Today we attended the Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation's State of the Vision breakfast. It was filled with people from all walks of business and life. The common theme for everyone in the room was the belief in our area, the companies, and most importantly, the people that operate and run those businesses daily.  Amy Sealts and her team did an excellent job connecting the community and businesses.

I furiously took notes, trying to keep up with all the different avenues the chamber could help support our business partners to grow and thrive. The business growth in some of our manufacturing facilities is fantastic. We heard from Kurt Kroplin about  Whirlpool and its expansion into premium refrigeration. They've already built one for a very high-profile musical couple.  We heard from Michelle Rabe, who started her own business in pursuit of doing something that followed a dream. She opened her business: Woman of War Smokehouse. She is a wholesale smoked fish operation catering to restaurants. She had a goal and decided to pursue it. It was inspiring to hear her talk about the steps she took to leave her years in finance behind to open this warehouse. We listened to Bob Lennon, Silgan Plastics, talk about how their high-tech improvements wouldn't put people out of jobs but would add a few more employees. Their approach echoed throughout the morning, which involved investing in the people who work with them daily. Their employees will learn how to work on these machines and run a smooth and efficient operation with them.

We then met Jason Duff, Small Nation Founder, and CEO. His passion for small-town America, especially Northwest Ohio,  bars none.  He not only helped forge this idea that small-town America can come back to life, but he also lived it daily.  His passion for the businesses that opened in Bellefontaine is beyond what I would have imagined. If the pizza shop needs pizza makers on a Friday night, he's there making pizzas. Because success matters to him not just on a professional level but, more importantly, on a personal level, he's invested in the growth of those business owners who took a chance and said yes. He encouraged the room to dare to be different and to take a chance. If someone says no, then ask the question again in different ways until they say yes.

There was so much more that he shared, but the thing I took to heart the most is that our community is comprised of the risk takers, the dare to be different business owners, and people who heard no a hundred times before they heard yes. We all want that spot to hang out with friends on a Friday night after a long week. A place to go with the kids after a game. Somewhere to enjoy brunch on Sunday. We all want our hometown to be what we wanted it to be.

So what is your dream? If you heard yes, instead of no, would you be ready to take the next step? Amy Sealts and her team are prepared to help you do just that. We are right there to help as well. To help our area continue to grow and become the vibrant small town people love to visit and shop in.  It's there; we're on the cusp of it. Can you feel it?