Clermont County residents now have a single place to find local events and community-driven news. Connect Clermont has launched its much-anticipated events catalog at ConnectClermont.org, marking a major milestone in the organization’s effort to strengthen communication across the county.
The new platform brings together public events, nonprofit activities, and local news in one centralized hub. Organizers say the tool will help residents stay informed while giving businesses and community groups a direct way to reach their audiences.
The Connect Clermont home page.The idea for a centralized events calendar dates back to 2014, when civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, and residents gathered to define priorities for Clermont County’s future. That process became the county’s first “Agenda for the Future,” which outlined key challenges and goals to achieve throughout the coming decade.
Participants identified a shared problem: residents lacked a reliable, centralized source for local information. Community members consistently ranked an events and news hub as the top priority for improvement.
Connect Clermont, a nonprofit organization founded to address these needs and others, took on the project. Over several years, the group secured funding, built partnerships, and recruited volunteers to develop the platform.
With the launch of the events website, hosted by Creative Circle Media, that original goal now has a public-facing solution.
Visitors to ConnectClermont.org can access the events calendar directly from the homepage. The catalog displays a wide range of activities, from large festivals to smaller neighborhood gatherings.
Users can also submit their own events through the site. A “Post an Event” button leads to a short online form powered by EventLink. After creating a profile, users can enter event details and submit them for review.
The submission process takes only a few minutes. Connect Clermont’s editorial team reviews each entry before publishing it, ensuring listings remain accurate and up to date.
Visitors expect the tool to serve multiple purposes. Users can discover activities across the county, while businesses and nonprofits can promote events, connect with potential customers, and reach new audiences.
The new events form-fill page, powered by EventLink.Alongside the events catalog, Connect Clermont has launched a “Good News” publication aimed at covering community-focused stories.
For years, Clermont County residents have had limited access to consistent local reporting. Community members have raised concerns about the lack of coverage on everyday issues, achievements, and positive developments.
Connect Clermont aims to fill that gap with regular reporting that highlights local initiatives, organizations, and people. The publication focuses on stories that build trust and encourage community engagement across the county’s 24 municipalities.
Subscribers to the organization’s newsletter receive early access to stories, podcasts, and event listings. The newsroom publishes new content each week and continues to expand its coverage.
The events catalog and news platform rely on financial support from local partners and businesses. Several major brands, including Duke Energy and Nestlé Purina contributed funding during critical planning stages, helping Connect Clermont move from concept to launch.
That support allowed the organization to develop its editorial infrastructure and build the website.
Continued community investment will determine how quickly the platform grows. Small businesses can contribute as monthly donors, while individuals can support the effort by subscribing to the newsletter or volunteering.
Connect Clermont Community PartnersVolunteers and freelance writers have driven much of Connect Clermont’s growth. From the early planning stages to the current launch, community members have contributed time, ideas, and content to this modern mission.
Students from Clermont County high schools have supported the effort by providing story leads and local insights. Their involvement has helped the organization build a pipeline of community-based reporting. It has also provided many of them a chance to plan their own careers in journalism, content creation, and marketing.
Connect Clermont now seeks additional volunteers and freelance contributors to support its expanding newsroom. President Bob Pautke says he would like to involve more residents in telling the county’s stories and documenting local activity.
The editorial team at Connect Clermont view their work as a response to a broader challenge facing many Southwest Ohio communities: limited access to reliable, locally focused information.
Residents often rely on regional or national outlets that prioritize crime and breaking news. As a result, coverage of local achievements, events, and opportunities can fall through the cracks.
Connect Clermont’s focus on neighborhood interviews and success stories offer grounded pathways to success for many of its readers. Many non-profits in the county have limited resources to promote their services and recruit volunteers. The new platform functions as a gathering place for people of all ages to explore learning and career prospects.
The launch comes as Clermont County prepares for a busy summer season, with an increase in festivals and regional meetings. The platform will also play a role in organizing information around upcoming America 250 celebrations.
The editorial team will continue refining the site based on user feedback. Planned improvements including simplifying navigation and expanding coverage are already in the works.
They also plan to grow both the events catalog and the newsroom, with an emphasis on timely updates and the potential to add Clermont Voices where residents can submit their own journalistic or creative projects for republication.
For now, the organization’s focus remains on building awareness and encouraging residents to use the platform.
Clermont County residents can access the events catalog and subscribe to updates through ConnectClermont.org. The site will continue evolving as more users add events, share stories, and engage with the platform.
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