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Taylor Helbig – Guest Experience Manager

Please join us in welcoming Taylor as our new Guest Experience Manager at Visit Canton!

In this role, Taylor will lead guest-facing initiatives that bring our destination to life—supporting events, community outreach, and creating memorable experiences for visitors and residents alike.

Taylor is a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Performance and a minor in Psychology. She brings a background in social work, fitness instruction, and personal training - driven by a passion for helping others and creating positive, engaging experiences.

A North Canton resident, Taylor’s favorite local spot is Walkie Talkie Coffee, and she’s excited to dive into events, build new relationships, and explore even more of what Stark County has to offer.

Please join us in welcoming Taylor to the Visit Canton team! Feel free to connect with her at TaylorH@visitcanton.com.

Please join us in welcoming Izzy as our new Client & Guest Engagement Coordinator at Visit Canton!

In this role, Izzy supports the Sales & Service team through event activations, sales administration, and client communications, while also serving as Manager on Duty for Guest Service Specialists at our Welcome Centers.

A Canton native, Izzy is a graduate of Malone University and recently earned his M.B.A. in Sports Management. He brings a strong passion for community engagement and creating positive visitor experiences.

Currently living in Massillon, Izzy’s favorite local spot is the Foreverlawn Sports Park at Hall of Fame Village. He’s excited to connect with current partners, welcome new ones, and help showcase all that makes Stark County a great place to visit.

Please join us in welcoming Izzy to the Visit Canton team! Feel free to connect with him at IsrraelM@visitcanton.com.

Encourage Your Interns to Step Into Stark

The Step Into Stark Intern Development Series is a unique opportunity for interns and emerging professionals to connect with local leaders, explore career opportunities, and discover why Stark County is a great place to live, work, and build a future.

We encourage our Visit Canton partners to share these opportunities with your interns, seasonal employees, and young professionals. The series is designed to connect Stark County's business community, showcase the region's assets, and help emerging talent build meaningful connections throughout the county.

Upcoming Sessions:

📅 June 24, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Step Into Stark: Emerging Talent Luncheon
Connect with business and community leaders while learning more about career opportunities throughout Stark County.

📅 July 8, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Leadership Development: Gallup Strengths Assessment & Training
Participants will gain valuable insight into their strengths and learn how to leverage them for personal and professional success.

📅 July 22, 2026 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Discover Downtown Interactive Walking Tour
Experience Stark County through a guided exploration of Downtown Canton while learning about local businesses, attractions, and community development initiatives.

Help your interns make the most of their summer in Stark County and click here to learn more and sign-up for all of the programming.

This summer, Visit Canton is out and about regionally and across Stark County! From fairs and festivals to sporting events and community gatherings, we’re excited to connect with visitors and showcase our amazing destination partners along the way.

Do you have giveaway items or grand prize items you’d like to share?

🎁 Got leftover giveaways taking up space?

🎫 Want to promote a gift card or new experience?

🙌 Want visibility at events but don’t have staff to attend?

We’d love to feature your organization! Items may be used as prize wheel giveaways or as grand prizes at events all summer long.

Reach out to Taylor Helbig, Visit Canton Guest Experience Manager at taylorh@visitcanton.com to participate and coordinate a pick-up.

📅 Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
🕓 Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Gervasi Vineyard- Villa Grande Building

Join Visit Canton and the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance (ORHA) for the Canton Community Dish - an interactive networking and professional development event for restaurant and hospitality operators.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THE EVENT

Hosted at Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa in the Villa Grande, the event will feature a special welcome and conversation with Scott Swaldo, followed by collaborative table talks focused on industry trends, operational challenges, and resources to help hospitality businesses succeed during the busy season ahead.Light bites and refreshments will be provided by Visit Canton, and attendees are invited to continue networking afterward at The Still House at Gervasi Vineyard.

All restaurant and hospitality operators from Stark County, Akron, Canton, and neighboring communities are welcome to attend.

Have a question about the day? Reach out to Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance Northeast Ohio, Lauren Simon, lsimon@ohiorestaurant.org.@ohiorestaurant.org.

📅 Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 Location: MAPS Air Museum

Strengthening Stark County’s Nonprofit & Charitable Organizations

Join us for Charitable University, an important training opportunity for board members, staff, volunteers, and leadership of Stark County nonprofit and charitable organizations presented by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Admission is free to attend this event, but advanced registration is required by June 8, 2026.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THE EVENT

The training will cover topics including:

• Board governance
• Government filings and recordkeeping
• Financial activities
• Fundraising best practices

The evening’s training will be led by Beth Short, Director of Charitable Outreach and Education for the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section. Participants will receive completion credit through the Charitable University program, with recognition listed on the Attorney General’s website.

The Stark County Federation of Conservation Clubs, Stark County Local History Group, Visit Canton, and MAPS Air Museum are proud to host this collaborative community training opportunity.

Have questions about the event? Reach out to Lynette Santoro-Au, Charitable Outreach Coordinator – Charitable Law, Office of Ohio Attorney General at Lynette.Santoro-Au@ohioago.gov

📅 Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
🕓 Time: 12:00 PM
📍 Location: VIRTUAL

Visit Canton Partner Huddles are quarterly gatherings designed to share important destination updates, provide tools and resources for our partners, and highlight opportunities for continued collaboration across Stark County. These sessions also offer a space to connect directly, ask questions, and stay aligned on initiatives that strengthen our communities and visitor economy.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK

During this upcoming Huddle, we will also be walking through the Partner Insights Survey and inviting partners to share their feedback in real time. We encourage you to review the questions ahead of time and come prepared with your ideas, perspectives, and insights to help shape future programming and partner opportunities.

Have a question about the Partner Huddle? Reach out to Allison Gromofsky, Senior Manager, Community & Partner Relations, allisong@visitcanton.com.

REMINDER! It's time to submit your ad for the Visit Canton 2026 fall/winter Travel Guide (distributed September 2026 - February 2027).If you purchased an ad in the current spring/summer 2026 Travel Guide, you may update your ad at no charge for the fall/winter guide, or you may pick up the same ad to run again. PLEASE CONFIRM BY MAY 1st.

Please respond via the online portal >> https://glstudios.com/visit-canton-2026-artwork/Any questions, contact Megan Stimac mstimac@glstudios.com.*SPECIAL EVENTS*

Promote your fall and winter events in the guide & online with a Special Event Feature Listing in the Calendar of Events special section for $550 or two events for $950 (save $150). Contact Nichole Cardinale ncardinale@glstudios.com | (330) 265-8665 to reserve your event listing.

Canton Community Dish
Monday, June 8 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Gervasi Vineyard - Villa Grande Building

Charitable University
Tuesday, June 16 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | MAPS Air Museum

Visit Canton Partner Huddle
Thursday, June 18 at 12:00 PM | Virtual

Find out more information and register to attend.

Visit Canton’s Grant Programs provide funding to support events, projects, and initiatives that attract visitors to Stark County. Applications for 2026 projects open September 10th, giving partners the chance to strengthen tourism impact and create memorable experiences. Learn more about eligibility, criteria, and how to apply on the Visit Canton Grant Landing Page.

2026 Cultural Tourism Grants

The ArtsinStark/Visit Canton Cultural Tourism Grant program will invest up to $200,000 in 2026 to support arts and cultural events, programming, and marketing initiatives that drive regional visitation and visitor spending.

Grant Program Highlights:

• Competitive awards of up to $20,000 per project (max $20,000 per organization per cycle).

• Projects must increase attendance from outside Stark County, enhance events with arts & cultural elements, and foster collaboration.

• Applications must be submitted 90 days before project execution; projects must be completed in 2026.

2026 Event Support Grants

Visit Canton’s Event Support Grant program is designed to increase regional visitation and economic impact through visitor spending by supporting sporting events & tournaments, conferences, professional meetings, expos, and complementary experiences tied to qualifying events.

Grant Program Highlights:

• Events must have a minimum commitment of 125 Stark County hotel room nights and/or 400-day visitors from outside of Stark County.

• Competitive awards of up to $10,000 per event, pending available funds.

• Applications must be submitted at least 90 days before the scheduled event.

• Events must be hosted within the 2026 calendar year.

Business and Event Listings Updates, Exploreboard Maintenance, and New Partner Onboarding: Gabe Baker, gabeb@visitcanton.com

Website Updates and Social Content Requests: Willis Brienza, willisb@visitcanton.com

Welcome Center Brochures and Travel Guide Requests: Carole Camarata, carolec@visitcanton.com

Grants, Industry Partner Programs, Marketing and Promotions Opportunities: Allison Gromofsky, allisong@visitcanton.com

The America 250-Ohio Commission website now features a dedicated landing page where you can list your community’s 2025-2026 America 250 events. Submit your events anytime using this calendar submission form to increase visibility and support statewide promotion.

Let's put Stark County on the map - don't miss this FREE opportunity! Submit your America 250 Ohio events here.

We want to see your best shots!

Whether it's a scenic view, a fun event, or your latest photoshoot, upload your photos and videos to help us showcase what makes our area a great destination.

Upload Directly to Visit Canton, or use the submission further down this page!

Have you been featured in the news? Let us know!

• Partner Benefits & Industry Resources
• Event Planning Resource Guide

Visit Canton uses a technology platform to aggregate event listings from Google-indexed data. If your event is listed on Eventbrite, Ticketmaster, Facebook, or your website, it may already be listed. View the Event Guide for more information on the automation process.

If you prefer to submit your event manually, please submit event details here.