Third Bridge Invitational set for Aug. 21

All systems are go for the third annual Bridge Invitational, set for Friday, Aug. 21 at Steubenville Country Club.

This year’s outing will be billed as a “3-2-1 Corridor” event, three counties, two states, one goal:  create economic development opportunities in Brooke, Hancock and Jefferson counties. It will serve as a follow-up to the highly successful Corridors of Opportunity event held in July.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at 11a.m. and the round of golf will begin at noon. Dinner will be served immediately following golf.

The event is sponsored by Progress Alliance and the Business Development Corporation for the Northern Panhandle. The deadline for registering to participate is Wednesday, Aug. 12. For further information contact Progress Alliance at (740) 283-2476. Sponsorship opportunities also remain available.

Kukovich will address CIC board

Allen Kukovich, executive director of the Regional Visioning Project, will address the Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees during its Aug. 18 meeting. The session, set to begin at 3:30 p.m., will be held in the Historic Fort Steuben on South Third Street in downtown Steubenville.

The project, known as the Power of 32, was launched in May of this year. It is a two-year process designed to provide an opportunity for every resident of the 32-county, four-state region to participate in creating a shared vision for the region’s best future.

The 32 counties included in the effort, 15 in southwestern Pennsylvania, 10 in northern West Virginia, five in eastern Ohio (including Jefferson), and two in western Maryland represent the economic region centered on metropolitan Pittsburgh.  The initial public phase of the Power of 32 involves engaging and listening to thoughts on the issues and possibilities for the region’s future.

The city of Steubenville will serve as the host for the August meeting.

Budget adds millions for response grants

The final Ohio budget added $5 million a year to the Rapid Response Grants program designed to spur economic development activities in the state.  Several Jefferson County projects have received such grants in recent years.

In addition, the budget restored the state funding for the Strategic Business Investment Division of the Ohio Department of Development and regional offices. It also restored $3.5 million in general revenue funding for Technology Grants.

Efforts by members of the Ohio Economic Development Association, including Progress Alliance, were praised for helping to keep ODOD funding close to current levels.

Baun accepts invitation to speak

Randi A. Baun, executive director of the Brightway Center, has accepted an invitation to speak at the Sept. 15 meeting of the Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees.

Once constructed, the center will offer a collection of athletic fields and courts, supported by a recreation building, administration office and a conference center. It is planned for a 175 acre farm in Smithfield, formerly owned by Kara Bright.

The estimated cost of the project is $6 million. Bright, a former teacher and coach in the area, bequeathed the farm and $1.3 million to the center. Baun already has launched efforts to raise the remaining funds. The Brightway goal is to host its first on-site program in 2012.

September’s CIC meeting will be held at the Fort Steuben Mall.

Tickets remain available for chamber event

The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual reverse raffle and casino night on Aug. 14 at the Steubenville Country Club. The theme for the event is:  The Roaring Twenties. Live music will be provided by Danny Levite.

The doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. The raffle is set to start at 7 p.m. For ticket information, contact the chamber at 282-6285.

ODOT reopens Route 7 lane in Stratton

The State Route 7 southbound travel lane in Stratton, was reopened to traffic this week.  The southbound lanes of SR 7 have been closed since February 2008, as part of the FirstEnergy's environmental control retrofit project at the company's W. H. Sammis Plant.  

One lane of traffic is now being maintained in each direction in the proper travel lanes.  However, both passing lanes remain closed.  

All four lanes of SR 7 are expected to be reopened to traffic in September , but some daytime lane closures may still exist for cleanup and restoration work.