Leadership Allegany Receives ACAF Grant

(L to R): Gretchen Hanchett, Executive Director of the Greater Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and Halley A. Kottwitz, Economic Development Associate for the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board.

The Allegany County Area Foundation recently awarded a $600 grant to Leadership Allegany. This money will be used to sponsor a participant in the Leadership Allegany Program. On hand to accept the award were Gretchen Hanchett, Executive Director of the Greater Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and Halley A. Kottwitz, Economic Development Associate for the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board. Halley is a participant in the current Leadership Allegany cohort.Leadership Allegany is a joint initiative of Houghton College and the Greater Allegany County Chamber of Commerce. The program provides a dynamic learning environment where adult professionals who live, work or have vested interest in Allegany County grow their leadership abilities, create connections, and impact their communities. Participants meet two times a month for ten months, including a full-day opening retreat.  Industry days provide participants with an in-depth, insider’s view of Allegany County industries through the professionals who lead them – including government, the judicial system, manufacturing, agriculture, and many more. They engage in site tours, hear from speakers, and enjoy panel discussions.  Curriculum sessions challenge participants to dig deep into their leadership values using the Social Model for Leadership, developed by the Higher Education Research Institute of UCLA. They begin by exploring their own personal strengths, moving gradually from the self to small group engagement to community impact.
Participants work in small groups throughout the year to plan an industry day and conduct a community service project that supports individuals or service organizations in the county. Participants also write a personal leadership development plan.
For more information about Leadership Allegany please visit their web site at: http://www.leadershipalleganyny.org. They can also be reached at: 585-567-9621. For more information about the Allegany County Area Foundation, please visit their web site at: http://alleganycountyareafoundation.org or call 585-808-8444. Their next grant deadline is on May 15^th, and their grant application is available online.