Belpre meeting planned | News, Sports, Jobs

BELPRE — Belpre area residents are invited to share their ideas and opinions on updating countywide planning and creating a strategic plan for the future of Washington County.

A public meeting on those topics is set for 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Belpre Senior Center, 1614 Washington Blvd.

The session is the second being hosted by Washington County Commissioners in conjunction with Ohio University’s Center for Economic Development and Community Resilience, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

Marty Hohenberger, the center’s director, will be sharing information about county data in such areas as income, home costs, age makeup and poverty rate. He also will be getting input from residents on how to improve areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, broadband access and workforce.

A similar Marietta session in early October included resident suggestions on access to natural gas, better cellular service and updating schools.

According to its website, the Voinovich School at Ohio University is a think-tank that is particularly interested in problems facing Ohio and Appalachia. It’s particularly suited to building partnerships with nonprofit organizations, government and industry to boost resources and expand impact.

County commissioners said the sessions with the Voinovich School are being paid through state and federal grant funding. They are the initial steps in developing a new planning direction for the county. The last Washington County Strategic Plan was created in 2004.