The Chamber Foundation is now accepting grant applications. The application and guidelines are available on the Chamber website at www.CarolinaFoothillsChamber.com, and in the office located at 2753 Lynn Rd, Suite A, Tryon. The phone number is 828-859-6236.

Application deadline is January 15, at 5 p.m. Grants will be awarded on April 1.

The Chamber Foundation is a non-profit public charity with the purpose of carrying out the charitable and educational activities of the Chamber of Commerce. It is a 501[c][3] organization that can accept charitable tax-deductible contributions from members of the general public.

The Foundation makes grants to other non-profit organizations in the community with the objective of serving the majority of residents and visitors, to help promote the fiscal viability of the area by attracting new businesses, thereby creating new employment opportunities and generally helping to improve the quality of life for area citizens.

Past recipients of grants include PAC, TDDA, Town of Columbus, Polk County Library/Building Fund, Harmon Field, Polk County Recreation Dept., Polk Vocational Services, Landrum Community Development Committee Green Creek Family Life Center, House of Flags, Saluda Senior Center, Polk County Rescue Squad, and Mountain MicroEnterprise Fund.