Fostoria Business Newsletter

Building a Vibrant Community Through Dynamic Partnerships

Our Offices will be closed March 29th in Observance of Good Friday and Easter.

Our recent episode features Mayor Eric Keckler and Mayor Elect Don Mennel!

We came, we laughed, and we closed a chapter. At the same token, we introduced a new chapter for our community. "Former Mr. Mayor meet the NEW Mr. Mayor!"

It's true, our time on the couch with Eric Keckler is officially coming to a close. There were so many projects he saw to fruition during his twelve years as Mayor of Fostoria. From infrastructure improvements to establishing Snow Queens, he's supported us all... So, the next time you see him buying bacon at Kroger, you can just walk up to him and say, "Hey Eric! Nice bacon."

And then there's Don... It will be such a big change for many of us to work alongside Don Mennel, but he brings an entirely new expertise to the role. There are big things coming up quickly for Fostoria and we definitely feel Don is the right man to facilitate and execute each item on our collective agenda.

The podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple and Google. Learn more and follow Shut Up & Listen: Small Town Stories on Facebook and Instagram.

Seneca County Bicentennial:

Celebrating 200 years of Seneca County History! Join us as we commemorate our bicentennial with pride and joy. Check Destination Seneca County’s website for continual updates about the 200th birthday of our county.

April 1st at 10am, at the Seneca County Museum, will be the kick off for the year long celebration, please attend the kickoff!

Promo Items Needed:

As we are gearing up for our events this year we are in need of promo items! If you or your company would like to donate items for our events please contact Jocelyn, 419-435-0486 or at director@fostoriachamber.com

Annual Chamber Event:

This year we are transitioning from our fall event to a Kickoff to Summer Party! This party will be the big event the Chamber hosts for our members. We will be sending out invitations in the mail to our members, and as a reminder Platinum Sponsors receive 4 complimentary tickets, and Gold Sponsors receive 2 complimentary tickets.

Please RSVP to admin@fostoriachamber.com before May 16th!

Upcoming Topics:

March: Mental Health Awareness for the Workplace, April: Marijuana Laws for Ohio, May: Jason Root, Chief of Fostoria Fire Department June: Gabe Wedge, Chief of Fostoria Police Division

Fostoria Farmers' & Artisans' Market 2024 Schedule

The 2024 Fostoria Farmers' & Artisans' Market schedule has been announced. This years schedule will have 4 Thursday Night Markets and 4 Saturday Markets.

The vendor applications are live, as well as non profit forms on our website.

The early bird pricing is in effect until April 1, 2024.

For more information contact:

Jocelyn Reinhart-Scaife

Chamber Director

419-435-0486

development@fostoriachamber. com

Ohio's Total Solar Eclipse

On Monday, April 8, 2024 residents and visitors across Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse. The path of totality will be greater than most eclipses and is expected to be about 124 miles wide and will stretch across 13 states. In Seneca County the center of totality will pass directly over Bloomville.

Fostoria will experience a total eclipse for 3 minutes 43.6 seconds. The eclipse will begin at 1:56 p.m. with totality at 3:11 p.m. Seneca County is expecting a huge influx of visitors to view the eclipse. County wide meetings are taking place and we will provide more information as the date nears.

In the meantime, we encourage business owners to be prepared for the influx of visitors and begin making plans to accommodate.

Learn more about the path of the 2024 eclipse:

Ohio Total Solar Eclipse

March Primary:

Find more information at your county Board of Election website.

Hancock

Seneca

Wood

St. Wendelin Catholic Church
BR Pallet
Callies Performance Products
NWO Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
NSI Crankshaft
United Way of Fostoria
Ohio Logistics
CSI Insurance
Kuzma Industries

Our members are doing GREAT things!

The UrbanWoody Brewery & The HoneyBee Winery opened their new kitchen!

They are excited to share that they received their food license and began serving out of their kitchen in February. Congrats on another adventure in our downtown corridor!

GFCF Hosted Country Jam:

The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation hosted their annual fundraiser on February 23rd with Sugarcreek performing. While “The GFCF Country Jam” is their main source of income in support of their operating mission, many businesses and individuals donated this year to improve the quality of life in our community and beyond!

Flowerland is the March Chamber Member of the Month!

Flowerland, nestled in Fostoria, Ohio, is your premier destination for exquisite floral arrangements tailored to every occasion. As part of their commitment to serving their community's diverse needs, they now proudly offer tuxedo rentals, a vital service for local proms and weddings. They also offer classes for those wanting to create your own floral pieces.

Conveniently situated near Loudon Meadow's Golf Course, their establishment exudes charm and elegance. Should their standard retail hours not align with your schedule, don't hesitate to reach out and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Experience the beauty and convenience of Flowerland today.

Charitable University:

An educational forum for charities and their board members

Charities are critical in our communities. Board members have critical legal duties to ensure the effectiveness of those groups. Charitable University, a new learning platform developed by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, provides tools on some of the most important elements in leading a charitable organization: board governance, governmental filings, financial operations, and fundraising. The online platform is designed to help board members understand their legal obligations and learn the best practices for running their charities. Starting in 2023, nonprofits that apply for grants from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office are required to complete Charitable U. Register at charitable.ohioago.gov/Charitable-University.

Intro Video: https://youtu.be/Mvwb2eeUwhk

More Information: Charitable University Palm Card (ohioago.gov)

Is there training that your workforce needs? Let us know and remember, any course may be customized to fit your needs.

The Spring Catalog for all courses is here!

Click here for Spring courses!

Things to see & do this fall right here in Fostoria...

Fostoria Area Visitors Bureau Community Calendar

Learn how your Chamber Membership can save you $$$