LAUNCH Fostoria Business Competition Returns

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Fostoria Economic Development Corporation (FEDC), is excited to announce the third annual Launch Fostoria Business Competition.  Launch Fostoria is a three-part business competition consisting of an initial application, semi-finals, and finals.  

Launch Fostoria officially kicks off Monday, March 20 with applications available at FostoriaChamber.com/Launch until May 5.   Eligible applicants must be a for-profit business, that has not earned more than $250,000 in revenue in the past year and interested in opening or growing a business in Fostoria.  Qualifying applications will be reviewed, and 6-8 applicant businesses will be invited to move on to the semi-finals.  The semi-finals, on June 28, will consist of live pitches to a panel of judges followed by a question-and-answer session.  Semi-finalists will be given the opportunity to attend a pitch workshop to create and refine their pitch.  From the semi-finals judges will select 4-6 businesses to compete in the finals which will be a live event held in Downtown Fostoria on August 4.  The public will be invited to attend the finals and may pay $5 to vote for their favorite business contestant. 

“We have seen the success of the last two LAUNCH Fostoria Business Competitions and the tremendous community support.  We are excited for year three as it is a great way to jumpstart ideas, connections and small businesses while inviting the community to invest in an entrepreneur by attending the finals and casting a vote,” said Sarah Stephens Krupp, Chamber/Small Business Director.  “This is such a unique opportunity for Fostoria, and we are so grateful to everyone who has assisted us in making the competition a reality a third time.”

The winner of Launch Fostoria will receive a prize package valued at almost $17,000 thanks to event sponsors and donors.  The prize package includes a one year lease in Downtown Fostoria (or equivalent dollar amount in appropriate space), print advertising courtesy of The Review Times, $1,000 courtesy of the Shuff Family Small Business-Entrepreneur Grant, $5,000 in branding and marketing services courtesy of JYoakam Communications, $900 in trainings and courses at the Fostoria Learning Center courtesy of Northwest State Community College and the Fostoria Learning Center, one hour of legal advising valued at $250, three hours of accounting assistance valued at $875, CO.STARTERS course valued at $250 and a one year Chamber Membership valued at $200.

The competition was highly successful last year with over 350 people attending the finals.  $11,575 was collected from voting and passed on to the four finalists.  The winner of last year’s competition was Kris VanCuren Koester, Calico Charlie’s Candy & More who will be opening their physical location, 206 S. Main Street in Downtown Fostoria.  The 2021 winner, Jena Stearns, Beyond Laser Creations, has been operating a storefront located at 101 S. Main Street in Downtown Fostoria for about 18 months.

The Launch Fostoria Business Competition is part of the Fostoria Chamber and FEDC’s efforts to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Fostoria.  Both organizations, for the last several years, have been working together to implement programs and resources to assist entrepreneurs, experienced and in-experienced, in starting and growing their ventures.  The organizations have hosted various entrepreneur events and trainings such as Get Started Workshops, starter, and maker events such as the Holiday Sip & Shop, CO.STARTERS courses, Advising Hours, Wayfinding programs and worked with the City of Fostoria to implement a Small Business Revolving Loan Fund. 

“Our work to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem is really a grassroots effort to combat the shrinking physical footprint of national chain retailers and fill the gaps in retail and small business in Fostoria with homegrown, locally owned businesses” said Renee Smith, President of FEDC. 

This unique event is an opportunity for entrepreneurs/small business owners, the Fostoria community, and the citizens of Fostoria.  This is a way for the residents of Fostoria to actively participate in selecting a new business for their community.  “We look forward to seeing the applications and working through this competition to bring a new and vibrant business to our community,” said Sarah Stephens Krupp, Chamber/Small Business Director. 

A full event timeline as well as applications are available at FostoriaChamber.com/Launch

Chamber to Host Candidate Forum

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

Candidate Questions sought from Business Community

The Chamber will host a Candidate Forum for Fostoria City Council and Fostoria Mayoral Candidates on Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m.

In preparation for the forum and to best represent our members, we are asking you to submit questions you would like asked of the candidates. Please submit questions to: Sarah@FostoriaChamber.com by March 25.

The Candidates:
 
Mayor Eric Keckler is not seeking re-election after 3 terms in office. Don Mennel and Elliott Shaffer are vying for the open Mayoral position.
 
There will be three Council-at-Large seats open as Brian Shaver is running for Council President and Ed Logsdon is not seeking re-election. Greg Cassidy’s term will expire and he is running for re-election. Also seeking seats as Council-At-Large are Brady Hall, Kristin VanCuren Koester and Bob Podach.

Flowerland Seeks New Owner

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

The Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) along with the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce announced today that the owner of Flowerland in Fostoria, Ohio is looking to retire and would like to sell his business to an interested entrepreneur.

Flowerland is a successful and well-regarded floral shop with $320,000 in annual sales, standing orders, and referral contracts. Currently, Flowerland has two full-time employees and occupies a space it shares with a residence. The seller is asking for $50,000 for the business along with its inventory, contracts, and standing orders. Additionally, the owner is selling the real estate for $175,000. If the buyer needs assistance to learn the business, the seller is willing to help them and is also willing to set up a payment plan depending on the buyer. Eligible parties would ideally be interested in running the business themselves.

Current board president of the Seneca County Commissioners Anthony Paradiso stated his support of the project. “Flowerland is a business that has been in Seneca County for three generations, nearly one hundred years. This is a great opportunity to retain a well-known and respected business as a part of our larger community.”

Detailed information about this opportunity can be found on TSEP’s “Entrepreneurial Opportunity Clearinghouse” at tseoc.org. The opportunity will remain open from now until April 1, 2023. Interested parties should contact Adam Gillmor, Development Coordinator at TSEP, at gillmor@tiffinseneca.org, or by phone at 614.725.8086.

About the Tiffin-Seneca Entrepreneurial Opportunity Clearinghouse

The Tiffin-Seneca Entrepreneurial Opportunity Clearinghouse (TSEOC), launched in April 2021, is designed to facilitate the flow of entrepreneurial talent and capital to new business start-up, franchise, and business acquisition opportunities. There may be investors that do not want to run the business but would be willing to invest if a competent entrepreneur and business manager could be found. To date, the Clearinghouse has promoted ten opportunities and facilitated three successful business transactions: Bird Scooters, Kuebler Shoes, and T.J. Willie’s. Additional information can be found at tseoc.org.

 

 

Fostoria Safety Council Announces Scholarship

by Sarah Stephens Krupp Comment Closed

The Fostoria Area Safety Council will award a $1,000 scholarship to a high school senior living in the 44830 zip code, wishing to pursue a degree in a safety related field. 

Eligible students must be a U.S. Citizen and enrolled full-time at the senior level, reside in the 44830 zip code, must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the field of Occupational Safety and Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, Risk Management, Civil and Emergency Services (e.g. Law Enforcement, Fire Fighter, EMT), Occupational Rehabilitation or a related field. In addition applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above.  Applications are available at the Chamber office, 342 Perry Street, on the Chamber web site at www.fostoriachamber.com/safetycouncil or through the school counselor.  All completed applications must be received by April 14 to be eligible.

The Fostoria Area Safety Council is a facilitated through a partnership between the Ohio BWC and the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce.  The Fostoria Area Safety Council is a resource for local businesses to examine and resolve safety issues in the workplace, study reliable techniques and learn about safety related topics with the goal of creating and maintaining safe work environments.  For more information about Fostoria Area Safety Council visit www.fostoriaohio.org/fostoria-area-safety-council or call 419-435-0486.