OHIO WELCOMES APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2004

Columbus, OH -- Ohio officials welcomed representatives of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) who traveled to Ohio today for an announcement regarding federal funding to help create economic opportunities in Appalachia. The ARC chose to make the announcement at the Dollar General Distribution Facility in Zanesville, Ohio, citing the state’s efforts to create jobs in Appalachia.

“Securing good jobs in all parts of Ohio is our number one priority,” said Ohio Development Director Bruce Johnson “That the ARC chose Ohio to announce President Bush’s funding appropriation for fiscal year 2005 shows that people are taking notice of our efforts.” Johnson oversees the Ohio Department of Development, which houses the Governor’s Office of Appalachia (GOA).

According to the ARC, Ohio’s GOA will receive a portion of the $66 million appropriated by the federal government to support economic and community development in Ohio’s 29 Appalachian counties. “Today’s announcement is great for citizens and businesses located in Ohio’s Appalachian region,” added interim GOA Director Jennifer Simon, who attended today’s event. “It’s encouraging to know that the President is committed to maintaining funding so we sustain economic development and quality of life in the region.”

Using ARC funds, Ohio has already attracted new business and created more jobs in the region, including nearly 250 jobs at the Dollar General Distribution Facility in Zanesville, approximately 600 jobs at the Wal -Mart Distribution Center in Steubenville, and more than 100 jobs at the Wellsville Intermodal Industrial Park in Wellsville.

Congress established the ARC in 1965 to support economic and community development in the Appalachian Region. The Commission is a unique partnership composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. The purpose of the Commission is to develop a knowledgeable and skilled population; strengthen the region's physical infrastructure; build local and regional capacity; create a dynamic economic base; and foster healthy people.

The GOA facilitates economic and community development in the 29 Appalachian counties of Ohio. The Office, involved with both short- and long-term planning, also serves as an advocate for the region by developing policy and promoting specific projects and proposals that originate from the region's residents.