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Volunteer
Service by GREAT Board of Directors the GREAT Board of
Directors have provided 895 hours of volunteer service to the
organization which equates to $18,830 using the NC volunteer hourly
rate.
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21st
Century Community Learning Center Grant year 2 funding of a
four year grant from NCDPI to provide after school programs at four
sites in Graham County - RES, RMS, RHS and SVC.
Total award was for $1,360,000 (Year 1 - $400,000; Year 2 -
$400,000; Year 3 - $320,000; Year 4 $240,000).
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Imagination
Library Project funding in the amount of $6,382 for FY2014
from individuals and businesses to provide books for birth to five
year old children each month.
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Volunteer
Activities in collaboration with the Partners of Joyce Kilmer
and the USFS several projects were completed including new split rail
fence at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest visitor area, twenty foot bridge
on Naked Ground Trail, Big Snowbird Trail trash pickup day, Benton
MacKaye Trail Bridge construction and scenic overlook cleanups.
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The
Winston-Salem Foundation grant funding in the amount of
$71,000 to provide mental health services to Graham County Schools
students on recommendation of Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
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Santeetlah
Lake Trail Project in conjunction with the USFS and Graham
County Government, the Lake Santeetlah trail was dedicated and opened
for public use on Saturday, April 12, 2014. The Santeetlah Lake Trail
is a 9 mile trail that is open to both mountain bikes and horses.
Large portions of the trail hug the shoreline of Lake Santeetlah
offering beautiful lake views to trail users.
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The
Partners of Joyce Kilmer provided funding in the amount
of $5,000 for a RHS summer student employee to work on the Cheoah
Ranger District, provide maintenance services for restroom facilities
at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and provide materials for renovation
of fence at Joyce Kilmer visitor area.
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Clean
Sweep coordinated two county-wide "clean sweep"
roadside litter clean up events. Collected a total of 182 bags of
litter. Two Lake Santeetlah litter clean up events resulting in
collection of two truckloads of litter and one truck load of large
discarded items.
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Appalachian
Trail Town Designation collaborative
efforts with the Town of
Fontana Dam resulted in the recent designation as an Appalachian Trail
Community. This designation, bestowed by the Appalachian Trail
Conservancy, will make Fontana Dam one of only three other North
Carolina communities to hold such an honor. This program recognizes
communities for their part in promoting awareness of the A.T. as an
important national asset.
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Region
A Commission: Toolbox Implementation Fund funding in the
amount of $14,286 including matching funds from Appalachian Regional
Commission to develop a Graham County Strategic Tourism Plan.
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Appalachian
Gateway Communities Grant funding in the amount of $9,375
including matching funds from Appalachian Regional Commission to begin
implementation of recommendations of the Graham County Strategic
Tourism Plan.
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Park
and Recreation Trust Fund collaboration
with Graham County Economic Development Department to secure a
$500,000 PART grant for a recreation park with $500,000 match from
Graham County.
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United
States Forest Service Partnership recipient
of a FY13 Recreational Trails Program Grant for $200,000 to
replace an 80 foot bridge over Panel Branch and to
convert/rehabilitate the Fontana Loop Trail (2.7 miles) to
hiking/biking/equestrian trail standards and the recipient of a FY14
RTP grant for $80,000 to convert/rehabilitate the 2.1 mile Bee Cove
Trail to hiking/biking/equestrian trail standards and to fund the
renovation of an existing trail bridge.
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Graham
County Schools Greenway Project in collaboration with Graham County Schools funding from
Alcoa Foundation grant ($10,000) and the Graham County Diabetes
Coalition allotment ($10,000) an additional component of the fitness
trail/greenway was completed.
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Cherokee
Preservation Foundation funding in the amount of $23,650 for
the RHS Greenway Outdoor Classroom Project that is designed to sustain
Cherokee cultural traditions, support an increase in artisan resources
and increase public education opportunities regarding Cherokee history
of the property.
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Appalachian
Region Commission Telecom Project collaboration with Graham
County Government to serve as fiscal agent for a $225,000 project
designed to establish last mile infrastructure for the deployment of
high speed telecommunications in Graham County communities.
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Food
Insecurity a donation of $26,000 from Brookfield Renewable
Energy provided funds for MANNA FoodBank and the Graham County
Emergency Food Pantry to address local food insecurity issues due to
Stanley Plant closure.
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NC
Department of Health and Human Services
collaboration with Graham County Schools to secure an
additional year of PREPare for Success/Teen Outreach Program grant
funding in the amount of $107,200.
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Marshall
University/Bristol Myers-Squibb Foundation year 4 grant
funding for the Graham County Diabetes Coalition for prevention and
management of diabetes in the amount of $40,000.
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Leadership
Training collaboration with Region A Commission to provide
funds for expenses for GREAT members to attend the Brushy Fork
Leadership Institute. Plans are to conduct leadership training to
interested Graham County citizens.
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Proctor
Revival Project collaboration with Fontana Village, Western
Carolina Mountain Heritage Center and the Proctor Revival Organization
with WCU's Provost Office to create a
memorandum of understanding outlining our long term commitment to
working with our Graham County partners to create a community museum.
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Water
System Upgrade for Town of Fontana
partnership with the Town of Fontana has resulted in a grant
award from the NC Dept of Environment and Natural Resources in the
amount of $1,589,550 to assist in the construction of a new water
treatment plant. The $1.5
million will be combined with a $300,000 ARC grant and a $500,000
grant from the NC Rural Center.
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Community
Foundation of Western North Carolina: People in Need Grant
project will provide funds to continue the services of GREAT and build
its internal capacity to be more self-sufficient and efficient -
$20,000.
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Duke
Energy Foundation funding
for organization capacity building - $2,000.
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Z.
Smith Reynolds Foundation funding for
general support activities of GREAT - $35,000.