Brooke EDA hears of trail efforts, contest
FOLLANSBEE — The Brooke County Economic Development Authority discussed efforts to encourage new businesses and tourism while also learning about two Follansbee establishments Wednesday.
David Klick, chairman of last year’s Entrepreneurial Pitch, said the event will return this summer to offer several prospective and new business owners an opportunity to win cash prizes for their ideas for a new business or expansion.
Klick said as with the first event held last year, a panel of judges will be recruited to select the winning concepts in a format similar to television’s “Shark Tank.”
Last year’s winners included the Family Roots Farm of Wellsburg, which won $2,500 for equipment used to refine maple sap into syrup and sugar for an assortment of products; and Fusion Fitness of Wellsburg, which won $1,000 for special stationary bikes needed to add spinning to the fitness studio.
Noting heavy rain fell but didn’t halt last year’s event, which was held at Wellsburg’s Central Park, Klick said this year’s contest will be held indoors.
Anthony “Yaggy” Tacozza of the Brooke County Pioneer Trail Association told the group of efforts to extend a recreational trail through Follansbee and Weirton. He said just 7 miles of trail are needed in Brooke County to form a 400-mile trail extending from the Wheeling Heritage Trail to Washington, D.C.
The trail would include the Brooke County Pioneer Trail in Beech Bottom, Yankee Trail in Wellsburg and Panhandle Trail in the east end of Weirton and Colliers.
Tacozza said the group is looking at various options, including creating a bike path with markings on streets.
“There are challenges to establishing trails in Follansbee and Weirton, but it can be done,’ he said.
Gathered at the Brooke County Senior Center, the group heard from Laura Beckelhimer, its director, who discussed it and other services offered through the Brooke County Committee on Aging.
She said last year the center provided 22,820 meals at the center and four other nutrition sites and delivered 32,370 meals to shut-ins as well as providing thousand of hours of in-home services, such as personal care and light housekeeping, to seniors.
Beckelhimer said plans to use a former restaurant, adjacent to the center and donated by its owner, as a kitchen for the nutrition program have been delayed since both it and the center were flooded in August.
She said the committee is pursuing repairs to the building, particularly its floor, and funds for additional equipment needed for the kitchen.
Currently a former Wellsburg bakery is used to prepare the food.
Beckelhimer said state monies are a major source of funding for the center and expressed concern about a proposal to cut senior services statewide, from $90 million to $26 million.
Some have suggested it and similar proposals are intended to encourage lawmakers to raise taxes and other revenue to address an estimated $500 million deficit.
EDA members and guests also took a walk down the street to visit the Winemaker’s Loft and Gift Shoppe, where owner Derek Sliday offered samples of wine and appetizers.
In 2011 Sliday took over the shop, which also offers various supplies used for wine- and beermaking, from his grandfather, Chuck Rangos, after working beside him as a boy.
Like his grandfather, Sliday enjoys fielding questions about the hobbies and has encouraged interest in them through two clubs, the Tri-State Winemakers and the Homebrewers of Ohio Valley Club House, also known as H.O.O.C.H.
The board also heard from Tara and Carmen Liggett of Heaven Sent Farms of Avella, which offers all natural grass fed beef in a variety of cuts.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)
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