The former Carlyle Tile plant may be within the limits of Coal Grove, but its removal and revitalization of its site interests groups throughout the county.

That was the message of the public meeting held Wednesday morning at the Coal Grove Village Hall. The meeting served not only as an update on the removal of the abandoned factory, but also a chance for community leaders to voice their support of the project.

Coal Grove has recently applied for $1.7 million in funding to remove what remains of the plant under the Clean Ohio Act.

Dr. Bill Dingus was on-hand representing the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation and the Lawrence County Port Authority.

"We truly believe that of all the economic factors in our community, this would rank amongst the highest as far as helping to restart the economic engine in our community," Dingus said.

Eyesores such as the Carlyle Tile site make it difficult when showing off the area to prospective businesses, Dingus said. He had brought along letters of support of the project from other local businesses such as Oak Hill Banks.

The Lawrence County Commission had already supported the project in a recent meeting, but Commissioner George Patterson admitted that the project had personal interest to him.

"I was born and raised in Coal Grove, I've seen that plant go from a viable employment place up to the present, and my thought is, and the commissioners thought is that we need to make Coal Grove appealing to business that might locate here," Patterson said.

"When you come across the Ashland bridge, that's the first thing you see, and that doesn't paint a very appealing picture."

The men not only voiced support, but discussed plan logistics. Ken Reindl, Senior Vice President of SRW Environmental Services, Inc., informed the representatives that much of the concrete and brick on the site could be recycled.

He said the next step was

a visit to the site on Sept. 6 by Clean Ohio and SRW representatives.