Public invited to provide input on Tiffin Community Kitchen
Seneca County Common Ground is proud to announce Emily Riehle as its first-ever Executive Director. With over a decade of experience in community education, event coordination and grant management, Riehle brings a wealth of expertise to the organization. Her leadership will guide Common Ground in its mission to support local food and agriculture while expanding educational opportunities and access to fresh, local food for residents of Seneca County.
“It is an honor to lead Seneca County Common Ground,” Riehle said. “I look forward to building on our successes and ensuring the Tiffin Community Kitchen and other programs fulfill their potential to positively impact our community.”
A centerpiece of Common Ground’s initiatives is the Tiffin Community Kitchen, a teaching kitchen designed to provide educational opportunities for residents of Tiffin and Seneca County. Groundbreaking for the facility has already taken place, marking a significant step toward creating a space that will connect local growers and businesses with the community through cooking classes, workforce training and shared meals.
The Tiffin Community Kitchen project is made possible through the generous support of key sponsors, including the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, Alan and Loretta K. Kaplan, Mercy Health, the National Machinery Foundation, Tiell Financial Group and The Tiffin Charitable Foundation’s White Family Charitable Fund. Their contributions have been instrumental in advancing the development of this community-focused initiative.
To further support the Community Kitchen and expand its programming, Common Ground is applying for a USDA Rural Business Development Grant. This grant will enable the organization to provide additional training opportunities, workshops and resources to residents and businesses in Seneca County. To ensure the grant reflects community needs, Common Ground is gathering feedback through a public survey.
Community members are encouraged to share their input on the types of classes and training they would like to see at the Tiffin Community Kitchen. These could include ServSafe certification, leadership development, cooking classes, meal planning, marketing, customer service and more. To fill out the survey and contribute to the future of this exciting initiative, visit https://tinyurl.com/CommonGroundGrant.
As part of Common Ground’s broader mission, the Kitchen aligns with the goals of the county’s Comprehensive Plan, promising economic and quality-of-life benefits for the region. While funding has been secured for the building itself, ongoing financial support remains critical to sustaining programming and expanding the Kitchen’s reach.
The Tiffin Community Kitchen also complements Common Ground’s oversight of the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market, a vital initiative that promotes the exchange of fresh, local food and agricultural products between growers and the community. Sponsored by Sutton Bank, the market supports sustainable agriculture and provides consumers with access to quality, local products while fostering meaningful connections between producers and residents.
In her new role, Riehle will lead efforts to secure additional funding, expand educational programs, and deepen the organization’s impact through collaborations with community leaders and stakeholders. Common Ground’s success is rooted in partnerships with local businesses, foundations and individual donors who share its commitment to building a stronger, healthier food ecosystem.
About Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP):
Started in 1983 as the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC), the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to driving positive economic, downtown and community development in Tiffin and Seneca County, Ohio, which consistently ranks among the top communities nationally for economic development. Learn more about the great things going on in Tiffin and Seneca County at www.tiffinseneca.org.
Created in 2019, Seneca County Common Ground is a nonprofit organization created to support local food & agriculture and promote access to and knowledge of fresh foods for Seneca County residents. Their mission is centered around supporting and improving the local food ecosystem. They strive to support local growers and producers as well as local organizations and community members through education, events, resources and connection through food. Learn more at www.SCCommonGround.org