On Saturday, the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Business, Healthcare and Community Expo and Taste of Kent.

The KACC’s expo event is open to the community. The event will be hosting business owners, organizations, crafters and home-based business owners, and allows community members to see local businesses and learn more about the products and services that are in the Portage County area.

“This event allows local businesses to showcase their products and get their information about their business to the community,” Lori Wemhoff, the executive director of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “Usually 1,200 to 1,500 people attend each year and this (event) shows off the great teamwork and relations all the businesses have within the city of Kent.”

Some of the organizations and businesses that are working together to make the expo happen are Kent City Schools, Kent State Intercollegiate Athletics and the City of Kent Health Department.

This year’s sponsors include, among others, University Hospital Portage County Medical Center, The Record-Courier, Acorn Alley, Portage Community Bank, Ray’s Place, College Town Kent, Kent State Athletics and many more.

The expo also hosts the Taste of Kent, which has Kent-area restaurants, caterers and eateries that will be represented in the cafeteria. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5.

 “This is a great event, going strong for 15 years now,” Wemhoff said. “Last year we raised $1,600, and that came directly from the Taste of Kent tickets, and sponsored two graduating Theodore Roosevelt seniors.”

Proceeds from the tickets sold at the Taste of Kent will benefit the KACC’s Dan Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The expo will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Taste of Kent will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Francesa Barrett is the student finance reporter. Contact her at [email protected].