Buckeye Hills Regional Council will join community leaders, project partners and residents across Southeast Ohio for a series of ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating projects funded through the Appalachian Community Grant Program, beginning Monday, Oct. 19, in Sardis.
The first ceremony marks the Ecotone Amphitheater at 37800 State Route 7 in Sardis at 3:30 p.m. on Monday. From there the tour moves quickly: the Pomeroy Riverfront Revitalization will be celebrated Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9:15 a.m. at Court Street Commons in Pomeroy, and the Logan Streetscape follows Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. at 1 South Market Street in Logan.
Two more ceremonies are scheduled in November. The Underground Railroad Museum at 297 West Cross Street in Morristown will be recognized Friday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m., and the Southeast Ohio History Center in Athens will close the series Friday, Nov. 20, at 3:30 p.m. A Zanesville project is also included in the council’s announcement of communities taking part.
The Appalachian Community Grant Program, known as ACGP, funds investments that support community revitalization, tourism, cultural heritage and quality of life throughout Appalachian Ohio. Buckeye Hills said the projects reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen local communities, enhance regional attractions and create new opportunities for residents and visitors.
"The Appalachian Community Grant Program is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our region," Buckeye Hills Regional Council Executive Director Chasity Schmelzenbach said in the announcement. "These projects are creating lasting change and opening doors for future generations. We’re excited to celebrate alongside the state and local leaders and partners who made these investments possible."
For the river towns on the list, the stakes are practical as well as symbolic. A riverfront in Pomeroy, an amphitheater in Sardis and a streetscape in Logan are the kind of visible, walkable improvements that local leaders hope will draw visitors, support nearby businesses and give residents new public spaces in the center of town.
Buckeye Hills Regional Council, based in Marietta, coordinates development work across Southeast Ohio and invited community members, local officials and regional partners to join the ceremonies. Each event will highlight the partnerships and local efforts that brought its project to completion.
Residents who want to attend should note the staggered schedule: Sardis on Monday afternoon, Pomeroy on Tuesday morning and Logan on Wednesday afternoon, with the Morristown and Athens ceremonies following in mid-to-late November. The council said each ribbon cutting will mark a completed investment ready for public use.
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA