Community Involvement
Working to make Cynthiana a great place to live and do business
The Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber Foundation
The Cynthiana Harrison County Chamber Foundation was founded in March of 2019 to promote, support and encourage community outreach and development. The foundation is a 501c3 branch of the Cynthiana Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, with a separate board of directors.
In 2019, the Board of Directors created a five year strategic plan for the Foundation. The first part of the plan was to aid in the development of a free community splash pad at Flat Run Veterans Park here in Cynthiana. Over the succeeding years, through local community organizations, private donors and other fundraising efforts, the Chamber Foundation raised $515,000 towards the project. The funds were presented to the City, County and Parks and Recreation Department in early March 2023. The City and County also each contributed $100,000 towards the project to bring it to the $700,000 goal.
The project is expected to break ground this year, with hopes of being open this summer, but delays in construction may cause a later opening. A Ground Breaking ceremony will be planned in the next couple of months.
"This project could not be possible without the investment of our community members. Thank you to every person and organization who has invested in this great addition to Flat Run Veterans Park and to the City, County and Parks and Recreation for their support of the project now and moving forward," Tomi Clifford stated.
Moving forward, the Foundation will continue to target avenues of support for the community, such as a recent donation of $3,000 worth of food/toys/necessity items to the Harrison County Flora Shropshire Animal Shelter and more than $5,000 in items to Jackie’s House through their partnership with Amazon Donations.
Pictured: Foundation board members Bonnie Teater, Rebecca Jenkins, Tomi Clifford and Mary Todd Ashbrook. Not pictured are board members Brett Hines and Mandy Gossett Thornton. Pictured with check are Mayor James Smith, Parks and Recreation director Barry Zumwalt and County Judge Executive Jason Marshall.
The Maiden City Mavens
A Maven is considered an expert or connoisseur of a specific topic, which in this case, is Cynthiana. Maiden City Mavens is an initiative of the Chamber to encourage volunteerism, positive leadership and passion projects in our community leaders. Anyone can be a Maven! Involvement can be as simple as posting or sharing positive posts on Cynthiana businesses or organizations, or as involved as creating a passion project or serving on a committee or board with the Chamber throughout the year. Mavens can join the public Facebook to find opportunities to volunteer or partner with other people on projects. Mavens earn points that the Chamber tracks throughout the year to go towards the Chamber store (which is full of really great swag) and towards being the top point getter and being named Maven of the Year.
Interested in becoming a Maiden City Maven?
Leadership Harrison County
Leadership Harrison County is a leadership development program sponsored by the Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this program is to develop effective future leaders by providing personal access to current leaders within Harrison County.
The program focuses on specific aspects of leadership training and development, with a concentration on local activities within Cynthiana and Harrison County to foster a great understanding of the community’s operation. Participants are given opportunities to interact with mentors in a variety of areas, including manufacturing, government, community services, health care, history and preservation, and education. Emphasis is also placed on promoting service and active participation on community non-profit boards. As part of the program, each Leadership Harrison County class undertakes a project that will benefit our community.
The selection committee for LHC seeks representation that reflects the diversity of Harrison County. Participants are chosen from the areas of business, education, the arts, government, community-based organizations, ethnic and minority groups.
Applications are now being accepted for Leadership Harrison County 2024-2024. The Deadline to apply is July 22, 2024.
Think you’re Leadership material?
Fill out the application today!
Cynthiana Influencer Contest
2023 saw the Chamber host its third annual Cynthiana Influencer Contest. This contest is held from January through March each year, and is designed to help promote our retailers and restaurants at a time of year which is notorious for being slow for these businesses. We wanted to help with promotion in any way we could, thus, the Cynthiana Influencer of the Year was born.
To participate, people only need to post about a business, tag them, write a review or make a TikTok. A point system is used and at the end of the contest a Cynthiana Influencer of the Year is announced, with the winner receiving lots of perks and rewards from local businesses as well as the Chamber.
The Influencer contest results in citizens promoting not only our local businesses, but Cynthiana as well. We were just honored with the Communications Excellence award from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for this program, and also won the Innovation Award from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives the first year we ran the contest.
2023 Cynthiana Influencer of the Year
LINDSAY POWELL
For more information, visit our Cynthiana Influencer website, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when next year's contest rolls around!
Young Entrepreneurs Startup
Designed to get kids thinking about the possibilities of starting and owning a business, the Chamber, in partnership with Field & Main Bank and the Harrison County Extension Office, conducts the Young Entrepreneurs Startup program. In this program, kids ages 9-18 brainstorm business ideas, create a business plan, learn marketing techniques and more, then officially open their business at the Chamber's Summer Concert Series and the Harrison County Farmer's Market.
It's a fun and innovative way to encourage the next generation of Cynthiana's business community! For information on how to get involved, contact us today.