Ohio's Dec. 2010
Unemployment Rates
Ohio's unemployment rate was 9.6% in December, down from 9.8% in November. The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 9.4%, down from 9.8% in November.
In the Region:
Hocking: 10.5%
Meigs: 13.7%
Monroe: 12.8%
Morgan: 13.7%
Noble: 13.8%
Perry: 12%
Wash.: 8.6%
For information on release dates for specific data sets from the 2010 Census visit the BH website. For more information about Census data or related questions, please contact Bret Allphin at 374-9436.Buckeye Hills Attends NADO Innovation Forum On behalf of the Development District Assoc. of Appalachia (DDAA), Misty Casto, Exec. Dir. of Buckeye Hills, recently attended the NADO Innovation Forum on Building Resilient Regions - focused on the Comprehensive Economic Development Study (CEDS). The program reviewed sustainable development, regional innovation, disaster resiliency and other topics. EDA Assistant Secretary John Fernandez was part of the interactive program. Buckeye Hills Housing Coordinator Earns LEEDs Green Associate Designation
Joe Gage, Buckeye Hills' Housing Coordinator, is officially a "LEEDs Green Associate" after passing the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Cerification Test in December.
LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types - commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle - design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
OEDA Offers Basic ED Course
The Ohio Basic Economic Development Course (OHIO BEDC) is an intensive training experience for economic development practitioners, community leaders, local government officials and others committed to building healthy economies for their communities.
The course meets for three days; March 23-25, 2011. The location chosen for the 2011 course is The Doubletree Hotel Columbus/Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43235, 614-885-3334.
CLICK HERE
For full details about the course, including the schedule of events and hotel information.
Ohio RCAP Offers Utility Training for Local Officials
Visit Ohio RCAP's website at www.glrcap.org/ohio for dates and locations.
Register for sessions on-line or by contacting Ohio RCAP at 800-775-9767. |
 Office Space Avaialable The Thomas A. Closser Business Center at 245 Millers Lane (CR9) in Marietta has Space Available.
♦ Two story building with Private Offices
♦ Spaces ranging from 102 - 221 sq. feet
♦ Conference room, Kitchen area
♦ High Speed Internet available
♦ Restrooms on both levels
♦ Off-street parking
♦ Security System
Call Jenny Myers at 374-9436 for details.
Revolving Loan Fund for Agriculture Projects Available
The Ohio Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund program works to increase agricultural-based businesses and industries across Ohio that focus on aquaculture, food processing, and biofuels. Other agricultural projects will also be considered.
Please contact OSU South Centers if you have questions about financing your business venture with the Ohio Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund at 1-800-860-7232. |
|
|
|
|
Buckeye Hills Launches BizNet
Resources to Help Businesses Survive and Grow
Economic and Community Development Leaders from across the Buckeye Hills region and an additional four neighboring counties launched an Early Warning Network program called BizNet in early 2011.
BizNet is a unique approach to helping businesses survive and grow by helping them identify and access a host of critical business services with as little red tape as possible. The BizNet program area includes Ohio's Athens, Belmont, Guernsey, Hocking, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry & Washington Counties.
A collaboration of chambers of commerce, workforce and economic development organizations, universities and career and technical centers, and state and local government agencies, BizNet strategically targets businesses with growth potential as well as those facing challenges, and then conducts interviews with leaders of those businesses.
After learning a business's challenges and goals, BizNet Partners present that business with a package of possible incentives, training, technical assistance and other programs designed specifically to help that business survive and grow. This all happens through a BizNet single primary point of contact - the Associate - to assure strategic coordination of services and minimal bureaucracy.
Once the business leader chooses the programs and services he or she wants to pursue, the BizNet Associate continues to work with the business leader and participating BizNet Partners to deliver quality services and identify new ways to assist the business.
|
|
Buckeye Hills Joins Facebook
Buckeye Hills and its Area Agency on Aging (AAA8) both have Facebook pages. Join us there for updates on programs and services across the region. Click below to be a fan!
Be a Fan of BH-HVRDD Facebook Page
|
|
2011 bhgis Launches with Five Regional Communities
 Regional communities are being selected to participate in the bhgis data collection program for small communities in 2011.
The new community based GIS program from Buckeye Hills will offer basic data collection and GIS mapping services to communities of less than 5,000 in the region.
Buckeye Hills has been providing digital mapping (GIS) services to its eight-county region (Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties) since the mid-1990s. Customized maps and data created by Buckeye Hills have been used to complete funding applications, studies, and countless other projects.
This high accuracy local data is becoming increasingly critical to a community's ability to secure grant funding from most state and federal programs. Potential business and industry site selectors are seeking this type of data as well. Learn more at www.bhgis.org. |
|
Buckeye Hills Updates Senator Jimmy Stewart
Buckeye Hills leaders met recently with Ohio Senator Jimmy Stewart to update him on the District's programs and services and specific projects across his region. According to Stewart, he uses this important feedback from constituents to help guide his policy decisions in Columbus and address concerns in the region. His colleagues named Stewart Majority Floor Leader for the 129th General Assembly - the number three post in the Senate. Shown with Senator Stewart (center) from left are AAA8 Director Rick Hindman and Misty Casto, Buckeye Hills Executive Director. |
|
 New Leadership at The Ohio Department of Development
One of the first bills introduced in the House during the 129th General Assembly involved a proposed conversion of the Ohio Department of Development to JobsOhio.
Mark Kvamme was named the new Director by Gov. Kasich. Kvamme's business acumen and experience as a successful venture capitalist as a partner with Sequoia Capital will be invaluable.
Kristi Tanner is the new Assistant Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO). She brings a wealth experience from time at ODOD and her work with the Ohio Business Development Coalition.
Kristi Clouse is leading the Strategic Business Investment Division.
Source: OEDA
|
 Help Us Spread the Word About Enterprise Appalachia
The Ohio Dept. of Development and Buckeye Hills would like your support in helping spread the word about the Enterprise Appalachia web portal.
For today's capital investor, every dollar is a precious commodity. The more investment capital that actually makes it to product development and commercialization, the greater the probability of success. And the faster the return on investment. That's why site selection is so critically important. Welcome to Enterprise Appalachia
|
|
Around the District:
Athens County: ACEnet Plans Facility Upgrades
The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks' (ACEnet) Nelsonville business incubator location is set to receive a $525,000 federal grant for improvements. The Nelsonville center is home to several tenants in what was the former Rocky Boots distribution center. The ACEnet location is 60-70% occupied and continues to receive calls.
 Meigs County: Village of Racine Receives bhgis Project Data
The final bhgis data and maps from the data collection project completed with the assistance of Racine Mayor Scott Hill and Water Superintendent John Holman were delivered by Buckeye Hills in January. During this project Buckeye Hills collected GPS location data for the village's municipal water system, including the location of all water meters, water valves, hydrants and other appurtenances. This data was then processed and used to create several custom maps for the village.
This project was the first of five communities in pilot project for the bhgis community-based GIS program. As a result of this successful test project, Buckeye Hills was able to secure approximately $22,000 in grant funding which provided for the purchase of an additional GPS data collection unit along with GIS server software to provide additional capabilities for those communities participating in the program.
Morgan County: Revolving Loan Fund Client Receives Award
The Imagination Station in Malta earned a star rating through Step Up to Qualifty for the fourth year. This voluntary rating system is for Ohio's licensed child care centers through The Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Services. The One-Star rating means that The Imagination Station focuses on lower ratios and focuses on staff training. This location received a loan from The Buckeye Hills revolving loan fund.
Perry County: SPICE Receives Development Grant
The Southern Perry Incubation Center for Entrepreneurs received $60,000 from The Ohio Dept. of Development Microenterprise development program to provide training, technical assistance and loans to small businesses. SPICE is a full-servicemicroenterprise development organization serving Perry County. Learn more at www.spiceohio.com. | |
|
Bringing Loved Ones Home: Project Lifesaver Helps Protect Seniors and Residents Who Wander from Home
 The Area Agency on Aging is asking you to help us prevent any future tragedies in our region - like the recent loss of an 84-year-old Athens County resident.
With Project Lifesaver we can work together to do just that! The program relies on proven radio technology and a specially trained search and rescue team. Clients enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify the local Project Lifesaver Law Enforcement agency that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer's area and searches with the mobile locater system.
Designed to track and rescue those with cognitive conditions who tend to wander, this service answers a critical need for protecting people at risk of wandering, including children and adults with Alzheimer's, Autism, Down syndrome and Dementia.
"We are pleased to have partners that help us bring this service to this community as it provides invaluable protection to those with cognitive disorders, peace of mind to caregivers and a highly effective solution to public safety agencies responsible for rescuing those in need," said Cathy Ash, AAA8 Program Manager and Project Lifesaver Trainer. "Wandering is one of the most life threatening issues associated with Alzheimer's, autism and other cognitive conditions. Working together with Project Lifesaver, search and rescue quickly and efficiently find those who have wandered off, helping to save the lives of people at risk in this community."
For more information on this free program, please contact The Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-331-2644. AAA8 serves Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties.
__________________________________________________________
§ Average Location Time for Those on Project Lifesaver Program: Less than 30 minutes after arriving on the scene. Location time prior to Project Lifesaver Program was over 8 hours.
§ A lost person with dementia represents a critical emergency. They are unaware of their situation. Nearly half will die and many fall victim to predators if not located within 24 hours.
The Project Lifesaver program is funded by donations and limited grant support across the 8-county region. Each receiver unit costs about $300. If you would like to donate to this lifesaving program, contact 1-800-331-2644.
Watch this video to learn more! |
|
|
