Appalachian Foundation Builds ED Capacity

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio has awarded six grants totaling $123,000 to agencies across Athens County, including the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, Inc. (ACEnet), Paper Circle, Rural Action, Ultimate Recycling, Hocking College and the Dairy Barn Arts Center. The money supports programs that promote economic development.

"The Athens County programs are among the 11 grant recipients of Foundation for Appalachian Ohio economic development grants this year," President and CEO Leslie Lilly said in a news release. "Over $200,000 in grants in all were awarded to organizations that serve communities throughout the 29-county region."

ACEnet, an economic and community development organization that works to improve rural southeastern Ohio, received a three-year grant totaling $50,000 for a project that provides marketing assistance for regional entrepreneurs. In the news release, Larry Fisher, director of ACEnet's Food Ventures program, said the organization's marketing efforts already have helped local businesses access previously unavailable markets for their products.

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