STEUBENVILLE - The Community Improvement Corp. wrapped up its year with a visit from Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and word that its board had expanded to 48 dues-paying members, two short of its 2009 goal of 50.

The CIC, which oversees operations of the Progress Alliance public-private economic development organization, has reached the $100,000 milestone in annual dues collections, according to President Ken Perkins.

"That's a huge mark, especially in today's economy," he said. Perkins said there is a chance the organization will pick up two more prospects as members by the end of the year.

He set 60 members as the goal for 2010.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 246 hall on North Fourth Street hosted the final scheduled CIC meeting of 2009 Tuesday afternoon. Kyle Brown, the IBEW's business agent, said the building dates to 1967 and is fully leased and occupied. He said the local's Joint Apprenticeship Committee averages 36 electrical apprentices a year, who take a three-year program to become residential electricians and five years to become construction electricians.

The IBEW's training center, behind the main office building, has a 4-kilowatt solar array on its roof and Brown said, "Don't be too surprised if you see a windmill going up in the near future."

Progress Alliance Executive Director Ed Looman said the second-annual Best of Jefferson County Awards are scheduled for 6 p.m. March 29 at St. Florian Hall. Nomination forms for Best of Jefferson County awardees are available at the Progress Alliance office at 630 Market St. or on the Web site, www.theburb.org.

During her presentation, Brunner detailed the "Better Lives, Better Ohio" database, which she aims to make into a social quality of life index for areas in the state. The database includes a variety of easily accessible data on each county.

Looman said the CIC will continue holding its monthly meetings at various business sites around the county in 2010 after instituting the system in 2009.

(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)