2025 ANNUAL REPORT From Collaboration to Connection—Building Momentum Together
2025 Board Members Sarah Garrison, Executive Director James Kannedy, Board President – Design Committee Janice Supplee, Board Vice President – Promotions Committee Morgan Rubosky, Board Secretary – Economic Vitality Committee Rod Johnson, Board Treasurer – Organization Committee Stephen Ayers – Design Committee Chair Jackie Pyles – Design Committee Beki Ryan – Promotions Committee Chair Randy Strobridge – Economic Vitality Committee Chair John Cody – Organization Committee Interim Chair OUR MISSION Working together to build a vibrant and welcoming community
Table of Contents DIRECTOR’S REPORT 04 DESIGN COMMITTEE 06 ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE 08 PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE 10 ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE 12 FINANCIAL REPORT 13 IN THE NEWS 14
4 Director’s Report Sarah Garrison Executive Director, Revitalize Cedarville It’s hard to believe that Revitalize Cedarville started just two years ago. Our Board members along with those in the community have selflessly given so much of their time and efforts to bring us to this point. Groups that some thought could or would “never work together” have partnered together, working side-by-side to accomplish what could never have been done alone. We have been thrilled to see some of our efforts moving from behind-the-scenes to being visual evidence of the new trajectory our downtown is heading. From new wayfinding signs installed around the Village to growing events like Sidewalk Saturdays, Cedar Fest, and Little Town of Lights, we have made significant leaps in working towards our goals. Our residents, business owners, and those visiting the Village are beginning to reap the rewards of hours upon hours of hard work. We remain busy behind-the-scenes, partnering with the Community, Village of Cedarville, and Cedarville University to explore ways we can increase foot traffic, improve connectivity to downtown and make downtown more welcoming. Some of these are more lengthy projects that cannot come to fruition overnight. This year we were honored to have this progress recognized by being invited to present at the Heritage Ohio Annual Main Street Conference in Canton, Ohio. We were overwhelmed by the positive response of the conference attendees and honored to have had this opportunity. There could not be a more exciting time to be in Cedarville. Not only do we have the most dedicated and hardworking Board, but also the blessing of a community that has truly united in amazing ways. These partnerships are crucial to the existence of Revitalize Cedarville and are essential as we work to preserve the past and promote the future of our Village. Simply put, “it takes a Village,” and we have the most amazing Village out there. Thank you to the countless people who have made this year a success. I am humbled and encouraged by everything that has been accomplished, and I look forward to another great year together. Respectfully,
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6 Our Purpose The purpose of the Design Committee is to support community transformation within Cedarville Village by working to enhance the physical and visual elements of the downtown area while capitalizing on the unique assets that can set our commercial district apart. The committee will achieve this goal through: • Continuous assessment of current conditions and infrastructure within Cedarville Village. • Development of a comprehensive development and revitalization plan for the Village. • The provision of recommendations for action to the Cedarville Village Council in areas such as zoning, ordinances, and enforcement. Our Performance In support of our overall purpose, the Design Committee has initially focused on documenting and understanding current conditions within Cedarville. The committee has also sought to understand public perceptions and the desire for change within the village. Our four principal activities for 2025 were: 1PHASE 1 TRANSPORTATION STUDY Completed Phase I of a study of transportation conditions in Cedarville focusing on safety, accessibility, and pedestrian friendliness. This study was being undertaken in conjunction with the Civil Engineering department at Cedarville University through their senior capstone project program. A team of 6 students evaluated current conditions on the major village transportation corridors and developed recommendations for potential improvements. Recommendations were provided for the following areas: • Northern entry to village - SR-72 / Alumni Dr intersection • School zone - SR-72/Orr St/Walnut St • School zone - US-42 school exit • Firehouse zone - US-42/East St/South St intersection • Main downtown - SR-72/US-42/Xenia Ave intersection • Bike path zone - SR-72/East St/Parkview Ln • Municipal parking lot redevelopment Three of these designs were subsequently adopted by Cedarville Village council for ongoing development work. This project was presented at the 2025 Heritage Ohio conference in Canton,OH in October. 2PHASE II TRANSPORTATION STUDY BEGUN Initiated Phase II of the transportation study for Cedarville. This project will run from August 2025 through May 2026. It is again being undertaken in collaboration with the Civil Engineering Department at Cedarville University. A team of 6 students and one of the civil engineering faculty are undertaking this work. Phase II will focus on the following areas of town: • Bike path zone - SR-72/East St/Parkview Ln - detail design of the East St re-alignment with Parkview Lane. • Southern entry to village - SR-72/Turnbull Rd intersection • Village center / Subway intersection - SR-72/ US-42/Chillicothe St • Firehouse zone - US-42/East St/South St intersection Phase II will also focus on the development of traffic data through video analysis to provide solid data on traffic volumes, types, speeds, etc., as well as parking utilization and pedestrian movements. Design Committee
7 3VILLAGE MASTER PLAN PROJECT BEGUN Initiated project to develop a village master plan. This project will run from August 2025 through May 2026. It is again being undertaken in collaboration with the Civil Engineering Department at Cedarville University. A team of 6 students and one of the civil engineering faculty are undertaking this work.The project aims to provide the new village planning commission with a draft master plan document which can be refined and implemented by the commission. This will assist in guiding village development. 4VILLAGE SIGNAGE Improved village signage project. This project developed new informational signage for the village. Signs include a village map and noticeboard for businesses and local events. The visually appealing signs provide visitors and residents with clear information about opportunities in town. Installations were made at: • North end of village - SR072 opposite the gas station • Center of town - adjacent municipal parking lot on W. Xenia Ave (US-42W) • Bike path - bike path / SR-72 intersection. These signs appear to have been well received Our Plan In 2026, the committee plans to undertake the following activities: • Completion of Phase II of the Cedarville Transportation study, including recommendations to the village council on potential short-term and long-term improvements. The Phase II study will be completed in April 2026. • Completion of Village Master Plan project and provide recommendations to the village planning commission and council. The project will be completed in April 2026. • Village Master Plan - Phase II. It is anticipated that there will be a follow-on project to the current Master Plan project conducted in conjunction with Cedarville University. This project will begin in Aug 2026 and go through to April 2027. • Sidewalk development project - project to create a demonstration sidewalk segment in front of the Village Hall with the intent of establishing desired appearance and layout for the historic downtown. Volunteer Hours EXTERNAL VOLUNTEERS HOURS Transportation study - Phase I 900 Transportation study - Phase II 1,050 Village Master Plan project 1,100 Total 3,050
8 Our Purpose The job of the Economic Vitality Committee (EVC) is to identify new market opportunities for our downtown district, find new uses for historic commercial buildings, and stimulate investment in our downtown properties. The five major responsibilities of our committee are as follows: • Learn about the downtown business district’s current economic condition and identify opportunities for market growth; • Strengthen existing businesses and recruiting new ones; • Find new economic uses for traditional Main Street buildings; • Develop financial incentives and capital for building rehabilitations and business development; and • Monitor the economic performance of the district. Our Performance BUSINESS INFORMATION The Committee surveyed and gathered data about all current brick and mortar businesses in the Village at the end of 2024, and early in 2025 that information was assembled into a master list that not only contains contact information, but the data will assist in formulating strategies for business support. Additionally, the survey identified, at the time, six vacant storefronts in the downtown business district. That specific information can now be used to share with prospective business owners who are seeking retail space. Of note: As of November, one of the vacant storefronts has been purchased by a prospective business owner and another is being developed into usable retail space. A follow on to the initial business data gathering is input of that data into the Business Opportunities On Mainstreet (BOOMS) Tracker. BOOMS was developed by Main Street America in 2024 as a tool to empower communities with real-time data to tackle vacancy challenges and unlock development opportunities. Partial input of business data is complete with updates ongoing. In early 2026 the BOOMS Tracker should be updated on a regular basis and access given to all Revitalize Board Members. BUSINESS EDUCATION In 2024 the EVC made initial contact with Cedarville University’s Berry Center for Free Enterprise in hopes of engendering business training opportunities for our local business owners in 2025. Although there was no substantial follow-up from initial contact, the EVC will attempt to reestablish liaison with the Berry Center in 2026. An attempt was made early in 2025 to initiate professional business education through The Ohio Department of Development, specifically targeting woman-owned businesses. Nearly 50% of the businesses in Cedarville are woman-owned and assisting those particular businesses in getting certified by the state would open up further opportunities and resources for those businesses. A major roadblock in organizing any type of group training is the difficulty of gathering business owners in one venue at one specific time that meets the requirements of the Dept. of Development trainers. Subsequently, the EVC placed a hold on pursuing that group training and instead made connections with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Springfield (also part of The Ohio Dept. of Development). The SBDC offers FREE, one-on-one training to entrepreneurs, business Economic Vitality Committee
9 owners, wannabe business owners on topics such as Startup Assistance, Marketing Assistance, Sales Coaching, Operations Coaching, and Finance and Accounting Coaching. BUSINESS PROMOTION One major accomplishment by the EVC, in collaboration with the Design Team, was the design and installation of three Wayfinding Signs in major traffic areas around town. This project was made possible through the generosity of anonymous donors who funded $9000 of the project, with additional financial support from the Village Council and the Revitalize Board. The specific goal of this sign project is to literally point customers to the front doors of our businesses. The signs were manufactured by Massie Sign and Art and include a detailed map of the business district as well as promotional information about key events in the Village. Similar signs may be added in other high traffic areas as funding permits. An important tool in business promotion is the use of Social Media, specifically the Google Search Engine. At the prompting of the Main Street Ohio Team, the EVC confirmed that all listed businesses in the Village have claimed their free Google Page and are using it to their advantage. Our Plan The EVC will continue to update the BOOMS Tracker System with the goal of completing current data input by the end of the 1st Quarter of 2026. The Tracker will then serve as a dynamic source of information that reflects the status of businesses in real time. In parallel, the EVC will actively seek to promote the availability of empty storefronts to potential business owners and entrepreneurs. The EVC will re-initiate contact with staff at the Berry Center for Free Enterprise, as well as continue to be a conduit between entrepreneurs/ business owners and the Small Business Development Center. EVC will also continue to pursue any opportunities available to promote State certification of women-owned businesses through the Ohio Department of Development. With the recent establishment of two significant businesses at the West side of the Village (Silver Cup Water Adventures and Reddy Electric) the EVC will connect with those businesses and strive to support them however possible. As in the previous year, a final, yet no less important, goal of the Economic Vitality Committee for 2026 is to foster better communications with and among all of the businesses in Cedarville and to encourage a spirit of community cohesiveness and economic vitality.
10 The Promotions Committee, one of four committees under the Revitalize Cedarville (RC) board, exists to strengthen community engagement, elevate visibility for downtown businesses, and create shared experiences that draw residents, University guests, and visitors together. The committee includes Beki Ryan (chair) and Janice Supplee, with Executive Director Sarah Garrison participating actively in planning. Throughout 2025, the Promotions Committee focused its efforts on delivering consistent, highquality events that continued the momentum established in 2024. Strengthening the Sidewalk Saturday Experience In 2025, Sidewalk Saturday entered a new season with a refreshed brand identity, updated logo system, and a full-year poster showcasing monthly themes from April through December. The vendor footprint was elevated through a new identity, The Market at Sidewalk Saturday, that we used on social media and on the website to promote the vendors. Attendance remained strong throughout the season, with the exception of May’s weatherimpacted event. Businesses participated consistently, and most downtown shops remained open for Sidewalk Saturdays during the academic year. Fewer downtown businesses participated during June, July, and August. New partners joined our planning team and played key roles: • Anna Grace Miller provided photography and web support, enhancing online visibility. • Wes Wickline supported children’s games and activities. • Andrea Lisby took on vendor coordination and communication. Cedarville University remained a significant partner by regularly loaning games, covering the cost of all promotional materials, sending Stinger to events, and providing strong campus communication support. This year, we also adjusted the calendar for Sidewalk Saturdays. While initially attempting variations of the event in February and March, participation was low due to cold weather and the University’s spring break. Therefore, the official Sidewalk Saturday season was moved permanently to the first Saturdays, April through December, creating a more sustainable and engaging event cycle. The 2025 season featured monthly themed events, which helped with advanced planning: • April: Spring Into Cedarville • May: Bright Futures Festival • June: Heritage and Hometown Picnic, Honoring Dick Walker (Jeff Beste took the lead and compiled a small team to lead this evening’s program.) • July: Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights • August: SplashVille (Shout-out to the Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department!) • September: Cedarville Farm Fest • October: 2nd Annual Show & Shine (Scott Walker planned the car show!) • November: Great Cedarville Harvest Challenge • December: Little Town of Lights Promotions Committee
11 Expanding Community Reach Through CedarFest As one of Cedarville’s long-standing traditions, CedarFest celebrates the village’s unique distinction as the birthplace of Labor Day. In 2025, Andrea Kannedy took the lead on coordinating the event, bringing fresh energy and structure to the celebration. We also brought CedarFest under the umbrella of Revitalize Cedarville and our Sidewalk Saturday initiative. CedarFest moved onto downtown Main Street, transforming the heart of the village into a lively festival corridor. A dedicated website provided residents and guests with clear, accessible event details. Attendance was strong, and regional visibility increased significantly, thanks to Gabrielle Enright from WHIO-TV, who served as the parade emcee. These enhancements reinforced CedarFest as a signature, community-building weekend in the village calendar. Little Town of Lights: A Community Highlight A cherished tradition that marks the beginning of the Christmas season and the final Sidewalk Saturday of the year, Little Town of Lights also benefited from Andrea Kannedy’s leadership in 2025. Her thoughtful planning and strong community connections resulted in meaningful improvements and broader participation. Key enhancements included: • Santa’s station relocated to Village Hall, maximizing space and improving visitor flow. • The annual Bake Auction moved to the former pharmacy, helping distribute foot traffic and activity. • Grace Baptist Church expanded its involvement by hosting a Winter Wonderland in the old Huntington Bank, serving chili, and presenting a live nativity. • Both Grace Baptist and Restoration Church participated in the parade, adding energy and community representation. These additions created a warm, festive, and well attended celebration that brought the community together in remarkable ways. Thanks to effective social media promotion by Sasha Whitaker, CedarFest and Little Town of Lights saw increased reach and engagement throughout the region. Promoting the Great Things Happening in Our Village The Promotions Committee coordinated with Sasha Whitaker and the University’s marketing and communications division to design a “Cedarville Awaits” billboard visible as you enter Xenia on the north side of Rt. 42. Revitalize Cedarville paid the cost to print the billboard, but the billboard exposure — thanks to the outdoor billboard company’s representative Ben Ormsbee (who is also a long-time Village resident) — is being provided at no charge. The goal of the billboard is to draw visitors to enjoy the outdoor activities in Cedarville and shop and dine at our businesses. Sasha Whitacre managed a very active Revitalize Cedarville social media presence that continues to build awareness of the Board’s efforts and build positive momentum for activities within the Village.
12 Our Purpose: The job of the Organization Committee is to build consensus and cooperation between the groups that play a role in the downtown. Many individuals and organizations in the community have a stake in the economic vitality of the downtown. In our first year, this practically looked like facilitating communication between the committees and organizing reports and online tools. Volunteer Hours: The Revitalize Cedarville project could only be successful with the selfless help of dozens of individuals volunteering their time. The Revitalize Cedarville Board has monthly meetings, as well as monthly committee meetings. Board members have much more work they do outside of this and are expected to donate 8 hours a month to revitalization activities. In 2025, Revitalize Cedarville Board Members invested 2,816 hours of volunteer work. This comes out to an average of more than 23 hours per month per board member. But putting on events like Sidewalk Saturdays, CedarFest, and Little Town of Lights could not be done by the Board members alone. Many others invest their time in making these events a success. Non-Board members contributed 4,958 volunteer hours in 2025. Altogether, 7,774 hours were donated for Revitalize Cedarville in 2025. The Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism in 2024 valued volunteer hours at $32.42/hour. This means our volunteers contributed $252,033 in value to the organization! Organization Committee
13 Financial Report REVITALIZE CEDARVILLE I A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION I JANUARY 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2025 Statement of Activities Statement of Financial Position Statement of Cash Flow INCOME TOTAL Direct Public Support - Business Contributions $ 1,125.00 Direct Public Support - Corporate Contributions $ 21,773.79 Direct Public Support - Individual Contributions $ 10,536.00 Program Income - Program Service Fees $ 10,589.35 Miscellaneous Income $ 275.21 Total Income $ 44,299.35 ASSETS Cash & Cash Equivalents $ 17,077.25 Total Assets $ 17,077.25 Without Donor Restrictions $ 17,077.25 With Donor Restrictions - Total Net Assets $ 17,077.25 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING EXPENSES Cash Received From Contributions $ 33,434.79 Cash Received From Programs $ 10,589.35 Miscellaneous Cash Received $ 275.21 Cash paid for Contract Services $ (8,550.22) Cash paid for Event Supplies $ (21,497.73) Cash paid for Office Supplies, Rent $ (382.00) Cash paid for Conference, Seminars, and Travel $ (880.51) Net Cash from Operating Expenses $ 12,988.89 LIABILITIES - CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES - NET ASSETS - CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES - Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 17,077.25 Increase (Decrease) in Cash $ 12,988.89 Cash at Beginning of Year $ 4,088.36 Cash at End of Year $ 17,077.25 EXPENSES TOTAL Contract Services $ 8,550.22 Event Supplies $ 11,008.38 Office, Rent Expenses $ 382.00 Travel, Conference Expense $ 880.51 Project Expenses $ 10,489.35 Total Operating Expenses $ 31,310.46
14 The village of Cedarville — a charming community east of Dayton with a rich history — is in the midst of a major redevelopment effort, spanning from historic facilities and downtown icons to transformational projects at Cedarville University. Amidst these ongoing efforts, Revitalize Cedarville was formed, comprised of a diverse team of Cedarville residents representing different aspects of the community. The group is working together to provide a long-term vision for revitalization and an actionable plan for the village with the priority of preserving historic assets. Revitalize Cedarville highlights all areas of the village, with a focus on downtown through its monthly Sidewalk Saturdays — a community gathering featuring local vendors, live music, engaging activities and food. These efforts have brought a renewed interest into the downtown area, where two projects are now underway. The historic Cedarville Hardware is coming back to downtown after closing nearly a decade ago. Cedarville Hardware was a staple of the downtown core for over 70 years, first opening in the 1950s. The store was put up for sale after its owner, Glenn Fawcett, died in 2018. Additionally, the Cedarville Opera House, constructed in 1888, is undertaking an extensive remodeling effort. The project involves extensive renovations and restoration at the 12,600-squarefoot structure, including the installation of elevators, restroom upgrades, sound and lighting controls, video equipment, dressing rooms, woodwork restorations and much more. The Opera House is on the Register of Historic Buildings, meaning the remodeling will adhere closely to the original structure which was modeled after the Royal Albert Theatre in London, England. As a result of the remodel effort, the Opera House closed in Dec. 2024 and will remain so until the project is complete, which could take up to three years. John Cody, mayor of Cedarville, credits Revitalize Cedarville as one of the main factors driving the village’s recent boom, along with greater collaboration with Cedarville University. “With the creation of Sidewalk Saturdays, it has really helped to remind people that there is a downtown and that there are businesses down here, which is really the goal,” Cody said. “This has also helped foster a good relationship between the village and the university, and I think that’s been the biggest catalyst for growth.” As for Cedarville University, the school is currently in the process of constructing the $35 million Bolthouse Academic Center, which is From Morris Bean to Main Street Cedarville’s historic revival sparks village-wide transformation by Lauren Steen Reprinted with permission from the Dayton Business Journal, November 14, 2025.
15 scheduled for completion by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The 48,000-square-foot, three-story building will house multiple academic schools and departments, including the School of Education and Social Work and the departments of psychology, history and government as well as English, literature and modern languages. Together, these projects are helping to shape the community while preserving the village’s charm and historic identity — a goal that’s also at the heart of a major development taking shape just down the street from downtown. A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE FORMER MORRIS BEAN FACILITY The village of Cedarville was originally laid out in 1816 and officially named in 1834. Throughout the 19th century, the village saw a period of development marked by the establishment of historic landmarks such as the Cedarville Opera House, the founding of Cedarville College, and the construction of a large brick building that became home to several of the community’s leading employers. The facility at 154 W. Xenia Ave. was constructed in 1892 by Hagar Straw Board and Paper Company, which operated there for nearly five decades until World War II. Then, in 1946, Morris Bean purchased the property, renaming it Morris Bean & Co. Morris Bean, a longtime presence in the Dayton region, continued operations at the Cedarville site until 1994, when the company fully relocated to Yellow Springs. Since then, the facility has sat vacant, waiting for a new owner to come in and restore it to its former glory — an effort now underway, 31 years later. Renovations have begun in the former Morris Bean facility to transform it into the new headquarters for Reddy Electric — an electrical contractor based in Xenia. Reddy Electric currently resides in three buildings on the same property at 1145 Bellbrook Ave. in Xenia and were looking to expand but didn’t have the space to do so on its campus. Over the last few years, Rob LaFreniere — president of Reddy — had been looking for a new location for the company’s operations when he drove by the Xenia Avenue site and saw a “for sale” sign posted. As a former Cedarville resident, he was already attached to the area, and upon pulling into the parking lot, immediately had a vision for the vacant building. “When I pulled in the driveway, I just felt good,” LaFreniere said. “I’m fond of the village of Cedarville, so I’m really happy to be here.” LaFreniere purchased the building in February and construction kicked off this April to renovate the sprawling 115,000-square-foot space. Reddy will consolidate its operations into the site, providing expanded office spaces, a warehouse area, technology storage, prefab space, tool storage, and overflow space for materials. The building will also feature ample amenities for employees, including lounging areas and a fireplace, along with a kitchen and exercise room. Cedarville-based Brentwood Builders is serving as the construction manager on the project. The renovation is the latest in a long line of projects Brentwood has taken on in the village, including The Meadows of Cedarville, Creekside Condominiums and Hearthstone Inn. “A lot of the attention, growth and development that’s happening in Greene County is going to the west side, and I love the fact that Reddy is coming over here and it’s helping to balance and distribute things better,” said Joe Harkleroad, president of Brentwood Builders. “This is going to be a great thing for Cedarville.” Renovation costs were not disclosed, but the project is currently working to be classified as a brownfield site — an abandoned, idled or under-used industrial, commercial or institutional property that is complicated to redevelop. The state government awards remediation grants to certain brownfield sites each year to redevelop and clean up properties with dilapidated structures or contaminated by hazardous substances. As the site has been vacant for decades, the facility experienced significant deterioration consistent with long-term neglect, including the presence of environmental hazards and animal intrusion. These factors, combined with the magnitude of the building, presented a challenging task for Brentwood — but one they took on quickly and with enthusiasm. “This is one of the most exciting projects we’ve been involved with trying to clean up all the chaos,” said Chad Coe, vice president of Brentwood Builders. “It was daunting when we were first confronted with it, but the satisfaction in being able to take some steps forward and get it cleaned up and see the progress is exhilarating.” The project is being split into three phases, with the final phase wrapping up in 2027. “It takes somebody with a different mindset to do something like this,” said LaFreniere. “A lot of people passed this property and didn’t get that excited about it. A lot of people have given up on this place, and I don’t want to do that.”
Sarah Garrison Executive Director, Revitalize Cedarville info@revitalizecedarville.org revitalizecedarville.org Design and printing courtesy of Cedarville University Marketing and Communications and Print Services. Haley Ansiel, Designer
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