Ashland Main Street teamed up with a group of local entrepreneurs Wednesday to discuss the concept of keeping local money invested and in spent in the local community.
 

The free program titled "The Ashland Project: How Local Merchants Can Work Together to Slow the Money in Ashland,' was held in the Ridenour Room of the Dauch College of Business and Economics on the Ashland University campus.

The event was sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence.

Sandra Tunnell, executive director of Ashland Main Street, was the moderator for the panel of local business owners, who represented recently started businesses in the Ashland community: Kandice Thompson of Giving Earth, Megan Swanson of Whoopsie Daisy Bow-tique, Ali Amato of Clothes Minded Boutique, and Annette Statzer of Annette's Victorian Garden.

Ashland Center for Nonviolence executive director John Stratton said he hopes the discussion will improve economic opportunities in Ashland.

"The focus on local entrepreneurship and local small business ownership.  The goal is to strengthen the local community in many ways, especially by building a diverse and stronger economy," Stratton said.

Stratton said as businesses form and are successful, they offer employment opportunities and a broad range of products and services for local residents as consumers.

The panelists talked about the challenges and rewards of starting and running a small business. The panelists also talked about the importance of supporting small businesses to help boost the economy.

The Ashland Center for Nonviolence annually offers a "Creating a Caring Community" symposium in late winter and early spring.

ACN believes having a strong local economy reduces the tensions that lead to violence and supports inclusion.
 

ACN  also believes economic opportunity should be open to all, not just to large corporations and people with large bankrolls.
  

Stratton said ACN's commitment to social justice also includes a commitment to economic justice.

Stratton said last week ACN hosted a program highlighting how communities benefit from local business development. The guest speaker was Leslie Schaller, director of programs and business development at Appalachian Center for Economic Networks in Athens.