Port Authority discusses grant money and area housing needs

During its regular August monthly meeting, Guernsey County Port Authority Board members approved two loans to small business start-ups in Guernsey County. The loans, each for $25,000, will provide the entrepreneurs with funds to help pay for new equipment and or use as working capital. The Port Authority now has 11 loans active with its revolving loan program that was initially funded through the government’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. Nearly all loan applications are initiated through assistance from Cindy Voorhies in the Small Business Development Center. These start-up or expansion ventures have created more than 35 jobs in the community.

Director Norm Blanchard informed board members ACI Services has received a $50,000 grant from JobsOhio for company upgrades necessary to meet increased requirements. The grant, which originated with the Port Authority, was facilitated by the efforts of Bill Arnett at OhioSE to access the money available through an inclusion grant. The company was eligible by being located in a distressed area and being veteran-owned.

Working with the Community Industrial Association, the director discussed progress on grant applications that are in process for upgrades within the D.O. Hall Business Center. One grant, sought from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program, would provide up to $2 million to mitigate mines in a 10-acre parcel adjacent to Detroit Diesel’s Plant #2 in the business park. This, along with other grant initiatives, is designed to provide shovel-ready development sites. We have already reported on the $3 million site development project on the western 45 acres of the Business Center. Costs of this project will be offset by a $2.1 million earmark through Congressman Bill Johnson’s office.

Representatives from the Port Authority are continuing to seek opportunities to increase housing options available in the county. The need, which affects all income levels, is part of the reason for the county’s restraints on growth. The Port Authority has met with large home builders and is in discussions with the Area Agency on Aging and their resources to address the housing problem from all approaches.

Finally, the Port Authority has submitted a grant application for funding that will provide assessment dollars for the potential cleanup of selected properties. If approved, the grant will furnish $630,000 for assessment actions on properties otherwise considered unsuitable for building in their current situation.

Submitted by Norm Blanchard with the Port Authority

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Port Authority discusses grant money and area housing needs