October 5, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAFT ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2.1MILLION IN APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that nine grantees in Ohio’s Appalachian region will receive grant money totaling more than $2.1 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for various community projects that will enhance quality of life in the region.

“This federal funding will help grantees in Appalachia Ohio make the needed investments to help sustain quality of life and enhance the standard of living for citizens in their communities,” said Taft. “The Appalachian Regional Commission’s assistance is critical to helping Ohio’s Appalachian region achieve that goal.”

The following communities receiving assistance are:

The Jackson County Child Development Center (Jackson County) will receive a $300,000 grant from the ARC to construct a childcare facility in the City of Jackson. The new 10,382 square foot facility will serve 158 children, ranging from newborns to children age 10. The center will also serve as a clinical training site for a number of local colleges, and various early childhood programs will continue to use the facility for clinical experience and/or as a volunteer site. This project will create ample child care service in Jackson County, create new jobs, strengthen and form new partnerships, and thus promote economic and community development.

Muskingum College (Muskingum County) will receive a $60,000 grant from the ARC to host a conference at their main campus in Concord, Ohio and in Pike County, Kentucky. The conference will focus on the special challenges of educating poor children in rural America who live far from population centers that provide social services. This conference will provide teachers, administrators, policymakers and other interested in education suggestions and ideas that practitioners and policymakers can begin implementing immediately. Following the conference, Rutgers University will publish a report and Muskingum College will start a Poverty and Education in Rural America web site.

The City of Waverly (Pike County) will receive a $142,050 grant from the ARC to extend water service to a residential area in the City. ARC funds will be used to extend approximately 3,200 square feet of waterline and install seven fire hydrants. The lines will link the neighborhood to the city’s water system. This waterline project will provide residents in the target area access to a safe, reliable and abundant supply of potable water. This investment will result in improved health, a better quality of life and a safer environment. In addition, the project will provide limited fire protection and reduce the cost of homeowner’s insurance.

The City of East Liverpool (Columbiana County) will receive a $485,000 grant from the ARC to construct and rehabilitate St. Clair Avenue in the City. The project will begin at Princeton Street and end at Cartwright Avenue, covering approximately 1.54 miles in length. The improved access road will directly serve 11 businesses and impact many surrounding businesses. This project will retain 55 existing jobs and possibly create 11 new jobs for businesses directly served by the access road.

The Muskingum County Commissioners (Muskingum County) will receive a $250,000 grant from the ARC to construct a wastewater collection system to serve Lakeland Hills and Stonehenge. The system will also provide sewer service to a currently unserved subdivision. The project will provide sewer service to 266 new customers and will improve service to 683 existing customers. In addition, the project will provide a cost-effective and environmentally sound wastewater collection system that will meet the requirements of the Ohio EPA. This new system is also expected to attract commercial and residential growth.

The Village of Trimble (Athens County) will receive a $292,000 grant from the ARC to construct a new water system in the community. This project will provide clean, potable water to the residents of Trimble. The proposed project will consist of a 100,000-gallon tank with telemetry, a new fire hydrant and 500 linear feet of pipe. The project will also include a new booster station that will further increase the water pressure to residents of Terrace Drive. These improvements will bring the Village’s water system into compliance with Ohio EPA regulations, provide safe and reliable water supply to residents within the project service area and enhance the quality of life and standard of living in the area.

Ohio University Chillicothe (Ross/Pike Counties) will receive a $300,000 grant from the ARC to equip a facility planned for construction on the college’s campus. The facility will expand and centralize a range of educational, rehabilitative, enrichment and social welfare services to young children and their families. The facility will serve children ranging in age from infancy through 12 years, and will also serve as a field practicum site for students from OU majoring in early childhood education. This project will provide families in Ross and Pike counties with access to cost effective and convenient early and middle childcare services. In addition, it will also benefit employers as attendance and performance improves.

Marietta Health Care Physicians, Inc. (Morgan County) will receive a $139,904 grant from the ARC to make radiology services available to Morgan County residents. Funds will be used to purchase radiology equipment and hire a radiology technician at a primary care clinic in McConnelsville. The clinic is supported by Marietta Memorial Hospital, a not-for-profit, 200-bed community hospital. The community will now have diagnostic radiology services available five days a week.

Meigs County Health Department (Meigs/Athens Counties) will receive a $200,000 grant from ARC to assist in providing affordable, quality dental care for Medicaid and low-income residents of Meigs and Athens counties. ARC funding will allow the dental program of the Meigs County Health Department to continue providing preventive and restorative dental care to uninsured Meigs and Athens County residents. Grant funds will be used to assist in remunerating a full-time dentist who will practice in Meigs County and provide dental services to county residents. The project will result in the continuation of a full-time dental practice in Meigs County with a dentist willing to provide dental services to uninsured and underinsured county residents. In addition to the dentist, two support staff will also be employed by Meigs County Health Department.

To qualify for funding, projects must meet at least one of the following criteria as set out by the ARC. They must either increase job opportunities and per capita income in Appalachia to reach parity with the nation; strengthen the capacity of the people of Appalachia to compete in the global economy; develop and improve Appalachia’s infrastructure to make the region economically competitive; and/or build the Appalachian development highway system to reduce Appalachia’s isolation

The Governor's Office of Appalachia, a division of the Ohio Department of Development, partners with three local development districts - the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, and the Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District – along with the Governor's regional economic development offices to identify investment opportunities for funds provided by the ARC and Ohio General Assembly.

“The Taft administration has maintained a commitment to the Appalachian region of Ohio by providing matching state funds to allow for a significant increase in investments each year,” said State Development Director Bruce Johnson. “The $4.4 million annually that Ohio receives from the ARC and $3.7 million it receives from the Ohio General Assembly has a significant impact on the State’s Appalachian region.”

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