The Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award is given annually to an organization that has shown exemplary efforts toward neighborhood improvement and empowerment. The award is named in honor of former Greenville mayor Max Heller, who spearheaded numerous efforts over the years to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Greenville County. The 2011 award, sponsored by Smith Moore Leatherwood, was presented to the Nicholtown Neighborhood Association.

Under the leadership of Yvonne Reeder, the Nicholtown Community has achieved many accomplishments with the cooperation of its residents, and collaborations with churches and area businesses.

The association adopted a theme “Together We Grow” - the centerpiece of that notion is the community garden that grows as the results of many hands. They’ve had over 88 residents come out to till the garden, resuliting in the growth of 57 varieties of vegetables, and providing food for 200 families.

At the Nicholtown Recreation Center, community members can use a computer room to take classes on healthy living or controlling diabetes or take part in an exercise class. The center also has a bike share program and plans to host a bike club beginning later this year. As part of ongoing rehabilitation of the area, a walkway of personalized bricks is underway and a sculpture, designed by local students in collaboration with the architecture department at Clemson University, has been installed at a small park that will start hosting concerts this summer.

FinalGreenville Chamber of Commerce 123rd Annual Meeting