The Ohio Department of Development hopes to bring jobs and economic development to Southeast Ohio with a $1.7 million award that will be used to create a new branch of JobsOhio.
The state will award $1,657,895 to the newly formed Ohio Appalachian Business Council to set up basic operations, such as hiring staff, said Katie Sabatino, spokeswoman for the Ohio department.
The council, headquartered in Nelsonville, is part of the JobsOhio network and is tasked with enhancing the economic development of 32 counties in Appalachian Ohio, Sabatino said.
As a part of the network, the council’s immediate goal is to develop an inventory of the region’s strengths and create partnerships with businesses in Southeast Ohio, said Greg Adams, spokesman for the council.
The other five economic regions in Ohio have developed business partnerships for years, and Appalachia needs to catch up, Adams said.
“We want to get a seat at the dinner table in Columbus,” said Adams. “Then we will be able to bring even more economic benefits to the region.”
When these relationships have been formed, the council will work with JobsOhio and the Development Department to attract and retain businesses in the region, he said, adding that the ultimate goal is to create jobs and wealth in Appalachian Ohio.
The networking phase will take about a year, and the council should produce economic results soon after, Adams said.
Each of the six economic regions in the state will receive similar awards, the highest of which is more than $4 million. The award for the Ohio Appalachian Business Council was the smallest of the five regions.
The council’s board includes officials from AEP Ohio, New Harvest Ventures, Caterpillar’s Ohio division, and Diagnostic Hybrids.
“Southeast Ohio has strong potential,” Adams said. “We are just working to make it a reality.”
