BH Masthead

 A Publication of Buckeye Hills-HVRDD

Jan.  2012 

Ohio's November Unemployment Rates

 

Ohio's unemployment rate was 8.5% in Nov, down from 9.0% in Oct. The U.S. rate for Nov. was 8.6%, down from 9.0 % in Oct.

 

In the Region:

Athens: 6.8%
Hocking: 8.3%

Meigs: 11.6%

Monroe: 9.4%

Morgan: 10.8%

Noble: 10.5%

Perry: 9.5%

Washington: 6.7%  

Executive Committee Members:
Noble County
 
Thompson
 Virgil Thompson:
Board Vice President; Noble County Commissioner

 

As a Noble County Commissioner, Virgil Thompson serves as the Vice President of the Buckeye Hills Executive Committee.

He has been a Commissioner for five years and served as a Marion Township Trustee for 13 years prior to that.

He is a graduate of Summerfiled High School and Washington Career Center. Virgil retired from work as a surface coal miner where he was an operator of heavy machinery for Quinn Development Coal Co. for ten years and Central Ohio coal for 15. He worked for Graphite/MAHLE in Caldwell for 14 years as well.

When he is not in the office, Virgil enjoys time with his wife of 48 years, Jane, his five children and 15 grandchildren.

He also keeps busy on his 298-acre beef cattle farm and likes to spend time at the tractor pulls.

 

Mullen

Thank You,
 
Mayor Mullen!

As we begin 2012, we would like to thank Marietta's Mayor Michael "Moon" Mullen for his tenure on the Buckeye Hills Executive Committee.  

Thank you for lending the organization and the region your time and talents the past few years. We look forward to continuing to serve the City of Marietta and to working with you in your new role on City Council!

 

(In Next Month's edition: Watch for more information on the new Mayor of Marietta, Joe Matthews.)

Local Government Innovation Fund Details Shared

 

The Local Government Innovation Fund (LGIF) was established to provide financial assistance to Ohio political subdivisions for planning and implementing projects that are projected to create more efficient and effective service delivery within a specific discipline of government services for one or more entities. Through this program, the Ohio Department of Development seeks to promote efficiency, collaboration, merger, and shared services among local governments. Projects are also expected to facilitate improved business environments and promote community attraction.

 

The LGIF program will award up to $100,000 in grant funds per feasibility study, up to $100,000 in loan assistance per entity for demonstration projects, and up to $500,000 in loan assistance for multi-entity projects to be used for demonstration projects. Grant funds will be awarded biannually and loan funds will be awarded quarterly through a competitive and open selection process.

 

Regional Information Meetings

are planned:

January 10, 2012

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Columbus

William Green Building

 

January 11, 2012

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Marietta

Washington State Community College

 

January 24, 2012

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Cincinnati Area

Miami University (Hamilton)

Visit the LGIF Websitefor details

 
Tone Zone
Athens, Ohio's newest music store. They carry a full range of instruments and cater to every genre of music. Whether you like rock, country, bluegrass, jazz, folk, or anything else, they can serve you.

Revolving Loan Fund Supports The Tone Zone, an Athens Music Store 

  

The Buckeye Hills Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program was pleased to work with owners Matt Swintek and Mike Fouty of the Tone Zone located at 1002 East State Street in Athens on a revolving loan. 

 

The Tone Zone Music and Sound opened as a full service retail musical instrument store including lessons, repair services, rentals, sound equipment installation and consultation. They will also sell acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, full sized drum kits, keyboards, harmonicas, sound reinforcement equipment, band instruments and all types of accessories. They provide repair service on most instruments and have contracted with John Horne to provide onsite guitar lessons.  John is well known throughout Athens and the surrounding area and brings an excellent client base. 

 

To learn more about the Buckeye Hills RLF Program, contact Tina Meunier at 740-376-1033.

2011 Ohio LDD Impact Report2011 ARC Ohio Impact Report Now Available

 

Four Appalachian regional councils serve as Local Development Districts (LDD) for 32 of Ohio's Applachian counties. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.

 

By creating or retaining jobs, providing access to education or training, increasing availability to water and sanitary sewer services as well as maintaining and upgrading bridges and roads, the projects administered by  LDDs build the regions' infrastructure for future growth.

 

In 2011, Ohio's LDDs administered 51 ARC projects with $47,935,963 in total project costs which resulted in 1,052 new jobs and another 2,295 jobs retained in the region.Funding was provided by Federal ARC and the Governors Office of Appalachia. The full report is available on the Ohio Assoc. of Regional Councils web site.

Appalachian Task Force website
Learn more about Ohio's Appalachian Task Force at www.ohioappalachiantaskforce.org
Buckeye Hills Continues Advocacy
for Appalachia

 

Buckeye Hills is pleased to be a partner in the Ohio Appalachian Task Force (ATF) that recently met with legislators from across the 32-county region and launched an informative web site.

  

The Ohio Appalachian Task Force is a broad-based, proactive, voluntary coalition of approximately 100 local government, business, service agency, education, health and other public and private interests throughout Ohio's 32 Appalachian counties.

 

The Appalachian Task Force serves as a partner and advisory body to the Governor's Office of Appalachia and the Appalachian Delegation to the Ohio General Assembly.  It also collaborates with other elected and appointed officials, organizations and agencies to influence and support state and national policies.  The Task Force does this by assessing problems, reaching consensus, proposing solutions, and instituting new initiatives for our Ohio Appalachian region.

AAA8

AAA8 Staff Earns Professional I&R Designation 

 

AIRS Certification
Shown with their AIRS CIRS-A certificates are AAA8 I&A staff Gerri VanNoy (left) and Brandi Hesson.

Brandi Hesson, CIRS-A, and Gerri VanNoy, SWA, CIRS-A, of the AAA8 Information and Assistance area were recently notified that they have obtained a new professional credential - they are certified as I&R Specialists in Aging (CIRS-A). Also certified at AAA8 is Kara Wright, LSW, CIRS-A.

 

The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) is a credentialing authority operating an Accreditation Program that measures an organization's ability to meet the AIRS Standards, and a Certification Program that evaluates the competence of I&R practitioners. AIRS Certification is a professional credentialing program for individuals working within the I&R sector of human services.

 

Certification is a measurement of documented knowledge in the field of I&R reflecting specific competencies and related performance criteria, which describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors needed by I&R practitioners to successfully execute their duties

 

The AIRS Certification Program, operating in accordance with national credentialing practices, measures and recognizes competence in the I&R profession, is improving the professionalism of the field and the quality of service provided to the public.
.

  Project Lifesaver Partners Recognized

 

Athens County Sheriff Patrick Kelly, Deputy Richard Keith, Cathy Ash, LSW of AAA8, Deputy Jay Barrett, and Captain Bryan Cooper of Athens County Sheriff's Office were recognized as Project Lifesaver partners.

Project Lifesaver partners were recognized at the AAA8 Caregiver Advocacy Luncheon in December. The program is designed as a rapid response search and rescue service, using state of the art technologies and strategies to prevent or reduce the potential of harm to individuals suffering from Alzheimer's, Downs Syndrome, Autism, traumatic brain injuries, and cognitive impairments. These individuals may tend to wander away from their residences and become confused or lost.
 

Morgan County Sheriff Tom Jenkins is honored for the Office's role in Project Lifesaver.

The one-ounce transmitter emits a personalized silent constant pulsating radio signal 24-hrs a day. The transmitter is housed in a wristband unit that looks like a watch. It can be worn on the wrist or ankle. The radio signal can be located up to several miles away on land or in the air. Once notified the team responds on the ground to the wanderer's area and starts searching with the mobile locator tracking system.  

Washington County Sheriff's Office Representatives (from left) Sgt. Jeff Young and Lt. Brad Thorpe were honored for their support of Project Lifesaver.

"The Sheriff's Offices in each of our eight counties have been tremendous partners in the success of the program," said Caregiver Advocacy Manager Cathy Ash, LSW. "We appreciate the officers who are willing to be trained and support the program throughout the year."

 

Project Lifesaver is made available at no cost as funding is available in the AAA8 region through grants and private donations (fundraising). The average unit cost is $300. If you would like to make a donation to the program, you can do so by calling 1-800-331-2644. You may designate the donation by county. If you know someone who might benefit from the Project Lifesaver service, contact AAA8 and program details can be shared with the caregiver or family members.

Funding Opportunities Announced 

 

Community Improvement Grant Program Offered in Appalachia

Buckeye Hills-HVRDD now has application guidelines and forms for the newly announced Community Improvement Grant program available through the Governor's Office of Appalachia (GOA).  Non-profits, governmental entities, and grassroots organizations with appropriate tax status located within Ohio's 32 county Appalachian Regional are welcome to apply for 50% of a project's total cost, up to $30,000 for projects that fit within one of these topic areas: 

  • Community Investment;
  • Community Facility;
  • Summer Program for Children;
  • Health-Physical Fitness Equipment, or
  • Streetscape Beautification. 

Specific guidelines for eligible and non-eligible activities are available on the Buckeye Hills website. Priority is given to ARC designated distressed counties and communities with population of 5,000 or less. All 32 Appalachian counties in Ohio are eligible to apply. For 2012, the "distressed" counties in the Buckeye Hills region include Athens, Meigs, Morgan and Noble.  

 

Download Guidelines & Application 

Funding will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis, but applications must be received by the GOA by March 1, 2012 Submit your application as soon as possible!

 

The Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program:
The Ohio Dept. of Development announced a recent addition to the funding spectrum for stormwater management that you may be interested in utilizing for your community's stormwater management needs.

The Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio Water Development Authority. The program can provide loans of up to $5 million for alternative stormwater infrastructure projects such as bioswales, pervious pavement, green roofs, rain gardens, etc. The loans will be provided at below-market interest rates to qualified borrowers, not to exceed 2%, with a maximum 10-year payback period. Governmental entities are eligible to apply, but private and non-profit entities are encouraged to partner with public entities to utilize the loans as well. The projects must be highly visible and result in economic and/or community benefits.

Please see the program web page for more information on the program. If you have questions or would like to set up a meeting regarding a potential project, you can contact Diane Alecusan at 614-728-1229.
Contact Us
Buckeye Hills is organized as a voluntary organization of local government political subdivisions to foster cooperative efforts in regional planning, and implementing of regional plans and programs. Share your success stories and let us assist with your development needs. 
Misty Casto - Executive Director: 740-376-1034
Rick Hindman - Assistant Executive Director & AAA8 Director: 740-376-1029
Melissa Zoller - Development Director: 740-376-1027
Doug Dye - Fiscal Director: 740-376-1031
Gwynn Stewart- Communications Director: 740-376-1030