Harrison chamber opens year with community foundation update

The Harrison County Regional Chamber of Commerce opened the year with its first monthly meeting Jan. 15 at Christopher’s Restaurant in Cadiz, drawing representatives from 16 area businesses.

Guest speaker Sandi Thompson of the Cadiz, Puskarich and Scio libraries gave an update on library initiatives and the Harrison County Community Foundation.

“Established in 2012, the Harrison County Community Foundation was established to create opportunities and fill the needs in our county,” Thompson said. “The foundation also gives a place where, together, our giving goes further.”

Thompson said the foundation’s goal is to build permanent charitable resources to support Harrison County nonprofits, schools and communities. She said the foundation has raised more than $866,000 for its endowment and is closing in on the $1 million mark.

Thompson introduced Harrison County Community Foundation representatives Karli Ray, Lori Milleson and Kris Puskarich, who spoke on fellowship programming, the Fill the Freezer campaign and grant awards.

Ray discussed the Growing Home Fellowship, launched in 2023, which she said is intended to support young community builders and increase the likelihood they remain in the region.

“The Fellow invested in more than 100 emerging leaders across 29 counties — both financially and through a targeted program that teaches them how to identify community needs, develop solutions and assemble a network of partners to address local challenges,” Ray said.

Milleson discussed Fill the Freezer, a program tied to the Harrison County Fair livestock sale that encourages buyers to donate hog purchases to support local food pantries.

“Fill the Freezer invites buyers at the Harrison County Fair’s livestock sale to donate their hog purchases to fill the freezers of Harrison County’s food pantries and fight hunger — one pig at a time,” Milleson said.

Milleson said the program received a $4,000 grant in 2025 from the South Central Power Foundation to help cover meat processing costs. She said the campaign resulted in donations of 4,080 pounds of pork sausage to local food banks in 2025 and 7,819 pounds over the past two years.

Puskarich reviewed the foundation’s grantmaking.

“A total of $31,630 in grants to organizations made an impact in Harrison County in 2025,” Puskarich said. She said gifts to the endowment help grow the foundation’s ability to award grants annually to nonprofits, schools and public organizations.

Puskarich said the foundation focuses on five funding areas, called the “Pillars of Prosperity”: culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services. She said the foundation has awarded more than $157,000 in grants to date and that 15 local organizations received grants in 2025. She also noted funding to help cover the cost of bringing COSI programming to Harrison Central eighth graders through a partnership with FAO, along with an additional $1,500 awarded to area food pantries in December.

Thompson and committee members answered questions following the presentations.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for your attendance today,” chamber Executive Director Milo Baker said. “A special thanks to Sandi and her committee members for such an informative presentation.”

Baker said the chamber plans to place a greater emphasis on local businesses in the coming year and highlighted several community updates, including additions planned at Tappan Lake Restaurant and Resort and a new business venture at Landmark along state Route 250. He also noted upcoming outreach related to the Silver Spade program, preparations for the Mark in the Park concert schedule and travel maps now available.

Baker reminded members that annual dues are due and encouraged the public to follow the chamber on Facebook for updates. He also thanked Christopher’s Restaurant for hosting the meeting and encouraged residents to support local sit-down restaurants.