News & Blog


Molinaro Attends Rural Council


$10 Billion Initiative Announced at White House John Molinaro was on a mission when he went to the White House over the summer.  The president of the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth wanted to let folks in Washington know that while things aren’t perfect, there’s plenty of positive economic development news in Appalachian Ohio. Molinaro, […]

Read More…



Students learn about manufacturing careers

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — In 1970, more than 50 percent of a product’s retail price went toward paying the wages of those who manufactured it. Today, only 10 percent of that same item’s cost supports the labor used to produce it, economic development officials said Thursday. That means far fewer workers are able to manufacture more […]

Read More…


Rocky Brands gets military contract

Nelsonville-based Rocky Brands announced Thursday that it has been awarded a contract to produce hot-weather combat boots for the U.S. military. The one-year contract, which includes four additional one-year options, limits the annual amount for boots to $20 million, according to the company, which said an annual amount of about $16 million is anticipated. Rocky […]

Read More…


Another 1,000-megawatt gas-fired plant in works for Ohio

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: An out-of-state company plans to build a natural-gas-fired power plant in eastern Ohio. Houston-based EmberClear Corp. plans to build a $900 million, 1,000-megawatt plant on 60 acres in Harrison County in the village of Cadiz, a hotspot in the Utica shale oil and gas play. “The abundant natural gas […]

Read More…


Work starts on new Chillicothe industrial park

CHILLICOTHE — In what’s becoming a more common site in Ross County over the past 12 to 15 months, earth-moving equipment was spotted hard at work in site preparation activities Wednesday — this time on an 18-acre parcel of land on River Road that developers hope will be filled with new job activity by this time next year. […]

Read More…


Bellisio Foods, Meredith magazine introduce EatingWell frozen entrées

Bellisio Foods, Minneapolis, and Meredith Corp., New York, joined forces to introduce EatingWell frozen entrées. The EatingWell line includes Cherry Port Pork, Indian Inspired Chicken, Vermont Cheddar Mac & Cheese and Korean Inspired Beef. Each meal starts with one cup of vegetables, 13 or more grams of protein, chicken, beef or pork raised without antibiotics and whole grains. Unique […]

Read More…


Barrels rolling at Speyside Plant

New wooden barrels are rolling off the assembly line in large numbers at the Speyside Bourbon Cooperage Plant in Jackson and it appears this is only the beginning of a very positive economic development story for the local area. The new plant, which is located in the same building as the former Merillat Plant at […]

Read More…


Return of Athens Mold & Machine is celebrated

The return of Athens Mold and Machine to the city was celebrated Thursday at the plant by company officials and the public and private entities that helped bring it about. “Today is truly a rising tide day,” said Mayor Steve Patterson. “It’s not only a rising tide, it’s a rebirth day.” Athens Mold & Machine […]

Read More…