The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) announced last month the first round of grants and scholarships awarded through the Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund.
According to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, nearly $93,000 in funding has been awarded to Adams County organizations and residents working to improve quality of life in their communities.
“At the heart of this funding is community – support for the people and organizations doing transformative work in our communities and a new chapter in our longtime commitment to Adams County,” said Martin McAllister, community engagement specialist for The Nature Conservancy. “This is only the beginning of what we can do together, and we are incredibly grateful for those, including the fund’s review committee, who share our passion for the well-being of the people and communities of Adams County.”
TNC established the Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund at FAO to create a new annual revenue stream that invests in local residents, organizations and communities to ensure that Adams County is a place where youth thrive, businesses flourish and visitors have memorable experiences.
Public and nonprofit organizations located in or serving Adams County, as well as groups working in fiscal sponsorships with a nonprofit or public organization, were invited to apply for grants for projects that support people and nature and/or reduce disparities.
Inaugural grant recipients were awarded a total of $77,865 in financial support. They are:
The Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee to support experiential learning through a field trip to the Cincinnati Natural History Museum and a field day at an Adams County nature preserve, connecting local youth and their families to nature and to one another
The Adams County Public Library to add 60 Wi-Fi hotspots, which will be loaned to Adams County residents who lack adequate home internet access
The Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau to fund interior design, displays and educational materials for the new Adams County Welcome Center at Adams Lake State Park
Green Township to support the restoration and relocation of historical graves at Foster Cemetery that are at risk due to the erosion of the banks of Ohio Brush Creek
West Union Elementary School to support the school’s Family STEM Nights for three years and experiential learning opportunities for students and their families
For more information about the Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund and to stay up to date on 2024 grant and scholarship application dates, please visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/AdamsCountyFund.
