The January 9 breakfast meeting of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce provided the following updates. The chamber's next breakfast meeting is February 13.
CHAMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 2026 Chocolate Walk will be held on Thursday, February 5. Stay tuned for information about participating businesses and ticket sales.
The chamber will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Maple Crest’s new fitness center on Tuesday, January 27, time TBA.
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn provided the attached 2025 Zoning Permits Summary for the village council at the December 22 regular meeting. The total dollar value of cost estimates is $12.9M with $6M in residential permits and $6.9M in commercial permits.
COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Gerken Materials, Inc. is listed as submitting the largest project, an asphalt plant with a cost estimate of $6M. Commercial projects with estimates of at least $10K are:
MEDIA RELEASE__Women in Business will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 15 on the third floor of Town Hall for an Intro to Jazzercise class, led by Chase Eikenbary.
Attendees will walk to the Jazzercise studio for an intro class with Chase Eikenbary, owner of Jazzercise Bluffton, co-owner of Eikenbary Landscaping and Vice President of Project Management at Regional Growth Partnership.
This class is free. Chase promises both cardio and stretching, flexible to all ages and abilities.
MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs (BCE) are pleased to announce two key staff appointments that will support and strengthen services to the Bluffton-area business community.
Rene Gabriel, former Assistant Director, has been named the new Executive Director for both the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs. Gabriel, who resides in Bluffton, will oversee strategic planning, program development and day-to-day operations for both organizations, with a focus on supporting local businesses, growing membership, and expanding entrepreneurial resources.
The Bluffton Lions Club has announced the following events for January 2026:
January 6
Club meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Bluffton Town Hall. Board to meet at 6 p.m. New member installation. Speaker TBA.
January 16-18
Ohio Lions Winter Retreat Deer Creek State Park Resort, Mt. Sterling OH.
January 20
Club meeting at noon at Bluffton Town Hall. New member installation. Boys and Girls
State students. Business meeting update. 50/50 charity raffle drawing.
