50 or more responses  in Hancock County, the Chamber will receive a custom local economic report, giving you early insight into trends before they appear in standard published data.

We talk about:

• How small businesses play a major role in informing monetary policy
• What the spring survey told us about staffing, wages, and business conditions
• How the data can help your business, and the Chamber, plan for the year ahead
• Which industries the Fed hopes to hear more from (hint: all of them!)

If you're a local business owner or manager, the BOTS survey is one of the easiest, most impactful ways you can shape the economic narrative of our region - and it only takes a few minutes.

Take the survey here. Survey runs through December 15.

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This week on Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce we’re digging into a different kind of leadership conversation - the practical skills that actually help people grow inside an organization. Communication that lands. Conflict that gets resolved instead of ignored. Understanding yourself well enough to lead others. And even learning how to be wrong productively.

To help us unpack all of that, we’re joined by Chris Caldwell of the Black Heritage Library & Multicultural Center. Chris has spent two decades teaching, coaching, and facilitating professional development, and now he’s launching a brand-new year-long leadership and communication series in Findlay.

We explore:

• Why one-off workshops rarely create real change
• How monthly touchpoints build stronger, more consistent leaders
• The role identity and self-awareness play in leadership
• Why “being wrong” is a skill, not a flaw - and how it can strengthen team culture
• How assertiveness can be invitational instead of bossy
• Ways individuals and businesses can participate, from single-session workshops to the intensive Bona Fide Program

If you’re a business owner, manager, or just someone who wants to develop stronger leaders inside your team, this episode is packed with practical insight (and yes, a little humor along the way).

Learn more or register at BlackHeritageCenter.org, or reach out to Chris directly at [email protected].

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Scam texts, fake phone calls, hacked emails - fraud attempts are hitting businesses and individuals every single day. And as November marks National Fraud Month, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and make sure you're protected.

In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Doug sits down with Diane Ragless of The Union Bank Company to break down what fraud really looks like in 2025 (hint: it’s not just those badly spelled emails anymore). Diane shares real-world examples, including the scam texts she received just before they recorded the interview. In today's episode you'll learn:

• The most common scams hitting our region right now
• Why urgency, fear, and guilt are the scammer’s favorite tools
• How generational habits (like always answering the phone) make certain people more vulnerable
• How scammers now cultivate “relationships” - not just one-off messages
• Why you should never click a link from an unexpected text or email
• What to do immediately if you think you've fallen for a scam
• Tools like account alerts, freezes, and ID Theft Smart that can protect your finances

Whether you’re protecting your household, your business, or your elderly parents, this episode gives you practical steps to stay a step ahead of fraudsters - and the confidence to hang up when something feels off.

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Hiring the right person starts with the interview.

This week on Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Doug Jenkins talks with Bryan Little of Kata Solutions and EOS Worldwide about how structured interviews help business owners and managers make better hiring decisions and avoid costly turnover.

Bryan breaks down:

• Why unstructured, conversational interviews often lead to bias and bad hires.
• How to use a scorecard system to evaluate candidates consistently.
• Ways to balance data and intuition so you can confidently choose the right person for the right seat.

Doug and Bryan also talk about common interview mistakes, how to prepare performance profiles before you ever sit down with a candidate, and how to make team-based hiring decisions that stick.

Bryan recommends one of his favorite resources for anyone ready to take the next step: Right Seats, Right People by Johnathan D. Reynolds. You can listen to Bryan's previous appearance on Chamber Amplified here. 

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There’s more to starting a business than finding funding. In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, host Doug Jenkins talks with Nicole Scott, Director of the Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College, about the other side of entrepreneurship — everything you need to know before you open your doors.

Nicole walks through what new business owners often overlook, from zoning rules and vendor’s licenses to township restrictions and home-based business requirements. She explains why there’s no one-size-fits-all checklist for launching a business and how to find the right one for your situation.

You’ll also hear how early conversations with the SBDC, the Chamber of Commerce, and regional planning offices can save time, money, and frustration down the road — plus why having a clear business plan makes you 37% more likely to succeed.

Whether you’re still brainstorming your idea or getting ready to launch, this episode will help you make sure you’re checking the right boxes for success.

Link to previous episode about funding: Is Your Business Missing Out? Uncovering Hidden Funding & Other Support Opportunities

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Training the Safety Trainer:

 What happens when “other duties as assigned” suddenly includes safety training? In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Doug Jenkins talks with Nathan Frasure of Ohio Logistics about what to do when safety lands on your plate — even if it’s not part of your background. Nathan talks about how more employees are being tasked with safety responsibilities, the first steps to take when you’re new to the role, and how to build a culture of trust and accountability on the shop floor. You’ll also learn about the local resources available through the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber’s Safety Council and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation that can help you train effectively, access grants, and keep your team safe. 

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Traditional media has changed—but it still packs credibility and reach your business can’t ignore. In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, host Doug Jenkins talks with Brandon Daniels, Chief of Staff & Director of Communications at Kalmbach Feeds, about how to blend earned media with your digital strategy. 

You’ll hear why relying only on social (and the algorithm) limits your audience, how third-party coverage builds trust and creates a “social echo,” and practical ways to make your business more newsworthy— from community angles and staff spotlights to smart, simple press releases (yes, AI can help draft them). 

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