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Little Exchange Hosts Bourbon Tasting & Raffle

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The Little Exchange Fine Gifts is a nonprofit boutique at 45 Park Ave. in Oakwood that has been operating since 1950.   Staffed by almost 90 volunteers, the shop has donated nearly $1.7 million to Dayton Children’s Hospital over its 70+ years of existence. The Little Exchange is known for perfect bridal and baby gifts, infant clothing, unique décor for the home, and men’s and women’s gifts for all occasions. The shop also offers complimentary gift wrap and free local delivery. Shop hours are Monday – Friday from 10am – 5pm and Saturday from 10am – 3pm.

The Little Exchange is doing a bourbon raffle to help raise additional funds for Dayton Children’s.  The winner will walk away with eight bottles of hard to find Blanton’s Bourbon.   Each bottle top is mounted with a horse and jockey in a progressive horse race. They come in 8 different varieties that, when arranged in succession, spell out BLANTON’S. You may purchase your $50 ticket for a chance to win 8 bottle’s of Blanton’s online or at the shop.

 

 

Just prior to drawing the winner on September 16th, at 5:30pm, The Little Exchange will host a bourbon tasting with 4 whiskeys to taste, set up in stations around the shop. The tasting list is not public yet, but we were told that Blanton’s will not be one of the options.  There is no charge for this tasting, but an RSVP is requested at 937-299-1561.  At the conclusion of the tasting the winner will be drawn on at 7pm.

Voltzy’s Burgers Return at Garlic Fest

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VOLTZY’S IS COMING TO GARLIC FEST !

Foodies are marking their calendars for Saturday, July 24th, for something they thought would never happen. That is the day where Voltzys Hamburgers make their triumphant return at Dayton’s Garlic Festival.   

As many of you know, restrauteur Rick Volz passed away earlier this year seemingly bringing an end to  30 year career of serving up some of Dayton’s freshest burgers with side of sarcasm.   The run was over, so we thought … but former manager of Voltzy’s has other ideas.  Sammy Bowman has decided to keep his legacy alive.  She is planning on continuing the business, and the first step is a rebirth at Dayton’s Garlic Festival at Carroll Hgh School on Saturday July 24th, frm 1pm -10pm.

New Owner Sammy Bowman

 

Voltzys new owners will be on hand as a food vendor serving up those sliders topped with grilled onions, cheese and sweet heat mustard.  There will even be a garlic option!  Sure you can deviate from the toppings, but you might get scolded !  The new staff will be grilling burgers on Rick Volz’s old catering grill !

WHO ARE THE NEW OWNERS ?

For years Sammy Bowman worked as the “right hand girl” at Voltzys, as his assistant.  From orders to cashier, and food prep to customer service, Sammy helped in every aspect of the business.  As Rick became ill, she helped him the last few years in every aspect of his health struggles.  Dozens of doctors and hospital visits, years working with Rick, left Sammy with a desire to carry on.  Things are tight lipped about what will happen with the negotiations of the current location in Moraine which remains closed, or if they will be moving.   One thing is for sure, if this event goes well, you can expect more bookings of private events and festivals.  It looks like the road back will be one step at a time, and Sammy is taking the leap of faith with pride.  She knows “Voltzy” would be happy to know they are carrying on his tradition of good food.  We agree….

About Garlic Fest
SATURDAY JULY 24th
CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL
4524 LINDEN AVE, DAYTON 45432
1pm-10pm
www.GarlicFestDayton.com

Free Admission
Live Bands, Beer, 15 Food Vendors
Cooking Demos, Dunk Tank, Garlic Hall of Fame
Beginner Bocce Tournament, Craft Vendors
$100 Garlic Eating Contest, Gambling/Casino
Indoor air conditioned, and outdoor seating

 

Volzy and Sammy work a side gig

Those cheese burgers !

 

 

 

His Legacy rolls on ….

The Cookieologist Whips Up Baked-To-Order Late-Night Eats

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Jonesing for a hot, fresh-baked cookie after hours? The Cookiologist has you covered.

Isiah Davis is the founder of Cookiologist, formerly known as The Cookie Joint, located at 1106 Brown Street in Dayton. Wednesday through Saturday, he’s baking your late-night eats, with pickup available as late as midnight on the weekend.

Isiah is a member of the current Retail Lab cohort, powered by Launch Dayton partner Downtown Dayton Partnership. We caught up with Isiah recently to talk about his company & his rebrand. Our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

Launch Dayton: So what do you offer at The Cookiologist?

Isiah: We bake cookies fresh to order, so they’re hot when you swing by our pick-up window to get them. We’re open Wednesday through Saturday, from 4:20p to 9p on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 4:20p to 12a on Friday and Saturday. Customers can order anytime, they just have to order at least 30 minutes ahead to give us time to bake the cookies fresh for you. We’re building a cookie empire one bag at a time.

We also do nut milks and blended alternative milks. It tastes nothing like what you’ll find at the grocery store. We came out with the milks to complement the cookies.

So where did this idea come from?

I was visiting Indianapolis when I experienced something like this for the first time, and I thought, why doesn’t Dayton have this? We’re able to provide a product for people after everything is kinda closed. There’s nothing local open at 12a on the weekend, but people still get hungry, they want late-night eats. If I can order fresh-baked cookies at 11p, I’m all about that. They’ll get there hot, and I don’t have to bake.

What are your big goals for The Cookiologist?

Eventually we want to expand outside Dayton, to other cities and states. We want to build a new culture — most commercial kitchens are toxic environments — people are trained, if a chef isn’t a jerk, he isn’t good. But you don’t have to mean to get results from people. We want to create jobs, and then have our folks expand out and franchise. Dayton will be the location where we produce everything. We’ll ship the doughs to the other locations, and they’ll bake them on the spot, but Dayton will always be the heart of it. And we want Dayton to be known for this. We’re more than just cornfields and chili. So much talent and creativity exists here, we’re making it happen, and we’ll have a “fresh, hot-baked cookies’ sign on all day.

Why cookies?

My favorite dessert has always been a cookie. It’s a more consistent product, it can be shipped, so it’s something I can make that can be distributed and still have a part of me in it. It’s not too delicate, or too big, or too small. But mostly, it’s the nostalgia. My mom made peanut butter cookies when I was a kid, it took 10 minutes, and they were there — it was easy. Cookies always made the most sense to me. And when I make a cookie, I always come back to tinker and see how I can make it better. There’s always room for growth.

You had a hiccup early in your entrepreneurial journey that you want to help others avoid. Can you share more about that?

Trademark your business name. I started my business in June 2020 as The Cookie Joint. I got my LLC, I filed with the Secretary of State. I knew I wanted to expand, and I wanted to trademark my name, but I thought it would be awhile. But when I started to look into it, my lawyer found a company in Chicago with the same name, and he told me that I couldn’t keep my name. It hurt. So don’t think it’s just about getting that LLC. It takes time to find the right name for your business, and you’re not the only one who has that great idea. Get your trademark, so you don’t have to go through a whole rebrand just as you’re building your name.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I think I did always know. Growing up, my grandfather was a bricklayer, had his own construction company, built houses. He was the first person I saw in my life with that work ethic. The Cookiologist isn’t my first business, I also had a food truck. When I went back to working in a restaurant, it didn’t feel right working for anyone else anymore. I didn’t make it two weeks. I thought, my kids are watching, they need to see this. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.

So what cookies can we look forward to tasting from The Cookieologist?

Hippie Potion is our unity cookie. It has peanut butter, semisweet chocolate and white chocolate — it doesn’t matter what color you are, everyone can enjoy it. Wonder n’ McCartney is our ebony and ivory cookie. Notorious C.H.I.P. is our classic chocolate chip cookie. A lot of our cookies have stories and cultural inspiration behind them.

Why do you love what you do?

My mom always said food is love made edible. I say, in order to be great, you have to serve great. I’m excited to cook the food. If I provide a source of joy for even two minutes, that’s my legacy, that I provided those things for people.

Find The Cookiologist on Instagram @thecookieologistdyt or online at thecookieologistdyt.com to order. Also connect on Facebook @thecookieologist.

Grant To Fund Dayton startup’s Virtual Music Platform For 9 Youth Programs

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The C. J. Francis III Foundation has granted nine area organizations funds to deploy Dayton startup My Music Ed’s platform across their youth programs.

My Music Ed is an app designed by Deron Bell to help students and teachers build vital relationships by bringing music into the classroom.

Deron Bell

“You don’t have to be a musician or music teacher to be able to use it,” Deron explained. “It’s not about teaching them music, it’s talking about how to build relationships, how to express feelings. It builds on restorative practices — we take a positive approach to dealing with feelings. Sprinkle a little music in there, and that’s just fun.”

The app is built for use on mobile or desktop and includes features like an interactive drum set and piano — you click on a drum or key, and the app plays the note or sound and names the instrument the students hear. At the top of each page are social-emotional learning and relationship-building activities.

The grant covers the cost of a year-long license for the software, as well as training and support to deploy it through youth and after-school programs. The nine organizations who will benefit in 2021 include:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Dayton
  • Dakota Center
  • Dayton Children’s
  • Dayton Metro Library
  • Kroc Center
  • St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
  • Webster Street Academy
  • Wesley Community Center
  • YWCA

“We’ve always had a great interest in things that impact children and youth,” said C.J. Francis Foundation President Patricia Francis. “What could be better, especially in time of COVID, than something that allows people to be socially and emotionally connected?”

In the case of the Dayton Metro Library, the grant was originally intended to serve the Trotwood branch and its patrons. But with COVID sending all programming online, this grant provides an opportunity for the library to incorporate the software across children’s programming county-wide, said Julie Buchanan, Dayton Metro Library Programming Manager.

“Movement and music programming really engages young children well,” Julie said. “Virtual programming is pretty new to the library. We’re excited to incorporate music a little more fully. This creates an awesome opportunity for us to branch out and hopefully engage people in new ways.”

The library has rolled out several different incarnations of virtual programming since last March, and has found events with a  live element to be most engaging, Julie said. Currently, the library offers three or four live virtual storytimes per week. She envisions a new music program that blends that live element with the My Music Ed platform.

Deron has been very hands-on providing information and training staff, she added.

“To have that level of support form the app creator is going to be awesome,” she said.

For the founder, it’s just his way of paying it forward.

“I love what I do because someone did it for me,” Deron said. “When I was a teenager, there was music conductor named Isaiah  Jackson, then music director for the Dayton Philharmonic. It was the mentoring, the restorative conversations I had with Mr. Jackson, it was being exposed to things I’d never been exposed to before. Now, I’m reaching back and allowing students today to connect with music.”

Deron is a client of the Launch Dayton partner the Entrepreneurs’ Center’s Entrepreneurial Services Provider program, which serves to provide resources to scaleable, tech-enabled companies across the Dayton region. Gail Francis Johnson is his entrepreneur-in-residence through the program.

Deron is also an Early Riser alum — he pitched his app for community support in July 2020.

In addition to this local rollout, My Music Ed is also in the process of implementing pilots in school systems in Indiana, Illinois and Georgia.

14 Montgomery County Artists Awarded Opportunity Grants

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The Artist Opportunity Grant program, which is funded by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) and administered by Culture Works, empowers local artists to create new works and build their knowledge and skills through professional development opportunities such as workshops, residencies, and apprenticeships. Grant recipients are selected through a competitive process by an independent panel of artists, arts administrators, educators, and community leaders who evaluate each project’s potential impact on the artist’s career, potential impact on the community, and feasibility.

After reviewing applications from many outstanding candidates, the 2020-21 grant panel has awarded grants totaling $37,451 to 14 local artists to create immersive art installations, original music, virtual theatre productions, and more in the coming year.

GINNY BAUGHMAN

Opportunity: Create drawings of Dayton landmarks and develop a series of coloring books celebrating local history.

About the Artist: Ginny Baughman is a freelance artist who uses a variety of different media—including drawing, painting, chalk drawing, cut paper, and mixed media—to create both traditional and contemporary artwork. Born and raised in Dayton, she has a BFA from the University of Dayton and an MA from The Ohio State University. Ginny began her art career in central Ohio doing traditional renderings of local landmarks and then moved into contemporary artwork. Two years ago, she moved back to the Dayton area. Her work has been featured in many shows both locally and nationally, and she is looking forward to sharing her traditional artwork with her hometown through this project.

www.ginnybaughman.com

 

 

CECILIA BRENDEL

Opportunity: Complete a mentorship program with a grand master in order to further her skills in portrait and figure painting.

About the Artist: Cecilia’s professional art career took a turn from illustration art to oil painting 25 years ago. Since then, she has developed her skills by studying classical techniques combined with modern color theory to complement her own representational style. She currently serves as a resident artist at Olde Masters Galleria, where she helps to keep traditional oil painting techniques alive through workshops, private lessons, mentorships, commissions, and personal artistry.

www.ceciliabrendel.com

 

 

ZACHARY COLLOPY

Opportunity: Create an immersive art installation in the EDU Gallery at Front Street Studios using photographs, sculptures, and ceramics.

Artist Statement: “My hope is to create art that grows our collective ability to observe and cherish non-human life in our immediate surroundings.”

 

 

 

CHARITY FARRELL

Opportunity: Produce and direct the virtual premiere of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” collaborating with artists and musicians from the tri-state area and across the world.

About the Artist: Charity Farrell has been traveling the world performing professionally for the last decade. Having recently moved back to her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, she hopes to bring the lessons she learned to the local community via Virtual Venue.

www.charityfarrell.com

 

 

LEESA HAAPAPURO

PHOTO BY GARY MCBRIDE

Opportunity: Collaborate with members of the community to build a temporary site-specific art installation entitled “Bridges” at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.

About the Artist: “Leesa Haapapuro is known for the way she gets people to create art while also creating a greater sense of community,” said Bill Franz, author of Dayton at Work and Play. Haapapuro recently worked with the Kennedy Heights Arts Center in Cincinnati as the artist in (virtual) residence, developing her Garden of Hope project. Due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, all in-person workshops were replaced with online alternatives. Haapapuro plans to incorporate online engagement methods in her future work.

Artist Statement: “I use a wide variety of materials and techniques, and I work with people of all ages and skill levels to create socially engaged/collaborative community art. By sharing my interest in the process of art making and inviting participants to contribute elements to my installations, I hope to bring people together.”

leesahaapapuro.com

 

 

UMVIKELI G. SCOTT JONES

Opportunity: Create an album of original music that blends jazz, hip-hop, and classical styles and features members of the Miami Valley musical community.

About the Artist: Umvikeli G. Scott Jones is a music educator, performer, and composer. He currently serves as Director of Bands at Thurgood Marshall STEM High School and Wogaman Middle School in Dayton, Ohio.

Artist Statement: “My goal as an artist has always been to bring new and meaningful experiences to my audience. I compose and perform from the heart so that listeners may connect to the music in meaningful ways.”

 

COLLEEN KELSEY

Opportunity: Create a new body of paintings and drawings that explore color relationships in the medium of gouache and oil painting during an artist-in-residency at the A.I.R Studio in Paducah, Kentucky, in the summer of 2021. The artwork is to be exhibited at the Dayton Metro Library.

About the Artist: Colleen Kelsey is a painter and educator who has exhibited her artwork both nationally and internationally, including at the Carnegie Mellon Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center. She received an MFA in painting from American University and spent several summers studying painting at the Chautauqua School of Art in Italy. Colleen is a visual art teacher and lives with her husband and their three children in Oakwood, Ohio.

Artist Statement: “Within the paintings I aim to create an inherent light with color sensations where color is experienced psychologically. Color intensity is not determined by saturation but by the context of its surroundings. I aim to create an ideal harmony of unified or disjointed colors from the here and now in a partnership within the narrative. The narrative comes from years drawing directly from the figure and nature and explores the relationship to self, memory and family.”

www.colleenkelseyart.com

 

 

ANN B. KIM

Opportunity: Frame recent work for Build It: Artists Creating Community in Ohio, a four-person exhibition at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, curated by Erika b Hess, and complete a new body of work, which will be presented as an artist lecture through the Dayton Society of Artists.

About the Artist: Ann B. Kim is a Dayton-based mixed-media artist and art educator who is currently an Associate Professor of Fine Arts and the Chair of Fine and Performing Arts Department at Indiana University East. Born in New Jersey, she grew up mostly in Seoul, Korea, Los Angeles, and Southern Illinois before heading back out to California to pursue her art education. She has a dual BA in art history and art practice from UC Berkeley and an MFA in studio art from Mills College with concentrations in painting and drawing.

Artist Statement: “My interests include cultural migration, fusion, and clash of culture, the way we understand time, history, place, and space. Recently, I have been using the concept of antipodes to connote the sense of opposites in my work, and this interest has brought me to my current series about mapping and how we visualize the world and its implications in terms of the visual dominance we assign to places.”

annbkim.com

 

 

AMY KOLLAR ANDERSON

PHOTO BY ANDY SNOW

Opportunity: Create a large-scale, textured painting on wood panel to explore various paint layering techniques that will result in a new public art portfolio piece to be installed at the Dayton Big Brothers Big Sisters office.

About the Artist: Amy Kollar Anderson received her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and she earned a Master of Humanities, with a focus in fine arts, from Wright State University. Until recently, she was the Gallery Coordinator for the Rosewood Gallery, but she left that position to pursue her art career full-time.

Artist Statement: “The past few years have been focused on playing with materials and combining these experimental techniques with my tightly rendered narrative images. Since I spend most days in my home studio, I am thinking more about personal space and my place in the world. I enjoy layering untraditional materials such as glitter, mica, and metal foils into newly formed surfaces or investigating complex narratives that explore identity, obsession, and transformation.”

kollaranderson.com

 

 

JEREMY LONG

Opportunity: Design and print a catalogue for a solo exhibition at Bowery Gallery in New York City. The local community will be able to experience the work through a special preview exhibition in Dayton.

About the Artist: Jeremy Long was born in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1995, Long went on to receive his MFA at American University in 2000. Today, he lives with his family in Dayton, Ohio, where he is an Associate Professor teaching painting and drawing at Wright State University.

 

 

JES MCMILLAN

Opportunity: Take portrait painting lessons from two artists, with very different styles and backgrounds, in order to develop and improve the skills necessary to produce a life-size mosaic portrait.

Artist Statement: “I am a mosaic artist of 22 years with degrees in Industrial Design and Applied Arts. I love my Gem City! Through social entrepreneurship and giving I have been able to transform my artistic process to lead thousands of people, of all backgrounds, in efforts to create large-scale public works. Over the next 10 years, it is my goal and commitment to Dayton to put three sidewalk mosaics in the ground each year. One day Dayton will not only be known as a city of innovation and flight, but as a city filled with interactive mosaic games, created by the communities who live here. We have reached that goal for 2021 already as we are in production of Flight Games (Wright Dunbar), Learn to Earn HOPE gameboard (Omega Campus), and the Unity Gem (Dayton Arcade), all set for installation this summer. Look out for some epic art coming your way and don’t miss the opportunities to be a part of it all. Follow the Mosaic Institute on Facebook for more information.”

midayton.org/jesmcmillan

 

 

MYCHAELYN MICHALEC

Opportunity: Create and document work for her first major solo exhibition of textile work, which will take place at The Contemporary Dayton and be curated by Michael Goodson.

About the Artist: Mychaelyn Michalec is a fiber artist and painter working in Dayton, Ohio. She earned a BFA with distinction in painting and drawing and a BA in art history from The Ohio State University and an MLIS from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has shown her work internationally and has been awarded residencies at The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, the Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts Residency in New Berlin, New York, and The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Her work has been published in Friend of the Artist, Create! Magazine, and Art Maze. A review of her recent two-person show, Femme Maison at Houseguest Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky, was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered.

www.mychaelynmichalec.com

 

 

MARSHA PIPPENGER

PHOTO BY BILL FRANZ

Opportunity: Create a three-dimensional immersive art installation inside a 20-foot shipping container that will transport viewers to a new metaphysical place as well as challenge and enhance her artistic abilities.

About the Artist: Marsha has been active in Dayton’s arts community for more than 30 years, creating and exhibiting her colorful collages and promoting the visual arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio Northern University, a Master of Humanities from Wright State University and is a Kennedy Center certified arts integration specialist. Through Central State University, she completed independent coursework with local artist and educator Bing Davis.

Artist Statement: “I am an artist/maker. I gravitate to color and texture; papier colle, commonly called collage, is perfectly suited to my philosophy of visual expression. It is at once painting, drawing, sculpture, and assemblage. Creating values and dimensions with paper, exploring new materials and combinations of objects to create a unified whole is always an exciting challenge.

With this new work I will be layering together mirrors and mirrors in the shape of trees to create an immersive experience for the viewer. This project is inspired by the Japanese artist Yayou Kusama as well as a piece I created as an example for students in my 3D art class at Kettering College.

As an installation, it too is a combination of sculpture and assemblage only with new and different materials. It is an immersive ‘collage’ environment in which the viewer will actually walk through the space in a transformative, meditative, emotional experience. My goal is to expand not only my own artistic practice but to grow the viewer’s experience as well, allowing them a pause from their daily world and a chance to enter another kind of universe.”

www.pippengerart.com

 

 

COUNTESS V. WINFREY

Opportunity: Complete training to learn injury-prevention methods to increase the longevity of dancers’ careers.

About the Artist: Countess V. Winfrey began her dance training at the age of 11 at Wharton Arts Magnet Middle School and continued at Nashville School of the Arts before pursuing dance as a minor at the University of Memphis. Countess joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s pre-professional ensemble in 2012, which led to a professional dance career with DCDC. Since then, she has performed internationally in Kazakhstan, China, and Russia, where she appeared in two sold-out shows at the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

The Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District is preparing to for the 2021 Special Projects Grant which is administered via Culture Works. To help you prepare to submit your application,Culture Works is hosting an Info Session for the 2021 Special Projects Grant on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12 PM EST – 1:15 PM.

Register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_xPrOtDKoTL68shgmmNkW8g
The Special Projects Grant program is open to small and mid-sized arts and cultural organizations, other nonprofits, schools, colleges, universities, municipalities, and government agencies located in Montgomery County. Collectives and other unincorporated organizations may also apply in partnership with a nonprofit, tax-exempt fiscal agent. Arts and cultural organizations–and their auxiliary groups–that already receive general operating support from MCACD are not eligible to apply.

New Startup Offers Line of Sage Sprays, Healing Oils

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Spoken word poet and leader of the Dayton Urban Creative Movement Sierra Leone has long utilized smudging, the indigenous practice of burning sage to cleanse energies in a space. But there are some public spaces where it simply isn’t possible to burn sage — so Sierra and her partner, Nate Leone, developed a process to capture the energy-cleansing power of smudging and bottle it.

Sierra (left) and Nate (right) Leone Photo Credit: Launch Dayton

Sierra (left) and Nate (right) Leone Photo Credit: Launch Dayton

The couple launched Acacia Health & Wellness in late summer 2020. The new company offers a line of sage sprays, developed by Sierra, and a line of healing oils, curated by Nate.

“We’ve been making and using these products for ourselves for many years,” Sierra said. “I always wanted a clean space with me, a clean aura and presence.”

Sierra and Nate both come from a long line of healers. Nate’s great-great-grandmother was a Cherokee healer and many ancestors were preachers and faith healers. Sierra comes from a long line of nurses and caregivers. They have long run service-based businesses — Acacia Health & Wellness is their first foray into a product-based business.

“It was born out of our time at home together, something we’re doing as a family. When COVID was most harsh, working on these products became a part of science class, history class, business class for our children,” Sierra said. “The products are adding to who we are. They’re authentic, and we believe they will make a positive impact in the world.”

Different sages focus different energies — some sage works to bring positive energy, others are used only in ceremonies. Acacia’s sprays use sacred white sage, which focuses on clearing energy. They work with Native American women in California to harvest the plant so each step in the process remains sacred, Sierra said.

“We have a whole generation now that doesn’t want to suppress the energetic, spiritual side just because they can’t see it,” she said.

Sierra describes the sage sprays as an “energy freshener.”

“Set your intention and use the sprays to decrease stress, remove brain fog, unstuck energy, elevate the mood, get in a flow,” Sierra said. “In these stressful times, my customers use the spray to set positive intentions and affirmations or to clear negative energy after a tough meeting or too many Zooms.”

Sprays are misted over your head with 3-5 pumps. When clearing a room, spray clockwise in all four corners, then once in the center of the room.

Oils are rubbed into the body to accelerate healing — they have been used as far back as Biblical times to bless and heal, Sierra said.

“Reclaiming our power in a time of need has allowed us to fully develop a product that supports energy centering, inspires creativity and healing,” Nate said.

Sierra brings several cultural identities to her journey as an entrepreneur.

“I get to completely be the woman I am, born as an African American whose lineage extends beyond slavery. I get to bring a culture of innovation that is birthed from an understanding that I don’t have to live life as a fixed asset because of my ancestors’ experience. We get to be responsible for positive or negative energy that we create or leave,” she shared. “I bring a culture of knowing that we are better together. I come from a big family and I do truly believe if you want to go fast, you go alone, but if you want to go far, you go together.”

Sierra is a graduate of the fall 2020 Early Risers Academy cohort. Early Risers Academy is a free, 10-week business-building bootcamp managed by Launch Dayton partner Parallax Advanced Research. Her cohort was the first with all Black women-owned businesses.

“I have an MBA, but there is something to be said for working in an environment that is professionally supportive and culturally safe,” Sierra reflected. “Authenticity was at the forefront and welcomed. So many layers were peeled back, you didn’t have to explain or go underneath or hide or suppress. The experience is competitive, but you’re pouring out your entrepreneurial soul and you know it won’t be used against you.”

Our entrepreneur and small business coverage is powered by Launch Dayton, an organization that seeks to connect entrepreneurs to peers, resources and supporters while telling the story of the region’s thriving entrepreneurial community.

Downtown Dayton Retail Lab Welcomes First Cohort

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), along with its small business development partners, launched its first session of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab this week with a group of 11 small business owners.

 

For this 12-week program, the group of entrepreneurs were chosen out of a pool of 36 applicants to participate in a series of weekly workshops to launch and strengthen their first-floor businesses. The cohort of chosen entrepreneurs and businesses include:

 

“To launch and run a small business takes resiliency and determination and the goal of the Retail Lab is to give these business owners the support they need to take their ideas to a new level,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the DDP. “The energy of the small business community is what makes our downtown shine and attracts shoppers, diners, adventurers and more to the heart of our city.”

The Retail Lab has two main goals: continue energizing downtown with vibrant storefronts and unique restaurants, and provide a supportive pathway into the downtown market for emerging first-floor entrepreneurs. In the selection process to choose the first cohort out of 36 applications, the committee was pleased with the number of woman- and minority-owned businesses who applied. Some of the chosen businesses already have brick-and-mortar storefronts in downtown Dayton, and others are just launching their enterprises. All wanted to be a part of this program to learn and grow from a network of other businesswomen and industry professionals.

Over the coming months, the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will lead the cohort through a series of workshops, experiences, and pilot opportunities that connect the business owners to the people, ideas, capital, and resources that will help them thrive and grow in downtown Dayton. The Retail Lab leverages support from many business resource partners including The Entrepreneurs Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, Five Rivers MetroParks – 2nd Street Market, Launch Dayton, CityWide Development, and The Hub at the Dayton Arcade.

Questions about the Retail Lab should be directed to AJ Ferguson, [email protected], or call (937) 681-9793.

 

Culture Works Now Accepting Applications For Artist Opportunity Grants

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Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) invite Montgomery County artists of all disciplines to apply for funding through the 2020–2021 Artist Opportunity Grant program. The MCACD is providing $40,000 to support artists’ pursuit of professional development opportunities and the creation of new works. Individual grants will range from $500–$3,000.

Timeline:

Artists can apply through the Culture Works website from August 10, 2020 through October 9, 2020. The project or opportunity for which an applicant seeks funding must take place between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel, and funding decisions will be announced later in the fall.

Culture Works will host an Artist Opportunity Grant Webinar for individuals interested in learning more about the application process:

Artist Opportunity Grant Webinar
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Noon-1:00pm via Zoom
Register here.

 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Artist Opportunity Grant program, applicants must:

  • Be a resident of Montgomery County, Ohio, with a valid street address (no P.O. boxes)
  • Be a United States citizen or a permanent legal resident
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a professional artist or creative entrepreneur. This is defined as someone who:
    • Has specialized training in the field (not limited to academic training; may be self taught)
    • Is recognized as a “professional” by peers (artists working in the same discipline)
    • Has at least a one-year history of public presentation or publication.

Applicants should review the complete 2020-2021 Artist Opportunity Grant Guidelinesbefore beginning the application process.

 

More About the Program:

When evaluating applications, panelists consider each proposed project’s artistic merit, feasibility, potential impact on the artist, and potential impact on the larger community. Because the program is publicly funded, it’s important for applicants to make their work available/accessible to the general public of Montgomery County in some way (e.g., a performance, exhibition, presentation, publication, workshop, class).

To learn more about the Artist Opportunity Grant program, visit cultureworks.org or contact Karen Maner, Culture Works Grants Manager, at [email protected].

Call for Art: Coloring Page

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Calling all Visual Artists and/or Graphic Designers: The Downtown Dayton Partnership is looking to add coloring pages for local businesses to add to their family meal kits designed by local artists. Finished art needs to be family friendly, only in black and white, and finished size will be on 8.5×11 paper (may be scaled from original if needed). Award of $100/each for five artists. Submit a sketch idea and two images of past finished work OR final artwork may be submitted.

Submissions due July 22, 2020.

Finished artwork due by July 31, 2020. Submit via e-mail to Val Beerbower at [email protected].

Latest Urban Art Intersections Mural Completed

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s Urban Art Intersections project — a collaboration with The Contemporary Dayton — has completed its latest public art installation, a 75-foot tall colorful display designed and painted by the Dayton artist, Atalie Gagnet. The design, inspired by the geometric repetition of mandalas, also played upon the linear surroundings of the Transportation Center Garage and Convention Center, Gagnet said. “It’s all about pretty lines,” she said of the way the curved lines of her mural play off of the tall wall space surrounded by straight lines in the corners, windows, and parking garage floors nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gagnet spent several days suspended more than 70 feet above the sidewalks of downtown on a lift finishing her design and expressed her gratitude for being given this platform to share her artwork. “Public art and murals are important in our city because right now it is a worldwide phenomenon, and we can bring it right here to Dayton, Ohio,” she said. Urban Art Intersections projects are funded by the Downtown Dayton Partnership to promote downtown Dayton and engage audiences of all ages in local art. This mural was funded in part by a City of Dayton Neighborhood mini-grant. For more public art, you can take a Downtown Public Art Walk self guided tour.

Downtown Dayton Retail Lab Now Accepting Applications

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), along with its small business development partners, is inviting business owners to apply to the first session of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab, an intensive 12-week experience for business owners aiming to launch or grow their first-floor business in downtown Dayton.

 

The Retail Lab has two main goals: Continue energizing downtown with vibrant storefronts and unique restaurants, and provide a supportive pathway into the downtown market for emerging first-floor entrepreneurs, especially women-owned and minority-owned businesses.

“The small businesses that line our streets and sidewalks provide the amenities that make downtown so attractive to residents, visitors, and employers,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the DDP. “We are excited to offer the Retail Lab to support and accelerate these businesses as they emerge from the economic shutdown.”

Each round of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will provide a series of workshops, pitch events, and pilot opportunities that connect the participating businesses to the people, ideas, capital, and resources that will help them thrive and grow in downtown Dayton. Workshops will generally be held virtually and include facilitated instruction, work sessions with mentors, and occasional in-person activities with appropriate health precautions.

Eligible businesses include boutiques, shops, cafes, studios, and restaurants – any consumer business that adds to the vibrancy of downtown’s sidewalks. Applicants should either be located in downtown Dayton or aiming to launch downtown in the next 6 to 12 months. Interested small business owners can find more information, including the program application, at DowntownDayton.org/retail-lab. Applications for the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will be accepted through July 14, with the program slated to begin in August.

 

The Retail Lab leverages support from many business resource partners including The Entrepreneurs Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, Five Rivers MetroParks – 2nd Street Market, Launch Dayton, CityWide Development, and The Hub at the Dayton Arcade.

 

“Our community has an exceptional network of resources and mentors who are ready to help business owners succeed,” said AJ Ferguson, project manager with the DDP and coordinator of the Retail Lab program. “The Retail Lab assembles them into a course that will challenge business owners to make a substantial push to improve or launch their downtown store.”

 

The Retail Lab is offered at no cost for these small businesses. In addition to the support businesses receive through the workshops, each participant is eligible for up to $2,500 in professional services from creative, legal, and financial firms to advance their business.

 

Questions about the Retail Lab should be directed to AJ Ferguson, fer,[email protected] or call (937) 681-9793.

 

Round 2-Downtown Dayton Gift Card Bonus Buy Program

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As part of relief efforts to help downtown businesses navigate new operational constraints, the Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) has launched the Downtown Dayton Gift Card Bonus Buy program, offering customers an incentive to support the small businesses community in downtown Dayton. This first round, launched last week sold out in 6 hours.

For every $25 gift card purchased through the program, the DDP will include an additional $15 bonus gift card (up to a maximum of 4 bonus cards per household) to spend at another downtown business. The site will go live today at noon, Thursday, May 28.

“We know this has been an exceptionally tough year for our businesses, and want to do everything we can to support them through this trying time,” said DDP President Sandra K. Gudorf. “For every gift card purchase made, that money will go directly back to our downtown businesses.”

 

This gift card purchase bonus campaign is a way to leverage the public’s support of their favorite participating downtown businesses while helping support and promote additional downtown businesses. The DDP has set up an online ordering system where customers select which participating business they’d like to purchase a $25 gift card from. With each gift card selection, the DDP will offer a bonus $15 gift card to a surprise downtown business, up to a maximum of 4 bonus gift cards per household. All gift cards will be mailed to customers within 30 days of purchase.

 

More than 60 downtown businesses, including restaurants, coffee shops, salons, retailers, bars, and arts and entertainment venues are participating in the program. Gift cards can be purchased at www.DowntownDayton.org/BonusBuy starting today. The number of available bonus buy gift cards is limited, and the program will continue until the fund is exhausted.

 

“We have seen the tremendous support the Dayton community has already given to their favorite downtown establishments, and we hope our gift card bonus buy program will be another way patrons can show restaurants, bars, salons, and retail shops even more love,” Gudorf said. “The $15 bonus gift card will encourage downtown enthusiasts to explore new businesses, which further supports our mission at the DDP to promote our downtown in creative ways.”

 

Those who wish to make bulk (more than four) gift card purchases, or companies that would like to donate to support the gift card bonus buy program should contact Laura Woeste at [email protected] or call 937-224-1518 ext. 229.

Epic Do-It -Yourself SuperBowl Wings

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San Fran Chinatown Wings

We have 2 epic wing sauce mix suggestions – one represents the CHIEFS and the other represents the 49ERS !
You can serve them both at your Super Bowl party …..

And the best part … IT IS EASY !!!

Chicken Wings are a popular Super Bowl Food Adventure and we have a do-it-yourself recipe that leaves more times for football and less time in the kitchen.

Best to fry the wings and set them in the oven on warm and toss them in sauce just before serving …

We have two recipes the BIG RAGU  swears by for this Super Bowl party:

Cutting the whole wings

KANSAS CITY BBQ HOT WINGS and SAN FRAN CHINATOWN WINGS

Both are unique and fun flavors and you can tweak it your own liking and experiment with flavors, but these are simple.

INGREDIENTS:
Pack of 24 Fresh Whole Wings in the meat department (fresh not frozen)
Salt
Pepper
Large Bottle Vegetable oil
1 cup of flour (optional)

Putting crispy wings into the sauce

COOKING THE WINGS:

  1. Fill Deep Fryer 2/3rd up with vegetable oil and heat to 425 degrees.
  2. Use paper towel to dry off wings or you can lightly coat them with flour
  3. Cut the whole wings in half on the joints to render 48 total pieces (flappers and drums)
  4. Season with salt and pepper
  5.  Drop 8 wings at a time into the fryer for 9 minutes or until crisp and golden brown
  6. Place on cookie sheet and put in oven on warm until close to party serving
  7. When ready to serve, toss wings in a bowl of your favorite sauce

 

SAUCES:

Kansas City BBQ Hot Wings


KANSAS CITY BBQ HOT SAUCE
8 TBS Montgomery Inn BBQ Sauce
1 TBS Sriracha Sauce
1/2 TBS of Ground Red Pepper
Mix and toss wings in this …

 

SAN FRAN CHINATOWN SAUCE:
6 TBS of “Soy Vey” Teriyaki Sauce (available at Walmart)
2 TBS of Peach Preserves
Mix and toss wings in this.

 

Have some celery, carrot sticks, ranch and bleu cheese on hand to compliment your wings.
Have a great time at your do it yourself, Superbowl Wing Party and Food Adventure.

Please visit Dayton Most Metro each and every week for an exclusive article from the Food Adventure Crew.

Do it yourself wings

Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then join us on Facebook HERE

15 Food Related Things You Don’t See Anymore

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Car Hops on Roller Skates

As decades go by the restaurant industry changes and adapts.  Some things like good service will always be a goal, but other things fade away into oblivion.  Today The Food Adventures Crew have compiled a list of things you dont see in Dayton restaurants anymore.

 

— CAR HOPS ON ROLLER SKATES:
Back in the day in Dayton, these waitresses were all over the place.  From Frosties Rootbeer Stands in Dayton and Fairborn to Frischs, A & W and others.  You just dont see car hops with Roller Skates anymore.  We suspect trips falls broken bones and insurance liability to be the culprits.  There is also the fact that roller skating seems to be somewhat of a lost art.

 

— MATCHES AT THE BAR WITH RESTAURANT LOGO:

Dont see this much anymore


Nearly every dinner club had them at the bar.  The pack or box of matches with the restaurant logo, address and number on the cover.  The public smoking ban put an end to those “amenities” years ago.  You would be pressed to find a restaurant that sill has them.

 

— TANG:
Before the days of energy drinks, there was Tang.  Billed as the “drink of astronauts,” this was a popular orange powdered drink in the 60’s and 70’s.  You hardly see it anywhere today, when it used to be a household item.  Oh how the times and Americana have changed.

Tang

— PDQ CHOCOLATE DRINK MIX:
This was a sister product of ovaltine and was sold as the “healthy” chocolate milk drink with vitamins, and nutrients.  The mix were small chocolate pellets that would dissolve in milk and the taste was fairly good.  PDQ stood for “pretty darn quick.”  We have not seen one o these mixes in decades.

 

Candy Cigarettes

— CANDY CIGARETTES:
The health boom in America put an end to this politically incorrect candy.  Usually sold in a box to mimic cigarettes, these sugar sticks even had a red tip on the end so it looked like your cigarette was lit.  We had not seen these in years, but found some in Kettering at K & R Pretzel Bakery along with other vintage candies.

 

— KIDS DRINKING OUT OF THE BACKYARD HOSE:
Is it us, or do you never see a line of kids playing outside, waiting to get a sip of water from the garden hose anymore?  A common site before the turn of the century, this was not an uncommon site.  We chalk this one up to cleanliness and the growth in irrigation systems.

 

Jello Cake

— JELLO SALAD / JELLO CAKE:
This was a popular dessert in the 60’s and 70’s but it never seemed loved even then.  Sometimes the salad aka jello cake came with fruit embedded inside, sometimes not.  Most of us cringed when these items were brought to the table, but we are sure there were a few fans of these out there somewhere.

 

— AMBROISA DESSERT:
A dessert that was all over the 70’s and early 80s was this coconut, fruit and whipped cream dessert.  If you were at a party during this time frame, the percentages were good that you were going to see this dessert come out.  Cold, yet creamy and fruity, it was a refreshing lite bite.

“Doggie Bags” and “Peoples Bags” are no more

 

—  “DOGGIE BAG” or “PEOPLE BAG” for LEFTOVERS:
Remember when restaurants would ask you if you wanted a doggie bag?  Many patrons would take bones or leftovers back to their pets, especially from steakhouses.  Some steakhouse mocked the trend by offering a “people bag.”  Either way, you dont here these terms anymore today.

 

— FONDUE:
Fondue was a cheese dip appetizer served in a hot pot that was popular on party tables, especially the early 1970’s.   The cheese was hot and melted in a pot, while long thin forks were used to dip meats and other items into the cheese.  it was considered “swanky” back in the day.   Fondue sets were so popular in the 60’s and 70’s that most every couple had one on their wedding registry.  Today, they are almost extinct.

 

Fondue

—  GUM CIGARS:
Long slabs of chewing gum with a paper cigar ring around them were all the rage with kids in the 70’s.  The stigma of smoking and kids, and the politically correct police have made these pretty much non-existent.  They usually came is 3 or 4 colors and were huge pieces of gum at a great price.

 

— TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE:
A source of horror for many kids, this was a popular dish, made by mom or grandma.  Whether a holiday or just a family dinner, this dish could strike fear in the hearts of kids everywhere.  Most families on a budget with the inflation of the mid 70’s turned to this cheap alternative to feed the massive family.  It is dinner time! Bread crumbs, cheese, tuna and noodles anyone ?

 

— SUGARY KIDS CEREAL BRANDS:
Remember the days of Count Chocula and Boo Berry?  How about Cookie Crisp, Honeycombs and Super Sugar Crisp?  From Fruit Loops to Waffle-o’s, many 80’s flash in the pan sugar cerals were named after TV shows of movie characters.  Thankfully for kid’s teeth. those cereals are not mainstream anymore.

You aren’t cool until you have one of these

 

— RESTAURANT CREDIT CARDS:
Go ahead and put it on my account, the suave businessman of 1978 said to the waiter as he passed them a car that said ” The Paragon.”  This was no regular credit card, this was a status symbol and popular at the fancy restaurants, including The Pine Club.  We don’t see these house accounts much anymore, but there was a time that if you were a somebody if these were in your wallet.

 

Rock Candy

— ROCK CANDY:
These were like a science experiment.  Someone taught someone and the next thing you know kids were making this crystal candy at home with their parents or just buying  it at candy shops (another thing you don’t see much anymore).  This was also typically kids first experience with a “hot spicy ” food as the cinnamon flavor could sometimes come out too hot and light up your mouth.

 

— THE EASY BAKE OVEN:
It used to be every girl wanted one and every brother wanted to sample the cake or brownie baked in this contraption.  It was almost too good to be true.  Kids were told you could make your own desserts in this “Easy Bake Oven.” Are you telling me I can make brownies and cake in this little conveyor belt oven that uses heated bulbs to cook with?  Other family members usually got involved, especially when it was time to sample the baked goods.

Iconic Toy of yesteryear

Honorable mention items include : Nestle Quik Chocolate Milk Mix, Pop Rocks, Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Kool Aid.

Well there you have it, a few fun flashbacks to days of yesterday.  Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE?  We are Dayton’s go to food blog since 2008.  Come back each and every week for an exclusive article right here ONLY at Dayton Most Metro.

Drinking out of the hose

PDQ drink mix

 

Ambrosia

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Cereals

Cookie Crisp

New Menu Items at Smokey Bones

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Burnt Ends Appetizer

Smokey Bones on Miller Lane is kicking off the new year with an updated menu. New selections for 2020 include some comfort food favorites.

Smokey Bones is looking forward to an exciting year.  They are overhauling the menu and getting to the core of great BBQ and Grilled Steaks.  Stay tuned for more innovations, on old classics.  Expect more menu additions later this year.   The changes are inspired by Corporate Chef Howard Kleinberg, a veteran barbecue restaurateur and former Chef at Shula’s Steakhouses.

 

NEW MENU ITEMS:

BURNT ENDS APPETIZER:

Fried Bologna Sliders

Flavorful pieces of meat cut from the “point” half of a smoked brisket. These are quintessential barbeque, using a secret in-house blend of rubs created by Smokey Bone’s Pitmasters extraordinaire.  $12.99

 

SMOKED BOLOGNA SLIDERS APPETIZER:
New take on an old favorite, so savor this flavor.  Thick cut bologna slathered with Carolina barbecue and served on a slider bun with coleslaw and a pickle.  $8.99

 

HOUSEMADE BBQ CHIPS APPETIZER:
 A big serving of house-made chips seasoned with Smokey Bones’ signature barbecue seasoning and served with a trio of dipping sauces (chunky blue cheese, barbecue, and chipotle ranch). It is a nice kic

BBQ chips

koff to a meal  $9.49

 

TENDERLOINS MEDALLIONS APPETIZER:
Twin 4oz Tenderloin Medallions, grilled to order and served with red wine sauce and a choice of two regular home style sides. This is the deluxe stuff and the quality is there.  $26.49

 

SKILLET CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DESSERT:

Twin Medallions

Gooey and freshly baked, this dessert is a warm end to your meal.  House-baked, and served with vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate topping, you will be in heaven.

 

Smokey Bones will continue to serve their premium meats smoked in-house daily as well as fire-grilled burgers, steaks and salmon.  They sill offer their famous barbecue ribs, hand-pulled pork, beef brisket, slow-smoked sausage, barbecue chicken, or sliced turkey.  Signature sides include like the barbecue baked beans, creamy cole slaw or fire-roasted corn.   Of course they have their beer, wine, hand-crafted cocktails and dessert selection too.

 

Skillet Cookie

ABOUT SMOKEY BONES:
Dayton’s Smokey Bones Restaurant is located at:
6744 Miller Ln, Dayton, OH 45414
Hours are 11am -2am everyday

Smokey Bones Fire & Grill is a full-service restaurant  in 61 locations across 16 states. They brunch, lunch and dinner and have a full-bar featuring more than 40 bourbons and whiskeys, 40+ beers and signature, hand-crafted cocktails. Known for their Barbecue, it is slow-smoked, fire-grilled and available for dine-in, pick-up, online ordering or catering delivery. Headquarters are in  Boca Raton, Fla.- based Sun Capital Partners.  sister restaurants include Boston Market, Friendly’s, Johnny Rockets, and Bar Louie.

Free 10 Week Class to Help you Launch Your Business

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The Early Risers Academy pre-accelerator program, designed to take participants from business idea to launch within 10 weeks, will kick back off in January 2020.

There are six cohorts slated for 2020, three of which are industry agnostic — any team or individual with an idea for a business can apply. Two of the cohorts will focus on entrepreneurs with ideas for tech-based businesses. The final cohort will be for students who are in between their senior year of high school and their freshman year of college.

One graduate from each cohort will win $1,000 to infuse into their business.

“2020 is the beginning of a new decade, and in this new decade, we are intentionally carving out space for minority founders and business owners to access resources that help build solid foundations and provide hands-on support in order to create successful businesses,” program manager KeAnna Daniels said. “We are committed to reaching non-tech and historically under-represented founders who haven’t always felt seen in Dayton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The dates for each cohort are as follows:

• Jan. 14 – March 17, 2020 — general
• Feb. 5- April 8 — tech-based
• April 7 – June 9 — general
• June 3 – Aug. 5 — student
• Aug. 26 – Nov. 4 — general
• Oct. 6 – Dec. 8 — tech-based

The Early Risers Academy pre-accelerator application will be open on a rolling basis. Applicants should indicate which cohort they want when they apply. Up to six places are available in each cohort.

Cohorts will meet for 10 weeks, with in-person meetings on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:30p in the Nucelus Coworking Space in the Kuhns Building, 15 W. 4th St, Dayton. Applicants should be able to commit at least 4-6 hours per week to coursework for the duration of the academy.

“Our ideal applicants are aspiring entrepreneurs with solid ideas that they have given some real thought to and have begun to asks themselves the hard questions regarding its feasibility,” Daniels said. “We particularly want to know that they have skin in the game and are committed to making their idea work, even if they have to pivot. We are looking for aspiring founders who are looking to take action.”

Participants will spend those 10 weeks moving from idea to founding a business through coursework from the Kauffman Foundation, the country’s preeminent entrepreneurship-building organization. Aspiring founders will receive pitch coaching and hands-on mentoring, weekly discussions with successful entrepreneurs and experts, access to Dayton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, & alumni support after graduating the academy.

Graduates who pursue business launch will also have a chance to pitch for a $1,000 grand prize at the conclusion of their cohort’s programming. Pitch events will be organized with Launch Dayton, a collaborative effort to connect entrepreneurs to peers, resources, and supporters, and to tell the stories of our region’s thriving startup community.

Apply here.

This pre-accelerator is supported by The Entrepreneurs Center & Wright State Research Institute, collaborators on the region’s Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) grant which is funded by Ohio Third Frontier.