Revitalize Kenton: a community partnership

10/05/2026

KENTON RISING REVITALIZATION SUMMIT | THIS THURSDAY! 10.8.26. Come to one session or all!

The agenda is officially set- and we have an incredible day planned for Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Hardin County Armory in Downtown Kenton!

Kenton Rising is bringing together professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders and local changemakers for a full day centered around ideas, investment, entrepreneurship, revitalization and growth.

☕ 8:30 AM | Doors Open + FREE Breakfast Buffet
Provided by The Sweet Note Cafe

🎤 Host & Emcee: Morgan Ellis

9:30 AM | Lizzie Sanders
The Business Attraction Playbook: Positioning Kenton for What’s Next

10:00 AM | Michael Bowers
Small Business Growth & Entrepreneurship

10:30 AM | Frank Raeon
Commercial Development & Investment

11:00 AM | Frances Jo Hamilton, Heritage Ohio
Downtown & Community Revitalization

🍽️ Lunch Break
Lunch options available for purchase from The Sweet Note Cafe

1:00 PM | Teri Clapper
Marketing Your Business & Entrepreneurship

2:00 PM | Doug Carmean
Local Roots & Lasting Futures- Financial Planning

2:30 PM | Holly Layman Cannode & Angela “Angie” Miller
Holly: Local Restaurant Business 101 & Operating in a Historic Building
Angie: Local Restaurant Business 102 & Navigating Catering and Food Hospitality

3:00 PM | Joe Casavecchia
Issue Spotting & Evaluating Risk

⭐ BONUS SPEAKER PRESENTATION | Jennifer Ramge- Strategy of our County

🥂 3:30–4:30 PM | FREE HAPPY HOUR

Stick around after the final presentation for free cocktails, appetizers provided by Ang’s Amazing Graze, networking, and live music by Mark Hays! 🎶

📍 Hardin County Armory
128 N. Main Street | Kenton, Ohio

The summit is FREE TO ATTEND. Whether you own a business, have an idea you’ve been thinking about, want to invest in our community, or simply want to be part of where Kenton and Hardin County go next- this day is for you.

People. Ideas. Opportunity.
Let’s build a stronger tomorrow together.

10/02/2026

❤️ LOOK WHAT WE’RE BUILDING TOGETHER!
Our Building the Foundation family continues to grow!
We are now 95 members strong, with 11 incredible sponsors and $37,250 committed to Revitalize Kenton and our community.
Take a look at the wonderful individuals, families, businesses and organizations who are helping us build the foundation for what comes next!
October is the final month to join our 2026 initiative and be included in our Red Carpet Appreciation Gala in December. Closing enrollment October 31 will also allow us to establish the matching funds available for our 2027 Community Impact Grants.
❤️ We’re at 95. Who will help us reach 100?
Learn more or join us: www.revitalizekenton.com

10/02/2026

Thank you Kenton Times.

Get ready to request your favorite song, sing along and maybe even hit the dance floor when Revitalize Kenton brings Cleveland Keys Dueling Pianos to Hardin County on Saturday, Nov. 7.Dueling Pianos: Keys for a Cause will be held at the Community Building at the Hardin County Fairgrounds. Doors open

10/02/2026

❤️ Look What We’re Building Together!

We’ve been waiting to share our latest Building the Foundation numbers, and what better way to kick off October!

We have exciting updates to share about Revitalize Kenton’s Building the Foundation initiative!

Thanks to so many individuals, families, businesses and organizations who believe in what we’re building together, we have now reached:
❤️ 95 Foundation Members — $21,250 pledged
⭐ 11 Sponsors — $16,000 committed
That’s $37,250 in support for Revitalize Kenton and our community!

And we’re not finished yet.

October is the final month to join Building the Foundation for 2026. Those joining as qualifying Foundation members or sponsors during October will be included in our 2026 initiative and receive an invitation to our Red Carpet Appreciation Gala on December 11.

Why an October 31 deadline?

Because once our 2026 membership and sponsorship campaign closes, we’ll know exactly what resources are available as we establish the matching funds for our 2027 Community Impact Grant Program—putting these dollars back to work in Kenton.
Every membership. Every sponsorship. Every person who says, “I believe in our community.” It all adds up.

95 members strong—and still building!
Thank you for helping us Build the Foundation for what comes next. ❤️

Interesting in being a member or sponsor, visit our website: https://revitalizekenton.com

or email [email protected]

10/01/2026

If you would like to attend this event, please complete our form to reserve your space: https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/TXtQw1dK0fL54FS4p6U0I28Hd

If you would like to be a sponsor for this event, please email [email protected]

We love bringing new activities to our community, don't miss this one!

10/01/2026

Morgan Ellis
Emcee & Host | Kenton Rising Revitalization Summit

Morgan Ellis is a lifelong Kenton resident, local attorney, and passionate advocate for the continued growth and revitalization of her hometown. With professional experience spanning law, economic development, community organizations, and local government, Morgan brings both a personal connection to Kenton and a broad understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing communities like ours.

Morgan previously served on the Board of Revitalize Kenton and as Chair of its Business Enhancement Committee. She has also held professional roles with the Hardin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hardin County Chamber & Business Alliance, where she gained firsthand experience in local economic development, business support, and community revitalization efforts.

Born and raised in Kenton, Morgan graduated from Kenton High School in 2011 before earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Findlay and attending law school at Ohio Northern University here in Hardin County. Today, she continues to call Kenton home, where she is raising her son, who attends Kenton City Schools.

For Morgan, community development is personal. Her roots are here, her family is here, and she believes deeply in Kenton’s potential. She values the people, character, and small-town sense of community that make Kenton special while recognizing the importance of creating new opportunities for the generations who will call it home next.

Morgan has been a supporter of Revitalize Kenton and the vision behind the Kenton Rising Revitalization Summit from the beginning. She believes meaningful revitalization happens when people come together, exchange ideas, build relationships, and-most importantly-turn those ideas into action.

As Emcee and one of the hosts of the Kenton Rising Revitalization Summit, Morgan will help guide us through a day dedicated to ideas, collaboration, entrepreneurship, investment, and creating new possibilities for Kenton and Hardin County.

And for Morgan, there is no better place to have those conversations than right here at home.

📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
📍 Hardin County Armory | 128 N. Main Kenton, Ohio

People. Ideas. Opportunity. A Stronger Tomorrow Together.

10/01/2026

10.8.26

09/30/2026

🎤 FINAL SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT | JOE CASAVECCHIA

We’re excited to round out our Kenton Rising Revitalization Summit speaker lineup with our FINAL speaker, Joe Casavecchia, Senior Associate Attorney with Thompson, Dunlap & Heydinger, Ltd.!

Joe leads TDH Law’s new Kenton office on Detroit Street, directly across from the Hardin County Courthouse, and brings a unique combination of family, corporate, nonprofit, and business law experience to our community.

Joe primarily focuses on domestic relations law, helping individuals and families navigate divorces, dissolutions, adoptions, child custody matters, and other family law issues. Before focusing on family law, he spent years working in corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, nonprofit matters, and business transactions.

That experience also makes Joe a great local resource for the entrepreneurs, business owners, property owners, and community leaders working to bring new ideas and opportunities to Hardin County.

And we’re especially excited to welcome TDH Law to Downtown Kenton! Their newly renovated office at 13 N. Detroit Street is another great addition to our downtown business community.

Please help us welcome Joe Casavecchia to the Kenton Rising lineup- and to Kenton!

📍 Kenton Rising Revitalization Summit
📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
📍 Hardin County Armory | 128 N. Main Kenton, Ohio

People. Ideas. Opportunity. A Stronger Tomorrow Together.

09/30/2026

🎤 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT | FRANCES JO HAMILTON

We’re excited to welcome Frances Jo Hamilton, Interim Executive Director and Director of Revitalization for Heritage Ohio and the Ohio Main Street Program, to the Kenton Rising Revitalization Summit on Thursday, October 8, 2026!

Frances brings a unique perspective to community revitalization- one built from experience at nearly every level of nonprofit and Main Street work. She began as a volunteer, committee chair, board member and community organizer before becoming Executive Director of her own community’s Main Street program in 2006.

Since 2016, Frances has served as the State Coordinator for Ohio Main Street, working with more than 70 communities across Ohio on strategic planning, organizational structure, board development, leadership training and sustainable revitalization efforts.

At Kenton Rising, Frances will share practical insight into what makes community organizations work- and how strong leadership, effective boards, engaged volunteers and clear organizational structure can turn good ideas into real progress.

Her approach is refreshingly practical: understand where your community is today, identify what is getting in the way, and focus on the next actionable steps that actually move revitalization forward.

🏙️ Main Street Programs & Strategy
📈 Organizational Development & Governance
🏘️ Community Revitalization & Economic Development
🤝 Leadership, Board Development & Volunteer Engagement

We’re thrilled to bring Frances’ statewide Main Street experience to Downtown Kenton as we talk about how communities like ours can build momentum, strengthen organizations and create a more vibrant future.

📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
📍 Hardin County Armory | 128 N. Main Kenton, Ohio

People. Ideas. Opportunity. A Stronger Tomorrow Together.