CONTENTS
Welcome
why join the chamber
welcome new members
lima/allen county chamber of commerce events
Education
Apollo Career Center brings lima residents educational opportunities aplenty
retail – Central District
Big City Vibes, Small Town Allure
Lima/Allen County
Chamber of Commerce
144 South Main Street, Suite 100
Lima, OH 45801
(419) 222-6045
https://limachamber.com
Welcome
We are committed to leading collaborative efforts to advocate for the most livable community and promote business retention, growth and development.
Nearing 900 members, your chamber is excited to deliver this new Lima Vibes digital magazine! Every day new businesses are relocating into our community while others are expanding and growing. We have a lot to offer!
So much has been happening in our community. Starting with the grand opening of the Greater Lima Region Park & Amphitheater, the community now enjoys a great addition of new shows and events. Together with the great Broadway shows and live theatrical performances our region now offers entertainment that is unmatched for a community of this size.
The Central District is a huge success with the opening of specialty shops including chocolate, coffee, bakery, massage, boutique, soap, marketing, hair studio, and other retail space. Exciting new restaurants, bold entertainment options and dynamic office space have opened at Spring & Main – a transformation of 36,000 square feet of historic buildings in downtown Lima.
We are proud to communicate the great opportunities for businesses large and small and for families relocating to the region. Whether you are a business wishing to start or move to our community, we are prepared to accommodate your needs.
If you are a new resident, new employee or spouse relocating to our community, you will find there are many housing options expanding in downtown Lima and the surrounding community and there are mentors available to welcome you and to immediately connect you with our community.
Chambers, economic development organizations, convention and visitors’ bureaus, downtown organizations, top investors, and government entities are working together to develop a common ground to move the region forward through economic and community development opportunities.
To learn more, please visit LimaChamber.com.
Jed Metzger
President & CEO
Welcome
NEW MEMBERS
Adobe
345 Park Ave.
San Jose, CA 95110-2704
(408) 753-5826
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/guides/how-to-write-cover-letter.html
Any Lab Test Now
1450 N. Cole St., Suite B
Lima, OH 45801
(419) 812-2228
http://www.anylabtestnow.com/Lima_OH
Better Life Advocates, LLC
713 S. Atlantic Ave.
Lima, OH 45804
(419) 604-1736
https://www.myvisspecial.com/
Byrne Excavating, Inc.
27912 Road O
Cloverdale, OH 45827
(419) 453-3962
Caliber Custom Clothiers
2341 Spencerville Rd.
Lima, OH 45805
(855) 222-5684
http://www.caliberclothiers.com
Damschroder Roofing, Inc.
2625 E. State St
Fremont, OH 43420
(419) 332-5000
http://www.damschroderroofing.com
East of Chicago Pizza -
Upper Sandusky
200 S. Sandusky Ave.
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
(419) 294-0093
http://www.eastofchicago.com
Encompass Engineers & Architects
407 W. Main Cross St.
Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 427-1819
http://www.encompass-ea.com
Firecuba
1201 McCullough Street
Lima, OH 45801
(567) 204-0266
https://firecuba.com/
Hypnosis for Humans
607 S. Cable Rd.
Lima, OH 45805
(702) 721-8456
http://www.hypnosisforhumans.com
Infinity Hair Studio
207 S. Central Ave., Suite 301
Lima, OH 45801
(419) 996-9496
http://infinityhairstudiolima.com
Kairos of Ohio (AOCI)
PO BOX 792
Lima, OH 45802-0792
(419) 303-2673
http://www.kairosohio.org
Kimmel Corporation
225 N. Sandusky Ave.
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
(800) 334-4975
https://kimmeluniform.com/
Lakeview Farms, Inc.
1600 Gressel Dr.
Delphos, OH 45833
(419) 695-9925
http://www.lakeviewfarms.com
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken - Allentown Rd
1425 Allentown Rd.
Lima, OH 45805
(419) 224-2966
https://leesfamousrecipe.com/locations/oh/lima/1425-allentown-road/
Lima Community Foundation
101 North Elizabeth St., Suite 506
Lima, OH 45801
(419) 221-5928
http://www.limacommunityfoundation.org
Lima Community Improvement Corporation
418 N. Central Ave.
Lima, OH 45801
(567) 433-6489
http://www.lcicima.org
Lower Local
314 Willeke Ave.
Ada, OH 45810
(419) 863-9351
https://local.lower.com/lo/trishacooper
LS Traffic Control Inc.
21845 Lincoln Highway
Delphos, OH 45833
(419) 692-2400
https://lstrafficontrol.com/
Marketing Essentials
148 Schwieterman St.
Minster, OH 45865
(419) 629-0080
http://www.mktgessentials.com
Pat’s Donuts & Kreme - Harding Hwy
1835 1/2 Harding Hwy.
Lima, OH 45804
(419) 229-7287
https://www.patsdonuts.com/harding-highway
Pat’s Donuts and Kreme - S. Cable Rd.
600 S. Cable Rd.
Lima, OH 45805
(419) 773-7287
https://www.patsdonuts.com/cable-road
Restoration House of Lima, Inc.
759 W. Wayne St.
Lima, OH 45801
(567) 204-5278
https://www.facebook.com/supportivehousing
SayMor Events
4783 Sycamore Street
Elida, OH 45807
(419) 979-8529
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071177185252
Sold by Sammy - Superior
Plus Realtors
2903 Elida Rd
Lima, OH 45805
(419) 235-1188
https://realestatesoldbysammy.com/
Subway Bellefontaine Ave
1945 Bellefontaine Rd.
Lima, OH 45804
(567) 289-6932
http://www.subway.com
Subway Bluffton
467 OH-103
Bluffton, OH 45817
(567) 226-1137
http://www.subway.com
Subway Delphos
202 W. 5th St.
Delphos, OH 45833
(419) 741-9251
http://www.subway.com
Superior Energy Solutions
200 E. North St.
Kalida, OH 45853
(419) 890-8067
http://www.senergys.com
Swiss Country Market
7125 N West St.
Lima, OH 45807
(419) 642-4173
Top Shelf Grooming, LLC
1041 Shawnee Rd.
Lima, OH 45805
(419) 860-8126
https://www.facebook.com/TopShelfGroomingLLC
Tradesmen International
1693 Carroll Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46845
(260) 619-8947
http://www.tradesmeninternational.com
Trueblood Wealth Management
2500 Shawnee Rd., Suite A
Lima, OH 45806
(419) 812-2998
http://www.truebloodwealth.com
Verizon Business
3292 Elida Rd., Suite 500
Lima, OH 45805
(419) 890-9088
https://www.verizon.com/stores/details/ohio/lima/lima-350577
West Central Ohio Safety Council
144 S Main St., Suite 100
Lima, OH 45801
(419) 222-6045
https://limachamber.com/membership/opportunities/safety-council/
ZenBusiness
5511 Parkcrest Dr., Suite 103
Austin, TX 78731
(844) 493-6249
https://www.zenbusiness.com/
Lima/Allen
COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EVENTS
You may see all of our events
and register online by visiting
www.limachamber.com
Women In Business
September 5 and December 12 – 11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center
We are excited to announce our upcoming Women in Business Luncheon. This event is designed to celebrate and empower women in the business world. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting your career, this luncheon is a great opportunity to network, learn from inspiring speakers and gain valuable insights and strategies for success.
December 12th will be our annual Jollification! Join the Chamber Holiday Shoppe and get ahead of your holiday shopping!
Join us as we come together to support and uplift women in business. Don’t miss out on this incredible event. Reserve
your spot today!
2024 Chamber Challenge
September 10 – 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Westgate Entertainment Center – 721 North Cable Rd.
Join us for a fun-filled evening of team building, collaboration and friendly competition among area businesses!
Gather your teams to challenge local business partners in five competitions including:
• Ax Throwing • Skee Ball
• Bowling • Paper Chain Competition
• Cup Stacking (it’s harder than you think!)
The team who completes all five games with the highest score wins the title of 2024 Chamber Champ!
Also, teams can opt in for a chance to win the Best Team Spirit award to be given away during the final awards ceremony.
West Central Ohio Safety Council
September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10 – 7:30-9:00 a.m.
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Lima – 1920 Roschman Ave.
This meeting entitles rebate-eligible safety council members to one safety council attendance credit at a monthly meeting. 10 meetings are required for the year.
This event is open to members of the West Central Ohio Safety Council and the public.
For additional information contact Deb Katzenmeyer at 419.222.6708 or [email protected].
2024 Multicultural Expo
September 14 – 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Greater Lima Region Park & Amphitheater –
128 East Spring St.
This event is a celebration of diversity and culture, featuring music, dance, food and art from around the world. We invite everyone to come and experience the rich tapestry of traditions and customs that make our community so unique.
Our theme this year is Flags from Across the Nations!
Reserve your complimentary 10x10’ exhibitor space now!
Exhibitors have the option of stage time to showcase their culture and lead a simple children’s activity in the Kid’s Zone.
Team Building Tuesdays
Looking for an after-hours mixer that’s fun and helps build your business? Want to increase your sales and make new contacts in the coming year? The Chamber has you covered!
October 1 – 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Spring & Main Corner Pins – 147 S. Main St.
Try out the new Duck Pin Bowling and check out the new things downtown Lima has to offer!
November 19 – 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Westgate Entertainment Center – 721 North Cable Rd.
Join us for a fun-filled evening of team building, collaboration and friendly competition among area businesses!
Wake, Rattle & Roll
September 27, October 25, December 6 – 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Veterans Memorial Civic – 7 Town Square
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to start your day off right and make valuable connections. Mark your calendars for our Wake, Rattle & Roll event, and get ready to kickstart your networking journey. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you grow your professional network!
The program starts at 7:30 a.m. Arrive at 7:00 a.m. for registration and networking — make sure to bring your business cards!
32nd Annual ChamberFest Royale
November 7 – 5:30-10:00 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Civic – 7 Town Square
The Chamber’s 32nd annual Monte Carlo-style night features numerous local restaurants and caterers with FREE samples of their finest cuisine, beverages of your choice, a full casino with interactive games (only accepting Chamber Chips), Blackjack, Craps, poker tables, plus Live and Silent auctions overflowing with FABULOUS items!!
Awesome things we’ll bring back this year:
• Slot Machines! • Bingo!
• Keno! • Video Horse Racing on the BIG screens!
Pricing: $30 in advance or $40 at the door.
Price includes Chamber Chips, 2 beverage tokens and a
Grand Prize Drawing Ticket.
Apollo
CAREER CENTER
BRINGS LIMA
RESIDENTS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES APLENTY
Students from high-school age to senior citizens can benefit from multiple courses of study
Since 1976, Lima-based Apollo Career Center has offered high school juniors, seniors and adults the opportunity to further their education and learn vital skills through a variety of programs and initiatives. Today, Apollo offers more than 20 diverse programs for high school students in the areas of construction, health science, manufacturing, electrical, public safety, culinary arts and cosmetology. The district covers 610 square miles and serves all or part of six Ohio counties.
Apollo partners with 11 traditional high schools, including Ada, Allen East, Bath, Bluffton, Columbus Grove, Elida, Hardin Northern, Perry, Shawnee, Spencerville and Wapakoneta.
Students earn diplomas from their respective high schools upon completion of programs. High school and adult students are also able to obtain industry standard certifications and credentials that translate into more opportunity and higher wages.
The statistics are impressive, too. The most recent data available shows that 94.8% of 2022 Apollo graduates are employed, in the military and/or enrolled in post-secondary education.
Adult Education features 14 full-time programs in the areas of health care, manufacturing, law enforcement, spa technology, truck driving and early childhood education. The campus boasts a 50,000 sq. feet Adult Resource Center, which includes an 8,000 sq. feet School of Medical Careers, and a 2,000 sq. feet Corporate Training Center.
Keith Horner has served as the Apollo Career Center superintendent since 2018, overseeing the development of several new Adult Education and High School programs and initiatives. Under his leadership, Apollo has experienced record enrollment which has led to the construction of a new Public Safety Training Center.
Apollo’s vision statement is: “Apollo Career Center will prepare students to be next-ready to have a positive impact in our community.”
“The three most important parts in that vision statement are students, next-ready and community,” Horner said. “Apollo first and foremost focuses on students and providing them with next-ready skills, both soft skills and technical skills.”
In addition to the full-time programs for adults, 60 short-term classes are available, allowing people to upskill or completely change their careers. Truck driving, fire fighting, law enforcement, State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) and Licensed Practical Nurse are some of the full-time offerings.
Apollo also keeps very busy with customized training programs, working with large and small businesses in the Lima area to train their employees.
“In addition, we focus on adding value to the community. That can be a student changing the trajectory of their life with a new skill, helping up-skill employees for a specific business or industry, or having our cosmetology students provide manicures at a senior center,” Horner said. “Apollo simply wants to make an impact and that is the reason why most of Apollo’s high school programs have community service projects embedded in the curriculum.”
In addition to the community service aspect, students at Apollo operate three retail businesses open to the public: The Salon at Apollo, The Spa at Apollo and Garden Café. Each operation serves Lima locals while helping students learn all facets of successfully operating those types of businesses and managing customer experiences.
“In essence, community members become part of the education process for our students. As mentioned, most of our programs do community service projects which include blood drives, catering, and volunteering. Students have also assisted the local park systems, ODOT, local agencies and universities with special projects,” Horner added.
“Career Technical Education is successful because of the partnerships we have developed with Apollo’s associate schools, local universities, businesses and industry, and the input and support of our community. Apollo students are given great learning opportunities and unique experiences that we value as educators and students value as part of their education and training.”
After completing their programs, many students move on to college to further their education and careers. Students have the ability to earn college credit through dual enrollment and post-secondary options, in addition to obtaining licenses and certifications. These opportunities save students and parents time and money after graduation.
“We fight against the notion that it is an ‘either or’ proposition for students. In fact, we argue that we live in a career technical education world and for almost all of our programs, there is a path to higher education,” Horner said. “However, we’ve seen a rise in students interested in career technical education because of the career opportunities coupled with the minimal financial impact to them.”
As a result, most graduates earn family-sustaining wages with benefits and retirement.
“The key to their success will be the next-ready skill of continuing to learn throughout their lives to make themselves marketable and valuable.”
For more information on Apollo Career Center,
visit apollocareercenter.com
Small Town
ALLURE
Big City
VIBES
The recently launched
Central District brings
new opportunities to Lima
Great things are happening on Central Avenue. After five years in development,
the Central District debuted on Black Friday 2023 with the opening of the three-story Central District building.
“The vision of the Central District was to bring the big city feel to our small town. I have spent a lot of time in Columbus, Ohio and have listened to people for years talk about having to go out of town to have things to do,” said Tracie Sanchez, Managing Partner of the project. “We have also talked about recruiting people to our area for many jobs that are available and while we may have great places for people to work, there were not a lot of things for their spouses to do.”
Along with business partner Drew Fields, Sanchez said their goal is to give people experiences right in Lima. The new amphitheater and Rhodes State College made Central Avenue the perfect space and area to revitalize.
“This part of Lima was boarded up, empty, with dark buildings for years,” she said. “And with the city streetscape and all the revitalization in this area it will now be a destination place.”
It’s a place where many local and other Ohio-based businesses can shine in the spotlight. Among them, two women’s apparel stores (Red Fox Boutique and Modish Maven Boutique), a unique skincare retailer (Ev’Dera Bath & Body), a full-service salon (Infinity Hair Studio) and two great places to eat and drink (Touch of Europe Bakery and Winans Coffee & Chocolate). The latter two businesses were the first to open in the three-story 207 Building.
Recently opened or scheduled to open soon, IHeartRadio has established a podcast room. The building is also home to a marketing and web development company (Cage Design), plus common areas for people to study, read a book or hang out with friends. A small event center perfect for baby or wedding showers, birthday parties or business meetings allows for even more community engagement.
“We have many pop-up shops on weekends for new businesses just starting out, too,” Sanchez said.
Before co-founding the Central District development, Sanchez made her mark on the Lima business scene as owner of Lima Pallet.
“I have been fortunate working for Lima Pallet for 42 years to have the opportunity to sit on several local boards and have had the opportunity to network with some great leaders in our community. The Central District started with the Rotary’s vision for the Amphitheater and then grew to a vision of giving back to the community,” she said.
One of the district’s most unique offerings is called the Hub.
“The vision of the Hub, formerly the Makerspace, was to give opportunity to disadvantaged or re-entry citizens to have a place to learn a trade or upskill for someone who may want to change a career. It was a vision that started at Lima Pallet working with re-entry or disadvantaged citizens at a small level to take it to a bigger community level and put it in a central location where people would feel welcomed.”
Sanchez says the team at the Hub has taken that vision to a whole new level as a space where artists, carpenters, culinary artists, designers, trade workers and a variety of other aspiring skilled professionals can gather to hone their crafts and collaborate to find new ways to propel their careers. The Hub is the home of the Lima News Distribution Center and Steady Does It Mechanical Services.
Business sustainability is also essential to Sanchez and her team.
“Our goal has always been that it is self-sufficient. We try to find niche businesses where people want to shop. We have a wonderful group of tenants and staff who work together to be sure everyone is successful,” she said. “To be sustainable, we need local support and then support from visitors, friends and families. We want Lima to be proud of what we have right here.”
The ultimate goal is 100% occupancy with something for the entire family to enjoy. Several more properties will be developed in this same area. After the slate of summer openings, a massage therapist and Connected Strategy Advisors will join the roster, as well as Social House, a new restaurant, in time for the district’s second holiday season.
“Social House will feature a beautiful courtyard with outdoor fire pits, corn hole, ping pong and outdoor seating with a small stage venue this fall,” she said.
More workforce development businesses will open this fall, led by the Lima Area Chamber Foundation and Apollo Career Center with partners Cenovus, Mercy Health and Nutrien. Several prospective tenants have eyes on the remaining available spaces.
“We wanted a place that was unique and different than anything else Lima had. Lima has always been my hometown. I was born and raised right here. The vision was to create a destination place. I have been fortunate to have a great business partner and team who have helped every step of the way to make the vision a reality,” Sanchez said.
“We welcome anyone and everyone. Our vision is to support one another, help businesses grow and give Lima what it needs.”
