LEDC reviews its work in county

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, February 15, 2012

SOUTH POINT — The economic progress of the county is on track and expected to hit higher marks in the near future.

That was the report at the annual Lawrence Economic Development Corp. board of trustees meeting Tuesday morning at the county’s chamber of commerce headquarters.

“The growth continues,” Dr. Bill Dingus, executive director of the LEDC, told the board. “We are solid and healthy. The projects on the forefront are really real. We are trying to position the LEDC so there is a good stream of revenue in the county.”

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Among those upcoming projects are the expansion of the multi-million dollar intermodal facility that will allow product transfer from river to rail to truck and the continuing construction of spec buildings, both projects at The Point industrial park.

At the meeting the board unanimously voted to award a contract to John Mullins Construction of Wheelersburg who came in as the low bidder on constructing a 30,000-square-foot industrial facility with a 10-ton crane. Mullins’ base bid was $1,006,000.

Two other buildings are either completed or close to being finished at the industrial park.

R&W Rentals took possession of a 3,000-square-foot structure for the Huntington, W.Va.-based company that rents construction equipment and sells safety and construction supplies.

A 6,250-square-foot three phase light-manufacturing building is 65 percent completed. Right now there is no tenant for that site. However, that may change soon.

“In a couple of months we hope to be bringing a major name to our community,” Jeremy Clay, director of The Point, told the group. “We are very hopeful about that transaction.”

Viviane Vallance of the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau announced that the CVB had applied for grants to fund signage for all the villages; Symmes Creek and Freedom Farms, a horse farm outside of Chesapeake.

The signs will be between $2,000 to $2,500 each and the grants will be matched by those benefiting from the project. The villages will maintain their signs and Freedom Farms will offer matching dollars.

With economic development advancing, the LEDC board agreed to increase its number of members from 25 to 35 trustees.

“As we move into the area of logistics, we felt it was wise to expand,” Dingus said.

The board will continue its mix of 60 percent from the private sector and 40 percent from public sector. On the public side the board will now consist of the mayors of all villages and the city of Ironton, the county engineer, the county commissioners, a member from the township trustees association, county auditor and a representative from the Hamilton Township Trustees in response to the planned industrial expansion in that part of the county.

On the private side representatives added are from the river industry and health care.

“It opens it up to where we can serve the county,” Dingus said.