Port Authority Approves Budget: Looks into Future

The new executive director of Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority had his first official meeting with the board Wednesday. 

A brief eleven minute meeting gave enough time for the board to approve its yearly budget and discuss other items as the port authority moves forward. 

"We talked about a variety of things," said executive director Matt Abbott. "We approved the budget for next year. We have to submit an annual budget for the Port Authority by June 1. We also talked about some other budgetary items, what’s been spent here in the last 30 days since the last meeting and various other things."

Only on his eighth day, Abbott said he has met with area executives to see how the port authority can help to grow established businesses. Along with that, he said the board is involved with ever evolving plans to expand the county’s economic possibilities. 

"In the strategic planning process we have to look more down the road than just the properties that we have and what we can do with them in the short term and really look at long term goals of how those properties can better benefit Zanesville and Muskingum County," Abbott said. "It’s part of this strategic plan that what we’re really starting to look into is what is the next step for Zanesville Muskingum County. We have to look into the future."

While looking into the future, Abbott said they can’t leave exciting businesses behind and will continue to work with those established companies.