Press Release - August 9, 2007 
Buckeye Hills Announces Changes in Leadership

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District and the constituents it serves have had the pleasure of having the vision and leadership of Boyer Simcox at the helm for the past ten years. With his retirement at the end of July, Misty Casto will succeed Simcox as Executive Director. Casto has been serving as Co-Executive Director since April and has been the Assistant Executive Director since 2004. Simcox and Casto have worked together for 17 years.

Simcox joined Buckeye Hills 18 years ago but his career in public service began in 1969 when the concept of a development district was still relatively new. As the years have passed, the district has benefited from Simcox's proactive advocacy, the fostering of partnerships and from a variety of state and federal programs bringing resources to the region.

"I am eager now, to allow the next generation the opportunity to lead Buckeye Hills and the region for the future," said Simcox. "With a solid foundation and an experienced and educated staff and a dedicated volunteer leadership Board, Buckeye Hills is poised to continue its good work."  

Casto began her career with Buckeye Hills in August of 1990 as a secretary, working part time while attending Marietta High School. Casto was hired full time by Buckeye Hills in 1994 and was promoted to Development Specialist in 1997. She became Development Director in 2001 and was promoted to Assistant Executive Director in 2004. Casto holds an Associate's Degree in Accounting from Washington State Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management from Ohio Valley University. 

Filling the Assistant Executive Director position and serving as the Director for the Area Agency on Aging District 8 is Rick Hindman. He has been with the district for 13 years. He started in the Buckeye Hills Development Department as a Development Specialist in February 1994. Prior to Buckeye Hills, Hindman was a community development liaison officer for the U.S. Army in Germany, and was responsible for maintaining viable working relations between the American and German communities. Hindman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College in West Virginia and lives in Marietta.

Melissa Zoller has been promoted to Director of Development. Zoller received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio Valley University. She started with Buckeye Hills in 2001 as a Development Specialist. In that role, she has administered downtown revitalization projects, water extensions, Brownfield redevelopment and Clean Ohio programs and Appalachian Regional Commission projects. 

Buckeye Hills is organized as a voluntary organization of local government political subdivisions in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties to foster cooperative efforts in regional planning, and the implementing of regional plans and programs.  

Founded in 1968, Buckeye Hills assists communities in identifying urgent needs and securing grant and loan dollars to improve their infrastructure and the overall quality of life for their residents. The staff provides communities technical assistance, grant writing, and project administration services. In addition, Buckeye Hills operates the regions Area Agency on Aging. For further information, visit: www.buckeyehills.org.

Press Release - July 24
Village of Amesville Holds Groundbreaking & Community Celebration

The Village of Amesville will host a ceremonial groundbreaking and community celebration July 31 at the Amesville Elementary School, the site of construction for the first phase of the new 'Clustered' wastewater project to serve 84 structures in the village. The project is the first of its kind in the state to receive a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

'Construction of the project is finally underway,' said Mayor Hare. 'This is a project that has been several years in the planning. Our village has received support from many organizations in securing funding.'

The EPAs water pollution control loan fund designated Amesville as a 'hardship' case providing its loan of over $424,000 at zero percent interest. Other funding sources include a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for $250,000; a Community Development Block Grant of $600,000; and a grant of $149,999 from the Ohio Public Works Commission. The project received grant writing support from the Great Lakes Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP). Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) will administer the grants throughout the construction phase.

'We are pleased that this region has received necessary grants and loans to make this project a reality,' said Buckeye Hills Co-Executive Director Misty Casto. 'There are a range of monies from federal and state resources helping make the program cost-effective for the customers.'  

'Amesvilles project will be the first publicly owned wastewater system to receive a permit for separate 'cluster' treatment facilities to discharge at multiple locations,' said Pejmaan Fallah, Engineering Section Supervisor for Ohio EPAs Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance.  'The Village of Amesville has become a model that other small communities can follow, showing how new systems with reduced construction costs can help allow affordable wastewater service to villages facing the high price tag for a traditional centralized system.'

Amesville Mayor Frank Hare explained that the community celebration was scheduled at the elementary school because it is the site of one of the discharge locations and must be completed prior to the childrens return to school in late August. The overall project will include 9,500 linear feet of sewer line with three discharge locations. TAM Construction of Lancaster is the contractor and began work the week of July 23.

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) was under contract with Monroe Countyfor Economic Development since October 2006 with service ending June 30. Buckeye Hills has provided CountyCommissionerswith routine monthly progress reports as well as regular press releases to local media to ensure the public received regular updates.

From October through June, a total of $294,521 in grant funds was secured and an additional $316,367 in grants were filed pending notification. From a job creation perspective, because of the Buckeye Hills Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program a total of $1.13 million of public and private funds were invested in Monroe Countyfrom Oct.- June. The loans helped maintain 13 employees and will fund a projected 14 new jobs over three years. Buckeye Hills also completed tours of available facilities and properties with business site selection representatives.

Buckeye Hills coordinated grant applications for the Black Walnut Center Renovation. The project will improve the unoccupied 19,000 square-feet of a 22,500-square foot building to accommodate future investment by business prospects and potentially yield up to 40 new jobs. They also researched and developed a marketing plan with recommendations for The Black Walnut Center and Commerce Park.

'We secured $209,641 from the Industrial Site Improvement Fund (ISIF), which provides grants to improve qualified commercial and industrial areas in the state,' said Buckeye Hills Co-Executive Director Misty Casto. 'We were also able to meet the $69,880 local match with grant funds - something that is virtually unheard of these days.'

Buckeye Hills also completed the redesign and content overhaul of the Monroe Countyweb site www.monroecountyohio.net. The web site had not been updated in several years. In addition, they provided a complete redesign of the Chamber of Commerce web site www.monroechamber.com, at no cost to the Chamber. A review of Monroe County marketing literature was conducted and updates were made to key marketing fact sheets and brochures for the Black Walnut Center and the Revolving Loan Fund.

In conjunction with the Monroe County Jobs, Etc. office, Buckeye Hills coordinated Monroe Countys participation in a regional workforce development and training needs survey conducted by Markinetics, Inc. The survey report represents results from 131 businesses in six Ohio Counties and selected businesses in four West Virginia counties. The total workforce covered was 13,656 employees in Ohio and 1,008 in WV. When available, the final analysis will review each anticipated full-time job opening from several different perspectives; difficulty of hiring, hourly income, salaries and forecasted numbers of new positions and retirements for five years.

Survey targets included manufacturing, health care, retail, service, finance, construction, transportation, utility and selected government/educational institutions. Common hiring practice issues cited from the region included lack of training and skills, absenteeism, shift or weekend work expectations and no benefits or retirement plan. In a five-year forecast of the regions future job opportunities, businesses surveyed included health care aides (with the largest number of projected openings); assembler/fabricators; registered nurses; pipefitters, welders, truck drivers (with CDLs); machine operators; salespeople and iron workers. Regionally, there was the highest number of anticipated retirements in the nursing and pipefitting professions.

Buckeye Hills was instrumental in accessing $15,000 in grant funds to support the regions Higher Education Feasibility Study that was conducted in May and funded by Belmont Technical College and the Monroe County Commissioners.

Development staff attended meetings for the ODOT feasibility study of the 120 mile 37/78 corridor which reaches from Monroe County to Fairfield County. The study is scheduled to be completed in November.

Buckeye Hills organized a Business Incubator interest seminar and survey. The meeting provided an overview of business incubator trends and a discussion of needs from businesses and individuals present. A total of ten Business Incubator Surveys were received with the majority interested in commercial cooking or food preservation. Respondents indicated they would be willing to drive an average of 25 miles to use a facility; they would pay anywhere from $6-20 an hour to utilize the commercial space and would need an average of 10 hours a week. The next steps toward a business incubator will include establishing persons willing to be involved in the formation of a 'non-profit' organization and committee or board. The committee will then work with Buckeye Hills to develop a request for proposal to develop a feasibility study and business operating plan.

Monroe County Grant Writer Renee Wilde served from mid-January through June. The following grants were written and submitted to funding agencies: an Environmental Projection Agency Technical Brownfield Assistance Grant for Hannibal Ballfield Associations Phase I environmental study; a Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant for Antioch Volunteer Fire Department tanker truck; an application for Clarington Volunteer Fire Department equipment; and a Community Development Grant for Salem Townships culvert project. The USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) grant for the Monroe Comprehensive Economic Development Plan grant was written but not filed because it required 50 percent local matching funds that were unavailable. Potential grant resources were also researched and provided to a variety of local projects.

Buckeye Hills marketed financing options available and provided business support to a variety of Monroe County companies including financing to ReBay Recycling through the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). Rebay Recycling is expanding its business in Monroe and Washington Counties. An estimated 40 jobs may be added over the next three years between the two company locations. Marketing literature was developed for Bracken Ridge Woodworks (an RLF loan client), a custom wood cabinetry maker; and a Trickle Up Business Grant was made to Kristys Bakery of Lewisville. They also developed the sites and buildings portion of the Monroe County website to promote local real estate and the sale of commercial businesses. Buckeye Hills attended the annual Chamber of Commerce Know Show to provide updates on the Trickle Up Business Grant and Revolving Loan Fund programs.

In addition, Buckeye Hills organized a tour of the Morgan County Opera House (theater) for the Monroe Theater board of directors who is filing for nonprofit status to secure downtown revitalization grant funding for the Woodsfield Monroe Theater renovation.

Over the past several months, Buckeye Hills has been an active advocate on behalf of Monroe County on federal, state and local levels. They hosted visits to Washington D.C.to visit Congressman Charlie Wilson and Senator Voinovich; joined regional discussions hosted by the Ohio Conference on Community Development (OCCD) and Ohio Association of Regional Councils (OARC), participated in state-sponsored Department of Development meetings and regional tours with representatives from Governor Stricklands administration. Buckeye Hills also attended the Energy Roundtable hosted by Senator Voinovich and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

'We had some difficulty filling the Director of Economic Development position due to the short-term nature of our contract with the county,' added Casto. 'While that position remained unfilled during our service dates, we continued to forge ahead with a variety of tangible outcomes to the county.'  

As of June 28, Buckeye Hills had spent $68,110 of the $174,189 budgeted economic development funds; these expenses included the grant writers salary and benefits, office rent, utilities and supplies.

Casto also noted that they will continue to support Monroe Countys development efforts. Buckeye Hills will administer the Black Walnut Center project, research grants for the Monroe Theater renovation and continue advocacy efforts for the region. They will also continue to investigate available resources to fund the research and preparation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDS) to guide the future of Monroe Countys program. A plan like this is developed with broad based and diverse community participation with the end result to help shape policy and prioritize investments. 

Press Release - June, 2007

West Malta Rural Water District Holds Groundbreaking Ceremonies

West Malta Rural Water District (WMRWD) hosted groundbreaking ceremonies at the future site of the booster station for a water distribution system to serve Penn and Malta Townships. The project involves the installation of the booster station, a 100,000-gallon elevated tank (to be located on Tridelphia Road) and approximately 21 miles of waterline. Serving 223 customers in Morgan County, the estimated daily demand will be over 37,000 gallons.

'The Board of Trustees of WMRWD is very pleased that the project is moving forward,' said Board President, Danny Ray. 'It continues to be our goal to provide area residents with reliable public water resources.'

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) supported the project with various grant applications in securing necessary funding. Buckeye Hills will also be administering the grants throughout the construction phase.

'Buckeye Hills helped us get the necessary funding for the project,' added Ray. 'Without their hard work and efforts, this project would not be moving forward.'

'We are pleased that this region has received necessary grants and loans to make this project a reality,' said Buckeye Hills Co-Executive Director Misty Casto. 'There are a range of monies from federal and state resources helping make the program cost-effective for the customers.'

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program provided $944,000 in loans and $1,079,000 in grants; The Ohio Department of Development Office of Housing & Community Partnerships provided $500,000 in CDBG grant funds; the Appalachian Regional Commission granted $300,000 to the project; and The Ohio Public Works Commission provided $1,198,611.

The pre-construction conference was held June 22 to determine construction timelines. The project was awarded to Glen James & Sons of Zanesville and Caldwell Tanks, Inc.

The WMWD Board of Trustees includes Harold French, Barb Greuey, Chris and Elvin Nichols, Danny Ray, Jack Riley, Terry Spears and Bonnie Wilson.

'Some of these board members have been working on this project for nearly 12 years,' said Ray. 'I am pleased that they stuck with it and believed the project was possible.'

Press Release - June, 2007

State and Regional Government Representatives Tour Monroe County - Commissioners Lead Economic and Community Development Discussions

Representatives from the Governors Office on Appalachia (GOA), the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) and the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce gathered for a tour of Monroe County to discuss economic and community development.

Hosted by the Monroe County Commissioners Francis 'Sonny' Block, John Pyles and Bill Thompson and Dean Gramlich, President of the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) a group of nearly 15 representatives from county and state government visited Ormet, Safe Auto, the GMN Broadband Center, Monroe Central High School and the Black Walnut Center facilities June 13.

'We wanted to showcase what has been accomplished in Monroe County because of economic development yet share the issues that continue to face our county,' said Commissioner Sonny Block.

Fred Deel, Director of the GOA, and Christi Mash, Region 11 Director (which includes Monroe) for the Ohio Department of Development, discussed issues facing the region including broadband access, education funding, transportation infrastructure, potential development sites and buildings, as well as how economic development is funded. Also in attendance was Ranelle DePaulis, a regional caseworker from Congressman Charlie Wilsons office (OH 6^th District). 

Dick Sulsberger, President of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce and Larry Ullman of the Monroe County Economic Development Committee shared perspectives on the higher education feasibility study and the countys school funding formula and issues facing the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District. Commissioner Pyles provided an overview on the recent community forums held regarding school facilities.

Representatives from ODJFS included Jane Forrest Redfern, the states Rural Policy Coordinator. She noted that it is her responsibility to advise the state director on issues impacting Ohios rural communities. From the Monroe County department, Director Debbie Haney and Assistant Director Jeannette Harter joined the group. From a workforce development perspective, Taten Ayers, Contract Specialist for the OVER program and WIA Director Janet Henthorn were present.

While at Ormet, Bob Cox, Rod Room General Supervisor and Interim Utility General Supervisor, led guests on a step-by-step overview of the aluminum making process. In addition, staffing needs of the Hannibal plant were provided by Vice President/General Manager of Human Resources, Industrial and Public Relations Lisa Riedel and the new Vice President of Operations Mike Griffin.

Ormet received nearly 2,000 applicants for the close to 800 labor positions filled (approximately 400 of those live in Monroe County). They continue to work toward adding production of the final potline by September when the plant will be at full capacity. There is still a need for electricians and skilled craftsmen; future needs may include machinists.

Guests were provided an update on the plans for and recent grants secured to complete the Black Walnut Center building. From there, a tour of the Safe Auto facility in the Monroe County Commerce Park provided guests with an overview of the local partnership with public and private resources for job training when a new company locates in Monroe County.

'We have over 150 employees at the Monroe County Call Center and we continue to maintain a hiring pool,' said Trudy Pyles, Senior Manager of Customer Service for Safe Auto. 'We shared details on the dollars we received initially and how they opened full-time job opportunities with benefits for area residents.' Safe Auto is headquartered in Ohio and markets insurance in thirteen states.

Press Release - June, 2007

Buckeye Hills Hosts Regional Economic and Community Development Discussion
In Partnership with the Ohio Conference of Community Development

Representatives from the Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) including Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties gathered in Marietta with representatives from state and federal government to discuss economic and community development issues.

Sponsored by the Ohio Conference of Community Development and hosted by Buckeye Hills, representatives from the region's county and local governments discussed factors critical in the region from infrastructure and workforce development to downtown revitalization and tax incentives. Also in attendance were regional contacts from Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown. Representatives from the Athens/Hocking County region were Bill Rinehart of the Hocking County Community Improvement Corporation; Mike Walsh, Mayor of Logan; and Jerry Hutton from the Hocking College Energy Institute.

"We are hopeful that the new Ohio administration will understand that one size doesn't fit all in economic development initiatives and community support," said Buckeye Hills Co-Executive Director Misty Casto. "These round table meetings are an important tool because we can provide a collective overview with individualized issues impacting our region of the state."

On behalf of the Athens/Hocking region, representatives shared progress in the areas of alternative energy and grants secured for the Hocking College Alternative Energy program. They discussed the need for improved coordination with the Ohio Department of Transportation; an emphasis on affordable workforce development programs to meet the gaps in skilled labor jobs; a need for attracting young people into science, technology, math and engineering careers; and a continued emphasis for expanding access to reliable cellular phone service and broadband internet access in the region.

The information gathered will be presented to the Ohio Department of Development leadership as part of Governor Strickland's "Turn Around Ohio Plan."

Press Release - May 3, 2007

Buckeye Hills to Provides Training on ARC Grant Process

Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (BHHVRDD) is committed to assisting the counties in its region with securing grant funding for projects. One important grant funding agency is The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

Typically, ARC grants are awarded to state and local agencies and governmental entities, local governing boards (such as county councils), and nonprofit organizations (such as vocational schools and hospitals). Program grants are also made to nonprofit organizations. Representatives from these organizations may draw from the expertise and assistance available from Buckeye Hills.