News

The Eastman's Foodland plans to donate $10,000 per year for the next five years to the Digital River Project, a local non-profit organization that aims to aid unique new businesses.

 

Each business in the project must be located along the "Digital River," or the 300 block of 2nd Avenue and the part of Court Street between 1st and 3rd Avenues in Gallipolis.

 

Committee chairperson Jodie McCalla says every dollar of funding they receive can serve as motivation for potential business owners.

 

"Basically, it's an encouragement for those people to take a risk in starting a new business down here in Gallipolis," said McCalla.

 

This donation specifically has gone to support two area businesses.

 

The first, Jividen's Customs, is a small clothing boutique newly located downtown.

 

The other is Nibble's Cafe, a health focused restaurant set to open on September 20.

 

Both businesses employ innovative technologies in order to advance their respective businesses, although this is not required to receive funding.

 

"They're encouraged to use technology in order to make things more efficient for their business," said McCalla. "But they're not necessarily technology focused businesses."

 

In addition to the most recent donation, the organization has also been awarded funding from the Ohio Valley Bank, Wiseman Insurance Agency, and various community members.