Yesterday, Meigs County Economic Development Director Perry Varnadoe told members of the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce, though Meigs County has been affected by the national recession and slow recovery, it has in many ways been insulated and continues to show signs of growth.
Varnadoe said currently there is around $8 million worth of investment going on in the county, including the construction of the new Home National Bank, the pending construction of the Family Health Care Clinic as well as countless infrastructure projects from paving to water line replacement projects. Varnadoe also said the recent passage of the bond issue to build the new Southern High School will join those projects to increase the economic potential of the county.
Another positive was a recent study done by a local bank which tracked the spending habits of customers with debit cards. Varnadoe said this study found consumers were indeed “spending locally” because there were more than twice as many debit card swipes in the Middleport/Pomeroy area as in Mason, W.Va.
Varnadoe said though financial analysts have said the national recession began in December, 2007, from 2008 through the most current figures of 2010, the county sales tax revenue has been on the rise with 2010 expected to be about the same as 2009. Again, this was an example of Meigs County being somewhat affected yet insulated from national, economic trends.
Varnadoe added the local banks were no part of the Wall Street collapse and continue to be solvent and lend money. In addition, New Era Broadband has received a $2.9 million grant to bring broadband service to rural Meigs County and an estimated 3,000 homes.
In closing, the three things needed to get the national economy going, in Varnadoe’s opinion are: “Certainty, stability, confidence.”
In other Chamber news:
A representative for Carleton School and Meigs Industries said the slow economy has made it more difficult to find jobs for their work force which is ready and willing to work. Anyone wishing to hire workers from Meigs Industries should call 992-6681.
Open house at “Nature At It’s Best” ‘from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 12 at 44040 Yost Road, Racine.
The Gallia-Meigs Community Action Agency has requested a grant to do a housing study for the Meigs County Economic Development Office.
The luncheon was catered by Pizza Hut of Pomeroy, Pomeroy Flower Shop provided flower arrangements and the meeting was held at the Pomeroy Library.
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