About Us

"Stay In Clay" is comprised of progressive Clay County residents who have come together to cross all boundaries of race, economic, and social class, to empower our people, bond our community, and strengthen our local economy...to move Clay County forward with pride and purpose.

Stay in Clay is a group formed to help boost the spirit, pride, and morale of our people and help improve the look and condition of our hometown/county. We want Manchester and Clay County to be the place people want to live, stay, retire, visit, come home to!

This dedicated organization has completed swinging bridges restoration projects, created promotional murals,  organizes special events and established a story telling theater called Monkey Dumplin’s. And we’re just getting started. Many more projects are in the works.

About Project Hope

Project Hope began when a group of people, seeing that Clay County was in need, formed to repair and paint buildings, sweep sidewalks, and organize community garbage pickups. As they listened to citizens they saw the need to involve youth. It became Project Hope's focus to involve youth in improving the community. Projects have included the middle school art class painting of a "Welcome to Clay" mural, teaming up with VOA and the leadership team of CCHS to create a "Hope Endures" mural, and revitalizing the basketball courts during Covid. A Flag Project promotes a sense of pride in the community for our country, funded entirely through community donations. Project Hope has also hosted a ceremony for area veterans, hosted Christmas parades, and organized Tour of Lights; all Covid friendly events. The organization jumps in wherever there is a need.

Recent Projects Of Stay In Clay & Project Hope

Rawlings and Stinson Park Updates

Donate to SIC

"Stay In Clay" is non profit organization organized in Clay County, Kentucky. Donations to our cause are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Donate by Mail
Stay In Clay
PO Box 1337
Manchester, Kentucky 40962


Buy A Bridge Board

Buy A Bridge Board is a sponsorship program by Stay In Clay to raise funds to restore the Old Swinging Bridge in Downtown Manchester, and to support the many projects and activities of SIC. Each of the sponsorship brass plaques will be carefully crafted with the sponsor’s name, or a message provided by the sponsor, and attached to a sponsored board. Sponsor a Swinging Bridge Board to commemorate a special person, event, organization or business. Your plaque will be personalized with your personal message and displayed on the restored Goose Creek Swinging Bridge in historic Downtown Manchester. Give a memory that will last a lifetime with a sponsored Bridge Board. Board sponsorships are $25 each, limit one Name/Message, 50 characters per plaque.

About the Old Swinging Bridge

Manchester's Goose Creek Swinging Bridge was originally constructed to replace the old wagon bridge that was washed away in the Flood of 1947. This unique icon of our cultural heritage literally connects our history...the Heritage Pavilion on the Square to the Warrior's Path on the other side of Goose Creek. This is the actual route taken by Daniel Boone in 1769, and before him, Dr. Thomas Walker when returning to Virginia after constructing the first building in Kentucky in 1750. Moreover, when you get to the other side, you have two choices. Turn left on the scenic walkway to Rawlings & Stinson Park, in the footsteps of countless explorers, as well as marvel at the site that 60-foot salt barges took during the winter and spring "salt tides." Or, turn right and walk the trail to the historical Goose Creek Salt Works and home of the first county government in 1807. This is also the site of one of the oldest structures in Kentucky, the Jane & Jesse Cotton Cabin. Our Goose Creek Swinging Bridge connects us with the historical narratives of the whole state of Kentucky.

Contact Us

By Mail

Stay In Clay
PO Box 1337
Manchester, Kentucky 40962

  • President: Vanda RIce
  • Secretary Treasurer: Gail Miller

By Email

[email protected]

By Phone

606-391-6161 Visitor's Center
606-598-7274 Vanda
606-813-9283 Gail

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