About Ohio’s Winding Road Seed Grants
Ohio’s Winding Road (OWR) had the good fortune to review and award 28 “seed grants” for 2020. These grants are designed to support the development, improvement, expansion, and marketing of local authentic experiences in the OWR region. In addition to monetary support, awardees also receive strategic planning support from OWR partners, such as the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet). Thanks to funds from the Sugarbush Foundation and Rural Action, a total of $10,000 was given to non-profit organizations, interpretive guide experiences, businesses, and individuals from eight different OWR counties.
The 2020 grants range in amounts from $100 to $750. The applications included interpretive programs and sites, guided tours, exhibits, purchasable art or souvenirs, dining, shopping, festivals, events, and classes, which are all locally sourced and focused on the OWR region. Applications were reviewed and scored by a committee of seven OWR partners, and scoring was based on:
- Authenticity
- Sustainability
- Improvement of a product
- Clear budget
- Development of a new experience
- Creation of an interpretive program, guide or tour
- Support growth of an existing product
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the current situation related to Covid-19, many of the businesses and activities awarded seed funds are either closed, postponed, or cancelled. With that in mind, the OWR Operations Team has decided that funds awarded will be available to awardees at least until the end of this calendar year. Each of these entities has, in the eyes of the review committee, met or exceeded the grant requirements.
2020 Seed Grant Winners
- Vickie Ball-Seiter: Journey With Horses
- Burr Beard and Jack Wright: Music of Coal
- Adam Blaney: Blaney Family Farm
- Kenneth Bowald: Ventures into the Little Cities of Black Diamonds
- Stephanie Bridwell: Y-Bridge Arts Festival in Zanesville
- Mark Brunton: Burr Oak Adventures
- Becky Clark: Pork and Pickles and Paul Harper: Woodland Ridge Farm
- Ronda Clark: Athens Farmers Market
- Debra Cochran: The Pyrple Tyrtle
- Nora Daniel: Nora Daniel Fine Art
- Sheryl Davis: Opera Houses of Appalachian Ohio Heritage Trail
- Sharon Dean: Appalachian Art Adventures
- Beverly Donahey: The Tree House in Hocking Hills
- Madison Donahue: A Ride Through Time
- Gary Goosman: Coonskin Saturdays (Amesville)
- Erin Harvey: Lancaster Farmers Market
- Dixie Hawthorne: Meigs County Farmers Market
- Janis Ivory and Jerry Jackson: Rendville Historic Preservation Society
- Lauren Ketchum: Down the Road Farm
- Daniel King: Majestic Galleries
- Jennifer L’Heureux: Nelsonville Emporium
- Jean Magdich: Hocking House Fine Craft Gallery and Art Gardens
- Tanner Ogle: Southeast Ohio History Center
- Cindy Parker: HH Herbals, Wabi Wellness Center
- Pat Ratz: Zanesville & Western Scenic Railroad
- Gem Stone: Wyatt Run Farm and Ecology Center
- Dan Vorisek: Rural Action