4:05 p.m. Sen. Wilson holds public session

STEUBENVILLE -- About 40 people heard an update on Ohio issues from state Sen. Jason Wilson, D-Columbiana, during a town-hall meeting at Eastern Gateway Community College Monday afternoon.

Wilson said Ohio is fiscally solvent but the budget is being monitored closely.

He also touted the Third Frontier technology business investment program, which will be before voters for renewal in May.

"As a state, we have embraced this idea," Wilson said. "As a region, we haven't embraced it at all."

Wilson said while other parts of the state have seen millions of dollars invested in high-tech startups and expansions of existing businesses, the area has received nothing.

Wilson said he wants to see $20 million invested from the program in his district, but businesses and residents have to come forward with concepts for businesses that could use the investments.

Wilson fielded a number of questions, ranging from making sure the area gets its share of minority contracts under stimulus spending to the status of the Baard Energy project in southern Columbiana County.

Wilson said it is his responsibility to respond to issues about minority business enterprise contracting levels and told representatives of the Steubenville Branch of the NAACP he is responsible for the area.

Baard, he said, is progressing and should begin some engineering site survey work this spring. He said financing still is a hold-up for the project, which seeks to build a refinery to turn local coal into jet fuel.

For more on Wilson's town-hall meeting, see Tuesday's print edition and visit www.heraldstaronline.com.