2003 was a productive year for the Greater Portsmouth Enterprise Community (GPEC). Our EC benchmark projects continue to yield positive results. Each active project has secured sustainable funding and our provider partners are making considerable progress toward stated goals. Combined new funding and other support applied to strategic plan activities totaled $1,926,184. Private investment commitments resulting directly from EC activities will exceed $177,000,000 over the next two years. The EC partners continue to seek new sources of support for existing projects and new activities. Funding requests pending as of 12/31/03 total $1,822,400.
No new benchmarks became active during 2003. However, two major projects began in the past year were incorporated into the strategic plan at the GPEC board meeting of January 28, 2004. These projects, a Visitors Welcome Center in Portsmouth to promote tourism and construction of a new Wal-Mart Super Center in New Boston, will greatly enhance job opportunities within the EC. Benchmarks #32, #41, #43 and #44 were revised to accommodate additional funding and/or expanded services.

Benchmarks #32 and #42 were de-activated at the January 28, 2004 meeting of the GPEC board as positive terminations. Each of the projects successfully completed all tasks and met stated objectives during 2003.

Activities and services described in inactive benchmarks #4-#8-#9-#11-#13 remain as integral components of broader based, countywide programs.

The Brownfields Initiative at the abandoned steel mill site in New Boston continues to expand. The Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) began applying $3,000,000 of “Clean Ohio” funds and other resources to remediate an additional thirty-seven acres to meet Ohio and US EPA standards for commercial usage. This action and the resulting agreement for construction of the Wal-Mart Superstore on the site are described below in the “significant accomplishments” section of this narrative.

Support for local entrepreneurs was maintained by the Southern Ohio Growth Partnership (SOGP) and the Portsmouth Inner City Development Corporation (PIDC). These EC partners have provided loan support to a total of seven new or existing businesses during the past year. SOGP is also the lead agency in development of the new Welcome Center.

Access to health services has increased dramatically in terms of funding, services provided and number of the patients served. Both the CAO Primary Health Clinic and the CAO Center for Dental Wellness have expanded with support of new funding sources.

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