Belmont County Enrichment Fund Grants Announced
Recipients of the Belmont County Enrichment Fund (BCEF) 2026 grants gathered at Ebbert Farms east of St. Clairsville on Tuesday to receive funding to help achieve their goals of supporting their communities.
The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley (CFOV) announced this year’s grant recipients, awarding a total of $66,463 to 13 organizations serving Belmont County.
Recipients assemble at Ebbert Farms. ©Barnesville Area News Company Photo.
The BCEF was created in 2013 by a group of Belmont County landowners. Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, fire and police departments and other similar tax-exempt organizations based in or serving Belmont County. The fund aims to enrich the community by supporting meaningful projects that improve residents’ quality of life.
BCEF committee Chairman Lova Ebbert opened the program by highlighting the purpose of the grants and noting the impact recipients’ efforts have had across the county.
BCEF committee Chairman Lova Ebbert speaks to recipients. ©Barnesville Area News Company Photo.
Following her remarks, each recipient shared how the funding will support their work.
This year’s grant recipients include:
- Barnesville State Theater Company — Reconstruct men’s and women’s bathrooms — $10,000
- Belmont Fire Department — Fire engine payment support — $5,000
- Belmont SOAR FC — Portable lighting project — $2,000
- Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department — CO detector project — $4,775
- Calvary Presbyterian Church — Little Kidz Kloset program — $2,000
- Faith in Action Caregivers Inc. — Volunteer Match Program — $3,000
- First Christian Church of Barnesville — Five Loaves food ministry — $5,000
- Miracle of Life Support Group — Preschool clothing initiative — $2,000
- Ohio Hills Health Services — Expanding community healthcare for the underserved — $5,862
- OR&W Fire District — Ice rescue equipment — $5,826
- R.L. Strength & Conditioning — Youth guidance program — $5,500
- Salvation Army of Belmont County — Emergency family shelter — $5,500
- Union Local School District — Middle school outdoor recreation and education zone — $10,000
Rose Grear, a board member of the Barnesville State Theater Company, spoke about the nonprofit’s efforts to restore the historic theater on Main Street. The theater, closed since 1969 and used for storage, has been revived by volunteers.
Grear announced the theater’s first public event, a screening of Lady and the Tramp in May, is already sold out. She added that the organization is also hosting a volunteer engagement event and rigatoni dinner fundraiser. Previously, the group has organized street fairs and free concerts at Barnesville Memorial Park.
Board member Rose Grear talks about the Barnesville State Theater. ©Barnesville Area News Company Photo.
“Our goal is to enhance the community with art and culture …,” Grear said. “We are so grateful to Belmont County Enrichment Fund and EQT and other partners that have believed in us. All the icing is not on the table, but the cake is ready.”
Another Barnesville-based recipient, First Christian Church, received funding for its Five Loaves food ministry. Mike Lucas credited the ministry’s success to faith and community support.
In 2025, the church served approximately 1,000 families, distributing about 3,500 grocery bags.
“It is our conviction that those who receive food will be strengthened, both physically and spiritually in all situations …,” he said. “We pray that God continues to bless us.”
Ohio Hills Health Services, based in Barnesville, received funding to expand healthcare access for underserved residents. Director of Development Jan Chambers said the grant will directly benefit patients.
“Ohio Hills is a federally qualified health care center, and our mission is to provide affordable, quality health care for the underserved,” Chambers said.
Ohio Hills Health Centers Director of Development Jan Chambers and Clinical manager Kayla Reynolds communicate their efforts at the health care center. ©Barnesville Area News Company Photo.
She noted the agency accepts all insurance plans, offers a patient discount program, and assists with Medicaid and Medicare enrollment. Chambers added that Barnesville is a medically underserved area facing a shortage of healthcare professionals.
In 2025, the Barnesville Health Center served 4,981 patients across 13,883 visits.
Clinical manager Kayla Reynolds said the funding will be used to purchase mobile vital sign equipment and a SPH monitor.
“That’s just going to be a game changer for the efficiency of our staff, how quickly we can get patients in and out …,” she said. “Our staff is very, very grateful for the funds for these monitors.”
Down the road in Belmont, the Union Local School District received funding for its middle school outdoor community recreation and education zone. Seventh grade social studies teacher Robin Sefsick said the project addresses a lack of recreational space for students.
“We expect them to sit there from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. every day with no recess. We have lots of land, but nothing for them, and where they go outside is a mud hole.”
Plans for the project include basketball, pickleball, and volleyball courts, along with an outdoor STEM classroom.
“Our kids, they’re excited,” Sefsick said. “They want to go out and play and have a place to call their own. So thank you so much, and thank you to all the people in this room that are absolutely amazing.”
Seventh grade social studies teacher Robin Sefsick and teacher Natalie Michaels share the plans of the outdoor community recreation and education zone at Union Local Middle School. ©Barnesville Area News Company Photo.
CFOV Program Director Debbie Stanton closed the ceremony by describing her role in facilitating and administering the grants. She emphasized the importance of bringing recipients together to share their work.
“We can put this in the mail, but in person, having the committee meet and see you all, and hearing the project stories is better,” she said.
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