2023 marks year five of the Ohio’s Winding Road Seed Grant program. In those five years the program has awarded over $40,000 to artists, craftspeople, small businesses, and non-profits. The funds have been used for such things as: the creation and printing of labels, radio ads, lighting, farm stand building, guided tour development, printing and…

The Ohio’s Winding Road brand is an important tool for bringing value to our region, and we are in the process of trademarking and copyrighting the logo. We encourage businesses and organizations to make use of our logo, especially if it can help leverage your product’s development to a larger audience. We see this as…

Wow! The OWR Network has five years behind us an earnest network guided by an Operations Team made up of backbone organizations (Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area, ACENet, Rural Action, Ohio University*) and a Contractor Team made up of part-time contractors (John Winnenberg, Amy Grove, Brian Harnetty, Delia Palmisano and most recently Mary Lou Wycinski,…

We are so excited to share our new video called “Sharing Our Appalachia,” made with support from Tourism Ohio. In the video, we visit several places along Ohio’s Winding Road, including Chesterhill, the Buckeye Trail, the Bailey’s Trail system, Shawnee, and Burr Oak State Park. We hope the video instills pride in southeastern Ohio, and…

This spring, twenty-nine mini-grants totaling more than $12,000 were awarded to businesses, individuals, organizations, and municipalities located in the nine-county area served by Ohio’s Winding Road. Ohio’s Winding Road seed grants are all under $700 and designed to fill in gaps or jumpstart local projects or businesses. Here are the winners: Altenbrauch Farm, LLC Athens…

Our 2023 Seed Grant Application is now open! Are you a local entrepreneur in our 9 county region (Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Vinton, Washington)? You can apply! These micro-grants are designed to support the development, improvement, expansion, and marketing of local authentic experiences in the OWR region. Requests up to $750 are…

Thank you to everyone who came out for Shawnee Second Saturday! We had such a great time at the “Sharing our Appalachia” Community Arts Photography Exhibit. Thanks especially to Destination Shawnee and to all the artists who shared their vision of the region with us. You can now see all the images online or during…

We’re excited to see the nature-inspired artwork by Savannah Freeman come to life! Freeman’s work will become the centerpiece for a new project with the Athens Conservancy spotlighting the conservancy’s natural lands and the unique spirit of Appalachian Ohio. The project – dubbed Spectacular Appalachia – is supported by a seed grant from Ohio’s Winding…

A Place to Slow Down and Enjoy Community STORY AND VIDEO BY DELIA PALMISANO Agriculture is an important part of the economy and way of life in Meigs County. Tucked into the Appalachian hills of Southeast Ohio, the area offers beautiful landscapes and a sense of community to visitors and residents alike. According to Stephanie…

Ohio’s Winding Road is pleased to announce a new community arts photo show called “Sharing Our Appalachia.” It will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at our Marketplace location in Shawnee, at 117 Main Street, Shawnee, Ohio 43782. We are excited to host over two dozen photos, all by local photographers. This will be…

FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND TO SUBMIT HERE

In an ongoing series, we will be taking walking tours throughout the Ohio’s Winding Road. Focusing on COVID-safe activities, we aim to share the natural beauty of the region and highlight its unique history and vibrant culture. On the weekends my family and I can often be found exploring the outdoors– hiking through the woods,…

In an ongoing series, we will be taking walking tours throughout Ohio’s Winding Road. Focusing on COVID-safe activities, we aim to share the natural beauty of the region and highlight its unique history and vibrant culture. History and Nature Meet in Southern Perry County A two-time transplant to Athens, (I studied at Ohio University as…

Generating Happiness and Community through Local Food  STORY AND VISUALS BY DELIA PALMISANO Eating fresh healthy foods and knowing the people who grow them go hand-in-hand. Communities around the Winding Road region continue to develop around these principles, with the goal of bringing local, delicious food to the people they serve. Husband and wife team…

Natural Healing From Your Own Backyard story and visuALS BY DELIA PALMISANO For Cindy Parker holistic health and connecting with the natural world are a way of life. “There’s a whole lifestyle and belief system surrounding herbalism. I really think connecting to nature eases stress and makes people less anxious and that helps them center…

Highlighting Locally Grown Foods and Fostering Community STORY AND VISUALS BY DELIA PALMISANO Food production in Southeast Ohio is experiencing a sort of renaissance of authentic quality, with a new focus on locally sourced, fresh, seasonal options. The Keller Market House, located in historic downtown Lancaster, is a year-round marketplace featuring such food and goods….