Bill Arnett, Director of the CIC, speaks to Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Bill Arnett, Director CIC, and Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary President.

 The CICs’ mission (or as it is formally named—the Cambridge Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation) is to:

“…develop and implement strategies to attract and retain business and industry, while engaging in activities to promote the overall quality of life for citizens of Guernsey County, Ohio.”

 The CIC meets this mission by concentrating effort in three areas: 1) working to retain and expand businesses that are already in Guernsey County with the intent of increasing employment opportunities; 2) identifying potential business sites, identifying improvements needed to make the site more appealing to businesses, and helping develop and upgrade the site, and 3) working to develop small businesses by providing loans up to $25,000 for start-ups.

For the CIC, these activities often mean linking businesses and entrepreneurs with other agencies that can provide expertise and resources such as the Port Authority or the Small Business Development Center.

 The Mid-Town Market project which began June of 2024 and required  almost 6 months of paperwork, included the joint efforts of the business interested in developing the site--4Friends LLC—and  agencies such as JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), the Cambridge-Guernsey County CIC, and the City of Cambridge.

 The result of this joint effort will result in a refurbished building housing food vendors and a bar on the main floor and office space including co-working space on the upper floor. Later plans include games, kid, and family activities on the lower floor. New jobs that will be provided are projected to be about 18.

 Or more information about what the CIC is involved and a list of resources can be found at: https://cgccic.org/ or attend a CIC meeting 8:88 am first Friday of the month at the Cambridge Municipal building.

 Connect with #ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. Join us for a meeting on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at 7:30. Join in person at the Stop Nine Church of Christ Senior Center, message us to join via Zoom or watch FB live beginning 7:30am. Watch the Byesville Rotary Facebook page for details.

Byesville Rotary visits renovated Byesville Museum

 

Pictured: Jordi Harding, Mike Port, Jim Bacos, Dennis Harding, Tammie Archer, and Jan Wilson checking out the smart TV screen presentation.

 

Donald Marlatt, Dennis Harding, Jordi Harding, Chuck Fair, Mike Port—Display case at Byesville Museum.

 

Closeup of items in display case.

Jay Jackson, mayor of Byesville, and Mike Port, Byesville councilman, took Byesville Rotary members on a tour of the newly renovated Byesville Museum. And Welcome Center. Step in the door and your eyes are drawn to the educational resource center and its wall of smart TVs displaying digitized pictures of Byesville’s history. One screen is devoted to veterans.

 The next thing a visitor notices are the display cases. One exhibits samples of products manufactured in Byesville—cute plastic toys, handy kitchen utensils, and pottery. Another display holds memories of local schools.

An Open House for the museum is scheduled for October 28.

Jackson reported that work on the museum was instigated by a water leak three years ago. Much of the village’s paper history was damaged. The village decided to use the insurance money to renovate the museum--the walls were repainted, new lighting and new flooring was installed, CARES money was used to develop an education center containing smart TVs and six research stations linked to the internet.

The educational resource center provides internet access to people who want to look for a job, work on a school project or take a class. The museum also serves as the village Welcome Center. Rack cards and pamphlets about area business and tourist attractions are available.

Jackson and Port indicated that continuing plans for the museum include increasing access to Byesville’s history by developing a small back room which currently contains a small, old-fashioned and very heavy printing machine. Additionally, they are planning to develop the upstairs room into a meeting space. Jackson wants to re-establish the Historical Society and create various types of activities centered on the museum.

Currently, the museum is staffed by volunteers. Open hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Hours may vary. Please call to confirm we are open at 740-260-3088 or watch our Facebook page.

People interested in volunteering can connect with the VIP (Volunteer Impact Program) by going to www.ByesvilleOH.gov.  Look for the volunteer link under the “Our Community” button.

Connect with #ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. Join us for a meeting—most club meetings are live streamed to Facebook and Zoomed. Watch the Byesville Rotary Facebook page for details.

Byesville Rotary awards scholarships

Pictured: Lisa Groh, Byesville Rotary President; Damon Launder, Kenslie Stafford, Joel Weigand, and Jim Bacos, Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Not pictured--Rylee Gress. 

Byesville Rotary awarded $1000 scholarships to each of four students graduating from Meadow Brook High School. The scholarships awards are based on a combination of grades, tests scores, references letters and school/community activities.

The 2022 awardees are:

• Rylee Gress—Rylee, who attended Buffalo Mid East, plans to attend Ohio State University and major in Pre-Veterinary Medicine.
• Damen Launder—Damon will be attending Walsh University and plans to major in Education with a minor in Communication.
• Kenslie Stafford—Kenslie plans to attend Mount Union and major in biology with the intent of entering a pre-med program to become a doctor. 
• Joel Weigand—Joel will be attending Ohio University and major in mechanical engineering.

 Byesville Rotary club members wish these young students best of luck as they continue their educations.