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Local farmers are worn out by drought as a new farm bill remains distant — and potentially unhelpful for smaller operations
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — It’s been a bad year for Lindsay Klaunig. The co-owner of Trouvaille Farm started the spring with contracts for $30,000 worth of crops. As… Read More
The Housing Squeeze: A severe housing shortage leaves little room for job growth in southeast Ohio
Economic development officials are passing on opportunities for business growth. Meanwhile, high costs for running infrastructure and public opposition to developments make it difficult to find buildable lots. “There is… Read More
A West Coast startup wants to build two nuclear power plants in southeast Ohio
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — A California company plans to build two small-scale nuclear power plants near Piketon that will operate under a new model compared with traditional plants. If the… Read More
Athens set to begin redevelopment of the Armory into a coworking space
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Within the coming weeks, the city of Athens will break ground a project to convert the Armory into a coworking space. The project will cost $4.5… Read More
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine delivers his State of the State address
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, focused on the Ohio budget and the issues he believes need the most attention during his State of the… Read More
Athens County officials break ground on industrial building expected to bring new business and jobs to the region
THE PLAINS, Ohio (WOUB) — The first shovelfuls of dirt were turned Friday morning on a new industrial building that Athens County officials hope will bring around 100 good-paying jobs… Read More
After 40 years, Trimble tears down its abandoned schoolhouse
TRIMBLE, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) – For years, the first thing anyone saw driving into Trimble was the abandoned brick building on Route 13. Once the site of the Trimble… Read More
Food Regulations & Shared-Use Kitchens (Whole Farm Series)
Have you ever wanted to start your own line of hot sauce, pickles or salsa? Are you a food entrepreneur or small farm looking to expand to value-added food production?… Read More
Firm pays back $20M but insists Belmont County petrochemical project is viable
CLEVELAND (AP) — The U.S. subsidiary of a Thailand-based petrochemical giant has repaid Ohio’s private economic development office $20 million after it failed to make an investment decision in 2020… Read More
Employers and schools are working to address labor shortage in southeast Ohio
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Last year a group of manufacturers in southeast Ohio asked more than a thousand students in middle and high school if they were interested in a… Read More
Athens’ Stimson Avenue Getting A $7 Million Makeover
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The city of Athens has for years been throwing Band-Aids on one of the main gateways into town. But this time it’s different. Stimson Avenue, now… Read More
ARC Investing Over 15 Million In Ohio Valley Economic Projects
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (OVR) — The Appalachian Regional Commission is investing another $43.3 million in communities affected by the downturn of the coal industry. The latest POWER grants from the ARC will support 51 projects… Read More
Portal 31: How A Closed Mine Opened New Prospects For One Coal Town
Devin Mefford is sitting in the squat metal buggy of a modified mantrip, the train-like shuttle coal miners use to travel underground. Mefford is dressed for work, in a hardhat… Read More
Google to Break Ground on $600 Million Data Center in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Google says it is set to break ground on its $600 million data center in an Ohio city, part of $13 billion in planned investments by… Read More
ARC Awards Nearly $7 Million For Projects in Appalachian Ohio
ATHENS, Ohio — Projects in areas including The Plains, Gallipolis and Marietta are among those receiving nearly $7 million to help advance economic development in a region dealing with a… Read More
SOAR At Six: Group’s Lofty Goals For Coal Country Meet Challenges
In a conference hall in Pikeville, Kentucky, this September, Gov. Matt Bevin led an eager audience in a countdown. When the audience reached “One!,” a map on the screen behind… Read More
Grants Aim to Boost Economic Growth in Eastern Kentucky
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Grants totaling $34.4 million have been announced in an effort to spur economic development and job creation in eastern Kentucky – a region hard hit by… Read More
Working Toward Recovery: Ohio Town Fights Addiction With Focus On Economy
This is the second story in an occasional series exploring the links between addiction recovery and a recovering economy. Addiction specialists, business leaders, law enforcement officials and other community members gathered around… Read More
State Launches Portal To Showcase Investment Opportunities In Low-Income Sites
The state has launched a new portal for its 320 opportunity zones, so those economically distressed communities can showcase the projects potential investors can put money into. The 2017 federal… Read More
Kentucky’s Economic Development Chief Resigning
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says his administration’s economic development secretary is stepping down from the job he has held since early 2017. Bevin said Tuesday it’s… Read More
Ohio’s Cities Say They Need More State Money To Fix Roads And Bridges
Ohio’s cities have seen about $450 million in cuts to their local government funds under Gov. John Kasich. The lobby group that represents cities is looking forward to establishing new relationships with Governor-elect… Read More
Defunding Appalachia: Coal Communities Resist President’s Budget Cuts
Danny Ferguson didn’t like what he saw happening in Lincoln County, West Virginia, where he grew up. The downturn in the coal industry had hit hard, and young people had… Read More