Buckeye Hills Regional Council was recently recognized with a pair of 2025 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations.

Buckeye Hills was recognized for its community engagement efforts for “Buckeye Hills Forward: A Regional Economic Plan” and its collaboration with county commissioners and the Ohio Department of Aging on Introduction to Tablets, Internet and Email programs that served seniors in Monroe and Noble counties.

Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience and enhancing local economies through innovative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, D.C.-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies.

This year’s cohort included 90 projects led by 79 organizations across 24 states. The efforts will be recognized during NADO’s 2025 Annual Training Conference in October in Salt Lake City. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images and key partners, and can be viewed at www.nado.org/2025impactawards/.

“The Impact Awards are an annual reminder of the creativity and commitment that regional development organizations bring to their communities,” said 2024-2025 NADO President Rick Hunsaker, executive director of the Region XII Council of Governments in Iowa. “This year’s awardees show how local and regional partnerships, driven by vision and collaboration, can lead to lasting positive change across our country.”

“We’re honored for our work to be recognized among so many strong projects across the country,” said Buckeye Hills Executive Director Chasity Schmelzenbach. “Buckeye Hills Forward and the Monroe and Noble County digital literacy classes for seniors are great examples of the work we do across our divisions to help communities thrive and improve the quality of life in Southeast Ohio.”

The Impact Awards are presented in memory of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, who was a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development.

Buckeye Hills Regional Council is a council of governments dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Southeast Ohio. Working with elected officials across Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties, Buckeye Hills connects communities with local, state and federal resources through its Aging & Health, Home Care, Community Development and Planning divisions. To learn more about Buckeye Hills Regional Council, visit www.buckeyehills.org, call 740-374-9436 or 1-800-331-2644 (toll-free), or email info@buckeyehills.org.