Mountain Projects, Inc.

09/04/2026

🩵 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY — Thank you, Melody Trantham! 🩵

Please join us in congratulating Melody Trantham on her 3-year anniversary as a Head Start teacher at our Clyde Center!

Working with infants and toddlers takes patience, creativity, and a genuine understanding of how important these early years are. Head Start teachers like Melody provide a safe and nurturing place for children to learn new skills, build relationships, and develop the confidence they need as they grow.

Melody shared that one of the most rewarding parts of the job is watching that growth happen firsthand. She enjoys nurturing her students, helping them discover new skills each day, and seeing how much they develop as they move from the toddler years toward pre-kindergarten.

Thank you, Melody, for three years of caring for our youngest learners and supporting the children and families who count on Head Start.

We appreciate the time, patience, and care you bring to the classroom every day!

09/03/2026

💜 CELEBRATING 2 YEARS — Congratulations, Sarah Clark! 💜

Please join us in congratulating Sarah Clark on her 2-year anniversary with Mountain Projects!

Sarah serves as a Healthcare Navigator with GetCoveredWNC, and recently became a Certified Community Health Worker.

"Congratulations to Sarah for completing her course work and becoming the Agency's newest Certified Community Health Worker," shares Jan Plummer, GetCoveredWNC program manager.

As both a Navigator and Community Health Worker, she can help people navigate insurance, connect with community resources, and advocate for themselves and their families.

For Sarah, the work is personal. When asked what she loves about her job, she shared:

“I have a passion for helping others. Helping others helps me!”

Congratulations, Sarah, on two years with Mountain Projects and this important professional achievement! We appreciate the compassion and commitment you bring to the people we serve. 🌟

09/03/2026

Such a fun day of learning! Thank you to the North Carolina Symphony for visiting our Head Start and sharing the joy of music 🎶

09/02/2026

A QUICK REMINDER: Please Be Patient!

We had a BIG response to the opening of the HCV/Section 8 waiting lists. Yesterday, our team received more than 200 phone calls and over 50 in-person visits.

We know everyone is eager to get started. We also understand that housing is critically important, and we know you want to know what comes next.

If you called, left a message, or visited our office, we have your information. Our staff is currently working through all of the names and messages we received and will reach out to schedule appointments as quickly as we can.

Please do not worry if you haven’t heard from us yet — it may take some time, as we are working steadily to serve everyone who made an effort.

The HCV/Section 8 Program is a process. There are multiple steps Mountain Projects is required to follow by HUD, and our staff must manage those steps carefully and in order.

Calling or visiting multiple times will not make the process move faster. In fact, it can make it harder for our staff to work through the information we already have.

We appreciate your patience, understanding, and trust. 💜

09/02/2026

🐾 NATIONAL DOG MONTH: MEET WENDY! 🐾

We’re closing out our National Dog Month series with Wendy, the sweet and energetic pup belonging to Anne Velez, FSS Coordinator at Mountain Projects! 🐶 💕

Wendy is a rescue from Wags & Wiggles in Georgia and celebrated her first birthday in April! 🎂 She’s full of energy, loves a good belly rub, and clearly knows how to keep life interesting.

And Wendy isn’t the only one stealing the spotlight! Her buddy Benson the cat is right there beside her for this adorable photo. 🐱❤️

From our first spotlight to our final furry friend, we’ve loved showing off the dogs who are part of the Mountain Projects family. Thank you to everyone who shared their pups with us and helped make National Dog Month so much fun! 🐾

09/01/2026

MEET OUR INTAKE SPECIALISTS!

The Section 8 waiting lists are officially open, and our Intake Specialists are here to help you take the first step.

Meet Pat, Josie, and Sally — our friendly Intake team. They will guide you through the application process, answer your questions, and help you understand what to expect.

📞 The first step is simply to call and schedule an appointment.

Please keep in mind that appointments are scheduled in advance and may be booked a month or more out. We appreciate your patience as our team works to assist everyone who is reaching out.

If we are unable to answer your call, please leave a voicemail with your name, phone number, and the reason for your call. A member of our Intake team will return your call as soon as possible.

You don’t have to navigate the process alone. We’re here to help!

08/31/2026

Mountain Projects Inc. Head Start is currently accepting applications for a Family Services Coordinator. Please apply at mountainprojects.org

08/31/2026

📲 TOMORROW IS THE DAY! 📆

Save these numbers and be ready to call to make an appointment.

Section 8 Waitlist for Haywood: (828) 452-1447
Section 8 Wailist for Jackson: (828) 586-2345

Here’s what you need to know:

☎️ Calling multiple times will NOT move you up the waiting list. Your position is based on the date and time your application is actually completed with Central Intake — not how many times you call or how many messages you leave.

⏰ You do NOT have to get through on September 1. The waiting lists are not limited to a certain number of applications and will remain open indefinitely unless HUD directs otherwise.

If you can’t get through right away, don’t panic! We will follow up with you and help you through the next steps.

Once your application is completed, any preferences you qualify for — such as being elderly, disabled, or experiencing homelessness — will also be considered when determining your position on the weighted waiting list.

08/31/2026

"We have growth right now of housing and rentals which is wonderful, but they aren't affordable in the sense that locals who are from the area, work in the service industries here, they can't afford to live here," - Amanda Singletary, Section 8 Manager at Mountain Projects

Thank you to WLOS ABC 13 for this important coverage.

https://wlos.com/news/local/apartment-housing-affordable-waynesville-homeowners-construction-mountain-projects-hyatt-creek-road-western-north-carolina-community-haywood-county?fbclid=IwY2xjawUChS9wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6RFzcXQyTVi7-0DVQHycFVV3DOdZd3ZSGYbiORy-yAwaY3mm8T0S1EW0Z-nQ_aem_06kYda_nGc7UMIB5paOktA

New housing could be making its way to Waynesville as another apartment complex expands amid an increased need for housing.

08/31/2026

👀 What if we changed the way we talk about youth substance use?

Instead of focusing only on what’s going wrong, what if we highlighted the healthy choices young people are already making? 💡

Check out this conversation with Mountain Projects’ own Libby Ray on Positive Social Norms Campaigns and how data, youth voices, and creative messaging can help make prevention more effective. 🎥👇

https://youtu.be/cjHqWAK6jRE?si=ntq8y77cn878SyvF

When we talk about preventing youth substance use, it is easy for t...