eNewsletter October 2020

eNewsletter October 2020

October 2, 2020

OVRDC Small Business Sustainability Loan Program Now Accepting Applications

OVRDC is now accepting small business loan applications to help sole proprietors and business owners manage cash flow with a low-interest sustainability loan from the EDA CARES Act Revolving Loan Fund.

Interested business owners will complete a Pre-application Questionnaire to begin the process and once eligibility is determined, they will have access to loans from $5,000 to $25,0000 for working capital expenses, without requiring a bank. Other features connected to the program make it easy for businesses to access capital that could help sustain them through the coronavirus downturn, including interest rates as low as 2% and no payment required for the first six months of the loan term.

  • Loans from $5,000 – $25,000 for working capital expenses
  • Interest rates as low as 2%
  • Pay nothing for the first 6 months
  • No bank required
  • Use loan proceeds for day-to-day operating expenses to work through the temporary economic downturn
  • Term 3 – 5 years
  • Low application fee $100

Eligible borrowers include existing, small business owners or sole proprietors with operations located in Adams, Brown, Clermont, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, or Vinton Counties in Ohio. The printable .PDF flyer is attached to this email, please share the information with your small business contacts.

For questions about our Business Sustainability Loan or any other OVRDC loan products, contact sgilbert@ovrdc.org.

Earlier this month OVRDC hosted the Small Business Administration Alex Kohls for a webinar on Small Business Programs and COVID-19 Relief Aid. It is now online on the OVRDC YouTube page HERE.

 

LaRose Reassures for the OVRDC Full Commission Ohio is Ready to Vote

OVRDC membership and guests, attended last Friday’s Full Commission with Guest Speaker Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State. In his address to 90+ registered online attendees, he talked about the efforts his office has focused on in the run up to the election. In addition to sharing information on various voter registration drives, mail-in ballot rules and initiatives to track your ballot by name and county at VOTEOhio.gov, he said they are expecting a high number of ballots will be cast this year and he encouraged everyone to, “vote early.”

Early voting in Ohio begins Tuesday, October 6, at 8 a.m.

LaRose also acknowledged how the coronavirus has impacted every aspect of our daily lives, including the voting process, and explained they were expecting a shortage of poll workers this year. In response, the Secretary of State’s team have come up with creative ways to recruit poll workers, including a “2nd Call of Duty” program aimed at veterans, “Give a Day for Democracy” aimed at business owners and “Youth at the Booth,” a campaign to recruit teenagers as poll workers.

More information about these programs can be found online HERE.

Thank you Commissioners Beekman and Humphrey

Everyone at OVRDC and our Membership would like to thank retiring Executive Committee members Blain Beekman, Pike County Commissioner, who most recently served as our Treasurer, and Ed Humphrey, Clermont County Commissioner a member of our Nominating Committee for their service to our organization. We appreciate all you have given to the region and hope you enjoy your leisure time ahead.

Adams County Commissioners Ty Pell, Diane Ward and Barbara Moore visit the future home of the Adams County Training Center.

ARC Grant Award to Adams County Training Center Brings Total Workforce Investment to $2.1M

The Appalachian Regional Commission announced last week approval of a grant in the amount of $500,000 to the Adams County Board of Commissioners to renovate a former 15,100 square-foot grocery store, located in West Union, into a workforce training center. Renovations include new electric, plumbing, and HVAC to support office, classroom, and lab space. The training center will serve Adams County and the surrounding area and include both virtual and physical classroom space and a virtual job center.

The Board of Adams County Commissioners along with Holly Johnson, director of the Adams County Economic and Community Development Office have been instrumental in securing funding for the project.

A statement by Adams County Commissioners Diane Ward, Ty Pell and Barbara Moore said, “We are excited to have this opportunity to better our community and assist local businesses with workforce development. This ARC grant allows us to be one step closer to providing an essential place for our residents to receive the training needed for a competitive workforce.”

The Adams County Training Center will give the community immediate access to four different certification classes to aid in workforce development, including computer numeric control class (milling, tooling, lathing, blue print reading and drafting), welding, licensed practical nursing (LPNs), and nursing assistant courses. The ARC project funding will provide the facility and essential project partners are already secured to provide ongoing programming once the facility is opened.

Adams County is designated an ARC At-Risk county and the workforce has been disproportionately displaced from the closing of Dayton Power & Light. The new training center will help upskill workers to make them competitive for the jobs regional employers need. In addition to the $500,000 in ARC funds, state sources will provide $1,624,610, bringing the total project funding to $2,124,610.

 

ARC Leadership Institute Class of 2020 Includes Three from the OVRDC Region

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has named three leaders from the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission region as 2020-2021 Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellows.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced 40 Fellows who will be participating in the second class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute. The class draws on each one of Appalachia’s 13 states and includes professionals who live and/or work in the Region in civil service, finance, healthcare tourism, and a variety of public and private sectors.

The following area leaders will represent Southern Ohio in an intensive leadership development program:

  • Todd Wilkin, City Manager, Village of Greenfield, Greenfield;
  • Beth Pirtle-Frazer, President, Manchester Renaissance Foundation, Inc., Manchester;
  • Samuel Brady, Executive Director, Jackson County Economic Development Partnership, Jackson.

 

 

Letters of Intent Application Period Open Now for ODOT TAP Alternative Transportation Projects Funding

The ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funding for projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail program projects; and safe routes to school projects.

Fayette County Ohio TAP Funding for the Western Bike Path Construct was awarded in 2019.
ODOT District 6:  In 2019, Fayette County won TAP funding for the Western Fayette County Bike Path Construct, a new bike path to be constructed over an abandoned railroad bed. The proposed first phase will start at the existing bike path termini at the Fayette County line and end at Allen Road in Octa, with an approximate length of 3.1 miles.

 

Click here for a complete list of programs that were funded through TAP in 2019.

Click here for applications guidelines.

For questions or more information, contact Jeff Shaner phone 614-644-6394, email Jeffrey.Shaner@dot.ohio.gov

 

Opportunity to Earn Free Training and Certificates in Hottest Jobs and Industries

The Ohio Development Services Agency is helping to get the word out about free, certificate training for those who qualify. The Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP) is a great opportunity to attend training at no cost.

For more information go online HERE or contact the Office of Strategic Business Investments via email Workforce@OWT.Ohio.gov.

The Individual Microcredential Assistance Program or IMAP helps Ohioians who are low income, partially unemployed, or totally unemployed participate in a training program to receive a credential at no cost.

 

Opportunities to Join Our Team

Research/Planning Specialist

Under the direction of the Planning/Development Director, the Research/Planning Specialist is primarily responsible for providing technical assistance and research with community/economic development, business development, transportation planning, as well as continually developing maps utilizing the OVRDC Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) program.

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in planning, public or business administration, geography, political or social science or related field with at least one year of related work experience; GIS experience is a plus; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. No special license and certification required.

Excellent benefits package including major medical, dental, and vision insurance and Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. Annual salary range $30,000 and up.

Submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Research/Planning Specialist Position, Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, 73 Progress Drive, Waverly, Ohio 45690-1196, or email to krichardson@ovrdc.org. All resumes must be received by 12:00 noon Friday, October 9, 2020.

M/F/H

“An Equal Opportunity Employer”

Click HERE for more information and the full job description: https://www.ovrdc.org/employment

 

Request for Proposals – RFPs

Economic Recovery/Tourism Planning

The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) is requesting proposals from experienced firms, groups, or individuals to perform Economic Recovery/Tourism Planning Coordinator duties in the 12-county OVRDC region in southern Ohio. This is a contract-based position, and the selected contractor shall be responsible for all expenses incurred while performing services. Compensation which shall include related expenses will be negotiated but will include consideration for experience.

This project and RFP are supported by CARES Act funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). The successful RFP respondent will serve as the Economic Recovery/Tourism Planning Coordinator for the 12-county OVRDC region in southern Ohio under the general supervision of the OVRDC Executive Director.

Click for complete RFP details HERE.

 

Request for Proposals – RFPs

Broadband Planning Coordinator

The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) is requesting proposals from experienced firms, groups, or individuals to perform Broadband Planning Coordinator duties in the 12-county OVRDC region in southern Ohio. This is a contract-based position, and the selected contractor shall be responsible for all expenses incurred while performing services. Compensation which shall include related expenses will be negotiated but will include consideration for experience.

This project and RFP are supported by CARES Act funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). The successful RFP respondent will serve as the Broadband Planning Coordinator for the 12- county OVRDC region in southern Ohio under the general supervision of the OVRDC Executive Director.

Click for complete RFP details HERE.