Author Archives: EW Admin
Envision Williamston awarded $10,000 State Farm Grant
Local State Farm agent, Cristina Ortiz, Williamston has a long history of demonstrating what it means to be a Good Neighbor by stepping up to help her community. On Friday, June 3, Ortiz presented Envision Williamston with a $10,000 grant from State Farm as part of their Outstanding Community Engagement Program.
Envision Williamston was selected by Ortiz to receive the grant as part of State Farm’s recognition of her for being 1 of 100 agents nationwide who were nominated and selected for their outstanding community engagement.
Scarecrow Decorating Contest Underway
The Town of Williamston and the Envision Williamston Main Program invite all area residents and businesses to participate in the Fall Scarecrow Decorating Contest which is now underway. Scarecrows will be on display throughout the town during October through November 3 and awards will be given for a number of categories.
Display setup time period will be now through October 6. Online judging will be held October 9-27.
Entry Forms may be picked up at Town Hall or printed from the Envision Williamston website and social media page.
The official display period is through November 3. Registration deadline is Oct 6, to be eligible for judging. Awards will be given for all categories and there will be a “People’s Choice Award” for the overall best. Displays may be set up following registration and design approval. There is no entry fee. Displays may be placed throughout the town. Some public locations will be available on a first come first served basis.
The contest is open to all ages, however each project entry must be supervised by at least one adult, 21 years of age or older. A panel of judges with expertise in planning, decorating, and/or design will judge the displays.
Envision Williamston Awards Main Street Winner
Envision Williamston, in partnership with Town of Williamston reopened the Main Street Challenge New Business Program. The Main Street Challenge is an entrepreneurial start-up competition for the purpose of generating additional retail occupancy in downtown Williamston.
The Main Street Challenge offered an incentive package up to $5,000 for a new retail business or restaurant to locate in downtown Williamston no later than October 30, 2022.
Depending on applicants, there was to be one award of $5,000 or two awards of $2,500.
Main Street Challenge applications were due March 15, 2022.
Envision Williamston Choose Raines In Williamston as The Main Street Challenge Winner. They received their Award at the Williamston Town Counsil Meeting and Will Receive 6 Monthly Installment Payments.
Envision Williamston has also reopened the Façade Improvement Program which is designed to stimulate a limited number of additional improvements to the exterior of commercial buildings within the Town of Williamston.
Facade Grant applications must be turned in to the Envision Williamston’s drop box at Town
Hall by June 30.
For information on either program, contact Envision Williamston Director Roberta Hamby at EWBoardMembers@gmail.com or by scheduled appointment at the Envision Williamston Town Hall office at (864) 847-7473.
Roberta Hamby to serve as Envision Williamston Executive Director
Roberta Barrs Hamby has recently agreed to serve as Envision Williamston’s new part time Executive Director.
Envision Williamston has seen some substantial changes in the past few years. With Covid bringing everything, everywhere to a standstill, the program also stalled.
Then with the budget for the program being cut in half, the position of Executive Director was eliminated and made the future of the program very uncertain.
Roberta Hamby, who was the Vice Chair of the Envision Williamston Board of Directors, stepped up and volunteered to make sure the program could continue.
Roberta has been with the program since it began in 2014 as the Main Street program. She has been quoted several times as saying that she believes in the program and all the benefits that it offers the Town of Williamston.
Roberta volunteered countless hours to the program to ensure that it would survive.
She spearheaded the largest undertaking that Envision Williamston has ever attempted with the Williamston’s Winter Wonderland Event in November. The event was a huge success and the Board met and decided that they wanted to ask Hamby if she would consider staying on, as a paid Part Time Executive Director.
Roberta and her husband Mike moved to the Williamston area in 1994 to get their two daughters in the award-winning District one schools. Roberta, who has been a Realtor since 1992, opened her own real estate company, Palmetto Properties Real Estate, Inc. in Williamston in 2002. Roberta agreed to accept the Executive Director position with the understanding that it will only be part time because she will continue her real estate career full time.
On December 1, Hamby resigned her position as Vice Chair on the Envision Williamston Board of Directors and stepped into the role as Executive Director for Envision Williamston.
“I love this town and the people here and I look very forward to helping the town grown and be the very best that it can be,” Hamby said. “And since many people have asked what exactly is Envision Williamston, I though now would be a great time to tell you a little ab out who we are and what we do.”
What is Envision Williamston?
Fall / Scarecrow Decorating Contest
Fall Is In The Air. Time To Decorate The Town With Scarecrows and Fall Decor. Applications are Available AT Town Hall and on Envision Williamston’s Facebook Page and Below.
Read more about the EW Scarecrow Decorating Contest
Printable Application – Download / Print Below
Envision Williamston to offer two fall activities
Envision Williamston to offer two fall activities
Envision Williamston is gearing up for two fall events.
Lisa Cope, who was recently named the EW Executive Director, said Williamston’s fall scarecrow decorating contest is to begin soon. “We WILL be having it again and what better time to have fun than now?”
Details and registration will be announced soon.
Voting will end on Oct 19th and awards given out on Nov 2nd. Voting will be online on the EW Facebook page.
“Secondly, we’ll be doing a positive vibe activity starting next week,” Cope said. “This will be an ongoing art project for all. The project is being called “Chalk It Up Positive”.
A supply of sidewalk chalk has been ordered and participants can stop by town hall and get a bag or use their own.
The ONLY rule is that ONLY positive, friendly art is allowed. Anything offensive will be washed off.”
“We encourage people of all ages to participate by creating art, liking favorites, and sharing on social media. This is a way to bring joy and a sense of unity while social distancing and practicing safety during the pandemic.”
From the new Executive Director
I am thrilled to have been chosen as the Executive Director of Envision Williamston. I’ve been working with nonprofit organizations for the past 30 years in volunteer, board member, board executive, outreach employee, and CEO roles. I’m ever grateful for the experience I’ve gained in each aspect of this field and for the mentors I’ve had over those years. There is always more to learn and strategy to share and I believe that while we’re living we need to be learning. As a nonprofit leader, fund management is important to me and in 2014 the nonprofit organization I was leading was the recipient of the Angel Award from SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond. This is an annual award given to 10 nonprofit organizations in SC for responsible fund management. I bring that same diligence and sense of responsibility to Envision Williamston and look forward to standing alongside others to bring opportunity, vitality, and engagement to Williamston and her residents.
I was raised in rural WV and am grateful for my roots. I was taught early to work hard and learned to garden, cook, butcher, and preserve foods. I still have a passion for cooking and baking, as well as small town and locally owned business. My husband and I make an effort to support small businesses and love to see them thrive. My hope for Williamston is the same as the hope I have for my own hometown and others like it; to experience growth, prosperity, community engagement, small-town values, safety, and peace.
The challenges we currently face are like none we have experienced before but I know we can take this time to make ourselves better and stronger than ever. I look forward to the end of the pandemic and a return to events and gatherings. May we have a celebration like no one has seen when this is over!
Lisa Cope
Executive Director, Envision Williamston
12 West Main Street
Williamston, SC 29697
864-847-7473
LisaCope@envisionwilliamston.com
Lisa Cope named Executive Director
Envision Williamston has named Lisa Cope the new Executive Director of the organization.
Cope is a resident of Liberty. She brings over thirty years of experience in working with non-profit organizations to her new role at Envision Williamston.
Heart & Home Designs and Boutique named Main Street Challenge Winners
Heart & Home Designs and Boutique recently held a ribbon cutting for their new businesses located in Williamston.
Owners are Debbie Alexander and Paula Phillips.
Alexander and Phillips have been long time friends for almost 20 years and both are residents of the Williamston and Pelzer area.
After doing several area craft festivals including Westy’s Vintage Market in West Pelzer and the Spring Water Festival in Williamston, they decided to open in Williamston. Their business idea was chosen as one of the winners of the Envision Williamston Main Street Challenge, which provides grant money to help a new local small business open. “We are so proud of this award,” Phillips said.
Home & Heart Designs and Boutique offer unique quality handmade items including farmhouse decor as well as repurposing vintage items into one-of-a-kind home decor.
They have jewelry including earrings, bracelets and necklaces and offer a variety of women’s apparel and accessories.
They have candles and wax melts and even face masks.
Home & Heart Designs and Boutique is located at 1110 Anderson Drive in Williamston.
Store Hours are: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm
For more information, visit us on Facebook @ Heart & Home Designs and Boutique