Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet)

09/04/2026

It’s Friday Food Truck Roundup time! Here’s where you can find some of our amazing local food truck partners this week, and give them a follow to find them all season long 👇

🚚 Dr.May's Thai Kitchen:
- Athens Farmers Market | Saturday, September 5th, 9am-12pm (701 E State Street, Athens)

🚚 Hot Diggity Dog Unlimited & Hawaiian Shave Ice:
- Washington County Fair | Friday, September 5th - Monday, September 8th, Open during fair hours (922 Front Street, Marietta)

🚚 Hot Diggity Dog Unlimited
- Ohio River Sternwheel Festival & Fireworks | Saturday, September 12th, 1pm - 1pm (Williamstown, WV across the river from Marietta, OH)

🚚 Crêpe, Croque & Company:
- Lancaster Farmers Market | Saturday, September 12th, 8:30am-12pm (143 W Chestnut Street, Lancaster)

🚚 Rhythm & Food:
- Ohio University Football - Bobcats vs. Jacksonville State | Saturday, September 12th, 6pm inside Peden Stadium (100 Richland Avenue, Athens)

🚚 Asian Fusion Cuisine-Athens OH: Stay tuned for future events!

Eat local. Support small. Repeat 💛

09/03/2026

Thanks Athens County Independent for covering our leadership transition! We're grateful for Larry Fisher's 24 years of service, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our entrepreneurial community under the direction of Adam Kody.

“Athens is this amazing community that really embraces local businesses," Adam Kody, ACENet's new executive director, said. Kody succeeds longtime leader Larry Fisher after 24 years at the helm. Read more about the transition through the link in comments.

09/02/2026

We're so excited to be selected as a recipient of Jackie O's Brewery's Monthly Draft Donation Program for September!

You can support ACEnet all September long by ordering 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗲'𝘀 𝗞𝗻𝗲𝗲𝘀, a cocktail inspired Ale with honey, lemon and gin botanicals, or 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱, an American Pale Ale. Each purchase gets you a donation chip that you can then drop into ACEnet's container.

To celebrate this partnership and support our ongoing mission of growing our regional economy, please join us for an ACEnet September Happy Hour at Jackie O's Taproom next Friday, September 11, at Jackie O's Taproom! Gather your friends, co-workers, and neighbors to share a drink with us. Your support directly impacts local businesses and entrepreneurs in our region.

08/31/2026

ACEnet is excited to be part of the 28th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival this year, celebrating the unique food, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit of our region! Stop by our booth to learn more about how ACEnet supports local entrepreneurs, farmers, food businesses, and makers through business coaching, technical assistance, and connections to resources. We’ll also be highlighting our newly developed social enterprise and the incredible businesses and entrepreneurs we work with across the region.

𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹! Test your knowledge with fun questions about local food, entrepreneurship, and ACEnet for a chance to win a variety of prizes featuring products from our amazing client businesses. It’s a fun way to learn more about the local entrepreneurial community while discovering and supporting businesses right here in our region. Come spin, win, and say hello to the ACEnet team!

08/29/2026

📣 Exciting changes coming to ACEnet next week! Effective September 1, current Director of Operations, Adam Kody, will assume the role of Executive Director of ACEnet as Larry Fisher prepares to retire after 24 years of service.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to serve as ACEnet’s next Executive Director,” said Adam. “Over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand the impact this organization has on entrepreneurs, workers, and communities throughout our region. Larry’s leadership has built a strong foundation, and I look forward to working with our staff, board, and partners to continue expanding opportunities while staying true to ACEnet’s mission and values.”

Throughout his tenure, Adam has worked directly with entrepreneurs through every stage of business development, from intake and assessment to startup and expansion. His extensive expertise in food safety, regulatory compliance, workforce development, and entrepreneurial assistance has made him a trusted resource for businesses across the region. He has also helped position ACEnet as a leader in supporting rural entrepreneurs and strengthening pathways to economic opportunity.

We’d also like to thank the Athens County Independent for visiting ACEnet earlier this week to talk to Adam, and our Director of Programs Leslie Schaller, about the upcoming transition! You can check out their story here: athensindependent.com/acenet-adam-kody/

08/28/2026

It’s Friday Food Truck Roundup time! Here’s where you can find some of our amazing local food truck partners this week, and give them a follow to find them all season long 👇

🚚 Asian Fusion Cuisine-Athens OH:
- Revolution Rockbridge - RXR Winery | Friday, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵, 4pm–7:30pm (26557 Miller Rd, Rockbridge)

- Le Petit Chevalier Vineyards and Farm Winery | Saturday, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵, 1pm - 7pm. 5% of sales will be donated to support the Tri-County Career Center Culinary Program students (26328 Locust Grove Rd, Creola)

🚚 Dr.May's Thai Kitchen:
- Athens Farmers Market | Saturday, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵, 9am-12pm (701 E State Street, Athens)

🚚 Hot Diggity Dog Unlimited:
- Stay tuned for future events!

🚚 Rhythm & Food:
- Stay tuned for future events!

Eat local. Support small. Repeat 💛

08/27/2026

Keep an eye out for the newly wrapped Mad Batter Cookie Co. truck! 🚚

Currently serving as a delivery truck for retail restocking, you may start seeing it out at events in 2027. We’re particularly excited to see this new piece of branding out in the community and on the road!

We were proud to help guide Mad Batter's founder & baker Madi through the Appalachiarfbc Business Builder Subaward program, which supported this strategic marketing investment as one piece of a larger project.

As Madi shared: “This investment didn't just fund marketing, it created opportunities, connections, and growth that continue to multiply long after the grant period ended.”

We can’t wait to see where this truck, and Mad Batter Cookie Co., goes next! For now, you can find MB cookies at partner stores: The Early Bird, Holzer Location - Gallipolis, Racine Hardware, Hope Homestead Farms & General Store, TAZ'S Drive Thru and Deli, Threefold Roasters, Century Farm Market, LLC, Farmhouse Market Finds, Steaming Cup Cafe, and Bob's Market & Greenhouses, Inc..

You can also find them on Saturdays at select farmers markets:
🍪 Meigs County Farmers' Market 10am-1pm
🍪 Jackson Farmers Market 9am-12pm
🍪 River City Farmers Market 9am-12pm

This is your last week to stock up on Carnival-themed cookies! New cookie menu drops in September 🍪

08/26/2026

The Appalachian Accessible Food Network 2025 annual report is here! We invite you to explore the innovative programs that connect local farmers with communities, invest in education and workforce development, and improve local, healthy, food access 🌱

AAFN is 12+ year collaboration between ACEnet, Community Food Initiatives, and Rural Action that focuses on increasing access to local, healthy food by strengthening the local food value chain.

For full report & pdf version, please visit: acenetworks.org/appalachia-accessible-food-network/

08/25/2026

Please join us in welcoming Misty Lockhart to the ACEnet team! As an MBAC Business Development Advisor, Misty provides one-on-one business counseling and technical assistance to clients, supporting the development and growth of their businesses. This includes helping clients create financial management plans, prepare balance sheets and projections, conduct market research, and develop business plans. She collaborates with the ACEnet team and partner organizations in efforts to support the organization’s mission of strengthening economic growth by empowering entrepreneurs in all aspects of their business journey.

Having spent most of her life on her family’s farm in Stewart, Ohio, Misty has a deep connection to our community. She graduated from Hocking College with a degree in Applied Science, and developed extensive skills in relationship building, problem solving, and client-focused thinking in her 7 years as Customer Experience Manager at Unified Bank in Nelsonville.

As a small business owner of 10+ years with Misty Moments Photography, Misty also brings deep understanding of the challenges and rewards that come with building a business. She is passionate about helping others and supporting local entrepreneurs, and we're excited about the experience she's bringing to her role as an MBAC Business Development Advisor.

08/24/2026

The Tablertown People of Color Museum Fundraiser is this Saturday, August 29 from 2pm-5pm at the Federal Valley Resource Center in Stewart. Everyone is welcome! Dr. Kenton Butcher will be the featured speaker at this unique event featuring food, music, a silent auction, and museum tours to learn about the history of Tablertown.