July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

More good news?

Jay County Development Corporation

Fresh off a major announcement earlier in the week, a local economic development official hinted Tuesday that more good news could be coming soon.
Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, told members of his board Tuesday that two companies are considering purchasing most or all of the 100-plus acre Portland Industrial Park.
That park, along county road 100 North northwest of the city, is where Fort Recovery Industries is planning an expansion expected to create 20 to 40 jobs.
The company plans to purchase an industrial building in the park. The building has never been occupied since it was constructed in 2001.
The Fort Recovery Industries project “may spur some development in that area,” Bradley said. “We’re happy about the (Fort Recovery Industries) project.”
Bradley said that neither company is prepared to move forward with the industrial park purchase immediately, and that there are issues and concerns to be sorted through.
Selling all of the industrial park would leave the county without land to market at a time when vacant industrial buildings are also at a premium.
Bradley also said that outside storage by one of the two interested companies could be an issue. With unemployment coming down and activity continuing to be steady, Bradley’s mood was positive.
He said there are prospects for purchasing the former Gym City building on Tyson Road, as well as the International Paper Building along Industrial Park Drive.

Bradley also said that Bell Aquaculture, Redkey, is considering an addition to its facility.
Bradley said that progress is being made on the Geesaman Industries project (in the former Portland Plastics plant near Meshberger Bros. stone quarry), a wind power project by American Electric Power and MyFarms, an information system for farmers.
“A lot of different things are going on … a lot of good things,” Bradley said.
Also Tuesday, Bradley told members of the board that Portland, Dunkirk and Redkey are considering increasing annual monetary contributions to JCDC.
The budget situation is “looking better than it did,” Bradley said.
In other business, JCDC board members:
•Were told that the 2011 JCDC annual meeting will likely revert to a luncheon format. This year’s event was a dinner meeting in September at Portland Golf Club. Founding and longtime members of the board were asked to speak, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the organization’s founding.
•Heard an update on several grant requests in the works from community developer Ami Huffman.
Hufman said that she helped prepare a request for a $440,000 grant that would allow an expansion project by Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Inc., as well as a request for a grant to fund a new rescue truck for the town of Pennville.
She also said that construction is underway on Dunkirk’s $2 million water infrastructure project, while work is expected to begin soon on a drainage project in the Steen Addition on the southeast side of Portland.[[In-content Ad]]
PORTLAND WEATHER

Events

November

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.

250 X 250 AD