Park committee meets at Wildfire Motors

The Jefferson County Industrial Park Committee met this week in the conference room of Wildfire Motors.

Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, updated committee members on developments connected with the park. He noted:

·        Plans are progressing to extend the secondary road in the park, located on the southeast side of R-Way Trucking.

·        Discussions are moving forward to install street lights along Technology Way.

·        Options continue to be explored to bring improved broadband service to the area.

Ed Rice, president of Signs Limited, announced his business will be moving into its new Industrial Park location, 356 Technology Way, within the next month. Signs Limited will be housed in a new 7,500 square foot facility.

Committee members also heard a presentation by Phyllis Bohning of Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. She provided information regarding the TechGrowth Ohio program.

County group launches 2009 photo contest

The Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors recently launched its 2009 photography competition for amateur photographers.

Photos must be taken at a location in the county; however, the amateur photographer is not required to reside in the county.  Winning photos will be announced during the JSWCD Annual Meeting, scheduled for Oct. 27 at St. Florian Hall.

The theme for the 2009 contest is designed to promote the Be Jefferson County Proud initiative being coordinated by Progress Alliance in conjunction with the strategies documented in the Jefferson County Community Investment Plan. The JSWCD is seeking entries that best exhibit the photographer’s view of Jefferson County’s natural resources.

All photos and entry forms must be submitted to the JSWCD office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. For more information, contact the JSWCD at 264-9790. Entry forms also are available on the JSWCD website, www.jeffersonswcd.org.

Lenders attend RLF information luncheon

Representatives from area financial institutions were the guests of Progress Alliance this week at a luncheon designed to provide information on Jefferson County’s Revolving Loan Fund.

The RLF, administered by Ruth Casey of the Progress Alliance staff, offers “gap financing” to assist new local business ventures or local business expansions.  Bank participation is required in the RLF process.

“Our RLF is designed to be an economic development tool,” Casey said. “The luncheon gave us the opportunity to offer information about it to local bankers and also continue to build our partnership with local lending institutions.”

Attendees also heard from Robert Jankowski from the Small Business Development Center, Ann Block, regional liaison from Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, and Paul Kinghorn of Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.

JCC lands grant from Gates Foundation

Jefferson Community College will receive $743,000 over a three-year period from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and MDC Inc. to improve student success, especially among low-income and minority students.

JCC is one of five community colleges in the state and one of 15 schools nationwide to receive the grant from the Gates Foundation.

The grants will support innovative remedial programs developed in Ohio through Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national initiative that aims to boost college graduation rates among low-income students and students of color, according to a news release issued by the Gates Foundation.

Chamber sets date for reverse raffle

The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Reverse Raffle and Casino Night on Friday, Aug. 14 at the Steubenville Country Club.

Tickets for the event are priced at $100.  The grand prize for the evening will be $2,000 and total prizes available amount to $5,000.

For more information, contact the chamber at (740) 282-6226.

Corridors program returning to area in July

The Pittsburgh Business Times’ Corridors of Opportunity program will be returning to the area in July.

The theme for the 2009 event is “3-2-1, Three Counties, Two States, One Goal!”  Progress Alliance and the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle will team up to host the event, scheduled for July 16 in Weirton’s Serbian Cultural Center. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

To make reservations, visit www.pittsburghbusinesstimes.com  and click on “Corridors 3-2-1_ under events. For more information, contact Richard Cerilli, (412) 208-3815.

Date selected for third Bridge Invitational

The third annual Bridge Invitational is set for Friday, Aug. 21 at Steubenville Country Club.

This year’s outing will be billed as a “3-2-1 Corridor” event, three counties, two states, one goal:  create economic development opportunities in Brooke, Hancock and Jefferson counties.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at 11a.m. and the round of golf will begin at noon. Dinner will be served immediately following golf.

The event is sponsored by Progress Alliance and the Business Development Corporation for the Northern Panhandle. For further information contact either Ed Looman at (740) 283-2476 or Pat Ford at (304) 748-5041.

Speaking of Progress Alliance, the organization will be closing its offices on Friday, July 3 in observance of the Independence Day holiday.