Corridor committee to meet on Jan. 15

The Columbus-Pittsburgh Corridor Steering Committee will hold its first meeting of 2010 on Friday, Jan. 15 in the Dennison Railroad Depot. The meeting is set to begin at 10 a.m.

Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, and T.J. Justice, executive director of the Coshocton County Port Authority, will officially begin their duties as committee co-chairmen during the meeting.

The feasibility study continues on the corridor section between Newcomerstown and Cadiz. Results of the study are expected to be released sometime in 2010.

The study is designed to demonstrate the need for a minimum 28-mile new highway connecting four-late U.S. 22 at Cadiz with a four-lane U.S. 36 at Newcomerstown.

Domenick arranges meeting with Severstal

Ohio Rep. John Domenick, D-Smithfield, earlier this week announced he has arranged a meeting with Severstal officials to discuss future plans for operations in Jefferson and Belmont counties.

The meeting is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. It will be held in Lecture Hall 2102 at the Jefferson County Campus of Eastern Gateway Community College.

Domenick’s office has confirmed several officials from Severstal will attend the session.

‘Big Idea’ contest coming to county

A formal announcement is scheduled for Monday, Jan.25 regarding the launch of the 2010 “Big Idea” contest in Jefferson County.

The contest, sponsored locally by Progress Alliance, is designed to encourage local residents to pursue their ideas regarding the launch of a new business or the expansion of a current one. The Jefferson County winners will compete regionally for additional recognition.

The MCBI Regional Incubator for Entrepreneurs is sponsoring the contest on a regional basis. MCBI oversees the operation of “The Hub” program in nine eastern Ohio counties, including Jefferson.

In 2009, Progress Alliance became “The Hub” for Jefferson County.

CIC board plans first meeting of 2010

The Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees will hold its first meeting of 2010 on Tuesday, Jan. 19.  The board will gather at the headquarters of Ambulance Service Inc., 1439 Sunset Blvd. in Steubenville.

Karen D’Anniballe, president of Ambulance Service Inc., will be the featured speaker.

Board meetings will continue to start at 3:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the board will meet in the new home of EM-Media, 2728 Sunset Blvd. in Steubenville. The March 16 CIC meeting will be hosted by the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School.

Bootstraps seminars will begin Jan. 27  

Jessica Sherman, regional coordinator for the Muskingum County Business Incubator, will be the featured speaker for the first of four Project Bootstraps seminars, designed to assist local citizens that own or are considering starting a small business.

She will unveil “The Roadmap for Establishing a Successful Small Business” during her Wednesday, Jan. 27 presentation.

Additional seminars will be held on Feb. 3, Feb. 10 and Feb. 17.

The seminars are sponsored by the Students in Free Enterprise chapter at Franciscan in cooperation with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Progress Alliance, the Community Foundation of Jefferson County, Valley Ventures and The Steubenville Herald Star.

Dr. Thomas Kelly, SIFE advisor, noted the seminars are free of charge to the general public and will begin at 7 p.m. in the seminar room of the St. Joseph Center on the Franciscan campus.

Second annual Best of County dinner set for March

The second annual Best of Jefferson County Awards Dinner, sponsored by Progress Alliance, will be held on Monday, March 29 in St. Florian Hall.

The social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. Information regarding tickets will be announced at a later date.

Progress Alliance currently is accepting nominees for 2010 awards.

Nomination forms 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. In addition, nomination forms are being published by The Steubenville Herald Star.