Ohio Leaders Met with New U.S. Manufacturing Czar
Ohio's Democratic senator says President Barack Obama's new manufacturing czar will look to Ohio for ideas as he crafts a strategy to strengthen the nation's blue-collar economy.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said that senior manufacturing counselor Ron Bloom is impressed with strides Ohio has made to position its manufacturing sector for future growth.
Brown says that includes setting goals for the use of renewable energy, investing in public education and high-tech research, and developing new technical degrees in fields such as green energy.
Bloom met with Brown, Gov. Ted Strickland, Ohio Manufacturers' Association president Eric Burkland and Ohio AFL-CIO president Joe Rugola in Washington earlier in the day. Obama announced Bloom's appointment at a Labor Day event in Cincinnati.
Prior to joining the Obama administration, Bloom was a special assistant to the president of the United Steelworkers. His responsibilities included the union's collective bargaining program.
Source: Associated Press
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"Save the Date" for Semi-Annual General Policy Council Meeting: Oct. 20
Buckeye Hills will host its Semi-Annual Meeting Oct. 20 at the Marietta Country Club. Please note the date change due to the Annual ARC Conference being hosted in Athens Oct. 27.
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Ohio August
Unemployment Rates
Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.8 percent in August, down from 11.2 percent in July. The U.S. rate for July was 9.4 percent.
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 641,000, down from 666,000 in July. The number of unemployed has increased by 239,000 in the past 12 months from 402,000.
The August unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.7 percent in August 2008.
The U.S. unemployment rate for August was 9.7 percent, up from 9.4 percent in July
Rates in the region:
Athens: 9.5%
Hocking: 11.3%
Meigs: 16.6%
Monroe: 12.6%
Morgan: 15.7%
Noble: 15%
Perry: 13.8%
Washington: 9.6%
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OEDA Annual Summit
October 14-15, 2009
"Resources for Ohio's Future" Early registration for the 2009 OEDA Annual Summit has been extended to Friday, October 9th at 5p.m.! See full summit details and register at www.oeda.com.
Summit Sessions include:
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Overview of Ohio's Incentive Programs
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Panel Discussion & Resources for Reaching Global Markets
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The New 3 Rs: Recession, Resources, and Recovery.
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Financing for Ohio Businesses
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Increasing Your Organization's Social Media Reach
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Job Creation and Economic Development
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Ohio's Workforce Resources
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Improving Services to Support Business Growth in Ohio
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Legislative Update
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Ohio's Auto Industry and Communities in Transition
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Business Attraction
Ohio Community Facility Improvement Program Grant Applications Due Nov. 13
The Ohio Department of Development, announced the Community Facility Improvement Program, a $300,000 investment fund to support improvements to public buildings in Ohio's 32 Appalachian counties.
Community Facility Improvement funding levels range between $15,000 and $30,000, and are to be awarded on a reimbursement basis. The funds support improvements to existing buildings, including exterior, interior, handicap accessibility, heating and cooling, electric, and educational space upgrades and repairs.
Grants are awarded through the Governor's Office of Appalachia, and priority will be given to projects located in Appalachian Regional Commission-designated distressed counties and communities with fewer than 5,000 residents.
Letters of intent are due to the Governor's Office of Appalachia by November 13, 2009. Applications will be reviewed and responses mailed by mid-December, 2009.
Contact the Governor's Office of Appalachia at (614) 644-9228 for program information. | |
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Ohio Department of Development Officials Tour Southeastern Ohio Region 11
Officials responsible for business and economic development for the state of Ohio toured key locations across the eight-county southeastern Ohio region 11 last month.
Community and economic development leaders were available from across the region during an informational luncheon in Marietta as part of a Southeastern Ohio tour with Ohio Department of Development representatives. Shown from left (front row) Sara Marr, Athens County; Shannon Wells, Morgan County; Mike Jacoby, Washington County; (back row) Todd Shelton, Athens County; Brad Biggs, Ohio Department of Development; Fred Deel, Governor's Office of Appalachia; Jim Hart, Perry County; Martin Irvine, Ohio Department of Development and Carl Davis, Monroe County.
Representatives from Buckeye Hills Regional Development District (BH-HVRDD) and The Governor's Office of Appalachia (GOA) were hosts to the state's development staff who were in the region to familiarize themselves with potential business expansion sites, key assets and opportunities for partnership to spur growth. The Region 11 includes Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties.
"We saw this as an opportunity to put our best foot forward and showcase the comprehensive economic development programs across our district to staff at The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD)," said Buckeye Hills Executive Director Misty Casto. "Our goal was to market our region to the people who are 'in charge' of recruiting companies into Ohio and to find ways to partner with them on future projects."
Business owners and community and economic leaders were available from across the region to provide details and answer questions during the tour and an informational luncheon hosted at The Levee House Café on The Ohio River in Marietta. The Tour Itinerary included stops at the following locations: The Hocking County Industrial Park and Energy Institute; Athens County's McBee and Diagnostic Hybrid facilities; the Tuppers PlainsIndustrial Parkand Spec Building in Meigs County;the MAHLE Facility located near the Village of Caldwell in Noble County; and the expandedMIBA Facility in Morgan County's McConnelsville. Representatives from Monroe, Perry and Washington Counties where the tour did not stop, due to time limitations, provided information about their key programs and assets during the luncheon. |
Buckeye Hills Hosts Athens & Morgan Regional Town Hall Forums
 A town hall is an informal public meeting where residents are invited to attend, voice their opinions and share ideas on how to work toward a better community, county and region.
Shown at right is the 2009 Athens County Forum. Shown below is the 2009 Morgan County Forum.
 Meeting participants voicef their thoughts on a variety of topics and shared ideas for partnerships and working toward solutions. Input from those living in the county and region will be gathered, offering needed insight for future planning. The perspectives raised in these meetings will help Buckeye Hills learn how to best serve people living in the 8-county district. Noble County Is Oct. 13 from 10-noon at the Community Building in Caldwell. |
Patt-McDaniel Named State Development Director
 Gov. Ted Strickland promoted interim Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel to serve as the agency's director in September.
A DOD employee since 1990, Ms. McDaniel has served as interim chief for the last four months. She is the first woman to lead the agency. Patt-McDaniel is shown above with Misty Casto at a recent ODOD announcement held at Buckeye Hills. |
| Casto Appointed to National RPO Council
 Buckeye Hills Executive Director has been appointed to serve on RPO America's National RPO Council of Peers by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) President.
RPO America is a program affiliate of NADO that serves as the only national professional association for rural transportation planners, practitioners and stakeholders. The association provides a national forum for peer information exchanges, training, research and other professional development activities related to strengthening transportation planning and development in small metropolitan and rural regions across the nation.
National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference Set for October
October 28-30 at the Marriott Riverfront ˇ Savannah, Georgia
Topics will include: Rural and Small Metropolitan Issues in
Transportation Policy; Transportation, Land Use and Corridor Planning; Transportation Policy Updates; Regional and Rural Airports; GIS Updates and more!
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Buckeye Hills Board Member Elected to NACo 2009-10 Executive Committee
 Athens County Commissioner and Buckeye Hills Executive Board Member Lenny Eliason will elected to serve as the 2nd Vice President of the NACo (National Assoc. of County Commissioners) Executive Committee for 2009-2010. This is the first time that a NACo Officer has been elected from Ohio. Congratulations to Lenny on representing The Buckeye State on a national level. Eliason is shown at the center of the photo at left.
A member of NACo's Board of Directors since 2005, Lenny is Executive Committee Liaison to NACo's Large Urban County Caucus and the Affiliate Council and a member of the Financial Services Corporation Board of Directors.
"I'm thankful for the respect of my peers and commissioners in other states that supported me," said Eliason. He said his position with the association will allow him to work for Athens County and all counties across the country at the national level, working on legislation in Washington.
Eliason began his 12th year as a county commissioner in Athens this summer. He has also served as former president of the County Commissioners Assoc. of Ohio.
Lenny earned a Master's of Public Administration Degree from Ohio University in June of 2002. He is trained as a public sector dispute resolution mediator and also serves as a mediator for the Athens Area Mediation Service. Lenny and his wife, Lisa, reside in the city of Athens. They have a daughter and a son. |
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 Perry County Diner's Choice Program Launched
 Eligible Perry County residents may now enjoy meals at Perry County restaurants like Peach's Place in Crooksville and The Midway Restaurant in Thornville thanks to funding support made available through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) is offering individuals who are 60+ years of age access to a new nutrition program called Diner's Choice. Designed to give residents better access to nutrition sites, it will use the services of local restaurants in areas determined to be under-served by regional congregate meal sites. Call 1-800-331-2644 for an application.
Shown above are (left) Nancy Gibson, Perry County resident and member of the Area Agency on Aging 8 Regional Advisory Council, and Iris Cottrill, Area Agency on Aging 8 Assessor met with Perry County Commissioner Fred Shriner (standing at right) and Ken Grannon, Assistant Manager of Peach's Place to discuss the Diner's Choice program. (Photo from Perry County Tribune)
AAA8 is still conducting its Needs Assessment to secure input from the region's consumers, providers and community organizations to develop the 2011-14 Strategic Area Plan. The is still available for input online. Click here to complete the Needs Assessment.
 SAVE THE DATE!
Nov. 12 Area Agency on Aging 8 Hosts Choices Expo: Living Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
Marietta Comfort Inn - Free Admission! Exhibits, Activities, Free & Reduced-Rate Testing, Food and more!
Sponsored by: Title Sponsor: Results Radio; Gold Sponsors: Marietta Memorial Hospital; The Marietta Times; and Ohio Valley Home Health
Silver Sponsors: The O'Neill Senior Center; United Seniors of Athens County, Inc.;
Settlers Bank ACTIVITY Sponsors: Scenic Hills Senior Center
HOSPITALITY Sponsors: Life Ambulance; River City Tavern; Comfort Inn. Accepting Additional Sponsors - Call Mindy Cayton at 1-800-331-2644 for a sponsor/exhibitor brochure.
Help Available for Seniors to Make Every Dollar Count
 In economic times like these, every dollar counts. Estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 a year, there may be "Extra Help" for prescription drug plan costs especially for senior citizens who have limited income and resources.
Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare prescription drug coverage. Some with limited incomes and resources are also eligible for "Extra Help" with the costs of monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments for a Medicare plan.
The Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) has more details on this "Extra Help" or Low-income Subsidy (LIS) available in Ohio as well as other programs that may assist those who are 60+ and on limited incomes.
"We know that many people in our rural region qualify for these big savings but they don't even know it," said AAA8 Director Rick Hindman. "They can find out more information about this and other helpful programs by calling our office. Trained professionals will help assess what programs seniors may be eligible for and assist with getting them enrolled."
Medicare beneficiaries who have limited income may qualify for extra help to pay for prescription drug costs. The "Extra Help" provides assistance paying for monthly premiums, annual deductibles, prescription coinsurance and co-payments and no gap in coverage.
Some seniors face what is called the Medicare "Doughnut Hole." This is a gap in coverage that forces people who had been getting their drugs cheaply to suddenly pay the full price out of pocket.
Research shows that last year an estimated 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries reached the prescription coverage gap. Especially those taking medications for a chronic disease such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure are especially likely to reach the gap.
One unsettling finding in the national research shows that of the seniors who meet the "Doughnut Hole" about 15 percent who take medications said they stopped taking them when they reached the gap - simply because they could not afford them. Others noted that they began skipping doses or taking medications that were not as effective.
In 2009, seniors enter the "Doughnut Hole" once total drug costs reach $2,700. This amount includes any money the play paid for drugs as well as out-of-pocket expenses. While in the "gap," they are responsible for 100 percent of drug costs. The "Doughnut Hole" ends when total drug costs reach $6,153 - when the plan begins to pay 95 percent of drug costs for the remainder of the year.
To find out more about the "Extra Help" available or to learn about other programs, call AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644 or visit www.areaagency8.org.
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