(Telegram Photos by Alex Shope)
Work has concluded on the General Tibbets Drive project, and on Wednesday, Nov. 12, county officials and relevant partners gathered at the 3,900-foot stretch of paved road to officially declare the road open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. General Tibbets Drive, as the road project was dubbed, now connects Veterans Drive to McCarty Lane. Made possible thanks to a $1,707,033 Roadwork Development Grant awarded to the Jackson County Commissioners through the Ohio Department of Development, the completed roadway will allow for improved truck access, the expansion of existing businesses throughout the Salt Creek Industrial Park area and will facilitate development of new businesses, estimated to create approximately 172 new jobs. A recently built 32,000-square-foot spec building is situated along the improved and extended roadway. Government and economic officials hope additional economic development will occur due to the road. “We’d like to thank everyone who attended today,” said Jackson County Commissioner Donnie Willis. “This project took a huge group effort, and we’d like to thank our partners for their help. This will lead to a lot of economic development for the city and county because everybody worked together as a team.” He also noted the considerable involvement of Senator Shane Wilkin in the completion of this project, without whose efforts in helping secure the necessary funding, the project would not have been possible. Pictured at the ribbon-cutting ceremony (from left to right, top photo) are Jackson County Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Sam Brady, Regional Manager of the Ohio Office of Jobs and Commerce Adele Evans, City of Jackson Administrator Traci Plants, Berlin Culver, Aspen Bowman, Jackson Mayor Randy Evans, Jackson County Commissioner Donnie Willis, Beau Bowman, Jackson County Commissioner Jon Hensler, Jackson County Commissioner Paul Haller, Jerry McKee of McKee Paving, Jackson County Board of Commissioners Grant Writer and Project Manager Phil Buffington and Jackson County Economic Development Partnership Site Development Coordinator John Stabler.
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