OMEGA: Funding possible for Skip's Landing and renovations to Pastime Theater
COSHOCTON − The Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association reported a banner year for 2023 and leaders are hopeful for better still in 2024, as they wait to hear back on the latest round of Appalachian Community Grant funding.
OMEGA is a collaborative body of member governments that serves as a facilitator between state and federal government agencies and local entities to provide opportunities in economic and community development through networking, education, planning, research and allocation of resources. It serves Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Muskingum, and Tuscarawas counties.
In 2023, the organization approved 19 grant applicants for $16.4 million and two loans for $360,000 leading to the creation of 106 new jobs across the region. This includes $3.1 million in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and Governor's Office of Appalachian (GOA) grants. Other funding was obtained via the Economic Development Association, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Public Works Commission, Ohio Water Development Authority and other entities.
The current focus is on the Destination Appalachia: Pathway to Prosperity pitch to the Appalachian Community Grant program. Requested is $158 million for 41 projects in 26 communities and 10 counties. OMEGA Executive Director Vicki King-Maple said they vetted 90 projects total and narrowed it down to the ones they felt best could deliver transformational and sustainable projects.
Individual projects include overhaul of Secrest Auditorium and improvement of streetscapes in Zanesville, further development of Skip's Landing and bringing back to life the Pastime Theater in Coshocton, growing the Dennison and Ohio Railroad in Tuscarawas County to include stops in Newcomerstown and Coshocton, extending the Great Guernsey Trail to link Lore City and Kipling to Cambridge and much more across the region.
Estimates are the two years of construction and first five years of operation will have an overall regional impact of more than $1 billion, creating 7,394 new jobs and $18.5 million in new local taxes.
"This marked a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Appalachian region and I am most proud of the spirit of collaboration that was demonstrated throughout the process among our partnering constituents," King-Maple said. "We knew these project will be transformational to the region and we had to communicate it as such. It was crucial to drive home the sustainability and overall community vibrancy of all the projects."
Coshocton County projects for 2023
● $250,000 ARC grant to the Village of West Lafayette for a sanitary and storm water outlet improvement.
● $500,00 ARC grant to the City of Coshocton for the extension of waterlines to Warsaw.
● $22,435 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for a pickleball court.
● $121,424 design loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the Chestnut Street waterline replacement.
● $1 million from the H20 water supply revolving loan account for the Chestnut Street waterline replacement.
● $5 million from the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure House Bill 168 for the Coshocton to Warsaw waterline extension.
● $300,000 from the Safe Routes to School program and $1.1 million from the Transportation Alternatives Program to the Village of West Lafayette.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Skip's Landing and Pastime Theater could receive grants through OMEGA
