Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) congratulated the Buckeye Hills – Hocking Valley Regional Development District on Wednesday for the grant they received to spur job creation in Ohio.
The Make it in America grant awarded the organization $1.7 million to fund the Make it in Appalachia Ohio project. It is one of 10 projects that received funding through the United States Department of Labor grant program.
“Appalachian Ohio is incredibly well-positioned to attract new businesses and jobs to the region,” Stivers said. “The Make it in America Challenge Grant will help the Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District serve the community and support businesses committed to making it in Appalachian Ohio. I was happy to support their efforts as they applied for this grant.”
The Make it in Appalachia Ohio project includes a development site inventory and economic development asset mapping, wood furniture manufacturing supply chain development, and a worker training program focused on strengthening the workforce in metal fabrication, polymers and chemicals and wood manufacturing.
The project is a partnership between the BH-HVRDD, the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth, the Ohio Workforce Investment Area 15 Board, and the Ohio Valley Employment Resources.
The Make it in America Challenge was created to build a bottom-up approach strengthening the economy and creating jobs. The challenge issued more than $20 million to 10 projects around the country.