×

Jefferson County Educational Service Center works on potential growth for new office building

ESC discusses potential facility growth

Eastern Gateway Community College Executive Director of Development James Baber addressed a press briefing Wednesday regarding the the K-20 Ohio Appalachian Technology and Education Center set for construction at the Jefferson County Industrial Park in 2017. The community college partnered with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center to obtain state funding and will share a recording studio in the new facility. — Dave Gossett

STEUBENVILLE — The construction of the new K-20 Ohio Appalachian Technology and Education Center is still months from a ground breaking, but Jefferson County Educational Service Center officials already see potential for expansion at the site.

ESC Governing Board President Larry George said Wednesday construction plans call for putting in a foundation for an additional 5,000-square-foot expansion in the future.

“We hope our facility will open up the industrial park to more professional buildings in the future. I often tease our board of education that they, ‘ain’t seen nothing yet.’ I believe we have great potential for economic growth and expansion at the industrial park and in our services to the community,” said George during a press briefing that included representatives from the ESC, Eastern Gateway Community College and state officials.

The immediate construction plans call for a ground breaking at the 2.7-acre site on county Road 43 in June for a two-story building to house offices for an estimated 20 employees and a facility with state-of-the-art technology.

According to George, the Ohio Appalachian Technology and Education Center will use the ESC building in Steubenville as a centralized hub for 21st century skills where curriculum development, instruction, online learning, assessments, technology, collaboration, communication and professional growth will be the focus of the agency.

“We are here today to thank everyone involved in this project and to provide an update on the work as we move forward,” said George.

“I give a lot of credit for making all of this happen to state Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, and state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, for working hard to make the state funding available. We also received backing from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission,” noted George.

The deal to purchase the property for a 10,000-square-foot building that will house the Virtual Learning Academy as well as Jefferson Health Plan offices was completed in September, and George said environmental studies on the ground now are being done.

“We hope to have a small sandwich shop in the building for the staff there as well as the state highway garage and Wal-Mart Distribution Center employees. We are also looking at a small wellness center in the building,” explained ESC Director of Building and Grounds Director Pat Keenan.

“We have received nothing but positive support from the school districts we serve as well as the officials who helped make this happen,” noted George.

“I credit Eastern Gateway Community College for having a vision for the Eastern Ohio area and for stepping forward so we could obtain $250,000 in the capital budget for this project. I am very glad to see this coming to Jefferson County,” said Gentile.

“This is a great project, and I also appreciate the efforts made by the ESC and EGCC to make this a reality. It was very exciting to help put this together for our part of the state,” added Cera.

“We are about helping students, and this facility will be a major asset for Eastern Gateway as we move forward. This is an excellent expansion of services for many people,” commented EGCC Director of Development James Baber.

George said the goal is to break ground in June and have the facility completed by June 2018.

“We plan to initially have about 20 employees at the building, some from our current building in Steubenville and some will be new employees. I want us to take the time to make the building perfect. We are dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’,” said George.

“Our Jefferson Health Plan is now growing to a national level and members of the health plan can now borrow money at a very good rate and not have to ask voters for approval of a levy,” George said.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today