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National & State Updates:
Site Selection Magazine Names Ohio #1 for 2nd Year!
Site Selection Magazine announced that Ohio won the Governor's Cup and was ranked the #1 State in the U.S. in 2007 for new plants and expansions.
- In 2007, there were four times more new plants and expansions than plant closings and downsizings.
- There was an increase in large new plants and expansions - 104 projects over $10 million in 2007 versus 84 projects over $10 million in 2006. There were 60 projects over $20 million in 2007.
- There was a 15 percent decrease in Number of Plant closings and downsizings in Ohio (involving 50 or more people based on Warn Notices issued). 102 in 2007and 118 in 2006.
- There were 29 new plants and expansions versus 22 plant closings and downsizings involving 200 jobs or more
- 25 percent more new jobs from new plants and expansions versus plant closings and downsizings. Also, 13 of the 102 plant closings and downsizings include retail establishments (which are not included in Site Selection. There were a number of closings by Macy's and Dillards and others. If retail projects are not counted, there were 34 percent more new jobs than lost jobs.
- 15 percent decrease in number of jobs affected by closings or downsizings: 17,900 in 2006 and 15,400 in 2007. Visit Site Selection online.
U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH) Host Grants Seminar
Set for Columbus on Wednesday, March 19, from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. the free event targets faith- and community-based organizations that are interested in learning more about the availability of federal grants and the application process. Space is limited: RSVP via email to Linda Greenwood: linda_greenwood@voinovich.senate.gov by Friday, March 14 or call (419) 259-3895.
Sen. Voinovich receives numerous inquiries from constituents seeking funding for a variety of projects, initiatives and programs in their communities. In order to make the application process clearer, he has invited several state and federal agency representatives to Columbus to help direct Ohioans toward the key resources readily available from the federal government. This event will be an outstanding opportunity to learn more about federal programs, to ask questions directly of agency representatives and to network with fellow Ohioans.
WHERE: Auditorium, William E. Green Building 30 W. Spring Street Columbus, OH
The agenda will include:
Grants.gov webcast on how to find, register and apply for federal grants
How to get surplus federal property for non profits
A presentation on grants for educational programs (including early childhood education)
Mayors for Meals 2008 Set for March 19 - Get Involved!
Mayors For Meals 2008 is an event when mayors deliver meals to Senior Citizens in their community - Set for March 19, the event designed to bring attention to the fact that there are thousands of seniors in the country going hungry each day - and that there is something tangible that can be done to overcome it! Sponsored by the national Meals on Wheels Assoc. of America, mayors are encouraged to get involved.
If you are interested in joining in "Mayors For Meals" Day, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-331-2644 or your local meal provider (MOWAA membership is not required).
Governor's Office of Faith Based & Community Initiatives Holds Regional Roundtable Discussion
The Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (GOFBCI) is hosting roundtable meetings with leaders of faith-based and community nonprofits across the state.
To join the Southeastern Ohio on March 13, RSVP today for up to two representatives from your organization to attend. Contact: Stacy Schad at 614.644.3973 or by email at Stacy.Schad@governor.ohio.gov
March 13, 2008, 10am-12pm
at the Hocking. Athens. Perry Community Action Central Office
3 Cardaras Drive, Glouster, OH 45732
Charlie Wilson to Host Economic Listening Tour
A Town Hall Meeting is set for March 20 at 11 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room of the Meigs County Main Library in Pomeroy.
(Bring a brown bag lunch and join in the discussion). Hosted by the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce.
January Ohio Unemployment Rates
Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in January, down from the revised 5.8 percent in December, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, down from Dec.
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Buckeye Hills Representatives Attend National Development Conference in D.C.
 Show in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are Buckeye Hills Exec. Director Misty Casto and Development Specialist Michelle Hyer (left).
Casto and representatives from the Buckeye Hills Development staff including Melissa Zoller, Bret Allphin, Michelle Hyer and Charmel Wesel attended the National Assoc. of Development Organizations (NADO) conference in Washington D.C. in late February.
While there, they met with Senators Sherrod Brown, Congressmen Zack Space, and Charlie Wilson, as well as representatives in the offices of Congressman David Hobson and Senator George Voinovich. These visits provide a face-to-face opportunity to share issues facing the Buckeye Hills region and the Area Agency on Aging.
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Congressman Zack Space (D-18th District) Receives Award from the Development District Association of Appalachia
 U.S. Congressman Zack Space of Ohio received a 2008 Congressional Award from the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) on February 25 for his advocacy on behalf of the 23 million people of the Appalachian Region. Shown with Space is Buckeye Hills Exec. Director Misty Casto.
Anne B. Pope, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), lauded Space at the DDAA awards ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, as one of the congressional "lions" that enabled ARC to continue doing its work. "In only one year, Zack Space has already carved out a reputation for being a vigorous advocate for rural America in general and for Appalachia in particular," Pope stated. "From telecommunication to transportation to rural development, he is single-mindedly focused on helping rural communities be competitive."
"I am truly honored to receive this recognition," Space said. "ARC has a long history of success in helping develop the Region's economy, and I am confident that it will continue in that role. My constituents rely on me to protect their interests in Congress, and ARC is very high on that priority list. As long as my constituents rely on ARC, ARC can rely on me."
Fourteen of the 16 counties in Space's 18th Congressional District are in the Appalachian Region.
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The Congressional Award is presented each year by the DDAA to a member of Congress for outstanding service to the people of Appalachia and support of the work of the local development districts and ARC. Local development districts nominate candidates, and the DDAA board makes the final selection. The DDAA is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 72 multicounty planning and development districts. Its members work closely with ARC, other federal and state agencies, and local residents to identify and address economic development needs and opportunities in their communities. |
| ACTION ALERT: Action Needed By March 7, 2008
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION:
- Urge Lawmakers to Restore Public Works Funding, Reject 53 Percent Overall Budget Reduction
The President's FY2009 budget calls for a 53 percent funding cut for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the only federal agency with the prime mission of helping our local communities create and retain high-quality private sector jobs. The FY2009 request of only $132.8 million essentially eliminates the public works program, while maintaining most of the other EDA core programs for planning, economic adjustment, technical assistance and trade adjustment assistance at or near the FY2008 enacted levels.
ACTION NEEDED: Call and contact your House members today and urge them to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by Reps. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in support of full funding for EDA under the FY2009 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (CJS) bill. To sign the House EDA support letter, Representatives or their staff should contact Blair Milligan in Rep. McIntyre's office at 225-2731 or Virginia Gum in Rep. Capito's office at 225-2711. The deadline for signing is March 7.
Call and contact your Senators today and urge them to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in support of full funding for EDA. To sign on, they should contact Brandon McBride with Senator Lincoln's office at 202-224-4843 or Marc LeDuc in Senator Collins' office at 202-224-2523.
EDA resources help distressed communities throughout our region to create quality private sector jobs, leverage additional public and private sector resources and respond to local economic conditions and needs. The nearly 255,000 residents across our district need your help to expand and strengthen support funding and economic development programs that benefit Ohio's southeast region. Programs like the Hocking College Energy Institute underway in Hocking County are possible through EDA funding. |
News from Around the Disrict...
Monroe Regional Higher Education Project Receives Planning Grant
 Monroe County Commissioners Francis "Sonny" Block, Bill Thompson and John Pyles are shown with Buckeye Hills-HVRDD Communications Director Gwynn Clifford receiving a $5,000 grant from a private foundation to support continued planning efforts for The Monroe County Regional Higher Education Center.
The Laura Jane Musser Fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas. Grant writing services were provided by Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District. The vision for the Center is "to provide the opportunity for secondary education for all regional residents. Through partnerships with a variety of educational institutions, The Center will provide academic and technical higher education coursework, career counseling services and community programming."
Noble/Monroe:Counties Form Continuum of Care to Address Housing Issues
 Representatives from Monroe and Noble Counties gathered to discuss the formation of a Housing Coalition. Shown are from left seated: Guest Speaker Attorney Melissa Will of the Ohio State Legal Aid Society and Joe Gage, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District's Housing Coordinator (BHHVRDD). Standing from left: Louise Smith, Noble County Community Housing Improvement Program; Carol Burris of GMN; John Shreve, Monroe County Health Department; and Raymond Bauer Monroe County Community Housing Improvement Program.
Did you know that homelessness in rural Ohio has a much different face than in the city? Many rural "homeless" are employed, are women with children, tend to have less substance abuse and/or mental health issues or have issues with "access" to employment and/or transportation. In the spectrum of homeless definitions, rural areas tend to be "in the middle" and are individuals who are what the experts call "precariously housed." Examples might include: those who are "behind" on the rent, live in sub-standard housing (or living in areas not meant for long-term habitation such as cars, tents or campers) or those who might double up or live "on the couch" with a friend or family member. In rural areas, people also tend to be homeless for shorter periods of time. The root cause in rural areas is poverty with a lack of affordable housing options. Fewer job opportunities, lower wages and longer periods of unemployment also contribute.
Melissa Will of the Ohio State Legal Aid group shared details on rural issues and definitions related to homelessness at the Feb. 28 gathering of representatives from Monroe and Noble counties. Gathered to form what is called a Continuum of Care Plan, the group is developing a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the needs of people who are homeless or are facing homelessness.
"In order to be eligible for some of the state and federal grant resources, Monroe and Noble counties must develop this Continuum of Care model," said Joe Gage, Housing Coordinator for Buckeye Hills who has helped organize the initial group meetings. "Understanding rural homelessness and leveraging resources to assist with issues that can impact it and partnering across organizations is the goal."
This coalition is comprised of many different county-wide agencies that deal with home and care issues. Members of the group's Executive Committee include: Joe Gage, Buckeye Hills; Mary Jo Westfall, OSU Extension Office & CHIP Fiscal Officer; Carol Burris, Guernsey, Monroe Noble Tri-County CAC, Inc.(GMN); and Sylvia Bown, Tri-County Help Center.
To learn more about the Monroe/Noble Housing Coalition and Continuum of Care, call Joe Gage at 1-800-331-2644. The group plans to meet again March 28 at 10 a.m. in Summerfield. |
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1968-2008: Celebrating 40 Years of Regional Service
SAVE The Date! 40th Semi-Annual Dinner & Celebration: Tuesday, April 29 at the Marietta Country Club.
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