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Columbiana Co. extends funding to jobs program
By D.A. WILKINSON
LISBON
Columbiana County officials have agreed to extend funding into next year for a program that matches people with jobs.
Eileen Dray-Bardon, the executive director of the county Department of Job and Family Services, said Wednesday that she has $300,000 in discretionary funds for programming.
Some $155,407 of those funds are available to keep eight people at jobs that would not have been created without the discretionary funds.
Larry Kosiba, the executive director of the nonprofit Salem Area Industrial Development Corporation, said the program matches workers with jobs.
The 13 jobs have been created in communities ranging from Rogers to Winona.
One of the jobs he helped retain was that of a Salem fireman who had been laid off but was able to return to work because of the federal funds. The funds were from the Business Employment Assistance Program.
Those who are employed are paid from $10 to $20 an hour.
Without the program, “They would otherwise be unemployed,” Kosiba said.
The deadline to use the money was Oct. 1. The new deadline is March 31, 2011.
Jock Buta, executive vice president of Butech Bliss who is involved in Salem’s economic development, thanked Dray-Bardon and the commissioners for the extension.