Buckeye Hills Regional Council marks the week of May 8 to May 12, 2023, as the celebration of Economic Development Week. During this week, communities across North America will recognize the contributions made by professional economic developers to create more economically vibrant and livable communities.
Created in 2016 by International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest international professional trade association for economic developers, Economic Development Week aims to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.
“As local and regional economies evolve, the role of economic developers and development organizations are crucial in energizing, preparing, and promoting local economic growth,” says IEDC President & CEO Nathan Ohle. “The 2023 Economic Development Week will recognize, distinguish, and show appreciation for the innovation and leadership of our community leaders in building an equitable, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future. I hope communities everywhere will join us in celebrating the accomplishments and important work economic developers perform in their communities year-round.”
“At Buckeye Hills Regional Council, we work with our communities on approaching economic development through an asset-based lens,” said Sam Miller, Development Director. “Our eight counties have a plethora of assets, including cultural and historical landmarks, beautiful outdoor landscapes, and a strong sense of entrepreneurship. We’ve chosen to highlight only a few examples of the many strengths we’ve worked to cultivate with our partners.”
Historic Harmar Bridge RISE Ohio Project
With support from the EDA-funded RISE Ohio project, Buckeye Hills partnered with engineering firm American StructurePoint to create the Harmar Bridge Adaptive Reuse Study and Design Concepts in collaboration with the Historic Harmar Bridge Company, Washington County, and City of Marietta officials. The study provided alternative design concepts for the future reuse of the Harmar Bridge. The Harmar Bridge Company are currently asking the public for their feedback on which design the company should proceed with. Once an alternative is chosen, the Harmar Bridge Company, in partnership with City/County officials and Buckeye Hills, will apply for grant opportunities to pay for engineering and construction costs for the bridge.
Downtown Revitalization Guidebook
Buckeye Hills partnered with Designing Local to host one workshop in each of the eight counties in the region dedicated to downtown revitalization and placemaking during 2022. The workshops were planned two months before the $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program was announced. The workshops invited partners throughout the region to learn how to implement the following topics: façade improvements, wayfinding and interpretive signage, streetscapes and lighting, public art and garden spaces, historic and recreational tourism, and the importance of downtown branding. Due to the strong reception and success of the workshops, BHRC and Designing Local collaborated to produce a guidebook for BHRC communities to use in future endeavors toward downtown revitalization.
Unlocking the Potential of Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Buckeye Hills’ eight-county region has abundant natural space and world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as authentic dining, shopping, and entertainment. The region is home to seven state forests, eight state parks, and the only national forest in Ohio: Wayne National Forest. The development of the Baileys Trail System – an 88-mile single-track trail system in Athens County designed for mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers – is an example of how the region can sustainably diversify its economy to be globally competitive through increased investments in planned, strategic, world-class outdoor recreation assets and other infrastructure. Simultaneously, the region can transition to an even more desirable location for living, working, and playing. The Village of Caldwell underwent a Downtown Revitalization Plan in 2022 which included opportunities for trail development and outlined existing assets for hunting, fishing, and kayaking. Recently, the village of Beverly received funding for Technical Assistance through EPA’s Recreation Economies for Rural Communities to explore placemaking ideas as well as river and multi-use trail development opportunities.
Arts & Economic Prosperity in Southeast Ohio
Buckeye Hills Regional Council is currently serving as a lead organization for the sixth national Arts & Economic Impact Study (AEP6) conducted by Americans for the Arts. In this role, members of the Buckeye Hills staff have collected audience-intercept surveys at local non-profit arts & culture events. Beginning in Spring 2022, Buckeye Hills began conducting surveys across all eight counties with an overall collection goal of 1,200 individual surveys. As of April 10, all 1,200 surveys were collected! Data from these surveys collected from tourists and locals alike will help tell the arts & culture story from an economic perspective in the BHRC counties. Americans for the Arts will release the report analyzing the results from the data in October 2023, which provide vital information for our local tourist centers and our non-profit venues to use as supportive data in grant narratives.
EDA Investments in Southeast Ohio People and Communities
In 2022, Buckeye Hills Regional Council helped three communities submit successful EDA grant applications. The first resulted in a $5 million grant award to Athens County Port Authority to construct a 60,000-square-foot facility within the Bill Theisen Industrial Park which will house biomedical, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing companies. The second resulted in a $1.3 million grant in Morgan County for water infrastructure improvements to ensure reliable water service to residential, commercial, and industrial facilities located along State Route 60 north of the Village of McConnelsville. Finally, Monroe Water Systems in Monroe County received $1.2 million to support economic development by relocating and upgrading a 3,700-foot water main. These projects are expected to create 185 jobs, retain 50 jobs, and generate $7 million in private investments.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IDCs members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, its members are employed in a wide variety of settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.