Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith reads a proclamation honoring the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce.
Dean Brown | The Lima News
LIMA — A celebration of two of Lima’s influential institutions – The Lima/Allen County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cenovus Refinery was held at The Ohio Theater in downtown Lima. Both institutions were celebrating with a lot of candles on the cake – 135 for each. The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce has experienced a number of name changes in the 135 years, but its mission is the same to enhance business development in the region.
In 1887 the Lima Board of Trade was founded as the first chamber. That year Lima was the first city in the state of Ohio to have an electrified streetcar system. In 1905 the name was changed to the Lima Progressive Association. Two years later, Lima built its first movie theater. In 1921 Chamber changed its name to the Lima Board of Commerce. That year Lima elected five commissioners with the chairman serving as mayor. In 1924 Chamber changed it name to Board of Commerce.
A year later, The Lima Locomotive works built the Lima A-1 and captured 20% of the nation’s locomotive market. In 1928 the name was changed to the Lima Chamber of Commerce and sponsored the Lima Air Circus in the streets and fields of Superior Airport. In 1935 the chamber changed its name to Lima Association of Commerce as Westinghouse built its small motor division. In 1963, the name was changed again, this time to the Lima Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1992 the chamber expanded into the West Central Ohio Regional Development Board. Finally in 1995, the name was change to Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce.
The refinery has changed throughout the years as well. With the discovery of oil in 1885, the Solar Refinery was established in 1887. Processes have changed and other businesses have emerged throughout its 135-year history.
In 1885 oil was discovered in Lima, and in 1886 the Solar Refining Company began operations. In 1886 Lima had 18,000 residents and seven oil wells. From 1887 to 1905 was a world class producer of oil yielding over 300 million barrels. In 1931 the refinery was operating under the banner of Standard Oil of Ohio. In 1969 a crude oil line ruptured, releasing 77 thousand gallons of oil into the sewer system and resulting in explosions, fire and evacuations. In 1987 the refinery was operated as BP, British Petroleum. In 1998 the refinery was operated by Clark USA, in 2000 as Premcor, 2005 as Valero Energy, in 2007 as Husky Refinery and finally in 2020 as Cenovus.
Jed Metzger, CEO and President of the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce, discussed how the Chamber’s role has changed during his tenure.
“I think when I first started it was everybody joined the team because they felt it was the right thing to do. Today, it’s return on investment. You have to prove that its worthy for them. To join the Chamber you have show that it’s going to help their bottom line and help them grow. We have to provide ways in which we’d serve them and enhance them as they grow as a business. We have to figure out what the value is for online businesses or non-brick and mortar businesses. It’s more challenging because they have to see a purpose. Many times, you’re not connecting with them face-to-face. You’re connecting on social media. So, we’re trying to do, right now, strategically a lot of different things to prepare for the future because if we don’t, the Chamber won’t be there. We have to be more available and have more of those tools in which we can help those businesses succeed.”
Steve Stiver, CEO and President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce shared, “The Lima Chamber has been a chamber to emulate across the state and around the country. They’re older than the Ohio Chamber of Commerce; they are almost as old as the city. The business leaders of the day quickly recognized they needed to band together to do what was in the best interest of their community and their citizens to create good jobs.”
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
