T-L Photos/GAGE VOTA Ohio Southeast Economic Development manager of engagement and partnerships Amber Kohler informs the Belmont County Board of Commissioners that she is always just a phone call away as Belmont County Port Authority director Larry Merry sits to her left.

Ohio Southeast Economic Development project Manager Marisa Vetula says that she is glad to be working in Belmont County since she has been a life long resident of the county.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Port Authority director Larry Merry introduced the two newest employees of the Southeast Economic Development to the Belmont County Board of Commissioners during its Wednesday morning meeting.

Merry said that Project Manager Marisa Vetula and Manager of Engagement and Partnership Amber Kohler are no strangers to working in Belmont County.

Vetula is a Union Local graduate and Kohler previously served as Deputy District Director for Congressman Mike Rulli, representing Ohio’s 6th Congressional District across 11 counties.

Merry said that he believes the addition of both Kohler and Vetula will take the agency to new heights.

The agency focuses on business retention and expansion, attraction, site selection and development services, stakeholder relations, and research support within Ohio.

According to its website, it is the primary resource for companies looking to relocate or grow in the 25-county area it covers.

Kohler told the board that she would be the government affairs contact for Ohio Southeast Economic Development, throughout the 12 counties she serves.

“Here in Belmont County,you know most of my past and know my best attribute is probably the relationships that I’ve built over the years,” she said. “I hope that I can use those in Ohio Southeast to bring more jobs and economic development here in Belmont County.”

She added that she is available 24/7 for anything the board may need and is just a phone call away.

Vetula said that she believes that she is very fortunate to be working in her home county.

“Belmont County is where I grew up. [Commissioner] JP [Dutton] and I went to Union Local together, and I get to work on efforts helping companies expand and create jobs,” she said. “As a project manager, I’m a conduit to jobs Ohio programs and grant funding for these companies that are adding equipment, adding building space, and creating jobs.”

Vetula added that she prides herself on the relationships that she’s built while working for Ohio Southeast.

“If I can’t help a company with Jobs Ohio funding, I think I’ve built up enough relationships and networking that I can help them in other ways,” she said. “Anytime you have a company that inquires about extension, whether I can help them or not, call me.”

Vetula added that, like Kohler, she is always happy to have a conversation and see what she can do to help businesses, particularly in Belmont County.

Kohler then asked the board if there are any businesses or events that the commissioners think Ohio Southeast might be able to help.

“Please open that door for us. We’re happy to visit businesses, I attend about any event that’s thrown my way. So please, keep them coming. We look forward to doing everything we can,” she said.

Dutton replied that he absolutely will and believes Ohio Southeast has been a vital tool for Belmont County.

“Ohio Southeast is our immediate partner that we work on for economic development as it pertains to the State of Ohio and Jobs Ohio as well,” Dutton said. “We honestly, in a lot of ways, work almost hand in glove with Ohio Southeast.”

He added that Ohio Southeast has had tremendous growth within the past few years which he accredits to the team that the organization has built in terms of its employees.

“Marissa [Vetula] has a special reason to be an advocate for Belmont County beyond just her job. And Amber [Kohler] might as well be an honorary Belmont County resident at this point,” Dutton said. “Ohio Southeast is just a great economic development team that has been building here in southeastern Ohio.”

He added that Ohio Southeast and Jobs Ohio is positioned in Belmont County to make sure that the county is always trying to get as many projects as possible.

Merry then said that he is convinced that the addition of Kohler and Vetula is going to take Ohio Southeast to new levels.

“Ohio Southeast, Jobs Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Development combine the cooperation and the creativity in trying to help businesses and help communities to get the necessary things so that economic development can happen,” Merry said. “I get real excited when elected officials say that they’re going to create jobs. Elected officials should not create jobs, because that’s just more on the back to the taxpayer. What you need to do is create an environment where the private sector can create jobs.”

He said that he believes jobs need to be created by the private sector but will sometimes need help from local elected officials.