Ohio Public Works Round 23 Received Additional LTIP Funding
The Transportation Budget Bill, House Bill 2, was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Strickland. This provided District 18 an additional $3,604,000 in LTIP funding for Round 23.
The District 18 Ohio Public Works Round 23 Executive Committee met in May and moved to offer the LTIP additional funds to the Round 23 projects that were not funded in the regular round. This allowed District 18 to submit an additional 16 projects for funding.
A total of 46 projects were submitted for Round 23 receiving funds from SCIP, LTIP, and Small Government for a total of $19,422,797.
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April Ohio
Unemployment Rates
Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.2 percent in April up from 9.7 percent in March. The U.S. rate for April was 8.9 percent.
Rates in the region:
Athens: 8.1%
Hocking: 11.2%
Meigs: 14.7%
Monroe: 11.9%
Morgan: 15%
Noble: 13.6%
Perry: 13.6%
Washington: 9.3%
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State Dept. of Development Gets New Interim Director
Governor Ted Strickland named Lisa Patt-McDaniel to serve as interim director of the Ohio Department of Development. McDaniel, who currently serves as the director of the department's workforce and talent division, began her duties in mid-May.
"Lisa brings an incredible amount of knowledge and experience to this position based on her years of service at the Department of Development," Strickland said. "Her broad-reaching work in economic, community and workforce development gives her a razor-sharp perspective on the needs of Ohioans and what state government needs to do to accelerate our economy."
Patt-McDaniel, 44, is a veteran of the Ohio Department of Development. She began her career with the state in 1987, and has been with the development department since 1990.
As director of the department's workforce and talent division, Patt-McDaniel led the state's efforts in the creation of a workforce system that is competitive in the modern, demand-driven economy, working collaboratively with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Board of Regents.
"I am honored to be asked to lead the Ohio Department of Development," Patt-McDaniel said. "I am eager to continue our efforts to create and attract new Ohio jobs at this critical time for Ohio's economy."
Patt-McDaniel will retain her current salary. She is replacing current interim director Mark Barbash, who stepped down from the temporary position he has held for 3 months. He is taking a month of accrued paid leave time in order to resolve some personal financial matters. Barbash will resume his role as chief economic development officer, his position at the agency since early 2007.
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Former USDA State Director To Serve as Director for Ohio RCAP.
Randall Hunt, former Ohio State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Mission Area has joined WSOS' Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) as the state director for Ohio RCAP.
Ohio RCAP is part of the national RCAP Inc., a team of technical assistance providers, who assist small communities with environmental infrastructure needs.
WSOS Community Action Commission Inc. administers the RCAP program, which operates in seven states - Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
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| Buckeye Hills Receives GIS Expansion Grant:
 Fred Deel, Director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia (GOA) presented Buckeye Hills a grant for $11,000 for its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program serving an 8-county region. The funds from The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will be matched by EDA to support the expansion of the GIS program to a web-based format. GIS services support communities and their efforts to supply critical data to the region. Shown with Deel are Bret Allphin, GIS Manager at Buckeye Hills (center) and Racine Mayor Scott Hill.
The GIS Enhancement Project enables Buckeye Hills to make existing GIS data and customized maps publicly available through customized web based viewers accessible via the internet. Buckeye Hills intends to use this software in order to offer a new membership based service to local communities who have an interest in capturing and viewing spatial (map) data, but lack the resources to purchase expensive hardware and software. In conjunction with this new program, Buckeye Hills plans to expand its existing GPS asset collection activities with the purchase of an additional GPS unit. This unit will make it possible for local communities to capture their own GIS data. Once captured communities will have the ability to view this data in the web based viewers.
"These federal and state funds work together to support Buckeye Hills as it provides critical information services to the 8-county region," said Fred Deel, Director of the GOA. "We are proud to be a part of expanding these important services to the region's communities."
Buckeye Hills maintains a wealth of regional demographic and geospatial (map) data for use in problem solving and analysis by local parties. Along with specialized mapping data, Buckeye Hills also provides up-to-date details on the region's unemployment, census data, and related statistical information, which is available on a county-by-county basis.
"We are pleased that the funds will allow us to provide web-based options as well as to provide additional equipment to communities needing to expand or initiate their GIS services," said Misty Casto, Executive Director of Buckeye Hills. "The combination of these activities will bring new GIS capabilities to Buckeye Hills and to communities in the region that may not have had the resources to utilize GIS in the past."
Buckeye Hills has been utilizing computerized GIS mapping technologies since the early-to-mid 1990's. This technology supplements funding packages, is used to track and maintain local statistical information, and to locate and record local infrastructure assets.
GIS Manager, Bret Allphin, GISP, has met the standards and requirements to become a Certified Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional (GISP) through The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI). For more information on GIS mapping or local statistical information, contact Bret Allphin at 740-374-9436. |
| AROUND THE DISTRICT:
Athens County:
The Innovation Center at Ohio University, an Edison Program Technology Incubator serving Southeast Ohio, was awarded $100,000. in Ohio Thomas Edison Grant funding. The grants seek to accelerate the ability of Ohio's manufacturing industry to compete on a global scale. Targeted industry sector support, combined with partnership from the U.S. Department of Commerce, enhances Ohio's ability to continue to bring world-class goods and services to market.
The award represents an increase in funding assistance resulting from the demonstrated success the center has achieved in launching new start up businesses creating significant economic impact and new jobs. Diagnostics Hybrids, a recent graduate of the Innovation Center, is now one of the largest employers in Athens County. Diagnostics Hybrids has been a key contributor of supplies designated for the H1N1 flu virus test kits.
Hocking County:
 Shown at left is Doug Kitchens, CEO of Chieftain Biofuels LLC, with Lissa Jollick, Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurship Group (AREG) Voinovich School at Ohio University (at his right) and Tina Meunier of the Buckeye Hills Revolving Loan Fund (to his left). The Chieftain project was a partnership with Buckeye Hills and also included funding from The Ohio Dept. of Development, Small Business Amdministration and The Governor's Office of Appalachia.
Doug was a finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Ohio Chambers of Commerce in Columbus during its annual meeting held May 12. He is also a recipient of the largest RLF Loan to date for Buckeye Hills for a total amount of $550,000.
 Racine received a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission in the amount of $166,513 to support the development of a new commercial business district. Located across the street from Hill's Gas Station, the area will eventually include a Dollar General Store and the Home National Bank.
Shown at the check presentation are Bret Allphin of Buckeye Hills, Racine Mayor Scott Hill, GOA Director Fred Deel, David Spencer Racine Clerk/Treasurer, Ike Spencer Racine Council President and Patty Pickens President of Meigs County Chamber of Commerce.
The ARC grant specifically relates to the upgrade and extension of Sycamore Street. The project includes six catch basins, 1,678 linear feet of curb and gutter, 600 ton of asphalt, 3,740 linear feet of concrete for four-inch sidewalk, 300 linear feet of C-900 water line, four gate valves, one fire hydrant, grading, seeding and mulching. The county has promised $20,000 in Community Development Block Grant money, and a village loan for around $10,000 to pay for the project.
Monroe County: Woodsfield Receives ARC Grant
Woodsfield Mayor Bill Bolon accepted a check in the amount of $250,000 on May 13 from the Ohio Dept. of Development Governor's Office of Appalachia. The federal grant will allow work to start on the water line from Rubel Lake to the village. The funding will help provide improved water service to 1,127 households, 193 commercial businesses and one industry. It will also allow the village to supply water to the Switzerland of Ohio Water District when necessary. Front, from left, are village council members Vernon Henthorn, Carol Hehr and Pauline Delbrugge; Mayor Bolon; Fred Deel, director, Governor's Office of Appalachia; Brandon Kern, representing the office of Sen. Voinovich; and Bret Allphin, Buckeye Hills, Development Dept. In back are Councilman Dale English, Village Administrator Jeff Woodell and Councilman William Moore.
Noble County: Caldwell Receives ARC Grant
 Caldwell received a check for $237,650 from the federal Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for sewer improvements in the Village. The grant will help separate the village's combined sewer and storm sewer systems and provide improved service to 213 households, six businesses and the high school. Shown accepting the check include: Noble Commissioner Bob Nau; Caldwell Sewer Plant Supt. John Bates; Caldwell Village Clerk Connie Bunting; Caldwell Council Pres. Dan Shaw (behind); Dir. Governor's Office of Appalachia Fred Deel; Caldwell Mayor Lowell Anderson; District Rep. for US Senator George Voinovich - Brandon Kern; and GIS Manager for Buckeye Hills - Bret Allphin.
Washington County: Marietta-Washington County CVB Announces New Tourism Director
Wendy Wharff, a Marietta native was named the new director of the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Wharff, 34, of Marietta, is an Ohio State University graduate who spent five years working for The Wilds in Cumberland, leading efforts to increase membership and attendance. |
Buckeye Hills Develops Project Profile Application Process: Deadline June 5
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Buckeye Hills was asked to gather potential projects from the eight-county region. Region submissions were wide-ranging, including infrastructure, education, health care, and more. To make life easier, Buckeye Hills has adapted that information into a basic spreadsheet format, to sort projects into categories and forward onto proper agencies as needed.
Buckeye Hills has adopted that same approach for its regular application process in 2009. This year, begin by completing the basic project profile form. It is a simple, self-explanatory form that will ask for basic information about your project, including:
· Contact information
· Project type
· Project readiness
· Regional impact
· Funding sources/Total project cost
· Project partners
· Project description
Complete the form and submit it to the Buckeye Hills office. Based on the information provided about projects, staff can easily determine the proper funding source (ARC, CDBG, EDA, etc.) and begin the process of assembling budgets and asking for full project applications.
Projects must serve residents in one or more of the region's eight counties: Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington. While each funding source has specific goals, they generally address the following issues:
· To create/retain private sector jobs (ARC, EDA)
· To extend or upgrade water or sewer services (ARC, CDBG)
· To provide quality health care (ARC)
· To provide job skills training (ARC)
· To develop/improve infrastructure for residents (ARC)
A copy of the project profile is available on the website. The project profile is a form that can be filled in electronically.
Project profiles are due in our office no later than 5p.m. Friday June 5, 2009.
Submit project profiles in one of three ways:
Electronically: Email to cwesel@buckeyehills.org
By Mail:
Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District
ATTN: Charmel Wesel
PO Box 520
Reno, OH 45773
By Hand delivery:
Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District
1400 Pike Street
Marietta, OH 45750 |
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Working Caregiver Program Featured
With the aging baby boomer population, more and more people are finding themselves in the role of caregiver for elderly friends and family members.
But balancing work and family can be difficult enough - when you add the responsibilities of a caregiver into that equation, the burden can become overwhelming. The AAA8 Working Caregiver program is available as a resource. It was featured in May in The Marietta Times.
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Mark Your Calendars - Events of Note:
Grant Writing & Non-Profit Board Development Workshop
The Ohio Department of Development and the Governor's Office of Appalachia, in partnership with Ohio's four Local Development Districts and The Appalachian Regional Commission, invite you to participate in a 2 day Grant Writing Workshop and a 1 day non profit Board Development Workshop. Both of these workshops will provide a comprehensive overview on grant writing and the development of a board. Click here for more details
- Aug. 18-20 at Salt Fork Lodge in Cambridge, Ohio
- Aug. 24-26 Burr Oak in Athens, Ohio
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