By FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
According to its president, Southern Ohio Growth Partnership is basically defunct. SOGP President/Treasurer Mike Gampp said Monday the time for SOGP as a participant in the promotional aspect of the community has passed.
“I believe you are going to see SOGP fade away. It’s not going to exist anymore,” Gampp said. “As time goes on, one of the great conversations we’ve had is, coming back together — how do we market this community. I think we will still need to do that. It’s important, but SOGP is not the way to do it.”
SOGP Board of Directors removed Bob Huff as president and CEO after they said they discovered restricted loan funds were improperly used to cover SOGP operating expenses. At the time, Board Treasurer Mike Gampp said the board was trying to find a way to recover from the problems caused by the improper use of those funds.
Gampp said when the Board discovered the funds had been improperly allocated, members immediately contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), engaged an independent auditor, and assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations of SOGP.
Last week, USDA spokeswoman Heather Hartley said no decision has been made as to what the USDA will do to try to solve the problem.
Gampp said when he first discovered the discrepancy, he was concerned about the future of the Chamber of Commerce and Portsmouth Murals Inc. as occupants of the Welcome Center.
‘I didn’t want to see, because of one issue with SOGP, the entire Chamber of Commerce go dark, which is what could have happened,” Gampp said. But he said, with the purchase by Community Action, the Chamber, Portsmouth Murals and the building itself are all now secure
“SOGP’s time has probably come and gone,” Gampp said Monday during an announcement that Community Action of Scioto County is purchasing from SOGP the Welcome Center. ‘We’ll move on to something else and find a new solution.”
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
Alex Great • NGOs can be more corrupt than government as their constitutions and processes are not subject to public scrutiny.
2 hours ago• Like• Reply privately• Flag as inappropriate Follow Patrick
Patrick Pillah-Tyodzer • When a people united in faith and love contributes state funds from taxes and few decides to steal. It is an offence against God and humanity.To eliminate is to liberate our minds from these greed. Just as mr. Great indicated. NGO i can be an association of likemind-thieves. So, let us re- orientate our value system and criminalise I'll- gotten weath.
Lookie Here, more NGO's Non-government Organizations, connect the dots, look at all the positions "they" hold and where your public and private funds go..............all fluff, not results made public cause it ain't there???
Summits to tackle southern Ohio health challenges
http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/view/full_story/18097596/article-Summits-to-tackle-southern-Ohio-health-challenges?
YOU ARE GETTING WARMER, THEY USE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND CIRCULATE IT AROUND, LIKE LAND DEALS, SOGP, CAO, COAD, PORT AUTHORITY, SCIOTO FOUNDATION, AND MANY OTHER'S ALL THE NGO'S, NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS,
HELLO.........
OR DO YOU PLAY LIKE A LAWYER IN COURT, DON'T ASK THE QUESTIONS UNLESS YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS, GUESS WHAT YOU WILL GET NO ANSWERS BUT BY THOSE OTHER'S WHO DON'T GET IT LIKE YOU AND THE CAVER'S....
YATTA, YATTA, YATTA...............
If they do hold the deed for the property how did they acquire it ? I hope this is not another one Dollar sale deal as we have seen many in this city. This property should go back to the city or county !
CAO is loaded with our public tax money funds too.
Everyone has money but us poor taxpayers........??
Oh, we're in Scioto County/SOGP Land....
"Last week, USDA spokeswoman Heather Hartley said no decision has been made as to what the USDA will do to try to solve the problem."
Gampp states they have sold off the SOGP maybe the USDA put them out of business and with all the money they received I can't see any jobs they brought in the area except their own. (Welcome Center employees)
This may be the best thing to happen to the area maybe now we can get some real jobs in the area ?