Chamber to hold political education forum

The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will hold a Political Education Forum on Monday in the main lecture hall at Eastern Gateway Community College.

The forum, a project of the chamber’s Government Relations Committee, will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  Doors will open at 5:15 p.m., allowing forum guests to talk with candidates in the May 4 primary election and also gather information on several ballot issues.

All five candidates in the Democratic primary for the 95^th District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives have agreed to attend. At this point, the primary winner will face no opposition in the November general election.

The Democratic candidates are Cas Adulewicz of Steubenville, Edward R. Argentine of Steubenville, Jerry Echemann of Martins Ferry, Lou Gentile of Steubenville and Richard A. Olivito of Steubenville.

In addition, forum guests will hear details regarding four ballot issues, including:

• Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment designed to extend the Ohio Third Frontier program.
• Issue 3, the bond issue for constructing school facilities and renovating, improving and constructing addition to school facilities in the Buckeye Local District.
• Issue 4, the emergency levy for the Buckeye Local District.
• Issue 5—The Steubenville safety levy.

Representatives from local media will serve as panelists for the event.

Corridor steering committee meets in county Friday

The Columbus-Pittsburgh Corridor Steering Committee will meet on Friday in Steubenville’s Historic Fort Steuben.  The meeting will start at 10 a.m.

Numerous resolutions of support for the corridor recently passed by Jefferson County governmental entities and organizations will be presented at the meeting. Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, and Tony Guida, a local realtor, represent the county on the committee. Looman serves as co-chairman.

The Food Artisans of the Ohio Valley will be providing treats for those attending the meeting to enjoy. 

The committee meeting will be followed by a roundtable discussion with Joe Hamrock, president and chief operating officer for AEP Ohio. Hamrock also serves as an at large member of the steering committee.

Training begins for Big Idea participants

Joe Belinsky, the Jefferson County business advisor for the Ohio Small Business Development Center, will launch the follow-up training for participants in the recent Big Idea Contest.

Belinsky will present a program entitled “Making Your Big Idea A Reality” on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Pugliese Training Center at Eastern Gateway Community College.  The Big Idea Contest, sponsored locally by Progress Alliance, drew 17 entries.

“This will be a team based session to explore creativity, invention and innovation,” Belinsky said. “This is a method to take raw ideas and explode them into truly Big Ideas. Included in the training will be methods to develop marketing plans in order to make the Big Idea truly exciting, unique and desirable.”

For more information on the training, contact Progress Alliance at (740) 283-2476.

CIC board will tour Wal-Mart center

The Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting on Tuesday at Wal-Mart Distribution Center 7017.

In order to accommodate a tour of the facility, the meeting will begin at 3 p.m. Normally, CIC meetings start at 3:30 p.m.

MaLinda Lewis, assistant general manager at the center, will speak to the board regarding operations.

The organization’s May meeting, scheduled for May 18, will be held at the Jefferson County Chapter of the American Red Cross in Wintersville.

Third Frontier renewal to appear on May ballot

Regardless of one’s political affiliation, regional geography or industry sector, improving Ohio’s economy and creating jobs are top priorities for everyone in 2010.

Attracting more investment, especially in emerging sectors that offer the most potential for the future, is essential to meeting those goals. Therefore, it is critical for Ohio to offer the most competitive incentives for businesses looking to expand or relocate.

The Ohio Senate and House of Representatives recently passed a resolution providing state voters the opportunity to renew the Third Frontier Program. On May 4, voters will be asked whether or not to support a four-year, $700 million extension of the program, called Issue 1. A resolution of support for the issue will be included on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees.

The Ohio Third Frontier was created within the Department of Development to expand the state’s high-tech research capabilities. Additionally, it aims to focus investments into the development of new, innovative products.

Since it was first approved in 2005, the Third Frontier program has leveraged a 10 to 1 return on the state dollars put forward to support private commitments. That translates into investments totaling $6.6 billion in Ohio while creating more than 48,000 jobs. Moving forward, it is essential that the state build on these successes and incentivize even more businesses to locate and expand their operations in Ohio.

 ‘Proud’ magnets are available at P.A.

Those attending the March 29 Best of Jefferson County Awards Dinner left with a shiny “Be Jefferson County Proud” magnet to display on their automobiles.

Progress Alliance does have a supply of the magnets left and is offering them for public sale. The magnets are priced at $5.  For more information, contact Progress Alliance at (740) 283-2476.

The staff of Progress Alliance encourages everyone to join it in displaying our county pride.