UA News

The Power Of Your Voice

Date: October 23, 2012

The Chamber understands and cares about the core strengths and values of our community and works to connect people to business while facilitating job growth and economic investment that promotes a strong sense of community.

We have your back is a comment heard around the table often during regular Chamber Business Advocacy Committee meetings. Having a strong Chamber of Commerce is vital to the community. The Chamber will assist any member needing support and guidance, giving each a unified voice. Some of the issues the Chamber has helped members with include: signage issues, façade improvements, rezoning and ballot issues such as Issue #24.

The Chamber in partnership with the City has worked hand in hand to support the continued vitality and success of the Community Entertainment District and the Lane Avenue corridor. “I truly value the opportunity I had to talk directly with the business owners about issue #24, and the continued redevelopment on Lane Ave,” said Becky Hajost President. To let the merchants on Lane Avenue corridor know that the Chamber supports a yes vote, the Chamber staff went door-to-door visiting merchants to listen to their concerns and to share information and hand out signage promoting issue #24.

 The Board of Directors of the Upper Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution of support for Issue #24.

“The passage of Issue 24 ensures the vitality and future success of Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern and that of our fellow restaurant and entertainment businesses along the growing Lane Avenue Corridor. We have been a proud partner of the Upper Arlington community since 2003, supporting area schools, arts, festivals and other business and community organizations. We look forward to continuing this partnership and providing the neighborhood with a family-friendly place to gather and dine with friends and neighbors.”

-Gary Callicoat, Founder and President, Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern

"Entertainment districts are intended to revitalize communities by promoting sporting, cultural and arts and entertainment establishments. In addition to Easton Town Center, which earned the designation in 1999, Grandview Yard, the Continent, the Arena and Brewery districts and Upper Arlington's Kingsdale Shopping Center carry the designation." Issue 24 puts Lane Avenue in the same high-class category as those entertainment centers. Columbus Dispatch (6/14/11)

A "yes" vote on Issue #24 is good for Upper Arlington! It will create an exciting new Community Entertainment District along Lane Avenue as well as prevent a glitch in Ohio law from removing existing liquor licenses from establishments where we love to gather.

• "Yes" means that all of the existing liquor licenses owned by businesses on Lane Avenue will be protected. (Most of those businesses are family establishments, enjoyed by all generations of Upper Arlington residents.)

• "Yes" means that new family and fine dining options will be attracted to Lane Avenue.

• "Yes" means that the additional licenses created by Issue #24 become an ongoing asset for the area. If a restaurant leaves Lane Avenue, the license stays put, thus ensuring a healthy longevity for this corridor.

• "Yes" means that we are protecting our city's valued tax base simply by keeping people in business.

It is the goal of the Chamber’s Business Advocacy committee to be proactive in its recognition of Issues that affect the Upper Arlington community; therefore, the Chamber created a political action committee, overseen by the Business Advocacy committee, that would focus on community education, marketing, and strategic planning for issues, such as Issue #24, that could affect the quality of the UA business environment.

Please contact the Chamber for additional information at 614-481-5710.