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Heritage Foundation Releases 2022 Report to the Community

Heritage Foundation Releases 2022 Report to the Community

Report unveiled at community reception at The Franklin Theatre showcases the diversified successes of the organization to the benefit of the Williamson County community

FRANKLIN, TN (February 22, 2023) –  The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County on February 21st held a community reception at The Franklin Theatre to reflect back on the scope of its accomplishments in 2022 and look forward to the possibilities in 2023 and beyond.

The event marked the release of its 2022 Report to the Community which overviewed the totality of the organization’s efforts and its accomplishments across its four core divisions: the Downtown Franklin Association, The Franklin Theatre, History & Culture Center, and Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens.

“We’re so proud of what the Heritage Foundation was able to accomplish in 2022, particularly coming out of the pandemic,” said Bari Beasley, President and CEO. “When this community pulls in the same direction to protect and enhance what makes Williamson County special, we achieve great things together. Many seeds have been planted that will further our standing as a national model for preservation and education. We’re excited for what is in store for 2023 and beyond.”

The full report can be downloaded at: https://williamsonheritage.org/reporttothecommunity/

The year in review report goes into great transparent detail of the comprehensive work of the Heritage Foundation. Several highlights from the Foundation’s work in 2022 includes:

Preservation

  • 22 historic locations received fieldwork and site visits
    • Including on-site work to help winterize and preserve Beechwood Hall as the Heritage Foundation continues dialogue on preservation opportunity with the property’s owners
  • 14 locations added to the “Sites to Save” watch-list
  • 1 National Register Building acquired by the Heritage Foundation

Downtown Franklin Association

  • Grew Downtown Franklin Association 52% to 190 members
  • Held 3 downtown festivals totaling 364k attendees and $10M in local economic impact

The Franklin Theatre

  • The Franklin Theatre distributed 46k tickets, a 47% increase over 2021
  • 27 non-profits and schools served at the Franklin Theatre

Groundwork made in 2022, will lead to significant milestones in 2023 for the History & Culture Center, which will open later this year, and Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, which recently received a $300,000 grant from TNECD, and will see the transfer of a fully intact Rosenwald School which will be restored on site.

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ABOUT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, PumpkinFest and Dickens of a Christmas bring an estimated 300,000+ locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year that creates more than a $10 million dollar economic impact annually. The Heritage Foundation owns and operates The Franklin Theatre, Downtown Franklin Association, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, and its newest historic adaptive reuse project: The History & Culture Center of Williamson County. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit www.williamsonheritage.org.