|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Greetings & Welcome to 2021!
Looking back, 2020 was a year of challenges and innovation. The pandemic has affected every business at ACEnet in one way or another and their collective abilities to overcome and adapt to those challenges was inspiring.
From pivoting to new business practices, to instilling new sanitation techniques, to creating an entire new business model from whole cloth (just to name a few examples), we were blown away at how some not only survived this difficult year, but thrived.
Going into 2021 many of these challenges will continue to exist and it's up to both our entrepreneurs & ACEnet as their business incubator to be prepared to innovate and adapt at every turn, and we are ready.
|
|
Rogers Woodworking: Precision, Mindfulness & Heart
 Rogers Woodworking, founded and owned by Justin Rogers, is a woodworking business that produces cabinets, furniture, and custom pieces to complement a home or business. Over the course of 15 years working with wood, and 6 years in business as Rogers Woodworking, Justin has developed a business that allows him to apply his creative energy and amassed skills towards developing aesthetically appealing and durable wooden pieces. He sees the wood pieces that he creates as a blank canvas that he gets to fill in to complement a client's home or desired placement site.
Because many of the pieces that Rogers Woodworking produces are large, detailed, and customized pieces, Justin often will personally install them in the desired location. This last touch helps to confirm all of the planning, selection of quality lumber, measuring, and woodworking that goes into creating a finished
piece aligns with the client's vision and expectations.
"When I was looking to relocate my business back in Southeastern Ohio - another ACEnet client, Chris Hedges, encouraged me to take a tour of ACEnet's Nelsonville facility. After seeing what ACEnet was offering within their facility I realized that I could make it happen with ACEnet."
ACEnet is very excited to help support Rogers Woodworking in the ACEnet Nelsonville Business Center & Food Hub in Nelsonville. If you, or someone you know, may be interested in advancing their woodworking business or wood related business idea, ACEnet is an entrepreneurial launchpad to help build bridges within the wood sector.
|
|
Pork & Pickles in Ohio Magazine
Becky Clark grew up off the grid on a homestead in West Virginia. Her parents made everything they could from scratch and foraged, hunted or grew almost all the family's food. "I thought it was really uncool as a teenager, but now I see how cool it really was," says Clark.
She later moved to Athens, Ohio, and then Portland, Oregon, where she ended up working on a farm before going to culinary school. "I started getting really interested in what local, humanely raised meat looked like from a professional perspective," she says. "I felt I could make an impact by working with good meat raised on pasture at small farms and using the whole animal. That's been my focus ever since."
After working at a world-class charcuterie restaurant in Pittsburgh and for several James Beard Award-nominated chefs, she returned to Athens and founded Pork & Pickles, which focuses on meat and pickled vegetables. The business led to a partnership with esteemed Athens brewery Little Fish Brewing Co. to provide food for its taproom. 
"What I do at Little Fish is driven by local agriculture rather than one particular cuisine," Clark explains. "The way I think about dishes and writing menus is always changing, because availability changes all the time."
Article by David Nilsin
Photos by Alexandria Polanosky
|
|
ACEnet at OEFFA
 Registration is now open for the Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA)'s 42nd Annual Conference! OEFFA's can't-miss (virtual) conference offers up to six days of learning, sharing, and networking for farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, and others committed to local food, sustainable agriculture, and green living.
This online event will feature educational workshop video sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, in-depth Food and Farm School classes, an interactive virtual trade show, and fun and engaging networking opportunities. Beyond of all the top-notch education this conference will provide, the Socio app and online event platform easily allow you to join by computer or phone, organize your schedule, interact with vendors, message other attendees, play games, share contact information, and re-watch recorded sessions.
Best part? ACEnet's own Director of Programs, Leslie Schaller, will be presentingon Expanding Appalachia Ohio's Artisanal Meat Production! Please join this inspiring community of food and farm advocates to learn, engage, and build a strong food chain!
|
|
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
ACEnet's Food Enterprise Coordinator, Adam Kody, is offering a 2-day virtual ServSafe Food Protection Manager Training/Certification on January 20th & 21st!
Registration is $100 for ACEnet members, $125 for non-members and will include:
o 2-day virtual training*
o Slideshow presentation style including video presentations
o Testing materials will be provided
* Exam must be completed in person, individually or in small groups.
Attendees will receive their ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification!
Please contact me if you have any questions about registration or the event.
Adam Kody, Food Enterprise Coordinator
|
|
Appalachia Nonprofit Resource Center
|
|
Sustainable Agriculture Program Seeking Mentors
Rural Action's Sustainable Agriculture program is gathering a list of mentors to support beginning farmers in our region. Mentorship responsibilities may include one-on-one phone calls, meetings with a mentee, presenting on a topic to a large group online or in-person, offering feedback on the plans and ideas of mentees, and sharing insight about operating a small farm or food business. Mentors commit to a set amount of time that is negotiated beforehand & will be compensated at a rate that will depend on each project budget. By filling out this form you are not committing to any particular program; Rural Action will reach out to you to gauge your interest in presenting or mentoring as programs arise.
|
|
Relief Resources for Artists, Farmers, Food Service & Retail, Individuals, Nonprofits & Small Businesses
ACenet is maintaining & regularly updating our Relief Resources web page. It includes funding relief resources for artists, farmers, food service & retail businesses, individuals, nonprofits & small businesses in general. If you have any questions or would like assistance applying for any funding packages, please contact LeslieS@acenetworks.org.
 ACEnet facilities, including the Food Ventures Center in Athens & the Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville are and will remain open until further notice. ACEnet staff is available (remotely) for our various business counseling services.
Please email your needs to LeslieS@acenetworks.org and you will be connected with a staff member who can assist you.
|
|
Upcoming Events
Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Athens Farmers Market takes places every Saturday and Wednesday at the Market on East State. For more information & information on becoming a vendor, see the Athens Farmers Market website.
Wednesday, January 27th; 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Webinar: Logo Workshop, presented by ACEnet Multimedia Designer, Maggie Prest. Having a custom logo is the first step in creating a brand identity for your business. Join Maggie as she shares some points of consideration when thinking about designing a logo for yourself or meeting with a professional designer. Join ACEnet on Facebook Live or at this Zoom url: https://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/82273990078
Wednesday, February 10th - Monday, February 15th, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
OEFFA 42nd Annual Conference (Virtual). OEFFA's virtual conference offers up to six days of learning, sharing, and networking for farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, and others committed to local food, sustainable agriculture, and green living. This online event will feature educational workshop video sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, in-depth Food and Farm School classes, an interactive virtual trade show, and fun and engaging networking opportunities. More info & registration:
________________________________________________________________________________________
ACEnet is excited to collaborate on a series of webinars with our long term partner in Perry County, Southern Perry Incubation Center for Entrepreneurs (SPICE). SPICE is a private non-profit in Perry County, Ohio that helps residents of Perry County start or expand successful micro-enterprises and has assisted 2281 individuals since inception in 2005. This spring we will be offering four workshops online using Zoom for remote attendance. Participants who may not have a great internet connection can also attend the workshop at the SPICE office in New Straitsville and see the series projected on their large screen. Registration details will be forthcoming.
Wednesday, February 3rd; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Webinar: Understanding the Ohio Cottage Food Law, presented by ACEnet Director of Programs, Leslie Schaller. This webinar will cover the requirements to produce a cottage food product produced at home. ACEnet staff will also share tips on developing inexpensive and attractive labels and choosing the best packaging options.
Wednesday, February 17th; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Webinar: Value Added Food Product Development in a Shared-use Kitchen, presented by ACEnet Food Enterprise Coordinator, Adam Kody & Director of Programs, Leslie Schaller. Having access to a state and federally-licensed production facility can make a tremendous difference in taking your value-added product to the next level. ACEnet staff will discuss all of the advantages that working with a shared-use kitchen incubator can provide to your business. They will provide an overview on how local food entrepreneurs and farmers can produce commercial food products in ACEnet facilities in Athens and Nelsonville, and will showcase the equipment, facilities and staff support you would receive launching a new food business.
Wednesday, March 3rd; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Webinar: Introduction to Food Entrepreneurship, presented by ACEnet Director of Programs, Leslie Schaller. Do you dream of starting a food business? Do you hear praise from your friends and family on your wonderful recipes? This webinar will help walk you through all the things you need to consider when setting up a food business.
Wednesday, March 17th; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Webinar: Using Social Media to Promote your Food Business, presented by ACEnet staff & guest presenters. Learn from experienced food entrepreneurs ways to manage social media accounts. Social media is a great way to get regular information about your products and engage with your customers. Presented will share tools and tips of how to choose the best platforms, how often to post and how engagement can lead to sales.
|
|
Did You Know?
Did you know that Kroger has a community rewards program much like Amazon Smile? If you sign up for Kroger Community Rewards & designate ACEnet as your nonprofit of choice they'll donate a percentage of the money you spend on groceries to us!
You may need to renew your choice if it's been a while. Go to Kroger Community Rewards and search for ACE NET (needs to have the space), after you choose us, Kroger donates to us every time you shop!
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94 Columbus Rd, Athens, OH 45701
740-592-3854
|
|
|
|
Sincerely
