Buckeye HillsBuckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District   

P.O. Box 520 Reno, OH  45773 �  740-374-9436 �  www.buckeyehills.org

News & Issues Update
 
December  2007
National & State Updates:
 
October's Regional   Unemployement Figures
 
Athens: 5.5%
Hocking: 6.0%
Meigs: 8.7%
Monroe: 8.1%
Morgan: 7.6%
Noble: 6.6%
Perry: 6.4%
Washington:4.7%

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in October, unchanged from Sept., according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
 
 
 
 
Buckeye Hills Staff Updatesicle Headline

Revolving Loan Fund Coordinator, Tina Meunier, was a featured speaker at the Nov. EDFS Annual Conference in Chattanooga, TN. She spoke on best and promising practices for RLF funds.

 

AAA8 Trainer Cathy, Ash, LSW, presented as part of the Ohio University Geriatric Seminars Series at O'Bleness Hospital in Athens. On Dec. 3, she presented "Meeting the Needs of Southeastern Ohio Seniors and Their Caregivers Through Community Based Long-Term Care Services."

 

Exec. Director Misty Casto will be serving on the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA) Board of Directors. The 16-county regional organization is "Making Eastern Ohio More Competitive." Casto will serve on the Board's Government and Public Affairs Committee as well.

Senator Sherrod Brown
 
Visit the Appalachian Marketplace for Your Holiday Shopping Needs!
shop online at www.appalachianmarket.com

AppalachianMarket.com is a great location to shop for genuine Appalachian products, crafts and fine arts. Customers may choose to browse the store's unique items that were created by skilled crafts people. Items include soaps, pottery, body products, woodcrafts, and more. Businesses featured include Nelsonville Pottery, Butterfly Mountain, Succulent Sundays, Heritage Creations, Dawn to Twilight, Peterson Thomas and Foot Orthotics.

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District is the local coordinating agency for the grant program and the web site.

"Supporting local small businesses is an important economic development service," said Misty Casto Executive Director of Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District. "Trickle Up grants have funded a wide variety of businesses. Those who receive the grant with an interest in being online can do so at no cost to their business through this web option."

From the work of Studio Potter Jennifer L'Heureux of Nelsonville Pottery, to the handcrafted wooden pieces by Butterfly Mountain, online shoppers at AppalachianMarket.com will find unique gift items and support regional artisans and small business.

ododYou Are Invited to Attend A Regional Strategic Planning Session: Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. at Marietta College (in the Andrews Hall Great Room)

The Governor's Office of Applachia requests the participation of regional partners in an upcoming strategic planning session hosted by Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher and the Ohio Department of Development. The planning session will be held on December 10, 2007 at 10:00am on the campus of Marietta College.  The following link will provide you with more details about the upcoming session: http://net.odod.state.oh.us/strategicplan/

The involvement and input of local stakeholders is crucial in creating sustainable initiatives that foster economic and community development at the forefront of the 21st Century. As key stakeholders of the Department of Development and the Governor's Office of Appalachia, you help shape the direction of our region and our State. 

If you are able to attend, please register by clicking on the following link: http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=168687

News from Around the Disrict...
 
Monroe:
Monroe Flood Mitigation Funded

Monroe County residents who live in Cameron and near Sardis whose homes were impacted by flood waters on Sept. 19, 2004, will finally have the opportunity to apply for federal mitigation funds. Following the flood event, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District completed the lengthy grant request project through the Federal Emergency Management system. The grant request was filed by Jan. 2005.

Monroe County recently received word that it will receive in excess of $1.5 million in federal funds for the Cameron area (from FEMA and the Housing and Urban Development Disaster Recovery Fund). RFG, a consulting company in Zanesville, will administer the grant for the county.

Washington:
ReBay Recycling Expands with RLF Loan Award

reBayThanks to a loan from the Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) Revolving Loan Fund, ReBay Recyclers is expanding its business from Monroe into Washington County. Operations at the new facility in the Business Park at 17943 SR 7 are underway. An estimated 40 jobs may be added over the next three years between the two company locations.

"We are proud to support ReBay in its expansion efforts into Washington County through this RLF loan," said Buckeye Hills Executive Director Misty Casto. "This funding is important to job growth and to the region's environmental efforts."

Funding for the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) award was secured by Buckeye Hills through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

2007: A Year In Review

Excerpts from Buckeye Hills' 2007 press clippings and newsletters. Headlines noted in blue are Buckeye Hills' Area Agency on Aging 8.
 

Thomas A. Closser Business Center Dedicated

Dedication

Dedicating the Thomas A. Closser Business Center on Millers Lane in Marietta were from left:  Exec. Director Misty Casto; and Appalachian Development Corporation Board Members John Curtis, Joe Matthews (Treasurer), Heber Piatt (President) and Charles Cowgill.

The Trustees of the Appalachian Development Corporation and Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District dedicated the Thomas A. Closser Business Center Sept. 25 with federal, state and regional leaders joining the celebration.

Owned by The Appalachian Development Corporation, The Closser Business Center has 16 leasable offices ranging from 99-209 square feet and is conveniently located near SR 7 and I-77. To schedule a tour or for more details on lease options, contact Jenny Myers with Buckeye Hills at 740-374-9436 or [email protected]

Boyer Simcox Honored at Executive Meeting

BoyerBoyer Simcox retired as Buckeye Hills Executive Director in 2007. Employees and Executive Board Members as well as federal and state partners gathered to honor Boyer Sept. 25.

Boyer received recognition from The Appalachian Regional Commission, The Economic Development Administration and the USDA, as well as proclamations from the Governor Strickland, US Senator George Voinovich, Ohio Senator Joy Padgett, Ohio Rep. Jennifer Garrison and the Buckeye Hills Board of Trustees. He enjoyed a riverboat send-off and received a travel voucher to choose the beach of his choice.

Senator Sherrod Brown

Buckeye Hills Announces Leadership Updates

With his retirement, Misty Casto succeeded Simcox as Executive Director. Casto served as Co-Executive Director and has been the Assistant Executive Director since 2004. Simcox and Casto have worked together for 17 years.

 

Casto began her career with Buckeye Hills in August of 1990 as a secretary, working part time while attending Marietta High School.  Casto was hired full time by Buckeye Hills in 1994 and was promoted to Development Specialist in 1997. She became Development Director in 2001 and was promoted to Assistant Executive Director in 2004.

 

Casto holds an Associate's Degree in Accounting from Washington State Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management from Ohio Valley University. 

 

Rick Hindman

Filling the Assistant Executive Director position and serving as the Director for the Area Agency on Aging District 8 is Rick Hindman. He has been with the district for 13 years. He started in the Buckeye Hills' Development Department as a Development Specialist in February 1994. Prior to his employment at Buckeye Hills, Hindman was a community development liaison officer for the U.S. Army in Germany, and was responsible for maintaining viable working relations between the American and German communities.  Hindman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College, West Virginia and lives in Marietta.

 

Senator Sherrod BrownMelissa Zoller was promoted to Director of Development. Zoller received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio Valley University. She started with Buckeye Hills in 2001 as a Development Specialist. In that role, she has administered downtown revitalization projects, water extensions, Brownfield redevelopment and Clean Ohio programs and Appalachian Regional Commission projects.

  • Buckeye Hills Organizes Trip to DC to Defend CDBG and Increased Funding for Programs
  • Buckeye Hills Receives EDA Investment Funds
  • Buckeye Hills Supports SR 32 / US 50 / US 35 Corridor Study
  • Buckeye Hills' Revolving Loan Program Receives Additional Federal Funding
  • Buckeye Hills' Area Agency on Aging Contract Renewed
    Region's Seniors to Continue Receiving Quality Services
  • AAA8 Launches Innovative Cargiver Support Network
  • Choices Expo Draws Hundreds on Nov. 6 & 7 
    Nearly 500 senior citizens and exhibors visited the Marietta Comfort Inn for the Area Agency on Aging's CHOICES EXPO Nov. 6 & 7. With more than 60 exhibitors, a variety of speakers and the option for no and low-cost healthy screenings, participants enjoyed the festive atmosphere and the opportunity to gather information pertinent to aging decisions. Seniors traveled from all across the region to attemd the event. Senior News was the Title Sponsor. The Marietta Times also provided a Choices Expo Feature.
     

    RSVP volunteer Becky Young of  Marietta supports Senior News with distributing Expo programs.  Paul Miller of Williamstown, WV, visits with Smokey Bear.

     
    expo1 
    Senator Sherrod Brown
     
    A group from the Scenic Hills Center in Logan enjoyed the event.
     
    logan

Athens County:

  • Buckeye Hills Supports Rural Health Information Conference
  • Health Aide/Homemaker Training Program Hosts Graduation
  • AAA8/Athens Host Ohio Department of Aging Director for Regional Unified Long-Term Care Budget Forum
    Barbara E. Riley hosted a series of forums across the state to share with stakeholders details regarding plans for the unified long-term care budget. She reviewed key components of an ideal long-term care system and gathered input from those representing the 8-county Area Agency on Aging District 8 region. Gathered at the Athens County Community Center on Aug. 22 were representatives from across the region.
  • Village of Amesville Holds Community Celebration

Groundbreaking CeremonyFrom Left to right: Ken Heigel, OWDA;  Pejmaan Fallah, Ohio EPA; Mark Stedfeld, Ohio EPA; Frank Hare, Mayor of Amesville; Randy Hunt, Director USDA Rural Development; and Kurtis Strickland, RCAP.

The Village of Amesville hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking and community celebration July 31 at the Amesville Elementary School, the site of construction for the first phase of the new "Clustered" wastewater project to serve 84 structures in the village. The project is the first of its kind in the state to receive a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

The EPA's water pollution control loan fund designated Amesville as a "hardship" case providing its loan of over $424,000 at zero percent interest. Other funding sources include a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for $250,000; a Community Development Block Grant of $600,000; and a grant of $149,999 from the Ohio Public Works Commission. The project received grant writing support from the Great Lakes Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP). Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) will administer the grants throughout the construction phase.

 

U.S. Senator Voinovich Visits Region

On his fifth Tour of Appalachian Ohio, U.S. Senator George Voinovich visited with Co-Executive Directors Boyer Simcox and Misty Casto. He spoke at the Hocking College Energy Event, at a special-called Energy Roundtable meeting in Pomery and at the Ohio Univ. Innovation Center.
 
Senator VoinovichBH-HVRDD Co-Executive Directors Boyer Simcox and Misty Casto with Senator George Voinovich at the Senator's regional office in Nelsonville
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hocking County:

Hocking College Hosts Energy Institute Groundbreaking
hocking photoThe Hocking College Energy Institute groundbreaking ceremony was hosted in November at its future site next to the Logan-Hocking Industrial Park. Shown from left are Fred Deel, Director of the governor's office of Appalachia; Misty Casto, Executive Director Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District; Joe Murtha, President of the Hocking County Community Improvement Corporation Executive Committee; Dr. John J. Light, President of Hocking College; Jerry Hutton, Dean of the Hocking College Energy Institute; and Richard Brandt, a representative of the Hocking College Board of Trustees.
 
Buckeye Hills Exec. Director Misty Casto Spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hocking College Energy Institute Nov. 15. Buckeye Hills' Bret Allphin & Misty Casto supported the grant writing efforts for the Institute which received a $1.6 million grant from the US Department of Commerce - Economic Development Administration (EDA) and a $192,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
 

Meigs County:

  • Hupp Auto Center, LLC Opens in Tuppers Plains -- Revolving Loan Fund Makes New Business Possible
  • Meigs, Monroe & Washington County:

    Participate in Nov. Issue of Site Selection Magazine's Featured Ohio River Corridor Section

Buckeye Hills partnered with Meigs, Monroe & Washington Counties to place an advertisement in the Nov. Site Selection magazine with the magazine's editorial focusing on the Ohio River Corridor.The ad was desiged by Offenberger & White in Marietta. The ad will send folks to www.buckeyehills.org/ohioriver.

 
Monroe County:
  • Higher Education Feasibility Study Results Presented 
  • Health Aide/Homemaker Training Program Hosts 3 Graduations
  • Buckeye Hills Hosts Regional Business Incubator Exploratory Seminar and Conducts Survey
  • Buckeye Hills Provides Economic DeveMonroe Courthouselopment Contract Update

    Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) was under contract with Monroe County for Economic Development from October 2006 with service ending June 30. Misty Casto provided County Commissioners with a contract report July 24.

    From October through June, a total of $294,521 in grant funds was secured and an additional $316,367 in grants were filed pending notification. From a job creation perspective, because of the Buckeye Hills Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program a total of $1.13 million of public and private funds were invested in Monroe County from Oct.-June. The loans helped maintain 13 employees and will fund a projected 14 new jobs over three years. Buckeye Hills also completed tours of available facilities and properties with business site selection representatives.

Morgan County:

  • State Certifies First AAA8 Assisted Living Facility for Medicaid Waiver Program
  • West Malta Rural Water District Breaks Ground on New System

West Malta GroundbreakingPhoto Courtesy of The Morgan County Herald: June 28 edition - From left are: Lisa Sibicky, Buckeye Hills; Harold French, board member; Danny Ray, board member; Dean Cain, county commissioner; Chris Nichols, board member; Fred Deel, director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia; Bonnie Wilson, board member; Cindy Cunningham, Congressman Zack Space's office; Elvin Nichols, board member; Gordon Parker, USDA Rural Development; Misty Casto, Buckeye Hills; Terry Spears, board member; Jack "Randy" Riley, board member; Charmel Wesel, Buckeye Hills; Barb Greuey, board member; Michelle Hyer, Buckeye Hills; and Melisa Zoller, Buckeye Hills.

 

West Malta Rural Water District (WMRWD) hosted groundbreaking ceremonies at the future site of the booster station for a water distribution system to serve Penn and Malta Townships June 22. The project involves the installation of the booster station, a 100,000-gallon elevated tank (to be located on Tridelphia Road) and approximately 21 miles of waterline. Serving 223 customers in Morgan County, the estimated daily demand will be over 37,000 gallons.

 

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) supported the project with various grant applications in securing necessary funding. Buckeye Hills will also be administering the grants throughout the construction phase.


Noble County:

  • Govenor Honors Crissina Gibson with Elder Caregiving Award
  • Project Lifesaver Hosts Training Search
  • PASSPORT Featured in Representative Jennifer Garrison's Visit

Passport_Garrison visit

To hear first-hand about the PASSPORT program,

Ohio Rep. Jennifer Garrison

visited Noble County Oct. 18 to meet Mildred "Sally" Robinson. From left: Rep. Garrison, PASSPORT Case Manager Pat Biehl, R.N., and Sally Robinson.
 
 
 

Mildred "Sally" Robinson of Caldwell enjoys being in the comfort of her own home. As a consumer in the PASSPORT care program for the past few months, she continues to stay at home and receive nursing and home care assistance. 

To hear first-hand about the program, Ohio Representative Jennifer Garrison (D-93rd District) visited Noble County Oct. 18 to meet Robinson.

Perry County:

  • Brownfield Initiative Yields Perry Success Story
  • Ramp Gives Roseville Woman Independence

Washington County:

  • Free Health Series Offered - AAA8 Hosts "Healthy U" in Marietta
  • Washington County Sheriff's Office Tests Project Lifesaver Transmitters
  • Southeastern Ohio Port Authority Conducts EPA Assessments at Belpre Site
  • Buckeye Hills Hosts Regional Economic & Community Development Discussion (in Partnership with the Ohio Conference of Community Development)
  • Marietta's Strecker Cancer Center Receives $250,000 Grant
     
    Strecker Cancer Center ARC Grant
     

    From Left: Misty Casto, Co-Executive Director of Buckeye Hills; Jeanne Wilson, Area Representative for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown; Larry Unroe, President & CEO of Marietta Health System; Fred Deel, Director Governor's Office of Appalachia; Cara Dingus Brook, Area Representative for U.S. Senator George Voinovich; and State Representative Jennifer Garrison.

     

    Fred Deel, Director, Governor's Office of Appalachia, along with State Representative Jennifer Garrison, local and state officials, visited Marietta Memorial's Strecker Cancer Center July 9 to award a $250,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The funds will be used toward the purchase of new equipment to administer radiation treatments to cancer patients.

     

    Marietta Memorial's Strecker Cancer Center(SCC) continues to grow to meet the needs of its patients. Every year since opening in 1993, patient treatment volumes at SCC have surpassed projections.  SCC was built to provide 20 medical oncology procedures each day.  Today, SCC averages 60 patients daily.  When built, SCC was designed to treat 10 radiation patients daily; today we average 25 patients daily. 

 

Contact Us
Buckeye Hills is organized as a voluntary organization of local government political subdivisions to foster cooperative efforts in regional planning, and implementing of regional plans and programs. Share your success stories and let us assist with your development needs - 740-374-9436.

Buckeye Hills Executive Director: Misty Casto
Buckeye Hills Assistant Executive Director & Area Agency on Aging Director: Rick Hindman
Development Director: Melissa Zoller
Communications Director: Gwynn Clifford