Now in its 20th year of operation, the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center has experienced a growth spurt.

In spite of going through one of its toughest years of operation, the nonprofit organization not only retained its executor director during the pandemic, but it has hired a retail manager, welcomed four new board members, and recruited and trained eight new volunteers.

“We hope to once again be open seven days a week this summer,” said Executive Director Emily Allen in a press release.

Allen was able to stay employed thanks to Payroll Protection Program loans, said the release. Now joining her is Retail Manager Bonnie Sohn, a retired Henrico County teacher who moved to Sibley Creek in Mathews three years ago.

Sohn will manage the volunteer training and retail operations. An artist, Sohn said she felt drawn to the Visitor Center, where she was responsible for the spring mural paintings on the storefront windows.

Overseeing policy for the center is the Visi...