ACEnet Supporting Sustainability | |
Photo credit: Athens Conservancy | |
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1,000 Pounds of Plastic! A big THANK YOU to everyone who brought their plastic bags to recycle during our partnership with the Athens Conservancy and Athens Farmers Market. Because of all who pitched in, Athens Conservancy will be thrilled to place a new bench, crafted from recycled materials by NexTrex, in the Lindy Roosenburg Preserve.
Even though the goal has been reached, you can still bring your plastic film to ACEnet. Avery Snyder, ACEnet Multimedia Designer, will take materials to UpCycle Ohio Thrift Store on West Union for recycling. ACEnet's collection bin will be in Building B and will be accessible during business hours (9am-5pm, M-F).
Full list of acceptable and non-acceptable items
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All potential ACEnet clients are required to complete an Intake Form, which helps our staff gain a sense of your business experience and which assistance areas your business will likely utilize. Historically, this has been a set of papers to fill out but in a move to support sustainability and reduce our paper usage, you can now do this online! You can find more information on our website (acenetworks.org/services/new-clients/intake-process/) or fill out your intake form here: bit.ly/3V9s7i0
For new clients looking to start up or expand your regional business, ACEnet can offer resources and support. We can help you with business planning, marketing, financial management, and so much more! We also provide incubator space at our Food Ventures Center in Athens, Nelsonville Business Center, Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville, and our Wood Manufacturing Center, also in Nelsonville.
*Paper copies can be made available if you prefer or have minimal internet access
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ACEnet Food Ventures Staff News | |
Ronnie is also an entrepreneur as the owner of the Rhythm & Food Trailer! | |
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The Current Good Manufacturing Practices, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation (referred to as The Preventive Controls for Human Food Regulation) are intended to ensure safe manufacturing, processing, packing, and holding of food products for human consumption in the United States.
This course, developed by the FSPCA, is the standardized curriculum recognized by FDA, and Ronnie is an official Preventive Controls Qualified Individual!
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"Home, Cooking" with Rebecca Onion | |
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Did you know that ACEnet sponsors a local food column in the Athens County Independent?
We're excited to share with you the next installment of "Home, Cooking" by Rebecca Onion, a monthly food column sponsored by ACEnet, showcasing seasonal cooking with local ingredients currently available at the Athens Farmers Market!
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In this edition, Rebecca features in-season strawberries in Once-a-Year Strawberry Cake. | |
ACEnet's 6th Women in Business Conference | |
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ACEnet’s 6th free Women in Business Conference returned on Friday, May 17th at The Lodge at Hocking College in Nelsonville! This event united women entrepreneurs from more than 40 small businesses in all stages of business development for a one day conference that focused on professional development, personal development, networking with other women who own and operate small businesses, and connecting to small business resources.
You can find full conference recap, including presentations, photos, full speaker list & bios, links, and additional resources on our website: https://acenetworks.org/2024-women-in-business-conference/
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We Did It, So Can You panel | |
Women in Business Conference attendees | |
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2024 WIB Conference Photo Credit: Avery Snyder | |
Red Tail Design Company Grows Business and Impact in Athens County | |
Red Tail Design Co. Owner/Operator, Tim Martin | |
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Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, recently shared this great story about ACEnet Wood Manufacturing Center tenant, Red Tail Design Company.
Red Tail Design Company is a multifaceted design shop that tackles small projects, large projects, and everything in between. Owner Tim Martin took over the local web design company Electronic Vision (EV) in 2015, and evolved the company into a full-service design shop. (
In 2022, Red Tail Design Company invested over $100,000 to expand its business, purchasing new machinery and equipment to support production growth and fulfill its growing demand. The purchase was supported by a JobsOhio Small Business Grant of $25,000.
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Photo Credit: Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) | |
OSU Ag Educators Visit ACEnet | |
ACEnet set a new personal best Wednesday afternoon when we hosted a tour group of about 90 educators from Ohio State University's Agriculture and Natural Resources department at our Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville as part of their annual retreat! This retreat takes place in a different part of the state each year, and this year that location was Athens County. This is the highest populated tour we've ever hosted, how exciting! | |
Local Bridal & Event Expo Seeks Vendors | |
ACEnet ServSafe Food Safety Training | |
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Only one spot left in this training! ACEnet's next 2-day ServSafe Food Protection Manager Training/Certification is going to be on June 12th-13th beginning at 9am!
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Training Course & Certification Registration will include:
- 2-day classroom based training & activities
- Slideshow presentation style w/video presentations
- Notebooks, folders, writing utensils
- Online flash cards, practice test, and testing materials will be provided.
- Laptop required to take exam (one may be provided if needed)
- Submission to Ohio Department of Health upon completion
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Kids' Day at Lancaster Farmers Market | | |
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Special guests at Saturday's market with free kids' activities will include:
- AHA! Children's Museum - kids’ coloring activity while learning about seeds
- OSU Extension, Fairfield County - free kids' activity
- Lancaster Montessori School - make your own nature collage
- Storytime with the Fairfield County District Library at 9:30am
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Be sure to visit ACEnet Food Ventures tenant BEEpothecary while you're there! | |
Funding Opportunity for Small Businesses | |
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ACEnet's Individual Development Account (IDA) program is currently looking for candidates who want to start or grow their business. Accounts must be opened by June 30, 2024 and we only have room in the program for a few more participants. If you qualify, please provide us with your contact information today!
Participants who make the required $250 in deposits, complete 10 hours of Financial Education, 8 hours of Asset Education (online options available), and additional program steps will receive $2,000.00, plus an additional $1,000 from Merchants National Bank (total: $3,000) to be deposited into their IDA accounts to use for their businesses.
Contact ACEnet Business Counseling Specialist, Cameron Shasteen at CameronS@acenetworks.org to see if you qualify, or provide your contact information: https://tinyurl.com/acenet-2024-ida
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In order to qualify, participants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a resident of & have their business located in Athens County
- Be an ACEnet client
- Have a relationship with ACEnet
- Income must be 200% or below federal poverty guidelines (see chart)
- Have a net worth less than $10,000
- One house and one vehicle may be deducted from total net worth
- Have proof of earned income
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ACEnet's 2024 IDA Program is supported by the Ohio CDC Association and Merchants National Bank Cares JumpStart Program. We are currently seeking additional financial institutions to partner with so we can expand this program into additional counties, please contact ACEnet Executive Director, Larry Fisher, for more info: LarryF@acenetworks.org | |
ACEnet at NAWDP Conference | |
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Two weeks ago ACEnet's Director of Operations, Adam Kody, has the opportunity to network with 1,800 other workforce development professionals at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas! An excellent chance to make new connections and share ideas.
#AC24 #40YearsOfExcellence #WorkforceDevelopment #NAWDP
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Southeast Ohio History Coalition Meeting | | |
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The Southeast Ohio History Coalition is a newly formed, unified group of Historical Societies, Museums, and Cultural Centers across 21 counties in the region.
Their next meeting will be on Tuesday June 25th, from 1-3pm at the Southeast Ohio History Center (24 West State Street, Athens, OH 45701), and will focus on grants/funding.
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They'll will be welcoming Andy Verhoff as their main speaker; Andy is the Ohio History Fund and Outreach Manager at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, and he is an informative person to talk about Grants and Funding with.
Along with Andy, there will be a panel of Coalition Members speaking about their personal experiences with grants and funding with their organizations. This panel will include Dr. Tee Ford-Ahmed of Mt. Zion, Erin Augenstein of Campus Martius, and Jessica Cyders of the Southeast Ohio History Center. For more information please contact Logan Lambert, Southeast Ohio History Center, Local Historian | Ohio History Service Corps at: llambert@ohiohistory.org
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Thank You to Our 2024 Women in Business Conference Sponsors! | We absolutely could not do this without our generous sponsors! Thank you for helping us keep our Women in Business Conference free for all to attend! | |
Visit Our Regional Farmers Markets! | |
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Buying from a farmers market or produce auction in Southeast Ohio means keeping money in our local food economy. It means preserving farmlands and rural livelihoods, and connecting with the farmers who grow your food. You get to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the Earth, while tasting what fresh really means.
Athens Farmers Market
- 701 E. State Street | Athens Community Center Parking Lot | Athens, Ohio
- Saturdays 9AM – 12PM | All Year
- Wednesdays 9AM – 1PM | April – December
- SNAP/EBT Worth Wouble with Produce Perks
- Accepts WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Accepts Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Has Donation Station
Chesterhill Produce Auction
- 8380 Wagoner Road | Chesterhill, Ohio
- Mondays & Thursdays 4PM – 7PM | May – October
- Has Donation Station
Meigs County Farmers Market
- Main Street | Levee Parking Lot | Pomeroy, Ohio
- Saturdays 10AM – 1PM | May – October
- SNAP/EBT Worth Double with Produce Perks
- Accepts WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Accepts Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Has Veteran Vouchers Program
Lancaster Farmers Market
- Chestnut Street between Broad & Columbus | Lancaster, Ohio
- Saturdays 8:30AM – 12PM | May – October
- SNAP/EBT Worth Double with Produce Perks
- Accepts WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Accepts Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Perry County Farmers Market
- On The Square | Somerset, Ohio
- Saturdays 9AM – 12:30PM | May – October
- Accepts WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Accepts Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Shawnee Farmers Market
- 88 Walnut Street | Shawnee, Ohio
- First Fridays 5PM – 7PM | May – October
If you're not in Southeast Ohio, you can check here to see if your local Farmers Market accepts SNAP/EBT: https://jfs.ohio.gov/ofam/JFS-00569-Farmers-Market-Directory-2023.stm
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Thank You to Our Donors & Funders! | | |
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Community donors and supporters, along with our generous local, state, regional, and federal funders, help us drive our mission of growing the regional economy by supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening economic sectors.
We have dedicated an Our Donors page and an Our Funders page on our website to individuals, small businesses, foundations, and local, state, regional & federal organizations who love to see local people thrive, and have chosen to help us empower small businesses.
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Support ACEnet While You Shop | | |
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Your support helps us provide 1-1 training and assistance to entrepreneurs, in all sectors, on a daily basis on everything from business planning & financial management to brand development and marketing. Your support also helps us provide our Food & Farm entrepreneurs with the space and equipment they need to grow their businesses.
You can support us when you shop at Kroger by participating in the Kroger Community Rewards program! By designating “ACE NET” (the space in the middle is necessary) as the recipient of your Community Rewards points, Kroger will contribute a portion of the proceeds to ACEnet.
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Your tax-deductible contribution helps ACEnet expand economic opportunities in the Appalachian Ohio Region! Thank you for your continued interest in and support of what we do here at ACEnet! | | |
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Sincerely,
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Meggan Loveland
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks
94 Columbus Rd, Athens, OH 45701
(740) 592-3854
MegganR@acenetworks.org
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