March 2021
Next Level Gaming with ACEnet Client
ACEnet client Hrothgar's Hoard's latest product, Luxury Dungeon, is now live on Kickstarter! A hardwood dungeon grid system that locks together, it uses a 2.5 grid system and will be the crown jewel of your RPG collection.

Pledge in the first 48 hours to receive a free storage case! Tons of add-ons like spell effect templates & dungeon dressings also available.
Each set includes:
  • 9 4x4 tiles, each representing 20x20 feet of floor space
  • 30 long, 4 medium, 10 short walls
  • 16 corners, 12 edge pieces
  • 4 T sections, 4 + sections, 25 bow ties
Locally designed & created from Appalachian Maple and Black Walnut AND an exotic Bloodwood/Wenge combination that gives a red/black combination that will be the envy of every other gamer in the area..
Athens Ki-Aikido News
Local instructor Stan Haehl Sensei with official photo of style founder Koichi Tohei sensei and a “Ki” character he brushed.
As of January 10, 2021, ACEnet tenant Athens Ki-Aikido Stan Haehl Sensei has been promoted by their parent Ki-Aikido organization, the Shinshin Toitsu Aikido Kai, to the rank of Roku Dan in Shinshin Toitsu Aikido.

Roku is 6th and Dan means level, grade, degree. Dan ranks are symbolized in many (but not all) Japanese Martial Arts by wearing the "Black Belt." The Dan ranks start at 1 and go up to 10 (but in their style, no one is 10th Dan.)
Roku Dan is a pretty advanced level; in the US organization, Midland Ki Federation, there are only three. Only their Chief Instructor, Kashiwaya Sensei, is higher ranked.

There is no other Shinshin Toitsu Aikido dojo in Ohio, so Athens Ki-Aikido is pretty unusual! There are several other dojo of other styles of Aikido, of course, but none is closer than Parkersburg or Columbus.
Need Funding For Your Small Business?
Have you considered applying for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program? Any small business that was open on or prior to Feb. 15, 2020 is eligible to apply for this funding.
Join us for a webinar on Thursday March 4 at 12:00 PM on zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81774496469 or on our Facebook LIVE

To learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program, check out the ECDI's webpage:
https://www.ecdi.org/ppp. To learn more about the Economic and Community Development Institute before our webinar, check out their website here: https://www.ecdi.org/columbus 

We are encouraging attendees to submit questions ahead of time to make sure they are addressed in the presentation. To submit a question simply reply to this email, or reach us at madelynb@acenetworks.org.
The Road to Reentry: Community Forum
Reentering the community can be a challenging time for the person who is released from prison and for family members and supporters. 

Information for those to be released between March 17 - Dec 31, 2021: What to expect when your family member gets home. What happens just before release? How does supervision work?

Join the Athens County Reentry Task Force, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction & ACEnet for resources, information & a lively discussion about what to expect and how to address some of your challenges so you are as knowledgeable and prepared as possible: conta.cc/3dJFAZQ  
Make Your Own Buckskin Belt Pouch
ACEnet client Talcon Quinn is offering a class on how to sew a buckskin belt pouch bag from sustainably and ethically sourced, naturally tanned deerskin. Class space is limited to five and registration is required by midnight on March 5th.

Students will learn the basics of how to work with brain tanned buckskin, how to lay out a pattern on buckskin, cut their own buckskin thong to sew with, how to sew with a scratch awl and two stitches. All students will complete a buckskin belt pouch.
Class will be taught via zoom. Leather sewing awls & buckskin material are required for this class. Materials will be mailed to students once registration is confirmed.

Class fee is based on a sliding scale of $125-175. Students are encourage to pay what they can. When students who can, pay more, the class becomes more accessible to those who cannot.

There is an $8 shipping fee for the materials.
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
Once again, Ohio's Winding Road has funds available for producers of authentic experiences and products representing these 9 counties of Southeastern Ohio (Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Vinton, Washington)!

Funds are for the development and/or marketing of authentic experience products.

Applications due March 15, see OWR for more info. https://ohioswindingroad.org/2021/02/15/due-march-15-2021-seed-grant-application/
The NCRC & SNF have announced the SNF Small Business Growth & Recovery Fund to help address some longstanding challenges, including gender and racial inequality and other socioeconomic barriers, that small business owners face in accessing capital.

The program will offer awards up to $20,000 each, which do not need to be repaid, to U.S.-based small businesses, accompanied by complementary training and mentorship for business owners!

The program is focusing on businesses owned by people of color, women, and veterans as well as those in lower-income communities.

Applications are due March 19th. Learn more & apply at https://www.equivico.com/ncrc-business-grants
Ohio's Winding Road - Opportunity for Makers
This Spring, Ohio's Winding Road is planning a sequel to their Winter Marketplace Pop Up which featured only products made in Appalachia Ohio.

If you are a maker of authentic products in the region and would like them to sell your product, please email: ohioswindingroad@gmail.com
Opportunities for Farmers & Ranchers
Registration is now open for Rural Action's Whole Farm Planning & Mentoring online 10-week series!

Are you looking to start a farm? Do you have plans to begin selling a food product? Are you a few years into operating your farm or food business and could benefit from refining your business plan?

Join a small cohort of beginning farmers to learn from topic experts and a committed farm mentor.

The U.S.D.A. is ready to assist farmers, ranchers and communities affected by winter storms. Programs include:
  • The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
  • The Livestock Indemnity Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program
  • The Tree Assistance Program
  • Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

UpBeat: Activities for Older Adults
Have you heard of UpBEAT? A program sponsored by OhioHealth O'Bleness Hospital in Athens, Ohio, UpBEAT offers free programs for those in our community 55 years and older to support "Being Educated and Active Together” and providing opportunities for connecting with others and remaining socially engaged, even during our current times.

In March, UpBEAT will focus on nature, the arts, how to make familiar tasks easier, and health. Virtual opportunities like the book club, singing group, and exercise class are accessible via phone or computer. Making connections at this time can be particularly difficult, but there could not be a more important time to make connections. 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.
Details Coming Soon!
PERSONAL FINANCE COACH
Saving for something big, or trying to get your spending in check? Need some help making a personal budget?
Check out ACEnet client Big Time Bookkeeping!
PLASTIC FILM RECYCLING
Would you like to help keep plastic film items like grocery bags from going to landfills & turn into park benches instead?
Project ends May 15th, 2021, see flyer for drop off locations!
Upcoming Events
Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, vulnerable population 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
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. Vendors are both inside (the old Elder Beerman store) and outside December through March. For more information & information on becoming a vendor, see the Athens Farmers Market website.

Thursday, March 25th; 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Webinar: Product Creation for Online Sales, presented by ACEnet staff. With so many creative minds looking into ecommerce options to diversify their sales, we'll be talking about how to create products specifically with online sales in mind. This webinar is supported by the Spectrum Digital Education Grant program. Join us on Facebook Live or Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87324015473

Thursday, April 22nd; 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Webinar: Product Pricing for Online Sales, presented by ACEnet staff. When you start selling online, you need to consider the additional costs when setting prices for your product. Shipping supplies, website upkeep fees & more. We;ll be discussing setting prices that still give you the profit margin you need. This webinar is supported by the Spectrum Digital Education Grant program. Join us on Facebook Live or Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82841038589
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 view the series in a socially distanced setting. 

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. To register, call SPICE at 740-394-2200 or go to https://spiceohio.com/2021/02/25/introduction-to-food-entrepreneurship/

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. To register, call SPICE at 740-394-2200 or email LeslieS@acenetworks.org
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!
Sincerely,
h
Meggan Loveland
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks
94 Columbus Rd, Athens, OH 45701 
(740) 592-3854