Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Helps Mt. Blanchard, Ohio Look Inward and Thrive
Small improvements, big impact: How Mt. Blanchard rallied together to revitalize their town and restore civic pride
Snapshot Overview
Location: Mt. Blanchard, Ohio
Partner: Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
Key Challenge: Low civic engagement, limited pool of decision makers and waning civic pride
The Narrative
With the help of Community Heart & Soul, the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation moved from transactional grantmaking to more transformational partnerships by getting to know the Ohio communities it serves better and learning what matters most to the residents. In Mt. Blanchard, the Heart & Soul process helped reignite civic pride and engaged more residents in town revitalization efforts.
The Challenges
Challenge #1
Expanding Engagement:
Many Mt. Blanchard residents felt disconnected from local decision making and didn’t know how to contribute. After the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation introduced Mt. Blanchard to the Community Heart & Soul model, residents saw a path toward improving civic involvement.
Strategy:
The Community Foundation provided a Community Heart & Soul Coach and tapped into previous experience to guide Mt. Blanchard through the Heart & Soul process. Residents met at local gathering spots and community events to interview each other about what mattered most to their neighbors. In a town of only 500 residents, more than 670 project ideas were collected, ranging from playground improvements and angled parking to a food pantry and a farmers market. The Mt. Blanchard Community Heart & Soul team hosted a community summit where residents used “Mt. Blanchard Bucks” to vote on their top priority projects.
Challenge #2
Restoring Civic Pride:
Over the years, Mt. Blanchard became a “bedroom community” as businesses and jobs moved to bigger towns. With residents conducting more of their daily lives outside the town, local identity weakened and civic pride waned.
Strategy:
The Heart & Soul process helped Mt. Blanchard residents reconnect with what they loved about their town and what they wanted for its future. Residents began to look inward and think about ways they could have an impact on their hometown. Small efforts, including community clean up days and park improvements, brought neighbors together and civic pride snowballed.
Challenge #3
Planning for the Future:
Mt. Blanchard community leadership recognized that the same small group could not continue to carry the responsibility for shaping the village’s future.
Strategy:
The Community Heart & Soul process gave Mt. Blanchard residents not just a voice, but tangible decision-making power — sparking enthusiasm and ownership. Community input is now more integrated in the decisions and planning process of the Mt. Blanchard Village Council. Together residents narrowed down a list of 673 project ideas down to 37 which were presented to residents to determine which would be priorities for the community. The Mt. Blanchard Heart & Soul Value Statements and Action Plan continue to guide the town’s decision making and future planning.
The Result
With the Community Heart & Soul process, the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has made transformational partnerships in its Ohio communities that have a lasting impact. In Mt. Blanchard, residents learned how to become active partners in shaping the town’s future. By focusing on small, achievable improvements aligned with community values, Mt. Blanchard was able to generate early successes that built pride, increased participation, and laid the groundwork for larger revitalization efforts. Among those early wins are more community events, a farmers market, creation of a walking trail near the river and park improvements. The town has earned $20,000 in grants and donations for improvement projects and the Community Foundation helped the town establish the Mt. Blanchard Fund, from which earned interest will fund future community projects.
Thoughts From Our Partner
“This partnership has helped us do our work more effectively. We have a deeper knowledge of the communities that have gone through the Community Heart & Soul process. We know the people, their hopes and concerns, and what they think will elevate their communities in the future.”
— Brian Treece, President and CEO, Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
A Clear Path to Impact
Starting your path towards partnering with Community Heart & Soul is easy.
1
Fill Out a Brief Questionnaire
2
Schedule a Discovery Call
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Make a Lasting Difference Together
