Inspired to Keep Moving Forward
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From the desk of Harvest Foundation President Kate Keller
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We hosted the Level Up MHC community summit on Oct. 20 to celebrate Martinsville-Henry County and to explore potential solutions for challenges to growing MHC. I’d like to thank each and every community member who attended the summit, and those who helped plan and shape the activities of the day. I’d also like to thank our speakers and panelists who graciously gave of their time, talent, and expertise to make our summit an amazing experience for all.
We’ve faced a lot over the years and survived, but now it’s time for us to thrive.
Level Up MHC gave us a safe place to think about our challenges as we move forward. We heard from Dwayne Yancey from Cardinal News who provided us with a real look at our population changes and how regional perspectives could improve our outlook. Telly Tucker, president of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, led us through the beginnings of Danville’s River District and shared that persistence and partnership must underscore a solid plan of community revitalization.
Dr. Danny Avula, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, spoke about connected communities and how inclusivity makes communities stronger and more capable of advancement. Our local panelists gave us insights into the work already taking place and made us realize how far we’ve already come.
The work is far from over, but Level Up MHC inspired us to keep moving forward because there’s always work to be done. It’s time for our community to take the lessons from our neighbors and come together to develop a long-term vision for MHC. Our community deserves the best and we will never stop pushing to become a place where all are proud to call home.
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MHC Community Fun for Halloween! |
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The Harvest Foundation participated in several amazing events in the spirit of Halloween and community over the past few weeks.
The Eastman Health & Safety Fair drew hundreds of employees at the Fieldale plant to participate and find out more about organizations in Martinsville-Henry County. We are thankful for our corporate partners and all they do to support our community.
We had a great time at Uptown Trick or Treat where we gave out a whopping 350 MHC Coloring Books! The Virginia Museum of Natural History also hosted a fantastic event this past Saturday called Bonez and Booz where thousands of visitors planed carnival-style games and enjoyed live music and other entertainment.
With the addition of race weekend and other events in celebration of Halloween, our community was BUSY! We had a blast supporting local organizations.
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Dick and Willie Trail Project Receives ARC Power Grant
Funding part of $4 million in grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative
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RICHMOND, VA (October 28, 2022) – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced more than $4 million in grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative. The funding will support workforce development, community revitalization and expanded health service efforts through economic development initiatives in the Appalachian region.
“The downturn of the coal industry has impacted regional economies across Appalachia, making regional partnerships and collaborative community efforts more important than ever as we diversify the Appalachian economy,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Not only will these projects support economic growth and development in Appalachian communities, but they are in line with my administration’s 2022 Virginia Energy Plan, focusing on a more realistic and dynamic future for Virginia’s energy production and consumption.”
The Dick and Willie Passage Trail 6A Completion project was funded for $665,000. The Harvest Foundation invested $320,600 toward this project in addition to partnering with Henry County on previous portions of the trail system.
Henry County will complete the last mile of an existing 2.96-mile gap in the D&W trail, Virginia’s longest public trail, connecting neighborhoods to opportunities for shopping, dining, entertainment and the new Riverview park, as well as make improvements to the “Bike Barn,” a low-cost bike loan program that allows both visitors and residents to affordable bike the length of the trail. This project has been a longstanding regional goal, connecting to wider efforts both to promote Virginia’s regional trail system and to further foster Virginia tourism.
The ARC POWER Initiative is a congressionally funded program that helps communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production. More than $47 million in funding for 52 projects across 181 countries was made possible by the ARC POWER initiative. Since POWER launched in 2015, ARC has invested $366.6 million in 447 projects across 360 coal-impacted counties.
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. In Virginia, 25 counties and eight cities comprise the ARC region.
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VisitMartinsville Launches New Mobile App and Widget
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App available for download on iOS and Android devices
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Martinsville, VA – (October 11, 2022) VisitMartinsville is excited to unveil the official tourism mobile app for Martinsville - Henry County, Virginia, alongside a new interactive widget on VisitMartinsville.com. These digital tools were designed to ensure visitors and locals can conveniently find the information they need, even while on the go.
Designed with our partners at Visit Widget, the app and widget provide a new way to navigate the amenities that Martinsville – Henry County has to offer, such as local events, attractions, restaurants, shops, and more.
Inside both the widget and mobile app, users can view a complete list of such amenities or they can search through subcategories such as Arts & Cultural, Fishing & Boating, Specialty Foods & Farm Products, and others depending on their interests. Once the user has finalized their selections, they can start their trip with an interactive driving route, email or text their plan to themselves to use later, or share to Facebook or Twitter.
“We’re excited to launch this mobile app for our visitors and locals alike. It streamlines the trip planning experience while also providing an easy and interactive way to promote our restaurants, shops, and attractions,” said Beth Marshall, the Manager of Marketing & Communications for the Martinsville - Henry County Economic Development Corporation.
Already on your way to Martinsville - Henry County or want to be a local in the know? Download the app for your iPhone or Android and take your plan with you!
The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.
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Missed Level Up MHC?
Don't worry. We've got you covered.
Check out the keynotes and panel discussions on our YouTube page. Let us know your ideas on how we can "Level Up MHC!"
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The Harvest Foundation 20th Anniversary Documentary
Celebrating 20 Years of Serving Martinsville-Henry County
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We are thrilled to share with you our documentary celebrating 20 years of serving Martinsville-Henry County. We've seen tremendous changes in our community since our first grants cycle in 2003. There's still much work to be done, but we can all be proud of how far we've come.
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There's always something fun to do in
Martinsville-Henry County.
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Make an impact in your community. Share your HOPE.
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We welcome your voice and ideas at The Harvest Foundation.
Our general responsive grants cycle is open year-round with consideration from our Board of Directors once a quarter. Our PUP Small Grants Program is an open process with decisions made in less than six weeks. The newly announced Project Hope program is about supporting small, grassroots projects with immediate impact.
Give our office a call to schedule an appointment with a program officer.
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About The Harvest Foundation:
The Harvest Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2002 by the sale of Memorial Hospital. In partnership with the diverse people and organizations that call MHC home, we serve as a long-term catalyst, advocate, and investor to make our community a welcoming place where all can thrive. Our vision is a community where everyone shares in the promise of an MHC that is healthy, prosperous, and vibrant. To date, the foundation has invested more than $150 million in grant dollars back into the community and has an annual grants budget of roughly $10-12 million. To find out more about Harvest, visit www.theharvestfoundation.org.
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