Holmes, JobsOhio Engaging Southeast Ohio Businesses

ZANESVILLE – Opportunities connected to workforce and industry are among the topics Southeast Ohio businesses are discussing with State Representative Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) and state, regional and local economic development leaders.

Representative Holmes invited JobsOhio and the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) to join him in hearing from businesses throughout the region.

“The business leaders of Southeast Ohio understand better than anyone the economic challenges and opportunities of this region,” Holmes said. “By bringing them to the table with JobsOhio and APEG, we can determine how to best leverage our assets and attract new jobs for our residents.”

“Local, regional and state economies will continue to thrive when economic development leaders, elected officials and the private sector work as a team,” said Dana Saucier, vice president and head of economic development at JobsOhio. “Muskingum and Guernsey counties are blessed with strong economic developers like Matt Abbott and Norm Blanchard, strong leadership in the Statehouse, and companies that are committed to the success of their local communities.”

Holmes, JobsOhio and APEG have identified and are building upon a number of competitive advantages and positive trends in the region:

So far in 2019, APEG, led by President & CEO Mike Jacoby, have helped southeast Ohio companies with 19 expansion and location projects resulting in 1,046 new jobs and more than $650 million in capital investments.

In June, Cambridge-based AMG Vanadium announced it will expand in the region with a new facility in Montgomery County, which will add 100 production and management jobs as well approximately 500 temporary construction jobs. 

Construction for the Guernsey Power Station, a $1.4 billion 1.8GW gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant, is underway. The project will create up to 500 construction jobs and 25 full-time employees.

In August, United Candle Company announced that it will be moving production from New Jersey to Ohio. The company intends to employ 100 full-time employees in Muskingum County and invest nearly $2 million in its Ohio operations.

An available talent pool is a competitive advantage for southeast Ohio as approximately one quarter of the workforce works in jobs outside of the APEG region. Many of these workers would probably prefer employment closer to home. 

Businesses and local economic development officials from Guernsey and Muskingum counties met with Holmes, JobsOhio and APEG in Zanesville to discuss these and other issues.