Digi Discounts: Now Backed by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Big news for Ohio entrepreneurs: Digi Discounts, co-founded by Brian Kostes and Easton Gladney, has been named the Official Digital Advertising Platform of the Ohio Small Business Council.

What makes Digi Discounts different?

• Zero fees or commissions – list your discounts for free

• Drive real customers to your store or website

• Boost visibility with exposure across 10 major social platforms

• Get featured on the Value² podcast, sharing your business story

• Use digiFREE™ tiered discounts to turn browsers into buyers

With this new partnership, every small business in Ohio can access these tools at no cost, growing sales and visibility without cutting into margins.

We wish Digi Discounts continued success in all their endeavors and appreciate them being this week’s sponsor. Easton Gladney was an early supporter of Toledo Money, thank you sir!

For media inquiries, please contact:

Brian Kostes

Director of Partnerships

📧 [email protected]

🚀 Grow your business for free → Sign up at digi-discounts.com

🌽 Cornfields to Capital Gains | The Quiet Million Dollar Industry

If you’ve driven past Levis Commons, Crossroads Centre, or the housing developments sprouting west of Sylvania and east into Oregon, here’s a fun fact: those shiny new buildings are sitting where soybeans used to grow. And the folks who owned that land? They’re not just getting by, they’re quietly becoming some of the wealthiest people in the region.

According to Ohio State University Extension, Northwest Ohio cropland averaged $10,755 per acre in 2024, up from $9,883 just a year earlier. That’s nearly triple the national farmland average of $4,170/acre (USDA NASS, OSU Extension).

Let’s put that into perspective:
A 150-acre family farm on the edge of town was worth roughly $1.48M in 2023. One year later, that same farm is worth $1.61M without planting a single extra seed. And if that land is top-quality and fetching Western Ohio’s high end of $13,935 per acre, it jumps to $2.09M. That’s a $600,000+ difference just by virtue of location and timing.

The playbook is simple but rare:

• Hold land for decades, through market cycles and bad harvests.

• Wait for the city to grow toward you.

• Sell at the right moment to developers of retail hubs, subdivisions, or even $800M data centers.

The result? A quiet shift from “family farm” to “family office”, where the business model is less about yields per acre and more about capital gains per acre.

The ripple effect is hard to miss: boosted municipal tax bases, more local construction jobs, and a new class of Northwest Ohio landowners whose wealth was grown, quite literally, from the ground up.

So next time you see a bulldozer taking down a cornfield?
You’re not just watching a building go up. You’re watching a multi-generational payday in real time.

And, if you are looking for some healthier (locally produced) foods, check out a local farm box. The food is fresh as it can get. The takeaway here, don’t sleep on your farmer friends. We will be highlighting all industries contributing to the growing Toledo economy.

Money Confessional | College Grad Found Corporate America

Age: 24
Roles: Entry Level Marketing
Salary: $58k

Meet a recent University of Toledo grad in her early 20s who just landed her first full-time role in marketing at a Fortune 500 company. She’s navigating the leap from dorm life to downtown living—learning the ropes of her new career while figuring out how to make her first “real” paycheck stretch.

🏙️ Living Situation: Renting a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Toledo.

“I wanted to be close to work and the action. It’s pricier than living at home, but I love walking to coffee shops and not dealing with a commute.”

💵 Household Income: $58K total.

She earns $58K in base salary, plus the potential for an annual performance bonus.

“It’s surreal seeing that much on paper, but once rent, student loans, and groceries hit… it’s not as much as I thought.”

☕ Favorite Splurge: Brunch and skincare.

“Every Saturday my friends and I try a new brunch spot. And I have zero regrets about spending on serums and sunscreen…future me will thank me.”

💡 Biggest Financial Worry:

“Student loans. I’m in the repayment grace period right now, but that clock is ticking. I’m trying to figure out how aggressive I should be about paying them off versus saving.”

💼 Other Income:

Occasional freelance social media work for a local boutique.

“It’s not huge money, but it’s fun, creative, and helps cover my going-out budget.”

🗣️ Toledo Tip:

“Don’t sleep on the Metroparks. Free, pretty, and the best place to get out of your apartment when you’re broke.”

📊 Net Worth: About -$18K.

That’s mostly student loans and a small credit card balance.

“It’s intimidating seeing that negative number, but I know it won’t be forever.”

📖 Budget Style:

Uses a budgeting app and color-coded Google Sheet.

“I track every single purchase. It sounds intense, but it helps me feel like I have control instead of money just disappearing.”

🌱 Inspiration:

“I want to build a life where I can afford both my bills and experiences. I’m not expecting overnight wealth, just steady growth and the freedom to say yes to the things that matter.”