FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Ohio Department of Development
Mike Hogan
(614) 644-1931
or
Bill Teets
(614) 466-2382
Columbus, Ohio

STATE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR APPLAUDS OHIO RIVER BASIN TRADE SYSTEM FOR SMART RIVER 21 INITIATIVE

Partnership aimed at positioning Ohio River for greater success in global marketplace

COLUMBUS –State Development Director Bruce Johnson today applauded the Ohio River Basin Trade/Tourism/Transportation System (ORBIT3S) for establishing the SMART RIVER 21 initiative, a new international partnership of transportation and economic development interests aimed at positioning the Ohio River basin for success in the global marketplace.

“In the 21st century, our economy relies on a complex global supply chain that links suppliers, manufacturers and markets from throughout the world,” said Johnson. “The inland navigation services along the Ohio River offer our businesses an added advantage in accessing the global supply chain, enabling them to be more successful in this highly competitive environment.”

SMART RIVER 21 combines the resources and expertise of Brussels-based European Federation of Inland Ports, TINA Vienna Transport Strategies from Austria, the Port of Pittsburgh Commission and ORBIT3S. The new partnership includes a detailed six-part work plan that calls for continued development of the region’s inland waterway system, as well as improvements in how the system links with highway and rail services to form a seamless, state-of-the-art intermodal transportation network. Specifically, the plan calls for making inland waterways fuller partners in the global supply chain; improving containerized use of the rivers; improving lock operations and traffic management on inland waterways; undertaking mutual promotions; improving waterway security; and creating better intermodal connections.

“Our new partnership brings together world class technology, business principles and people who will help inland navigation become more dependable, cost efficient and responsive to the needs of our business community,” added Tracy Drake, co-chair of ORBIT3S and chief executive officer of the Port Authority for Columbiana County.

Ohio is among the states taking the lead on this initiative through ORBIT3S, a four-state regional coalition of transportation and economic development officials from the Ohio River basin. The ORBIT3S coalition was founded in 2001 through a planning grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and includes representatives from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The coalition’s mission is to market and to promote the role of waterway transportation in business, employment and community development.

“ORBIT3S represents the type of innovation, vision and regional collaboration that is essential to our economic success in the 21st century,” said Jennifer Simon, interim director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia (GOA), which has worked closely with ORBIT3S from its inception.

“We are proud to have helped create ORBIT3S and are excited about the potential that the new ‘SMART RIVER 21’ program offers to our communities, businesses and residents regionwide,” said Ohio Senator Joy Padgett, who was director of the GOA during ORBIT3S’ formation and was a strong advocate for the regional organization.

The GOA, a division within the Ohio Department of Development, serves as an advocate in addressing the region’s needs to the state and federal governments. It maintains communication and coordination links among state and federal agencies, local governments and the General Assembly. Twenty-nine of Ohio’s 88 counties are designated as Appalachian.

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