Scioto County Commissioners unanimously approved requests for $24,000 in funds to support the Portsmouth Farmer Market and the Boneyfiddle Project arts organization.
Main Street Portsmouth requested $12,000 to support the Portsmouth Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market allows local farmers, craftspeople, and vendors to sell their wares on Roy Roger’s Esplanade Saturday mornings from late spring to early fall.
Commission Chairman Scottie Powell said, “Main Street Portsmouth has consistently received support from this board. All the events they do downtown, all the grants, the beautification. It just goes on and on. Joseph Pratt does a great job with what he’s working with.”
Powell also praised Main Street Portsmouth for mobilizing volunteers to help keep the downtown area clean and beautiful as well as their hard work decorating. for the holidays.
Powell said $12,000 would go a long way for the organization. “Of course, the Farmer’s Market gives an opportunity for our farmers to sell their wares and have an outlet to gather on Saturdays throughout the summer.
$12,000 for Summer Kickoff
Portsmouth’s Boneyfiddle Project, a non-profit group dedicated to supporting the arts in the community also asked Scioto County Commissioners for $12,000 in support, some of which is for a new summer kick-off event.
The three-day weekend Motion and Music Event. Scioto County Commissioners Chairman Scottie Powell said, “It focuses on music and getting outside. Whether that be kayaking, pump track, mountain biking, or running. Everything we’ve been really building on in tourism. This is really a nice kick-off event.”
Commissioner Bryan Davis said, “I think Robert does a great job down there and they work really hard to bring entertainment to our city which is available for our entire community.”
Davis commended the organization on its hard work, especially in the past two years of the pandemic, in booking entertainment. “They’ve managed through that whole process. Hopefully, we’ll be in a post-COVID world here real soon and they’ll be able to take advantage of people being able to get out. Looking forward to the 2022 season.”
Chocolate Walk This Weekend
Powell took the opportunity to remind people of another great downtown event coming up over the weekend. “The Chocolate Walk is this Saturday. It’s always a great time.”
The 13th annual Ellen Vetter Chocolate Walk will raise funds for Main Street Portsmouth. Participants receive a bag and a map and make visits to local shops and restaurants to receive their treats.
Regular $10 tickets are sold out, but $14 premium tickets are still available. Nearly 300 participants are expected to tour the downtown area. Premium ticket holders get additional stops outside of the downtown area.
The organization had already decked out the downtown area for Valentine’s Day, placing a heard tree in front of the city building and decorating the Roy Rogers Esplanade with a heart tree, decorative hearts, and flowering kale.