Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team – GREAT
    

Report to the Public

2014 GREAT Activities and Accomplishments

The year of 2014 was a GREAT year for the organization.  General membership and agency involvement as partners of the organization continues to increase. Committee and partner activities have resulted in over one and three quarter million dollars ($1,779,893) being awarded to support partner and organization initiatives for Graham County citizens. The organization continues to keep operating expenses at a very low percentage.

Below is a complete list of accomplishments for GREAT.  Highlights of the year include:

  • Collaboration with Graham County Schools to continue implementation of 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant  from NCDPI to provide after school programs at four sites in Graham County;

  • Funding from Marshall University to the Graham County Diabetes Coalition for continuation of prevention and diabetes management activities;

  •  Collaboration with the USFS and Town of Fontana Dam to secure Recreational Trails Program FY13 and FY14 funding to bring the Fontana Loop and Bee Cove trails to hiking/biking/equestrian standards;

  • Collaboration with Winston-Salem Foundation and Graham County Schools to provide mental health services for Graham County Schools’ students;

  • Collaboration with Brookfield Renewable Energy, MANNA FoodBank and Graham County Emergency Food Pantry to address food insecurity issues;

  • Continuation of the Imagination Library Project for Graham County children;

  • Support from Alcoa Foundation, Graham County Diabetes Coalition and Cherokee Preservation to continue Graham County Schools Greenway Project; and

  • Organization support from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Z. Smith Reynolds and Duke Energy.

Thank you for your involvement with GREAT and support of its activities to improve the quality of life for Graham County citizens.

 

Sincerely,

Rick Davis                  

Rick Davis, Executive Director

 


2014 Activities and Accomplishments
  • 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.

  • 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).

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.   

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Duke Energy Foundation – funding for organization capacity building - $2,000.

  • Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation – funding for general support activities of GREAT - $35,000.