WHEELERSBURG, Ohio — Economic development officials in Lawrence and Scioto counties are working together to develop a 177-acre industrial park to bring jobs to both counties.
“We see that whole area as benefiting both counties with jobs,” said Bill Dingus, executive director of the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation which is developing The Point, a 500-acre industrial park in South Point that has between 500 and 600 jobs.
“We already have Dow Chemical in Lawrence County and Sun Coke in Scioto County,” Dingus said. “These plants provide jobs to both counties so everybody wins.”
The plan is for the Development Corporation and the Southern Ohio Port Authority in Scioto County to work together to jointly borrow more than $2 million and go after grants to bring water, sewer, electric, drainage, roads and parking to the site, said Jason D. Kester, director of the port authority.
“The site already has a 50,000-square-foot building on it,” Kester said. “We will pool our strengths and resources. You have two counties working together to make our region better and bring in new jobs.”
The site is located along the Ohio River off Ohio 522 in the Wheelersburg area.
Both agencies have given the initial go ahead to the planned Ohio River and Rail Park. The site is adjacent to the Norfolk Southern rail line, he said.
The two agencies hope to sign a formal agreement on the plan within the next 30 days or so, Kester said.
“We want to team up on this one parcel,” Kester said. “If it works, we can try it again at other sites.”
“We’re looking at manufacturing and heavy industry,” Dingus said. “We see this as a great opportunity possibly leading to future projects.”
From The Herald Dispatch | February 17, 2016
