Columbiana County part of coalition applying for grants through Heart of Appalachian Ohio Project

EAST LIVERPOOL -- Columbiana County is one of 17 Ohio counties who have applied in partnership through the State's Appalachian Community Grant via The Heart of Appalachian Ohio Project for grant funding of $110,129,167 for 41 projects throughout the counties.

According to Aaron Dodd, projects manager, Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation, the agency serving as the lead applicant in the coalition. All the projects are cohesively linked and tied into a common theme.

"Administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), $500 million in funding is available to the 32 counties throughout the state designated Appalachian region. The Heart of Appalachian Ohio Project requested $110 million in project work to extend across 17 of these counties with a goal or reconnecting the people to the rich integrity of the region, while simultaneously improving their quality of life and promoting economic development," a new release said. "The project will be completed by Oct. 2026."

Columbiana has three projects included in the grant application: Morgan's Raid Battlefield, Salineville, Shakelford Trail with both Columbiana and Carroll counties; William Hunter Campbell Park, Salineville and the Riverview Florist, East Liverpool.

According to a news release from the Heart of Appalachian Ohio Project, the 1930s Tudor styled building that housed the Riverview Florist, once home to the largest orchid greenhouse in the world, will become an economic driver of East Liverpool and the surrounding region.

Plans for the building include using it to create an event space (winery) that will spur out-of-state residents to help boost the local economy when they use it for business functions and social gatherings.

The building, which will be used as a business incubator, sits on 80 acres of land which will be developed with walking trails and native pollinator plantings to highlight vistas and Renner Falls Waterfall.

No details were provided on the plans for the other two Columbiana County projects and a call to Dodds was not returned.

ODOD is expected to make an announcement on the grant approval sometime between mid-February and late March.