Union Township — On Wednesday, community organizers and patrons gathered at RJ Paradise Pavilion in Eastgate to celebrate the launch of Connect Clermont’s public website. Dozens of professionals attended the event, where President Bob Pautke and members of the Board cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Significant planning went into developing the “Good News” publication and events catalog. While the idea of eliminating Clermont County’s news desert dates back several years, Connect Clermont took up the challenge to plan and deliver on this promise last summer.
ConnectClermont.org certifications and awards.
The Connect Clermont team began recruiting contractors and volunteers to help develop the website, with help from Creative Circle Media — a platform designed to host local news publications. Although the team of part-time contributors is small, they were able to gather the resources they needed to begin testing the publication at the end of 2025.
The website officially went public on April 22. Organizers encourage visitors to explore the local events calendar and upload their own for review.
Reporters and student correspondents were needed to keep the platform up to date with accurate, timely news. Many of these individuals attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Pautke praised them for their dedication to this unique community project.
Photo: Clermont Chamber of Commerce
State Representative Adam Bird and County Commissioners Bonnie Batchler, David Painter, and Claire Corcoran were in attendance, all of whom have been long-time supporters of the organization’s mission to improve the well-being of Clermont residents. The team received an official proclamation from Congressman Dave Taylor praising its latest milestone.
“May this new digital platform build upon past successes and continue to serve as a valuable resource for residents to come,” the proclamation stated.
Mike Canan of the Scripps Foundation and award-winning anchor Evan Millward were among the many big names who joined in this community celebration. These individuals have been respected advisors to the Connect Clermont team as the organization grows.
Clermont County Commissioners announce proclamation.
Over 20 high school students and counselors from the Navigate Content Creator Program attended as special guests. Many of these aspiring journalists submitted local news stories to the organization as part of their course capstone projects. They visited FOX-19 studios after the ceremony to learn more about careers in journalism.
The ceremony was a success due to the efforts of marketing and event leaders, Gail Koford, Bonita Palmer, Alida Hart, Aubree Story, and Alyson Best. Additionally, Grant Career Center Culinary students and catering from RJ Cinema & Pavilion provided coffee and breakfast for all in attendance.
The comprehensive launch of ConnectClermont.org was only possible with the financial and volunteer support of Connect Clermont’s Community Partners. Many of these businesses have provided generous donations to improve the speed, quality, and longevity of the new platform.
Connect Clermont Community Partners
Some of these prominent brands include:
Connect Clermont has also awarded thousands of dollars in grants to other local nonprofits as part of its broader effort to connect and elevate Good Deeds and Good Works in the community.
Attendees gather before ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The organization continues to seek volunteers and contributions to maintain the website as a free and accessible tool for all Clermont residents and beyond.
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