When it comes to economic development,

we think about the 'Why'

From the desk of Harvest Foundation President Kate Keller

This month we announced another large investment in the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre. Our $6 million investment, along with a $22 million investment from Virginia’s Business Ready Site Program and additional funding from local municipalities, will prepare the 200-acre site known as Tract 2 for a large manufacturing business. 

The types of businesses looking at this site will bring a significant number of livable wage jobs and increase the tax base for the city and the county (they share the tax revenues, in case you didn’t know).

Traditional economic development has been a cornerstone of Harvest since our inception. The Foundation was founded in 2002 and if you were living here then, then you know the economic strife the community faced. 

Over the years, we’ve been successful at recruiting businesses to locate in MHC, so along with the new jobs and the current economy, we have really low unemployment. That is one way to look at economic development — it’s all about jobs and taxes.  

But the real way to look at economic development is to think about the why. What do those things make happen? Parents with livable wage jobs can secure housing and food. They can provide a higher quality of life for themselves and their families. More jobs mean we need more infrastructure (restaurants, hair salons, hotels, entertainment), which again increases the quality of life for the community.  

An increased tax base should not only support physical infrastructure, like roads and bridges but also our schools. We need the additional tax base to invest in our kids and provide them with the quality education they deserve. A higher tax base also supports the development of recreation, like parks, trails, and a healthy river.  

The focus on jobs isn’t just about the jobs, but the ability to improve the quality of life for everyone in MHC. We will continue supporting job growth, but with all the success we’ve had, we get to focus on some really fun things that continue to make MHC a great place to live and work. 

Applying for a Project Hope 2023 grant? 

We've got you covered.

Watch the virtual training session below to learn more about The Harvest Foundation's grants management system, how to complete a project budget, and more about filming an optional video submission. We're here to support you — Let us help!

'Rooting for the Same Hope' mural dedicated in Uptown Martinsville

The 300-foot mural is located in Uptown Martinsville in the Broad Street Parking Lot

Martinsville, Va. — A crowd of nearly 40 members of the community dedicated the 'Rooting for the Same Hope' mural last Thursday in the Broad Street Parking Lot, located in Uptown Martinsville. 

 

This 300-foot long mural, created in partnership with the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce/Martinsville Uptown, Piedmont Arts, the City of Martinsville, and the Martin Family, was funded in part by a Project Hope grant. 

 

Launched last year, Project Hope was designed to celebrate The Harvest Foundation's 20th Anniversary and also to plant seeds of hope for the future while developing opportunities to strengthen relationships among neighbors. 

 

Applicants are welcome to contact a program officer at Harvest with any questions about Project Hope and the grants process. 

 

Applications are open now and due on Aug. 4. Learn more about Project Hope and review the RFP by visiting our website at www.theharvestfoundation.org/project-hope. 

Pictured from left to right are Martinsville Mayor LC Jones, Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams, Harvest Foundation President Kate Keller, Len Dillon, chairman of the Henry County Industrial Development Authority, and Henry County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Joe Bryant. 

Harvest to invest $6 million at Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre

Revenue-related agreement for Tract 2 at CCBC will support EDC, Henry County, Martinsville

Martinsville, Va. — The Harvest Foundation will invest $6 million to further develop Tract 2 at Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre, a premier business park spanning 726 acres, located in southern Henry County along the North Carolina border.

Currently marketed as a 200-acre site with a 57-acre graded pad, Tract 2 has the potential to be the largest contiguous industrial site ever developed in Martinsville-Henry County and will be nearly four times larger than the sites occupied by Press Glass and Crown Holdings.

This investment, along with a $22 million grant from Virginia’s Business Ready Site Program and additional support from local municipalities, will allow Tract 2 to be marketed as a 200-acre site with a 150-acre graded pad. 

“Investing in traditional economic development — increasing jobs and tax base for Martinsville-Henry County — remains a cornerstone in our strategic plan and plays a vital role in building a community that is healthy, prosperous and vibrant,” said Kate Keller, president of The Harvest Foundation. “Greater opportunities for higher wages and rewarding careers sets Martinsville-Henry County up for success. We are proud to be a partner at the table working to improve our community’s distinction in the global marketplace.” 

Linda Adams (center), a member of First United Methodist Church in Martinsville, is the lead volunteer for several ministries at her church, including responding to CarePortal requests. Also pictured are Sheryl Agee (right), senior operating officer at The Harvest Foundation, and April Evans (left), assistant director of services at Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services.

Harvest partners with Henry-Martinsville DSS to engage local faith community serving families in need

The Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services harnesses the power of the faith-based community through a web-based platform called CarePortal

Martinsville, Va. — A typical request made through the CarePortal may look like this:

“A grandmother has assumed custody of her 5 (five) grandchildren to keep them out of foster care. The children's ages are 11, 10, 8, 2, and 9 months. A need has arisen for a bed for the three oldest children. The grandmother has requested a queen bed.”

CarePortal helps the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services (DSS) preserve families and keep children safe in their homes, which is the ultimate goal, according to April Evans, assistant director of services. Henry-Martinsville DSS workers identify the needs of families and put those entries into CarePortal, a national web-based platform that connects people in need with groups and organizations that can help.

Through its PUP Small Grants Program, The Harvest Foundation recently invested $9,480 to continue CarePortal’s operation in Martinsville-Henry County.

“We are excited to partner with the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services on the CarePortal platform to further enhance the local human services system to support families,” said Sheryl Agee, senior operating officer at The Harvest Foundation. “Harvest’s vision is a MHC where everyone has an opportunity to thrive but often a single challenge can push an under-resourced family over the edge, with little to no options to get their life back on track. CarePortal provides a means to connect those with a need to those who can and want to help, often providing a much-needed social support system for the family.”

Are you at least 21 years old with a few hours each month to help an abused or neglected child in our community? There are local children in the court system right now that need a CASA to help speak for them when they can't speak for themselves. 

 

RSVP for an upcoming CASA Volunteer Information Session on Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Piedmont Business Development Center, located at 22 E Church ST in Uptown Martinsville. 

 

Call (276) 403-5058 or (276) 403-5691 to attend. 

The Community Foundation’s Letter of Intent Grant Cycle is now open!

 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from non-profit organizations located in the Roanoke Valley and Martinsville regions. Please click the link below to learn more and apply. 

 

Funding Priorities: Community Vibrancy, Education & Youth, Health 

There's always something fun to do in

Martinsville-Henry County.  

Check out VisitMartinsville to find your next adventure in MHC.

Make an impact in your community. Share your HOPE. 

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. Project Hope grants support small, grassroots projects with immediate impact. 

 

Give our office a call to schedule an appointment with a program officer.

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 $158 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.

Discover Harvest — Add us to your address book to get the latest news from The Harvest Foundation delivered to your inbox. 

www.theharvestfoundation.org | (276) 632-3329

134 E. Church St.  | P.O. Box 5183

Martinsville, VA 24115

Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

134 E. Church St. P.O. Box 5183 | Martinsville, VA 24115 US

This email was sent to rjensby@healthforward.org.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.