Progress Alliance joining nine-county partnership

Progress Alliance, Jefferson County’s public-private economic development organization, will officially join a recently-formed nine-county partnership on Oct. 20.

The partnership was launched by the MCBI Regional Incubator for Entrepreneurs, based in Zanesville. Counties involved include Coshocton, Harrison, Jefferson, Muskingum, Guernsey, Belmont, Morgan, Noble and Monroe. The partnership provides a unique opportunity to reach small businesses and entrepreneurs of the region.

Through the partnership, MCBI has created hubs in each of the counties. The Hub is promoted as the point-of-contact in each county for business services. Progress Alliance will become the Hub in Jefferson County.

Irene Moore will address CIC trustees

Irene Moore, administrator of the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, will speak to the Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees during its meeting on Oct. 20 in the Toronto Municipal Building, 416 Clark St.

 The meeting, to be held in City Council chambers, will start at 3:30 p.m. Moore will brief the board on the economic impact of agriculture in Jefferson County.

The Nov. 17 CIC meeting, hosted by Jefferson County, will be held at the Jobs and Family Services office on South Fifth Street. The Dec. 15 session will be held at the IBEW hall, located on North Fourth Street.

Parkvale Bank to host chamber function

The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will present a Business After Hours Fall Extravaganza on Oct. 15 from 5-7 p.m. at Parkvale Bank, 805 Main St. in Wintersville.

The deadline for making reservations to attend this free event is 4 p.m. on Friday. To make reservations, contact the chamber via telephone at 282-6226 or via e-mail at info@jeffersoncountychamber.com.

Best of County nomination process opens

Progress Alliance currently is accepting nominees for 2010 Best of Jefferson County awards.

Those selected will be honored during the second annual best of the county awards dinner scheduled for March.

Nomination forms now are available on the organization’s website, www.theburb.org and also can be obtained at the Progress Alliance office, 630 Market St. in downtown Steubenville.

Toronto museum opens on Sunday

Members of Toronto’s historical society are preparing to see their fondest dream come to reality, the grand opening of the Main Street Museum, scheduled for Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

The museum, located at 210 Main St., includes hundreds of artifacts on Toronto history since the city was settled under the name of Newberg Landing in the mid-1800s. The museum is located next to the Toronto High School Alumni and Toronto Chamber of Commerce offices.

Second regional forum coming soon

The second Regional Economic Outlook Forum, sponsored by Progress Alliance, the Downtown Weirton Business Association, Valley Ventures and the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the IBEW Local 246 hall, 626 N. Fourth St. in downtown Steubenville.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. The list of speakers will be announced next week. The first event drew a large crowd to Weirton’s Millsop Community Center in 2008.

Prayer breakfast set for Nov. 20

The annual Faith in the Future Prayer Breakfast will be held on Friday, Nov. 20.

The event, scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m., will be held at The Rose. Additional details will be announced soon.

United Way planning taste of county event

The United Way of Jefferson County will hold its 15^th annual Taste of Jefferson County event on Oct. 22 from 5-8 p.m. in the Steubenville Country Club.

Tickets are priced at $30 per person and proceeds benefit the 20 agencies of the United Way. Officials note $20 of the ticket purchase is tax deductible.

For more information, contact the United Way at (740) 284-9000.

Cera is new solid waste leader

 Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority members this week chose Jack Cera to lead the group.

Cera has been named the solid waste authority's coordinator, which replaces the former position of executive director, board members noted.

Tom Bottorf had been acting as interim director after Patrick Lanaghan resigned as executive director last spring.