IN THE BROWNS ROOM — Progress Alliance, the public-private economic development organization for Jefferson County, held its April meeting in the Browns Room at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center 7017 off county Road 45 Tuesday afternoon. Describing the operations of the center is its assistant general manager, MaLinda Lewis. Among those listening to her presentation were, from left, Tracee Joltes of Eastern Gateway Community College, David Skiviat of the Franciscan University of Steubenville and attorney William Blake. The center, which has more than 700 employees, also has a meeting room dedicated to the Steelers.

WINTERSVILLE - There is the potential for dozens, if not hundreds, of new jobs coming to Jefferson County if any of several projects in discussion come to fruition.

Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, the public-private economic development organization for Jefferson County, told the Community Improvement Corp. Board of Trustees Tuesday that though the key word remains "potential," he is excited by the interest in the area.

Looman said one potential development, worth as much as $200 million with the possibility of more than 260 jobs, was referred to Progress Alliance in August by the Ohio Department of Development. The proposal, internally coded as "Project 21," is seeking a location on the Ohio River. A site selection consultant working for the firm that would build the project is reviewing the proposal.

Looman said Jefferson and Columbiana counties were in the running for the project. He submitted a proposal for Jefferson County and never heard more until April 13, when the state said the Jefferson County proposal was still in the running. Looman said two sites are under consideration.

He also told the board an existing business looking for a $6 million to $7 million expansion is working on financing and could provide between 200 and 400 new jobs.

A third proposal Looman said has possibility is one in the southern part of the county with the potential for more than 100 jobs.

Looman said no proposal comes to fruition over night.

"Development moves at a slow pace, but there are things going on," he said.

He reported the second-annual Best of the County dinner was a success, netting $12,100 for Progress Alliance to continue its marketing efforts for Jefferson County.

The dinner, held in March, plus the annual Bridge Invitational Golf Outing, scheduled for August, are being used as fundraisers instead of their usual role as marketing tools because Progress Alliance's marketing budget faces a shortfall with the end of a state Temporary Assistance to Needy Families grant. The TANF grant was used to provide $35,000 used by Progress Alliance for internal and external marketing campaigns.

The CIC board, which oversees Progress Alliance, held its April meeting at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center 7017 off county Road 45 north of Wintersville. The group heard a presentation about the center from its assistant general manager, MaLinda Lewis, and took a tour of the sprawling facility, which covers more than 800,000-square feet on a more than 160-acre site and employs more than 700 people.

The facility's monthly payroll is more than $1.6 million, Lewis said. The center includes a perishable goods warehouse area where temperatures range from 55 degrees to 20 degrees below zero, as well as a massive dry goods warehouse.

The center serves 125 Wal-Mart stores stretching from here to the Pittsburgh and Akron areas.

The highly computerized inventory system tracks packages from receiving to shipping and even offers a diagram for packing pallets into each tractor-trailer based on the items and their size, shape and weight.

Looman noted a tax incentive for the center will expire in 2012.

"Going forward, we want to keep an eye on that. We want to keep these 745 jobs here," he said.

The CIC will meet at 3:30 p.m. May 18 at the offices of the American Red Cross Jefferson County Chapter on Talbott Drive.

(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)