ChangeX brings innovative new community projects to Southern Virginia
$50,000 in funding available
(South Boston, Virginia – February 11, 2022) – The SOVA Innovation Hub is proud to announce the launch of the 2022 ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge supported by Microsoft. ChangeX is a global non-profit that helps connect ideas, people, and funding to bring about positive community change.
Now in its third year, the ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge provides funding, technical assistance, and mentorship to community members who apply to lead a ChangeX project in Microsoft TechSpark Virginia localities: Mecklenburg, Halifax, Charlotte, Lunenburg, and Brunswick Counties. The past challenge winners included multiple community kitchen projects, pollinator plots, and the Grow It Yourself project at the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market.
“Our first ChangeX Grow it Yourself Grant project has been a huge success,” said Megan Throckmorton-Harris, manager of the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market. “The funds have given us the ability to host multiple giveaways that have helped folks in our community discover their inner gardener. The printed educational resources, plants, and seeds we were able to provide set a fire for learning and had a powerful impact. In fact, I have had families contact me already this year to inquire if we were going to keep Grow It Yourself going. The answer is definitely ‘YES’ and we plan to continue this program for years to come.”
The Downtown South Boston Farmers Market was also awarded a ChangeX grant in 2021 for the Urban Thinkscapeproject, which creates an opportunity for kids to engage in playful learning during their time in the downtown area. The Town of Halifax also received a ChangeX Urban Thinkscape grant to bring light and learning opportunities to a forgotten alleyway.
The 2022 ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge is giving away $50,000 to fund the next round of community projects. Options include everything from starting an open orchard or a community composting site to installing a parklet, hosting an Hour of Code, or launching a FIRST Robotics Lego League.
Apply for a 2022 ChangeX Community Project
Individuals or organizations in Mecklenburg, Halifax, Lunenburg, Charlotte, and Brunswick County, Virginia can apply. Projects are approved on a rolling basis until all 2022 funds have been allocated, so interested citizens and organizations are encouraged to apply soon. A group is already organizing around the PlantPure Communities Pod project, with a kickoff meeting scheduled for February 17, 2021 at 6pm at Factory Street Brewing in downtown South Boston, VA.
Find more information about the ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge on the SOVA Innovation Hub’s Facebook page or at https://sovainnovationhub.com/changex.
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SOVA Innovation Hub
Contact: Lauren Mathena
Email: lauren.mathena@mbc-va.com
Microsoft TechSpark
Contact: Jeremy Satterfield
Email: jeremy.satterfield@microsoft.com