Completing Buckeye Hills Regional Council’s online Project Profile questionnaire is the first step for local officials working with Buckeye Hills to pursue project funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and other state and federal partners. Buckeye Hills Regional Council is committed to assisting stakeholders across Southeast Ohio with identifying and securing resources that strengthen the region’s communities.
“When applicants submit a Project Profile, it helps the Development staff at Buckeye Hills learn about upcoming projects important to our region’s communities,” said Program Manager Michelle Hyer. “Recent ARC-funded projects in our region have supported access roads, broadband infrastructure, business expansion, healthcare upgrades, water and sewer upgrades and expansions, student development, and job creation and retention. These projects have provided clean drinking water, greater healthcare access, STEM education programs, upskilling of employees, and an increased tax base for villages and counties.”
The deadline to submit Project Profiles is March 31, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Submitted projects should focus on supporting local business, workforce development, community infrastructure, and regional culture and tourism. Projects must serve residents in one or more of the eight counties served by Buckeye Hills: Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington. Profiles may be submitted online. (Please note that this process is not related to the State of Ohio’s Appalachian Community Grant Program.)
The simple, self-explanatory Project Profile form collects basic information about projects, including contact information, project description, type and readiness, regional impact, project partners, and total project costs.
“Not all projects will be selected to receive funding, but it is important for Buckeye Hills staff to learn about all of these projects so we can share these needs with our state and federal partners,” said Hyer. “These profiles help paint a picture of the investments needed in Southeast Ohio. As projects are reviewed, our staff are able to discuss the projects with other agencies and help cultivate projects for future funding.”
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Local Development Districts, like Buckeye Hills Regional Council, collaborate with the ARC to promote regional strategies for partnerships, progress, and prosperity. To maximize investments made by the ARC in Ohio, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia (GOA) was formed in 1986 to enhance those opportunities with matching state funds for projects.
For questions or further information regarding Project Profile submissions, please contact Michelle Hyer at mhyer@buckeyehills.org or 740-376-1025.