PIKETON – The Joint Economic Development Initiative of Southern Ohio (JEDISO) has reached a milestone in its campaign to support economic development in the four-county region.
Since 2013, the organization, with the support of Fluor-BWXT (FBP), has generated over $1 billion in economic development by supporting local businesses in Pike, Scioto, Ross, and Jackson counties. The goal is to create and retain jobs for a sustainable and strong economy.
“We are very proud of this milestone,” said Sam Brady, director of the Jackson County Economic Development Partnership (JCEDP) in a news release. “These businesses continue to thrive and grow, which only enhances the growth in their communities by providing more jobs and keeping local dollars local.”
In the last 11 years, the group has provided support to significant economic development projects including:
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Meridian Automotive Remediation & Redevelopment (Jackson County) - $192,500
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Speyside Bourbon Cooperage (Jackson County) - $50,000
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Buckeye Commercial Center (Jackson County) - $50,000
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Herr Foods Jackson & Chillicothe (Jackson & Ross) - $100,000
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Rural King Distribution Center (Pike County) - $100,000
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Scioto Valley Woodworking (Pike County) - $50,000
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Pike County Airport (Pike County) - $50,000
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Kirchoff Automotive (Pike County) - $32,000
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Canal Park at Preservation Hall (Ross County) - $130,000
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Pap’s Hilltop Distillery (Ross County) - $50,000
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Nier River Road Spec Building (Ross County) - $50,000
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Evans Food Group (Scioto County) - $50,000
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SOAR Industrial Park Spec Building (Scioto County) - $50,000
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Haverhill Wastewater Study & Engineering (Scioto County) - $90,000
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Federal Supply Services International (Scioto County) - $40,000
“This is only a small fraction of the support we have provided over the years,” said Tim Poe, FBP Community Commitment Committee chair. “But with each contribution, you feel a sense of pride knowing that it makes a difference and will continue to make a difference for years to come."
Beyond grants, JEDISO also offers assistance with creating new jobs through location assistance, marketing opportunities, and incentives to support companies starting, relocating, or expanding their operations in the area.
“The underlying force here is being the go-to for resources in each of the counties we represent,” said Tammy Eallonardo, director of Greater Chillicothe and Ross County Development. “This localizes our approach to the growth in our area while still allowing us to share resources across the four counties to boost the creation and retention of jobs.”
Since its inception, JEDISO has leveraged more than $3.3 million in grant support to encourage regional capital investment. Annual funding provided by the Fluor-BWXT Opportunity Fund has led to the creation of 2,777 new jobs and the retention of 13,289 jobs.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: JEDISO reaches economic development milestone in 4-county region