Ohio's January
Unemployment Rates will not be available until March 4.
Local Government Groups Collaborate to Preserve Public Services for Ohioans
Leaders of municipalities, townships, park districts and Ohio's 88 counties have formed the Local Government Fund Coalition (www.everyohioan.com) to help preserve vital services provided to every Ohioan.
The Coalition is dedicated to informing legislators and Ohio residents about the impact of large scale and disproportionate reductions in the Local Government Fund as the state addresses its large budget deficit. Taxpayers, the Coalition says, will face significant service reductions or will have to make up the difference with additional local taxes and fees.
Ohio returns a portion of state taxes collected to taxpayers in each county, township, city and village through the Local Government Fund. The $590.2 million in tax revenue sent back home in 2010 paid for a wide range of vital services from police, fire and ambulances, to parks and recreation to public health clinics, homeland security and natural disaster response.
Coalition members emphasize every Ohioan is impacted when cuts are made in the Local Government Fund allocation each budget cycle because of the depth and broad variety of local services supported by the revenue sharing. The LGF represents up to 60 percent of the budget in some small townships and villages. Learn More at www.everyohioan.com.
Members of the Local Government Fund Coalition include the following statewide organizations: County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Ohio Association of Regional Councils, Ohio Municipal League, Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, and the Ohio Township Association.
The effort is also supported by: Coalition of Large Ohio Urban Townships, Hamilton County Municipal League, Licking County Planning Commission, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Northeast Ohio Mayors' and Managers' Association.
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Broadband Committee Receives "Connecting
Appalachia" Updates
The Buckeye Hills Broadband Committee received a Connecting Appalachia project update last month. Shown above with BH Exec. Director Misty Casto are Tom Reid of Reid Consulting and Jeanne Wilson of Senator Sherrod Brown's office.
Connecting Appalachia (CA) is a partnership between the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce) and Horizon Telcom that will fill broadband coverage gaps in 34 rural Ohio counties with a 1,960-mile fiber optic network.
CA is one of three projects in the Ohio Middle Mile Consortium (OMMC). The NTIA received 350 applications for Round 2 infrastructure projects-only 75 were funded. The CAO project is the largest award for a for-profit company and the 15th largest award of the 107 infrastructure grants awarded in Round 1 and Round 2.
Anchor points for the Connecting Appalachia broadband network are:
- 25 community colleges, 15 university campuses and 4 career training centers serving 55,656 students
- 34 county 911 centers
- 32 State of Ohio Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS) towers
- 212 healthcare facilities and county health departments including 14 Federally Qualified Health Centers, 5 Critical Access Hospitals, 4 Rural Health Clinics and the Chillicothe VA hospital and its 5 outpatient clinics
- 231 K-12 school buildings serving 110,000 students
- 34 industrial parks
- 5 state park conference centers
Last mile providers will partner with Horizon to provide broadband service to the home. More details are available at www.connectingappalachia.org.
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 Buckeye Hills Updates U.S. Senator Rob Portman's Office
Buckeye Hills leaders met recently with U.S. Senator Rob Portman's regional office representative Kent Moore to update him on the District's programs and services and specific projects across the region. They also shared details on the importance of The Appalachian Regional Commission and The Economic Development Administration. Shown with Moore (center) from left are Misty Casto, Buckeye Hills Executive Director and AAA8 Director Rick Hindman. |
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Buckeye Hills Hosts Regional Ohio GIS Meeting
 The Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program (OGRIP) is made up primarily of volunteers who share a common interest in the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and use of geographic information in Ohio. These volunteers include representatives of several state agencies, local and regional governments, utilities, universities, private organizations and other interested individuals.
Buckeye Hills recently hosted a regional Strategic Planning outreach meeting for OGRIP at its Marietta office. The event shared results from a strategic planning survey conducted by OGRIP. Bret Allphin, GIS Manager at Buckeye Hills helped coordinate the regional meeting. |
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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 |
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Around the District:
Athens County: TechGROWTH Ohio Receives Third Frontier Funds
Ohio University's Third Frontier program, TechGROWTH Ohio (TGO)received $3 million in additional funding to be matched with private funds. TGO provides businesses advisory services, competitive grant support and seed-stage investment capital to technology companies and entrepreneurs in SE Ohio.
 Washington County: HiVelocity Features Appalachia & SE Ohio Port Authority & Marietta-Based Magnum Magnetics
(From HiVelocity:) SE Ohio Port Authority's Terry Tamburini has one foot in West Virginia and the other in Ohio. He teaches economics and economic development at West Virginia University-Parkersburg while heading the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, which serves Washington County, Ohio. Tamburini, who took on the Port Authority role in October after working in Ohio for 16 years, describes the region's strong business climate and why it's also a great place to live. Read More
 Magnum Magnetics proves its stick-to-it-iveness within the marketplace
The flashy businesses may get the most buzz. But sometimes it's the simple, everyday product or service - offered consistently and dependably over decades - that creates the best prospects for long-term growth and success.
Magnum Magnetics, based in Marietta, is one of those businesses. The privately owned company, founded in 1991 manufactures high-quality, flexible magnetic products for a variety of commercial and retail uses.
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AAA8 Joined Hearts in Giving Nominees Honored
Joined Hearts in Giving honors long-married Ohioans who share a commitment to volunteerism. Eligible couples have been married at least 40 years and at least one of the spouses must be age 60 or older. Couples were honored by the Ohio Department of Aging and the First Lady of Ohio at a reception held in observance of Valentine's Day at the Governor's residence in Columbus.
 Norman and Margaret Cohn, Athens
Norm and Peg Cohn, married almost 55 years, were instrumental in creating the Athens Village, a concept that enables senior citizens to remain in their own homes as they age. Mrs. Cohn now serves as secretary of the Athens Village and as the Board's liaison to its public information team, and Mr. Cohn heads two of the Village's interest groups. Thanks to the Cohns and their group, Athens has the only independent Village in Ohio and one of only three "rural" villages in the US. Mr. Cohn also has been involved with the Ohio Valley Summer Theater and Athenian Berea Community Players as actor, director, board member and music consultant. He helped the Athens Mediation Service and participated in various fundraisers for local causes. Mrs. Cohn volunteered in Athens city government for more than 30 years, as a member of City Council, the Planning Commission and the Police Review Board.
 Ted (deceased) and Sue Foster, Athens
Married almost 55 years, Ted and Sue Foster worked continuously for the benefit of the city and county of Athens and the Southeast Ohio region. They helped launch the Athens Village, which enables senior citizens of Athens County to remain in their own homes as they age. The founding group, with Mr. Foster as vice president and Mrs. Foster as treasurer, worked for more than a year to establish the Village. It is one of only 50 "Village" groups in the country, the only independent one in Ohio, and one of only three "rural" ones in the nation. The Fosters worked together on a variety of projects, including the Athens County Plan, for which Mrs. Foster was co-chair of the Steering Committee. They served on the Hocking River Commission, a land trust purchasing tracts along the Hocking River. Mr. Foster served on the Ohio Council of Higher Education Retirees (OCHER) and served for eight years on the Friends of Athens Children's Services, becoming treasurer and helping promote four levies passed for the benefit of children in Athens County. He was appointed to the Children's Services Board by the county commissioners from 1998 to 2008. Mrs. Foster has served on the Consortium of Health Education in Appalachian Ohio since 1979 and has been both its president and secretary. She also served for 10 years on the O'Bleness Memorial Hospital Board, on the Athens County Community Improvement Corporation and on many ad hoc planning and levy committees.
Project Lifesaver Featured in Law Enforcement Training
Cathy Ash with The Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) gave a presentation on Project Lifesaver to the Seniors And Law Enforcement (SALT) group in Athens County. Project Lifesaver provides rapid response to help locate individuals who wander due to Alzheimer's disease, autism, Down syndrome, dementia or other related cognitive condition. A mobile tracking system is utilized if the participant becomes lost.
View Video
The Area Agency on Aging |
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