Economic Development News from Guernsey County

The Cambridge-Guernsey Community Improvement Corporation was created in 1965 to serve as the local economic development office in Guernsey County. The Port Authority was added in 2000 to support the CIC's economic development and community improvement mission. We are excited to share updates and let you know about upcoming events. Please share our newsletter with others. Also, be sure to like and follow our social media pages.

The Guernsey County Commissioners in November approved an update to the county's comprehensive strategic plan. The Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service supported the plan update in cooperation with the Guernsey County Planning Commission.

"We, the Center for Economic Development and Community Resilience at Ohio University’s Voinovich School, helped facilitate this plan through data analysis and engagement with stakeholders and the community to ensure that this plan meets the needs and desires of Guernsey County while gaining community support. The planning process is so important as there are so many things a local community can focus on at once. This plan will help narrow the scope of focus so that two areas can be targeted rather than spreading resources too thinly.”

The plan's two priority areas are Youth Attraction and Retention and Housing Development. Task forces worked to help craft strategies for both priorities and will continue to work to implement the plan. Click here for a copy of the document.

The Guernsey County Foundation, an affiliate foundation of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, is providing an $8,000 grant to support an effort to attract and retain young people in the community. The Cambridge-Guernsey Community Improvement Corporation (CGCIC) received the grant to implement the strategy included in the updated county comprehensive strategic plan.

"We are grateful to the Foundation for its support of this important initiative," said Bill Arnett, Executive Director, CGCIC. "Many counties in our region are struggling to retain and attract young people, and this grant will help us get to work on this issue," he added.

Youth Attraction and Retention was one of two priorities established during the 18-month comprehensive strategic planning process. The CGCIC will lead the initiative.

In addition to funding from The Guernsey County Foundation, the McManus Shepard Fund and Peoples Bank Foundation provided grants to help launch the initiative, which will begin in early 2026.