Innovative Program Targeting Training, Jobs and Hunger Receives Prestigious State Award

Montgomery County’s “Trucks and Tomatoes” Job Training and Urban Garden Enhancement Project is the recipient of the 2018 President’s Award for Innovative Practices by the Ohio Conference on Community Development.

The “Trucks and Tomatoes” Project is the result of a partnership between Montgomery County, the Dayton Foodbank, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, and Central State University (CSU), with support from private sector trucking companies.

Tracked House Bills – August 2018

State Political Activity:

Political: Although the results of the August 7 special election to replace U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi for the remainder of his term in the 12th Congressional District was initially too close to call, it now appears that the winner will be Republican candidate Troy Balderson. As of August 21, Balderson leads Democratic candidate Danny O’Connor by about 1781 votes. All absentee and provisional ballots must be counted and certified by August 24. If the final results show a margin of 0.5 percent or less, state election officials will hold an automatic recount. The race was the subject of intense local and national interest, as it was heralded as a possible predictor of other races on the November ballot. The same two candidates will face each other again in November for a full term representing the 12th District.

Tracked Senate Bills – August 2018

State Legislative Activity:

Legislative: In response to a Governor’s Executive Order containing proposed farm regulations to combat Lake Erie’s harmful algae blooms issued earlier this summer but put on hold , Ohio legislators have formed a bi-partisan panel called “Toward A Cleaner Lake Erie”. The panel will be chaired by two Republicans who lead agriculture committees in the legislature, State Senator Bob Hackett from London and State Representative Brian Hill from Zanesville. Others Senators on the panel include Bob Peterson, R-Washington Court House; Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls; Rob McColley, R-Napoleon; Edna Brown, D-Toledo, and Michael Skindell, D-Lakewood. House members, in addition to Hill, are Steve Arndt, R-Sandusky; Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield; Jim Hoops, R-Napoleon; Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky; John Patterson, D-Jefferson, and Michael Sheehy, D-Oregon. The panel will meet for the first time next week and hold meetings throughout the fall.

5 Strategies to Prepare Opportunity Zones for Development

The waiting is painful. The U.S. Treasury Department has certified over 8700 census tracts across the United States as Opportunity Zones. Through a comprehensive public engagement process the nation’s Governors recommended eligible census tracts and the Treasury all according to the required statutory deadline certified the Opportunity Zone census tracts across the U.S. that can qualify for a substantial federal capital gains deferral.

Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority Announces Creation of National Road Business Park

On Tuesday June 26, 2018, the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority (ZMCPA) exercised an option and closed on the purchase of a 203 acre property located in Perry Township.

The development of the National Road Business Park will truly be a unique, inter-governmental effort, as the funding for purchase and development is being shared jointly between the ZMCPA, Muskingum County and the City of Zanesville. Additionally, we are actively pursuing over $1.25 million in grant dollars to assist with the creation of the park.