Folks in our part of the Buckeye State often feel left out or forgotten when it comes to state-level decisions and developments, but the Appalachian Community Grant Program is a real change-maker for the local region.

On Friday, ground was broken for the Appalachian ECOTONE riverfront amphitheater and trails in Sardis. Monroe County received $4.4 million through the $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program to create the new riverfront amphitheater and walking trail, located at 37800 OH-7.

Gov. Mike DeWine launched the program aimed at creating transformational changes and being a catalyst for future development by investing in the Appalachian region.

“There’s projects similar to this taking place all along the Ohio River, all the way up to the northernmost part, all the way down to Cincinnati and New Richmond,” John Carey, director of the Ohio Governor’s Office of Appalachia, said at the event Friday. “This amphitheater will be a great asset for the community.”

He added that DeWine wants to make the area more attractive and to help build pride in Appalachian communities. He cited the Historic Monroe Theater in Woodsfield, another program award recipient funded at $4.6 million, as a perfect example of building community pride while supporting the arts.

The Black Horse Inn/Underground Railroad Museum project in Morristown is benefiting from the program as well, to the tune of $3.9 million, while the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center received $3.3 million for redevelopment of the ECO Center on the campus of Ohio University Eastern to serve as a hub of community healthcare.

In order to be in compliance with the Appalachian Community Grant Program, all of these projects are required to be completed by Oct. 30, 2026.

What a positive difference we will see in our communities just over a year from now. This program is working for us.