The board of advisors of the Rockingham County Community Foundation (RCCF) is pleased to announce the second 2015 grant cycle awards of the Dan River Basin grant program for Rockingham County.

A total of $83,000 in funds provided by a grant from Duke Energy for the Dan River Basin grant program were awarded on Sept. 23 at Rockingham Community College to the following local organizations:

• City of Eden – John E. Grogan Park Environmental Nature Walk – $25,000
• Dan River Basin Association – Big Beaver Island Creek Outdoor Classroom and Trails – $10,000
• Madison-Mayodan Recreation Commission – Enhancement and repairs to the Lindsey Bridge Boating Access – $23,000
• Town of Madison – Downtown Streetscape improvement Plan – $25,000

The organizations selected serve the Dan River Basin area in Rockingham County and will support one of two grant focus areas:

1. Economic development enhancing community beautification and maintenance with a measurable impact on increasing tourism, business and population growth in Rockingham County.
2. Environmental education supporting projects that have a visible impact on the local community, such as outdoor classrooms or environmental signage along trails, walkways along or near the river.

This funding will support one-time projects that will be finalized within a year.

The board was strategic and intentional during this grants process, according to RCCF Board Member Tommy Flynt. “We are so pleased to provide a wide range of programs to serve and improve our community,” he said.

In addition to Flynt, board members include: Ben Tucker (president), Ellen Campbell (immediate past president), Cynthia Bolton, Robbie Citty, Flavel Collins, Barry Dodson, J. Michael Fargis, Sr., Theodore Eino Haapala, R. Martin Melvin, Kathy Page, Dixie Penn, Micky Silvers and Fred Timper.

For further information, contact Dawn Neighbors, NCCF regional associate, at dneighbors@nccommunityfoundation.org or 910-292-4437.