LISBON — Columbiana County’s two economic development agencies are working with Kent State University on a school project expected to result in a marketing plan to assist the county.

County Port Authority Executive Director Penny Traina said her agency and the county Development Department were approached about participating in the project by Tim McFadden, business program director at the East Liverpool and Salem branches of Kent State.

McFadden’s business consulting and practicum students from those campuses and the KSU branch campus in Geauga County are involved in the project and their focus will be on creating an economic development marketing plan for the county that includes improving the agencies’ social media presence. The students will also examine the marketing efforts of other Ohio port authorities.

Traina, speaking at the port authority board meeting this week, said the port authority only has a website, and county Development Director Tad Herold said they have a Twitter account and Facebook page, but he could use some help in driving more traffic to those sites.

The students are scheduled to make a presentation to Traina and Herold on April 30.

“We’re happy to collaborate with Kent State and help them with this project,” she said.

In other action, Traina was asked by the Journal about Diane Ksiazek, the port authority’s manager of administration and finance, after Ksiazek was not at a second consecutive meeting. Traina said Ksiazek is no longer with the port authority but would not elaborate further, and she is going to see if they go without filling the position.

Ksiazek was hired by the board in June 2014 after a lengthy banking career and served as interim executive director during the period the port authority between executive directors. She was paid $4,767 in accumulated unused sick and vacation time.

In other action, Traina announced the March meeting has been canceled because that is when she will be traveling in Thailand and Vietnam that month as part of a trade mission from the Ohio-Pennsylvania Stateline Export Initiative.