Ironton-Huntington, W.

Wednesday, April 12, 2000

Ironton-Huntington, W.Va., Empowerment Zone leaders will target three actions in the coming years of the federal grant’s influence – educate, employ and empower the people.

"We will use resources to improve economic opportunity," Empowerment Zone executive director Kathy Burns said at Tuesday’s board meeting.

"We got this designation because there are pockets of poverty in our communities and we’re going to change that."

Money, tax credits and the bonding potential provided by the 10-year $100 million grant are the resources.

And in the last 10 months of the Empowerment Zone’s existence, those resources attracted 975 new jobs to the two-state area, Mrs. Burns said.

"It hasn’t all been good news but the key is the communities working together and having the resources," she said, referring to Ironton’s 1,000-job loss. "These are the first steps and there will be more jobs."

Not only will the Empowerment Zone rely on developing five new industrial sites and improving infrastructure in Ironton but also on developing job skills training, providing literacy tutoring, helping the underemployed get ahead and other assistance that doesn’t specifically involve a new industry, Ms. Burns said.

Operation: Be Proud in Ironton is one testament to that reliance on people programs, OBP president and Ironton School Board member Robert Pleasant said.

"We are working with the young people, developing skills that will help when jobs are here," Pleasant said.

OBP benefited directly from grant funding that allowed its Ninth Street community center to open with a staff.

In the long run, the zone also allows OBP to partner with the Job Training Partnership Act program, the county’s Department of Human Services, the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization and other service providers, Pleasant said.

And that means preparing youths for the future through education, leadership skills, whatever it takes, he said.

Getaway resident and Chesapeake financial planner Jason Stephens called the Empowerment Zone a seed.

"We have to be pro-active in taking advantage of it and nurturing it," Stephens said.

Amazon received much assistance by locating in the Empowerment Zone, he added.

"We can’t make businesses come in, but we have the ability (with the Empowerment Zone) to create an environment that businesses want to come into," Stephens said.

During the grant’s first year in 1999, the Empowerment Zone board utilized $2.5 million in funds and leveraged about $41 million from other sources as a match.

Ironton has used hundreds of thousands of dollars to renovate sidewalks, create parking, plan a $540,000 paving project and secure a floodwall improvement grant, Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary said.

"The Empowerment Zone has been important," Cleary said. "These and future projects would never happen without it."

In the future, the two communities will partner with economic development authorities, government agencies, private companies and many volunteers to accomplish zone projects, Mrs. Burns said.

Among the projects is one that trains teachers to use job skills lessons in the classrooms. About 45 teachers have taken part so far.

Also, Marshall University has developed a daycare center and Ohio University Southern Campus is planning one.

One the hardcore jobs side, the zone will target five future industrial development sites, including:

– A West Virginia 95-acre business/technology park near Interstate 64 and Route 10. Construction is expected to begin in July.

– The Huntington Industrial Center at the former Owens-Illinois glass plant site.

– The 500-acre South Point industrial site. A purchase agreement is currently being negotiated between the LEDC and Ashland Inc. A master plan is under way.

– The Route 2 property in West Virginia, bordering the Ohio River, is marked for industry and port facilities.

– A 30-acre commerce park in West Virginia that is being privately developed.