Lisa Parker of Oak Ridge Road, Wellston, Ohio, donated a rear tine roto-tiller to the Jackson County Municipal Court Community Garden Program. Lisa worked many years in a garden from childhood through her years on the farm she and her husband had on Limerick Road, and believes that a garden is a wonderful opportunity for the community.

“It encourages a work ethic and you can truly see the fruits of your labor as you watch the garden grow and bear its bounty. The food can then go to help our citizen in this county. I think these community service programs are good for the entire community in what is being accomplished at little or no cost, and for what it does for an individual in reflection and learning about a work ethic, and to see what they have accomplished.”

“I truly wish Judge Musick and his staff great success with this project.”

Pictured: Ginger Waulk, Director of the Community Service Program and Lisa Parker

Columbus, Ohio - Lisa J. Parker, candidate for Jackson County Commissioner along with husband Calvin and Parker Campaign Representative Justin W. Skaggs met Wednesday at the Riffe Center with Ian Nickey, Legislative Liaison for the Ohio Department of Development to discuss job creation, job retention, and economic conditions generally in Jackson County.   The meeting was facilitated by Ohio’s 87th House District Representative Clyde Evans after numerous letters from concerned constituents were written to Representative Evans in regard to lack of job growth in Jackson County.

Throughout the course of Parker’s campaign there have been many recurring concerns expressed by Jackson County Citizens but none of which have been more prevalent than the concern for the local economy.  In response to those concerns, Parker devised a proposal to submit to the Ohio Department of Development which would allow for state certification of designated areas as “Certified Business Locations.”  Such designations would allow new prospective employers to summarily decide the suitability of any community for business operations by simply checking to determine if such community is a Certified Business Location.  In other words, if a community is state certified as a CBL, any new prospective employer will know immediately that the community has met all minimum standards necessary to attain CBL status and thus suitable for business.  Minimum standards would include adequate medical facilities, effective educational systems, satisfactory infrastructure, minimum acceptable acreage, available workforce, and available transportation.  Parker contends that such a program would be greatly beneficial to Jackson County as new prospective employers would be able to determine whether a community is capable of supporting the proposed industry without spending substantial resources to make such a determination simply by checking the CBL status of the county.  “It takes all of the guess work out of the decision making process for the companies considering Jackson County as a their new home” said Parker.  “Jackson County clearly has all the necessary components to house any industry that would be interested in choosing Jackson County as home.”  Parker continued, “The trick, of course, is being able to market Jackson County to these companies and being stamped as a Certified Business Location would be an awesome tool to let new companies know that Jackson County is ready to accommodate their needs.”

The State of Ohio currently has a plan in place that allows for similar designations but is only suitable for larger areas with greater populations.  Parker explained to Nickey that reserving such designations for larger areas cripples our region due to the fact that companies first look at the areas that are designated as being ready for business which leaves more rural areas sitting in the dark.  Parker believes that it is crucial to attract several companies with 200 employees or less rather than one company with more than 800 employees to protect Jackson County in the future from situations like the Meridian ordeal.  Parker believes that “putting our eggs in one basket is no longer a feasible plan.”  “We need to diversify so that in the event that a company moves or goes under, our entire county will not be crushed by the closing of one business.”  Parker’s proposal is modeled after the ultra successful West Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa “Certified Business Location” programs.

Nickey was very interested in Parker’s proposal and kept the documents for further consideration.  However, in the mean time, Nickey explained that there are state monies available up to $750,000 per year for the development of sites and the building of facilities to attract new business through the Industrial Site Improvement Fund.   Apparently, Jackson County has never sought to receive those funds even though Jackson County has always been eligible to do so.  “This is free money” said Nickey.  It is a very difficult process and takes serious dedication to complete the application process but it has been completed by several surrounding counties for site clean-up and preparation for business development.  For example, Lawrence County recently was awarded money from the program to clean up a site along the river for development.  “It is unbelievable to me that there is money sitting there for the taking that would allow us to build to suit, prepare sites, and attract new business yet Jackson County has never even made application” Parker commented.  “Jackson County is already in a precarious economic position and when there is available monies for business development, we need to seize that opportunity every single time without hesitation.”  Nickey provided Parker with all of the necessary information to begin the application process and explained to Parker that the Ohio Department of Development is ready, able, and willing to assist in the application process.  “That is precisely why we are here” said Nickey.  The next round of applications for the Industrial Site Improvement Fund are due in December with appropriations decisions to be made in early May 2009.  Senate Bill 24, on which Representative Evans worked, made the monies available on a yearly basis.  But, Jackson County missed the boat this go round’.  Parker said “I can assure you that I will continue to rattle cages and turn over every stone until I find all available resources to assist in the growth of our local economy.”

We have been forgotten by the very people that we placed in office. Jackson County may have a “small” population, but it is this county and southeastern Ohio that has put many of our office holders “over the top” and into office. Our State Senator and Representative need to join with us in making our community the cross-roads of a “Green Technology” Corridor.

Jackson needs your help. Would you please simply copy off these letters, they are the same, for each office hold, sign and mail them. If they get enough mail in, we can be heard.

Thank you.

Lisa

Congressman Zack Space - Public Letter
Governor Strickland - Public Letter
Senator Sherrod Brown - Public Letter
Senator Voinovich - Public Letter
State Rep Clyde Evans - Public Letter
State Senator John Carey - Public Letter