Port Authority Discusses Grant Funding

The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority is continuing its revitalization effort to bring new businesses to our region.

The port authority met Wednesday morning for it’s monthly meeting to discuss potential grant funding for new investments. Executive Director, Matt Abbott, said the port is currently working to create more shovel ready job sites for prospective businesses looking to settle in Muskingum County.

“The port authority has just started to submit some information to ready our sites, as far as job and shovel ready sites, to get some grant dollars potentially to help soften the blow financially a little bit for an investment, to kind of be able to get some businesses to locate here,” Abbott said.

As the port continues to develop land for new firms, Abbott said existing businesses have contributed greatly to the recent economic growth in our area. He said the unemployment rate here is the lowest we’ve seen in over a decade.

“That’s because of good leadership, and it has a lot, well 100 percent to do with the business community and what they’re doing, and the investments they’re making, not only in their employees, but this area,” Abbott said.

Abbott said they hope to know by next month’s meeting if there is extra funding available.