Business Resources

In 2005 Ohio enacted major tax law changes. Click the link below for a summary. Note: Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded free at www.adobe.com.

Summary of State of Ohio 2005 Tax Law Changes in PDF

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation offers Training
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Division of Safety & Hygiene Training Center offers 74 occupational safety, health, and ergonomic courses in thirteen locations statewide. All courses are offered at no additional cost to Ohio employers who pay into the Ohio workers’ compensation insurance fund. Courses are designed to emphasize practical application of safety principles, to help develop a safety culture, and to provide current and proposed standards for regulatory compliance. Employers may enroll any number of employees at no additional cost.

Click here to download the BWC Safety Classes July-Sept 2006 flyer in PDF format.

For more information about the BWC's Safety & Hygiene Division, or to register for a class go to www.bwclearningcenter.com,  or call 1-800-OHIOBWC, option 2, then 2.

SCORE Offers Free Business Counseling
The Akron Chapter of the SCORE Association is a non-profit organization of retired and active executives and business owners that provides free counseling, mentoring and workshops to entrepreneurs and existing businesses in the four-county area of Portage, Summit, Medina and Wayne.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2005, the chapter has counseled over 16,000 clients since its
inception. The relationship can last for a few sessions or a number of years. Counselors honor a strict code of ethics that ensures client confidentiality and professional conduct.

The collective expertise of SCORE’s men and women counselors covers a multitude of subjects from cash management, advertising, sales and marketing, to engineering, human resources, export/import, production and telecommunications, advises Chapter Chairman Ron Stallings.

Akron SCORE can be contacted by calling 330-379-3163. Or, toll free at 1-877-AKSCORE. By email at www.akronscore.org, or by fax at 330-379-3164.

Visit "Explore the Possibilities Online,"  The Portage County Image Book, published by the Portage County Office of Economic Development, serves as a resource guide for living and doing business in Portage County. Many files are available for downloading in PDF format.
   
Portage Area Transit Authority Provides bus service to selected routes throughout Portage County. Door To Door Shuttle Service (by 24 hour reservation only)

Visit their web site or call for routes and schedules.
Phone: Toll free: 1-800-673-1BUS(1287), or Local: (330) 678-1BUS(1287)
      

Visitors Aurora CVB Central Portage County VCB Streetsboro VCB Local Chambers Aurora Chamber Brimfield Chamber Garrettsville & Hiram Chamber Kent Chamber Ravenna Chamber Rootstown Chamber Streetsboro Chamber

Additional Links Greater Akron Chamber Leadership Portage County Northern Ohio Area Chamber Ohio Chamber Portage County Airport Portage County Government Portage County Libraries Portage County Association of Realtors

Download a summary of the Portage County Human Resource Association (PCHRA) 2003 and 2002 wage and benefits surveys and find out how you can participate in the 2005 survey and receive a free copy of the complete report. Requires Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded free at www.adobe.com. Produced with the cooperation and support of the Portage County Workforce Policy Board and the Portage County Commissioners. More details about PCHRA

	2003 Wage & Benefits Survey Summary.PDF
	2001 Wage & Benefits Survey Summary.PDF
	2002 Wage & Benefits Survey Summary.PDF
	Portage County Population 2000 Census.PDF

The Portage County Office of Economic Development Web Site provides information about Economic Development Financing, investment and job creation tax credits, industrial sites, industrial buildings and county demographics.

Kent-Portage Small Business Development Service: The Kent/Portage Small Business Development Center offers support, training and resources for new and existing small businesses.

Visit the Portage Manufacturing Alliance for information about manufacturing in Portage County.

Connect Ohio Ohio Department of Development. Link your business web page to Ohio's Web Site and explore Ohio's business assistance programs.

Portage Workforce Connection
Portage Workforce Connection provides information and services related to employment, labor market, training, careers and community services.

Ohio Job Net Online Locate jobs and post resumes. Find workers and workforce information.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): This page provides small employers with basic information about EOC-enforced laws and processes. It highlights select issues of particular interest to small businesses.

Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (NEOTEC)
Foreign Trade Zones and the Northeast Ohio Logistics Network
Ron DeBarr, Executive Director
Kent State University Administrative Services Bldg.
Kent, Ohio 44242 USA
E-Mail:  neotec@kent.edu 

Additional business links:

	Akron Better Business Bureau
	Homepage for the SBA office in Cleveland, OH
	Small Business Administration -- Get Information on starting or expanding a business
	Ohio’s Small Business Development Center  -- Resources to improve business plans.

Corporate Social Responsibility Resource Center for Business Ethics  
Global Business Responsibility Resource Center provides corporate social responsibility reports on business ethics, the environment, corporate citizenship, human rights, and workplace issues. 

Last modified: June 18, 2007