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By Wayne Allen
The Joint Economic Development Initiative of Southern Ohio (JEDISO) announced it exceeded $100 million in direct investment to the region.
According to choosesouthernohio.com, JEDISO is a not-for-profit association with the purpose of supporting economic development in Scioto Jackson, Pike and Ross counties. It organized to advance, encourage and promote the industrial, economic, commercial and civic development of their counties and surrounding region.
JEDISO receives funding from the Fluor-B&W Community Commitment Fund.
JEDISO made data available for 2014 and the first six and a half months of 2015 on projects they’ve assisted.
In 2014 JEDISO and the Fluor-B&W Community Commitment Fund provided a $30,000 grant to Mako Finished Products in Scioto County. The grant aided in a total investment of $245,000 and created 12 jobs.
Mako Finished Products is located in Portsmouth, where they are machining and finishing castings produced by OSCO Industries.
There were three projects in Jackson County, four projects in Pike County and three projects in Ross County in addition to the one project in Scioto County in 2014.
In 2014 JEDISO and the Fluor-B&W Community Commitment Fund provided $244,000 in grants, with a total investment of $53,565,200. There were 462 jobs created and 1,326 jobs retained.
Thus far in 2015 Scioto County have had four projects, YEI Technology, PatterFam Sauces, Tri-America Contractors and Appalachian Wood Floors.
YEI Technology was awarded a $44,000 grant from the Fluor B&W Portsmouth Opportunity Fund to expand their production of computer sensors in Portsmouth.
YEI Technology Chief Executive Officer Francesca Hartop, said the computer sensors manufactured in Portsmouth are purchased by a number of clients including the United States Navy.
“We build sensors that basically quantify how something is moving, rotating, accelerating and stopping,” Hartop said.
The YEI Technology had a total investment of $308,000, created 14 jobs and retained 17.
PatterFam Sauces received a $24,000 grant with a total investment of $475,000, eight jobs will be created and two were retained. Tri-America Contractors received a $40,000 grant with a total project investment of $389,127, eight jobs were created and one job was retained.
Appalachian Wood Floors (Phase I) has a total investment of $5,278,000 with 20 jobs created and 110 retained.
Thus far, in 2015 JEDISO and the Fluor-B&W Community Commitment Fund provided $156,000 in grants, with a total investment of $39,980,127. There have been 184 jobs created and 195 jobs retained.
Jason Kester, Executive Director of the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) said these projects are an indication, good things can happen in the region with officials and agencies working together.
“Successes like these continue to motivate us as we continue our work to develop shovel-ready sites and assets to support economic development and business expansion in the region,” Kester said.
Between 2014 and thus far in 2015, JEDISO and the Fluor-B&W Community Commitment Fund provided $547,500 in grants, with a total investment of $111,809,327. There have been 749 jobs created and 1,521 jobs retained.
According to released information, Ohio recently ranked second nationally in both total and per capita economic development projects according to Site Selection Magazine with Chillicothe ranking as the 74th best metropolitan community for economic development.
To learn more about JEDISO, the Fluor-B&W Opportunity Fund and economic development opportunities in Jackson, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties visit www.choosesouthernohio.com.
Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT
