POMEROY — In a national economy that finds many communities happy to keep what they have, Meigs County is fortunate to have development projects expected to produce additional jobs by the end of the new year, Meigs County Economic Development Director Perry Varnadoe said.

Meigs County is in a better economic position as it enters 2009 than it was a year ago. 2008 has been a big year. In the next year, at least 200 jobs should be available to qualified coal miners and other mine-industry workers.

Finally, the new Bridge of Honor is open to traffic traveling between Pomeroy and Mason, W.Va. A new community college and higher learning center is now allowing students to learn job skills and earn degrees without leaving the county’s borders. Sales tax is up by over $80,000 for the year.

Gatling Coal Co. expects its operation in Sutton Township to begin producing coal early in 2009. The American Muncipal Power-Ohio Plant in Letart Township will likely award a contract for construction of its plant in the same time period.

The coal mine operation should be employing 200 coal miners by the end of 2009, Varnadoe said. The Rio Grande Meigs Center, opened earlier this year, is training coal miners for those and other mining jobs.

Construction of the AMP-Ohio plant will bring thousands of jobs into the county and the region between now and its scheduled by 2014.

Locals are spending more money in their neighborhood community, rather than driving to other towns for basic needs. That has resulted in an increase of $84,000 over the past 12 months in sales tax collection, due primarily to the higher cost of gasoline earlier in the year, which prompted many to shop closer to home. Those funds will be a relief to the county budget process.

“The picture is brighter here right now than in many areas,” Varnadoe said. “To have future projects on the horizon when other communities must concentrate on just keeping what they have, we’re very fortunate.”