Executive Director of OMEGA Visits Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Greg DiDonato, Executive Director OMEGA; Christina Morris, Byesville Rotary President.

Reminders:

• No reading assignment.


• Next week is the Rotary Exchange group visit. We will be having a joint breakfast meeting with the Cambridge Rotary at Sop Nine Golden Oldies building. Breakfast is a $5 donation.


• After the meeting, a group will be going to the Wilds and lunching at the Banana Split in New Concord.


• Wednesday will start with the Byesville Scenic RR excursion with lunch at the Whistle Stop.


• Thursday evening there will be a reception and dinner at Salt Fork. Dinner is $23.00 and will be a buffet with chicken breast or port tenderloin.


• Contact Chris is you want to attend any of these events but have not signed up. Contact Chris if your are willing to chauffeur our visitors.

Greg DiDonato spoke to the Byesville Rotary about services provided by OMEGA (Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association). Currently, OMEGA is actively involved in getting government stimulus money directed to Guernsey County. The agency provided data to the Governor’s office and lobbied for the Appalachian Region in Washington DC. As a result of this work, $8 million will be invested in 3 water projects in Guernsey County.

OMEGA has also written a successful proposal which will improve broadband in the Guernsey County area. The agency submitted a broadband infrastructure development plan to NTIA. This was the only plan submitted by Ohio that was endorsed by Gov. Strickland. Over the course of the next 3 years, $83 million will be invested in broadband infrastructure in a 34 county area which includes Guernsey County. DiDonato expects this project will increase broadband availability by 22%.

OMEGA’s mission is to facilitate cooperation between federal, state and local agencies to provide economic and community development opportunities. OMEGA typically distributes about $2.5 million per year to its 10 county service area. The agency focuses on water and sewer projects, economic development, but heath and wellness programs, Headstart, and technology for tech colleges are also funded.

OMEGA helps members of the community and local business write successful grants by offering grant training and grant writing resources. OMEGA also supports local business development though its Revolving Loan Fund Program which provides below market rate loans to businesses in conjunction with a bank. This funding provides a bridge to full financing of a project when a business cannot get 10% of the project funded by a bank.

The club’s next meeting will be May 5, at the Church of Christ Stop Nine Golden Sixties Building. The meeting will be a joint meeting with the Cambridge Rotary. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.