MANSFIELD — Dice, pawns and prizes galore took over the Richland County Fairgrounds on Thursday.
More than 100 businesses and non-profits brought Monopoly to life, showing off services, handing out freebies and sparking new partnerships along the way.
The Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development celebrated its 19th Annual Business Expo, made possible by the generous support of nearly 30 local businesses, including Hamilton Insurance Group, American Homestead Exteriors, Heartland Design Concepts, Mansfield Speedway and New Mercy Outreach.
Expo-opoly connects local businesses with the community
The theme of the expo was Expo-opoly, a board game-inspired setup where businesses and nonprofits got creative.
Each booth offered prizes, samples, games and giveaways, keeping guests engaged all day.
Goodwill rolled out a Monopoly-themed board where guests could roll dice, move their pawns, win prizes and learn about the organization’s services.
They also displayed a full outfit for visitors to guess the cost, entering a drawing to win a gift card.
NAMI Richland County shared flyers about support groups, upcoming events and NAMIWalks, connecting guests with local resources.
Jessica Gribben, president and CEO of the Chamber, said the expo has become a cornerstone for members and local businesses.
“It’s not just about what happens in the booths,” Gribben said. “It’s really the conversations that happen around the room — which spark new ideas, partnerships and show what new products and services are out there.”
The free event allowed guests to connect with businesses and learn more about what they offer.
She called the expo a celebration for businesses across Richland County.
Jennifer Wagner, director of member services, helped kick off the event with a ribbon-cutting.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Color Guard was present as Miss Ontario Morgyn Beasley sang the national anthem before the fun-filled day began.
(Photos from the 19th Annual Business Expo. Credit: Hannah Martin)
