Page 6 - Dresden Buzz 07/25/2025

PAGE 6 | LOCAL NEWS JULY 25 - AUGUST 7, 2025
New Concord Fireman’s Festival Zane State College awarded

commenced with parade $272,364.00 to support

first-generation and low-in-

come students, and students

with disabilities, through TRIO

Student Support Services

Federal grant will boost student retention and
graduation at ZSC
submitted

A photo gallery of pictures from the New Concord Fireman’s Festival parade is available online at www.
dresdenbuzz.com. Lynette Dotson

$20.7M Grant Awarded For

Development Project in

Muskingum County

submitted

The Zanesville Muskingum County Port “The investment they are making in this
Authority was awarded $20,701,384 to- 600-acre site will allow the development
day out of the All-Ohio Future Fund dur- team to establish a generationally trans-
ing the State Controlling Board Meeting. formative location, affecting not only
These funds are to assist in site prepara- Muskingum County but all of Southeast-
tion and upgrades to water and waste- ern Ohio. We are thankful to all of the
water service at a 600+ acres project people who have championed this proj-
site in Muskingum County, to enhance ect since the beginning.”
infrastructure and facilitate business “Site development is not something
growth and employment in the region. that is done by one organization, or
The Project will provide significant even a couple – it takes a whole team,”
water and sanitary access and prepare said Amy Young, Zanesville Muskingum
the Project Site for business attraction, County Port Authority. “We are grateful
facilitating new economic development to have the support of Sen. Al Landis,
and job creation opportunities. The Proj- Rep. Adam Holmes, the Muskingum
ect will support access to over 2 million County Commissioners, and our util- Pictured are (back row, left to right) TRIO Director Josh Eno, TRIO Student Leah Carpenter, TRIO Advisor
gallons per day (MGD) of water supply ity, engineering, and development part- Jason Lanning, TRIO Advisor Cole Mathers, and Chief Student Affairs Officer Heather Merry; (front row,
capacity and 2.5 MGD of wastewater ners.” left to right) TRIO Students Hayleigh Brewer, Athena Jackson-Wright, and Devon Steele. Submitted
treatment capacity at the Project Site. The All Ohio Future Fund was estab-
These improvements will allow the Port lished in the 2024-2025 state operating The U.S. Department of Education has State, student success isn’t just about
Authority to market to a variety of po- budget through Ohio House Bill 33 to in- awarded Zane State College a federal degrees—it’s about empowering individ-
tential major end-users and encourage vest $750 million to aid local communi- TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) uals to realize their potential, and this
investment in the region. ties with site-readiness and preparation grant totaling $272,364.00 to improve funding helps make that possible.”
“We are so proud to have been award- to attract economic development proj- college retention and graduation rates Nationally, the SSS program has a
ed a $20.7 million grant from the Ohio ects. These funds will be used to support among first-generation and low-income proven track record. According to a rig-
Department of Development through infrastructure projects to increase the students, and students with disabilities. orous 2019 evaluation by the U.S. De-
the All Ohio Future Fund today. These state’s inventory of project-ready eco- This award represents funding for the partment of Education, students in SSS
funds are vital for site preparation and nomic development sites. 2025–2026 academic year. Continued at two-year institutions were 48% more
infrastructure upgrades—specifically Eligible costs include those related funding for future years is contingent likely to earn an associate’s degree or
water and wastewater improvements— to public roadwork, water, wastewater, upon annual congressional appropria- transfer to a four-year school.
for more than 600 acres in Muskingum design and engineering, demolition, tions and program performance. “TRIO programs generally and TRIO
County,” said Melissa Bell. “The incred- wetland mitigation, utility connection “In such a competitive grant cycle, we SSS, in particular, transforms students
ible work by Eric Reed and the Port Au- and other one-time site enhancements. believe Zane State’s application was se- from the least resourced backgrounds
thority ensured that we can help create Eligible applicants include counties, cit- lected for funding because of the qual- into college graduates,” said Kimberly
valuable opportunities for long-term ies, villages, townships, port authorities, ity of the program and our proven track Jones, president of the Council for Op-
economic development for our county. community improvement corporations, record of student success,” said Josh portunity in Education in Washington,
This award will be pivotal for our future, conservancy and park districts or other Eno, Director of TRIO Student Support D.C. “This vital program makes all the
and we are so grateful for the significant similar park authorities, land reutiliza- Services. “We’ve consistently demon- difference for nearly a million students
investment in our area.” tion corporations, transportation im- strated strong retention and graduation each year across the country.”
“We are grateful to the State of Ohio provement districts, nonprofit organiza- outcomes, and our holistic, student-first SSS is one of eight federal TRIO pro-
for recognizing the work of our commu- tions, and organizations for profit willing approach shows measurable impact. Ul- grams funded under the Higher Educa-
nity to create sites that will attract new to develop project-ready sites to improve timately, the work of this program isn’t tion Act of 1965 to remove social, aca-
and substantial employers,” said Eric the economic welfare of the people of just degrees earned, but lives changed.” demic, and cultural barriers to higher
Reed, Executive Director of the Zanes- the State of Ohio. Through individualized services in- education. Since its inception in 1968,
ville Muskingum County Port Authority. cluding academic tutoring, financial aid, SSS has helped millions of low-income,
scholarship guidance, career explora- first-generation students graduate from
Something to make you smile tion, personal and academic counseling, college and contribute to their commu-
and mentoring, TRIO SSS empowers stu-
nities and the economy. Notable alumni
dents to overcome barriers to success. of the nationally recognized TRIO Stu-
shared by Peg Adams These comprehensive supports make it dent Support Services program include
significantly more likely that students Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor of
I have become a little older since I saw like to stay in one place very long, so he will complete their degree or success- Plattsburgh, NY; former NASA astronaut
you last and a few changes have come takes me from joint to joint. After such fully transfer, with the lowest possible José Hernández; and Cheryl Johnson,
into my life since then. Frankly, I have a busy day I’m really tired and glad to go debt. the 36th Clerk of the U.S. House of Rep-
become quite a frivolous old gal. I am to bed with Ben Gay! What a life! “This grant strengthens our ability to resentatives.
seeing five gentlemen everyday. walk alongside students who often face For more information about TRIO Stu-
As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps One more joke will appear the steepest challenges in higher educa- dent Support Services at Zane State Col-
me get out of bed. Then I go to see John: compliments of Peg in the next issue. tion,” said Heather Merry, Chief Student lege, visit zanestate.edu or contact Josh
then Charlie Horse comes along, and Affairs Officer. “It means we can con- Eno at jeno@zanestate.edu.
he takes a lot of my time and attention. tinue offering personalized support that
When he leaves Arthur Ritis shows up helps students persist, graduate, and
and stays the rest of the day. He doesn’t
step into meaningful careers. At Zane