Submitted by Benjamin T Turner on
Frances Rasnic served as Chair of the Clinch-Powell Enterprise Community, a special ten-year federal designation for parts of Grainger, Claiborne, Hancock, Hawkins and Union counties from 1999-2009. Clinch-Powell RC&D worked with Frances and community leaders to lead the strategic planning process for the winning application to USDA Rural Development and also served as the fiscal agent. The EC designation was the catalyst for more than $195 million of large and small new investments into the region which have had major impacts on our communities today. The EC brought clean public water to more than 2,000 homes, expanded sewer services in towns, attracted companies like DTR in Tazewell, purchased hundreds of library books for schools, provided counselors for at-risk high school students, helped volunteer fire departments with new trucks, stations and turn out gear, provided seed funding that launched our housing programs, started the Appalachian Quilt Trail, and so much more. One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time in service to others. We give thanks for Frances and all the wonderful EC community volunteers!
