Three Ada residents accepted awards from the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance during the group’s annual meeting attended by 215 people in McIntosh Center ballroom on Thursday evening.

Honored were:  
• The R.E. Allen Lifetime Achievement Award
   The Elliott family of Mt. Victory
• Business of the Year
  Rick’s Auto Sales, Kenton
• Small Business of the Year
   235 Grill, Alger
• Citizen of the Year
   Charlotte Hamm, Kenton
• Community Service of the Year
   Crossroads Crisis Center, accepted by Deb Oestreich of Ada
• Women L.E.A.D. Professional Excellence Award
   Sheryl Haushalter, Kenton
• Young Professionals Alliance Achievement Award
   Dustin McCullough, Kenton
• Hardin County Ambassador of the Year Award 
   Kim Reisinger, Kenton

In addition, five businesses and governments received grant monies to applaud their efforts to increase safety innovation and wellness in their workplaces. They include:
 • City of Kenton - $250
​• Robinson Fin Machines, Kenton - $500
​• Village of Ada - $750, accepted by Jamie Hall, village administrator
• ​Ada Technologies - $1,000, accepted by Andrew Hiester
​• Hardin County -$1,000

ONU President Dan DiBiasio was among the speakers, saying:
1. Construction of the $30 million engineering building will begin in April.
2. Biggs Engineering Building will be renovated for the expanded use of other departments.
3. A new IT building is in the planning stages.
4. The two megawatt solar array will be expanded with another megawatt of electricity to be produced.
5. The men and women basketball teams are both advancing in the OAC tourney (both teams won later that evening and are now in the conference finals).
5. A 30-second ONU commercial, which played in Ohio markets during the Super Bowl, was shown.
Rob McColley, of Henry County, was introduced and gave brief remarks. He was recently appointed an Ohio state senator. Hardin is one of 10 counties that he represents.