RAVENNA, Ohio – Efforts to strengthen downtown Ravenna and help entrepreneurs establish permanent storefronts are gaining momentum through a chamber-led initiative designed to support new businesses and create a more vibrant business district.
Those efforts were highlighted Thursday morning during a Coffee and Connections event at 7 17 Credit Union’s Ravenna branch, where local business owners and community leaders gathered to network and discuss economic activity in the city.
Ryann Cline, executive director of the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce, said one of the chamber’s newest initiatives is the Ravenna Business Launchpad, a program that functions as a small-scale business incubator.
The program was created after plans for a larger incubator proved difficult to fund. Instead, the chamber opened space in the front portion of its office and invited aspiring entrepreneurs to test their business concepts in a retail environment before committing to a permanent location.
“We’re looking to continuously expand that and grow that and bring in new businesses that can fill up those storefronts where people can come and have this and be more of a destination,” Cline said.
The goal, she said, is to provide entrepreneurs with the foundation and structure needed to open brick-and-mortar businesses in Ravenna.
The program has produced early results.
The first participant, Mark Harper, who sells autographed sports memorabilia, opened a storefront next to the chamber office within about five months of entering the program. A second participant, Rod Flauhaus, owner of Record Arsenal, also moved from the incubator space into a permanent storefront after launching earlier this year.
“So right now it’s been a success,” Cline said. “It’s two for two.”
The chamber is now seeking additional applicants interested in testing business ideas before making the leap into a permanent location.
The launchpad is part of a broader effort to strengthen Ravenna’s downtown business district and create more activity in the city center.
“I would love to see the stability within the community, especially within this downtown,” she said. “A live, vibrant downtown, staying open later, people walking, stopping into the restaurants.”
She noted that Ravenna already offers several attractions and amenities, including local shops, restaurants and the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.
“How can we bring consistent foot traffic in so that these businesses are constantly being exposed and their name is getting out there?” Cline said.
The chamber has also expanded networking opportunities designed to connect business owners and encourage collaboration.
Last fall, it launched Coffee Talks, a monthly gathering held at Horseshoe Diner. The event gives business owners an opportunity to introduce themselves, share information about their companies and build professional relationships.
Cline described Ravenna’s business climate as diverse and supported by a solid mix of employers.
The city is home to manufacturers, trades companies, restaurants, retail establishments and locally owned businesses. Major employers include University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, Allen Aircraft Products and Parker Hannifin.
“We have a good foundation, a good makeup,” Cline said. “There’s a lot of amazing people, a lot of great businesses within the Ravenna community.”
The Coffee and Connections event itself reflected that emphasis on collaboration.
Hosted by 7 17 Credit Union in partnership with The Business Journal, the gathering brought together business owners from a variety of industries for networking and discussion.
Brian Williams, senior vice president and western market executive for 7 17 Credit Union, said the event aligns with the credit union’s focus on community engagement and relationship building.
“You all are our members, or we hope you will become our members soon,” Williams said. “As our members, you all own the credit union, so it’s important that we listen to what you have to offer and to what you’re doing.”
Williams encouraged attendees to use the event to learn about one another’s businesses and identify opportunities to work together.
The morning concluded with remarks from John Demmler, CEO of 7 17 Credit Union, who said the event reflects the credit union’s focus on building relationships within the communities it serves.
“You know, we talk a lot at 7 17 that we are not about transactions – we are about connections,” Demmler said. “I think the greatest value from these is the opportunity to connect.”
Pictured at top: Ryann Cline, executive director of the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the chamber’s efforts to revitalize downtown through its Ravenna Business Launchpad program.