Page 4 - The Buzz 10/16/2026

A4 | LOCAL NEWS The OCTOBER 16 - 29, 2026
Applications for Make Muskingum Visit Zanesville

Home are open until October 31 Opens Round

BY LYNETTE DOTSON | THE BUZZ One of 2027
Muskingum

County Tourism

Development

Grant

SUBMTTED
Visit Zanesville announces the
opening of round one of the 2027
Muskingum County Tourism Devel-
opment Grant, providing funding to
support organizations working to at-
tract visitors and strengthen tourism
in Muskingum County.
The grant assists nonprofit, for-prof-
it, and municipal organizations with
marketing, promotion, and event at-
traction efforts that increase visita-
tion, enhance the visitor experience,
and may generate overnight stays or
return visits.
Visit Zanesville has budgeted
$15,000 for the 2027 program, with
$7,500 available in round one and
a maximum award of $1,500 per
grant. Round one applications open
Susan Holdren (front left.), Brian Wagner (front right), Mackenzie Bice (back left), and Maddie Skaggs (back right) pose for a picture at the Community October 1, 2026, and close Novem-
Impact and Application Launch Event for Make Muskingum Home. Lynette Dotson
ber 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Awards
The 2026 Make Muskingum Home dation, Susan Holdren, added. invest in a community that invested will be announced by January 31,
application opened on Wednesday, The post-graduation scholarship so much in us growing up and con- 2027.
October 7, 2026, and will close on program has helped 49 recipients tinues to invest in us as well,” said “It has been exciting to see events
Saturday, October 31, 2026. The over the first four award cycles man- first-class recipient Maddie Skaggs. throughout Muskingum County grow
announcement was made during a age student loan debt and thrive as “The money that I was awarded, I and attract new visitors with the as-
Community Impact and Application an active member of the community, will forever be thankful for that be- sistance of the grants,” said Jordin
Launch Event held at the Musking- generating years of impact here in cause it’s given me hope that I will Harmer, Visit Zanesville Manager.
um County Community Foundation Muskingum County. From purchas- pay off those loans where there was “We continue to be blown away by
office. ing real estate (41% of recipients) to no light at the end of the tunnel at the creativity and thoughtfulness
“We are accepting applications growing their families (24% of recip- the beginning,” said recent recipi- of the people behind these events
from talented young professionals ients), the lasting effect of the Make ent Mackenzie Bice. “…But the thing and the work they put into creating
who are willing to make a five-year Muskingum Home grant is signifi- that really continues to amaze me exceptional experiences for visitors.
commitment to come live, work, and cant. 83% of recipients agree that from that moment is the enhance- The Tourism Development Grant
play here in Muskingum County,” the talent retention initiative influ- ment in my personal life and my allows us to support those efforts
said Beth Fox, Program Director for enced their ability to build a life and professional life. This has opened so while helping organizations expand
MCCF & J.W. & M.H. Straker Charita- career in Muskingum County and many opportunities. I’ve been able their reach and give people even
ble Foundation. 81% have confirmed that they are to meet so many people. I’ve been more reasons to visit Muskingum
The initiative is made possible due or have been active in volunteer ser- able to do really cool things at work. County.”
to a collaborative effort between vice since becoming a recipient. One Thanks to the Straker Foundation Eligible events, projects, and pro-
Muskingum County Community additional number that is astonish- and Muskingum County Community grams must take place in Musking-
Foundation (MCCF) and J.W. & M.H. ing is the $6.3 million in combined Foundation, we opened a food truck um County during 2027 and be
Straker Charitable Foundation. annual salaries reported among the that helps students with disabilities, open to the public. Grant funds may
“We all know the workforce is Make Muskingum Home classes adults with disabilities continue to support marketing, promotion, and
changing dramatically, not only since 2022. work on employability and voca- advertising, creative costs such as
through technology, but just the loss Two recipients spoke about their tional skills. And we’ve always done photography and ad development,
of population as we see the large experiences since being selected to that, but it’s brought a new light to it. qualifying entertainment, and event
numbers of the boomers exiting the be part of the program. People can see my passions coming brochure printing for distribution be-
workforce. In being able to have a …”Make Muskingum home has through my work. So that has been yond a 50-mile radius.
program that can attract individuals played such a huge role in the big an incredible thing. And just also, it Priority consideration will be giv-
into our community to make invest- moments of my life, getting mar- has set me up to hold a whole new en to projects that attract visitors,
ments into them so they make in- ried, buying a house, having a great level of responsibility and account- particularly from outside a 50-mile
vestments into us is just so import- career that I love. But it’s a part of ability for myself to be that leader in radius, generate economic impact
ant. So it is, it’s an important aspect really small moments that I cherish. the community and to inspire people and overnight stays, and strengthen
for us to be able to attract and retain I get to go to all of my little brother’s to continue to follow their passions Muskingum County’s tourism offer-
those professionals in the long term, high school soccer games. I can stop because our passions might seem at ings. Grant applications are avail-
just strengthens Muskingum County by my grandma’s house and say, hey, a small scope to us, but really it’s a able online at www.VisitZanesville.
overall,” said MCCF CEO Brian Wag- whenever I want and get a hug. So much bigger picture for people, and com under “More Info.”For questions
ner it’s just, it’s impacted my life in every it can really inspire people to be able about the 2027 Muskingum County
“Family foundations, as a rule, do sense of the imagination. And being to take it to the next level.” Tourism Development Grant, contact
not give funding to individuals. But in a part of the first class, like I said, For more information about Make Jordin Harmer at jharmer@zmcham-
this case, we were able to give our I knew this was gonna be amazing. Muskingum Home, or to review eli- ber.com.
funding so that the community foun- And it’s been so much fun to see gibility and apply, please visit www.
dation could make it happen. So we class after class full of great people, makemuskingumhome.org.
were able to make an exception be- talented people, many I knew grow- Muskingum
cause we believe in this program so ing up. And I think, ‘yes, they’re so University Receives
wholeheartedly,” President and Ex- awesome. Oh, this is so cool.’ But I’m
ecutive Director of the Straker Foun- so proud of all of us for choosing to NetVUE Grant to
Support Sophomore

Ohio Pottery Zanesville marks 60 Student Success

SUBMTTED
years with ribbon cutting BY LYNETTE DOTSON | THE BUZZ Muskingum University has re-
ceived a $198,598, three-year
Campuswide Innovation in Voca-
plaques, concrete benches, a myri- tion Implementation Grant from
ad of cement animals, and so much the Council of Independent Col-
more. Retail and wholesale purchas- leges through the Network for Vo-
ing is available.
“It feels like a short period of time. cation in Undergraduate Education
60 years is going by. Everything’s (NetVUE) to strengthen support
changed. There’s not too many pottery for students navigating the sopho-
factories left. We’re one of the few left. more year.
We hope I’ll probably be here another The grant will help Muskingum
20 years. That’d make me 105 years develop new approaches to sup-
old!” said Waltz.
Two Zanesville pottery factories are porting students as they make
still owned by Waltz’s family, Ohio decisions about their academic di-
Stoneware and Hartstone, owned by rection, career goals, involvement,
Ross and Tiffany Pattison. and future. Particular attention
“Stop out to Ohio Pottery and visit,” will be given to students experienc-
said Waltz. “We’re still open every day,
10 to 4.” ing significant transitions, such as
Ohio Pottery Zanesville is located at changing majors or leaving varsity
1905 West Main Street, Zanesville. athletics.
The initiative builds on a previous
NetVUE Planning Grant through
which Muskingum faculty and staff
Veterans, family, Mayor Don Mason, and Dana Matz help Larry Waltz celebrate 60 years in business on
West Main Street in Zanesville. Lynette Dotson interviewed sophomore students
and engaged faculty, staff, and
The Zanesville-Muskingum County “It’s always nice to celebrate business- coaches in conversations about the
Chamber of Commerce celebrated a es that are many decades old, but to
big milestone at Ohio Pottery Zanes- have a business 60 years old and still second-year student experience.
ville, 60 years in business! Owner and representing what people know us for, That work found that the sopho-
retired Colonel Larry “The Legend” pottery- it’s very nice,” commented more year can be an important pe-
Waltz and his family have been in the Chamber President Dana Matz. riod of change. Students may be-
pottery business much longer than Ohio Pottery Zanesville offers a gin questioning plans they brought
that. The family’s venture started in massive selection of cement and pot- New Puzzles with them to college, reconsider a
1951, in New Concord as the Pottery tery items including: the largest se- major or career goal, leave an ac-
Gem. Ohio Pottery was established in lection of American-made planters in
1957. The current location on West Ohio, geese, lawn jockeys, bird baths, EVERY ISSUE! tivity that has been central to their
Main Street opened in 1966. crocks, mixing bowls, hens & chickens
pots, hanging bird feeders, religious CONTINUED ON A6