Through generous support from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, three organizations: The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet,) Community Food Initiatives (CFI,) and Rural Action have implemented a dynamic project that accelerates healthy, local food access to underserved communities in Appalachia Ohio, including expanding healthy food access to schools, rural food deserts and emergency food networks.

The Food Partners Access Coordinator will build upon current distribution infrastructure, partnerships and ongoing programs in a directed way so as to maximize positive outcomes for all stakeholders from farmer, to producer to consumer.

Letters of inquiry and resumes can be submitted to MegganR@acenetworks.org by Monday, August 16, 2021 for interview consideration. Interviewees will be requested to provide a writing sample and a brief PowerPoint presentation on our local food systems.

Find your next adventure with 20 Under 20. 20 destinations within 20 miles of Shawnee, Ohio: outdoor destinations + seasonal events and local amenities for fun and refreshment after your outdoor time.

Delia Palmisano, ACEnet’s Multimedia Designer and Scott Kreps, the Shawnee Trail Town Coordinator partnered up to bring the booklet to life. Delia took the lead on visual content and design and Scott focused on identifying the outdoor destinations. Nicki Mazzocca from the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council provided original map design. The guide is an “Ohio’s Winding Road Experience Guide” and was funded through a USDA grant.

You can view or download the 20 Under 20 guide here: https://www.shawneeohio.org/20-under-20

Ohio’s Winding Road (OWR) is a locally driven economic development initiative in Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Vinton, and Washington counties that strives to support and promote authentic and sustainable experiences in the Appalachian Ohio region. OWR partners include Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area, ACEnet, Rural Action, Ohio University and Hocking College.

The Shawnee Trail Town Network is a group of non-profit and local government entities helping build an experience-based econonmy in the Little Cities of Black Diamonds region. Network Partners include the Village of Shawnee, The Buckeye Trail Association, OWR, The Little Cities of Black Diamonds, Tecumseh Theater and Destination Shawnee. Local business support comes from Shawnee Mercantile and Black Diamond Tavern.

We are pleased to welcome Bailey Grenert to ACEnet as our new Project Coordinator & Trainer! Bailey provides training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs via workshops, webinars and 1-1 interactions. She works in multiple sectors, including Artists, Artisans & Makers, Destination & Tourism Creative Placemaking, and Farmers Markets. Bailey assists in the development and delivery of workshops and webinars, including creation of curriculum materials and developing workshop schedules. She has experience with organizing and promoting events, social media marketing, data collection and volunteer management. Bailey articulates ACEnet projects to the community and provides updates through multiple platforms, including social media and creating blog posts.

Bailey holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University where she specialized in Appalachian & Environmental Studies and minored in Plant Biology. She comes to ACEnet with four years of experience in Southeast Ohio’s nonprofit sector as an Appalachian Ohio Restore Corps member at Rural Action. Her previous work focused on environmental conservation, agroforestry, solar energy and sustainable development in Appalachia. In Bailey’s free time you’ll find her farming in Meigs County, playing banjo and chasing waterfalls.

Not only do our farmers markets provide a place to buy fresh, local produce, but they also serve as a vital space to connect with friends, neighbors, and farmers. National Farmers Market Week (August 1-7) is here! Celebrate with our local farmers at the Athens Farmers Market and Meigs County Farmers Market. Both markets offer produce, artisan products, baked goods and handmade items, and they both accept SNAP/EBT cards for food purchases.

For more information on membership and services check out their website at http://www.theathensvillage.org/join.html or by phone at 740-447-0500.The Athens Village members is open to all who are 60 years of age or over and live in Athens County.

A few months ago, Grow Ohio Valley procured a warehouse building in downtown Wheeling. Our goal is to renovate this property to serve as a tool for local farmers and food entrepreneurs. Danny Swan explains: “We’re envisioning a well-equipped facility to be used by farm & food businesses, with facilities for: commercial kitchen, processing, value-added production, co-packing, farm-to-school, product aggregation, and loading & cross-docking. Our hope is that this facility will expand the market-reach of local farmers, chefs, bakers, and food entrepreneurs.” 

On July 14th, six members of the Grow Ohio Valley management team spent a day with ACEnet staff to share their project goals and tour the Food Ventures Center and the Food and Farm Enterprise Center. Kacey Gantzer, one tour group members and representative of the WV Department of Agriculture, expressed “Our goal is to help farmers and chefs reach customers with great Ohio Valley-made products. A facility like this can be a tool for business success and economic development.”  

ACEnet staff will be working closely with executive director, Danny Swan and his team to share our infrastructure design and market development experience. Over the next five months ACEnet staff will assist with the feasibility study for the food hub. We are excited once again to be working with passionate regional collaborators. “This Food Hub represents a major step forward for Wheeling to realize its potential as a world-class city,” Swan added, “with a thriving regional food system.”

Event will include a moderated discussion from representatives of enterprises that employ a recovery workforce or offer workforce skillset development to those in recovery, including:

Blue Blaze Festival is seeking vendors for October event in Shawnee.

Not a vendor? There's live music, a street fair, a trail run & hike; brought to you by The Buckeye Trail Association, Black Diamond Development & the Village of Shawnee.

The Athens Farmers Market takes place year round on Saturday and from mid-April up to Thanksgiving on Wednesday at the Market on State Shopping Mall. For more information & information on becoming a vendor, see the Athens Farmers Market website.

The Meigs County Farmers Market is open from May 1st until the end of October in the levee parking lot (Main Street). For more information & information on ecoming a vendor, see the Meigs County Farmers Market website.

In August, UpBEAT be continuing to offer the UpBEAT History Group and Food for Thought program in a hybrid fashion. Members will have the opportunity to attend the History Group or Food for Thought program from their home or in-person. RSVP is required to attend either of these programs in-person, as there is a limit to the number of attendees.

August UpBEAT includes Archaeology and History in the City of Rome; Exercise: Medicine for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and the Aging Brain; and the UpBEAT 25 Anniversary Celebration at Good Works. There is also a book club, singing group, and exercise class for members to participate in (all virtual opportunities). If you're 55+, connect with UpBEAT! https://www.ohiohealth.com/health-and-wellness/upbeat-program-athens You can also call Caitlin Bond, UpBEAT Program Coordinator, at (740) 566-4680 for more info or to receive the UpBEAT newsletter.