Town of Columbia receives $5000 grant

The Town of Columbia, a municipal organization dedicated to the township of Columbia, Louisiana, was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Plum Creek Foundation. Funds will support Columbia’s Downtown development, usage and beautification.
This project allows the community to begin the first phase of enhancing Columbia’s downtown and river area. The grant will enable the purchase of benches and picnic tables. The benches will replace unsafe existing benches and provide for area residents to enjoy the opportunity to gather in the Downtown area for both social and business occasions. The picnic tables will be added to the riverfront area of Downtown where families, school children and visitors can enjoy the beautiful Ouachita River. The new additions will be made with wood, a renewable resource. 
“This project is important to the Town of Columbia as it helps promote local business and outdoor activities for both our school children and adults, said Mayor Charles Simons, Mayor of Columbia. “We are very aware that communities with attractive and usable outdoor space are appealing to people considering a move to our area.”
“The Plum Creek funds will help start this project, the first phase of an ongoing series of additions and enhancements to the Town of Columbia,” said Mary Beth Hefner, Columbia Main Street Manager. “Without Plum Creek, we could not have used the Town’s limited budget for the funds to add and replace these benches and tables. Plum Creek has been an outstanding member of our community for many years. We are deeply grateful for Plum Creek’s commitment to our community.”
"Plum Creek is proud to support growth and enhancement in the communities where our employees live and work,” said Steve Hanley, Senior Resource Manager for Plum Creek. "We can all benefit from investment in quality public spaces like downtown Columbia."
Plum Creek is among the largest private landowners in the United States with timberlands in 19 states. The Plum Creek Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that improve the overall quality of life in the communities where Plum Creek operates.
The Plum Creek Foundation board meets quarterly to review submitted grant applications. Visit www.plumcreek.com/communityinvolvement to download an application and learn more about the foundation grant program in addition to other ways that Plum Creek is serving its communities.
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