Many economic developers describe the art of attracting large domestic and foreign companies as “buffalo hunting.” Some praise the practice saying that bagging the big, migratory beast fills a lot of stewpots and benefits the whole tribe. Others criticize economic development as being too focused on buffalo, rather than on local firms – the rabbits, […]
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Why Wood?
It may seem odd that APEG is putting so much effort into our wood products industry. In a world where technologies are introduced daily and whole new industries gear up to produce them, why focus so much attention on wood? After all, people have been making things with wood since we lived in caves! So, […]
Let’s Celebrate Manufacturing!
October is Ohio Manufacturing Month Ten years ago pundits were saying that manufacturing was dead in America, and that we don’t need manufacturing jobs. They were wrong then, and are even more wrong today. That’s great news for Appalachian Ohio. Why do we need manufacturing? Manufacturing is one of three or four industries that economists […]
Workforce Implications for Changes in Marijuana Testing
Starting a Conversation In his remarks at the 2015 State of the Region Conference, John Molinaro, president and CEO of the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth, introduced the topic of workplace marijuana testing as a consideration for keeping qualified workers on the job. His excerpted comments follow. Many of the tests commonly used for drugs […]
Molinaro Shapes Rural Agenda
In late March, a small group of national and international rural policy leaders met in Washington to discuss what is working best in America to build rural economies. The participants represented agencies charged with rural development including some from beyond U.S. borders. Of the 15 participants, only John Molinaro, president and CEO of APEG, currently […]
Two community nonprofits in Nelsonville to get expanded space
Four years ago the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) opened its new offices at 35 Public Square in Nelsonville. Having grown, FAO is now planning to renovate and expand from the second floor to the first at that location. The project also will provide additional accommodations for the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG), which […]
Manufacturing plant starts small as it plans Monday reopening
This coming Monday is the day Samuel Thornton has been working toward for almost two years – the resuming of production at Athens Mold and Machine. The tire mold manufacturing company closed in 2011 when business dried up but Thornton, the plant’s general manager, is convinced the time is right for a comeback. The restart […]
Fluor-BWXT Grant Helps New Business in Jackson County Add Jobs
Last fall, Fluor-BWXT provided a new Jackson County manufacturer, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, a $48,000 business opportunity grant through their Community Commitment Fund. The check came with a promise that Speyside would create 35 new jobs at the former cabinet-making facility on East Main Street. In the spring of 2016 the bourbon barrel maker met that […]
ODNR Releases First Quarter Production Numbers for Oil and Gas
COLUMBUS, OH – During the first quarter of 2015, Ohio’s horizontal shale wells produced 4,401,687 barrels of oil and 183,585,256 Mcf (183 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, according to figures released today by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Oil increased by more than 842,000 barrels and gas by more than 18 billion cubic […]
