HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP – In what has become a summer tradition, Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County members had an opportunity to hear from U.S. Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) during Growth Partnership’s summer membership meeting at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante on Wednesday, Aug. 5
During his remarks, Joyce highlighted Ohio’s assets.
“You have a dedicated workforce, you have access to water – you’re going to see that play out more and more,” Joyce said.
He pointed to the Colorado River, where states are fighting over their portion.
“We’ve got a great housing stock,” Joyce added.
Joyce also spoke about working together with State and County officials to address concerns and make sure that funding – taxpayer dollars – gets back to the local communities to expand and grow.
Last year, Joyce said he was the number one legislator in Ohio to bring money to his district.
He highlighted several projects receiving federal funding this year, including $2 million to the Ashtabula Regional Medical Center to upgrade to a level II Cardiac Cath Lab.
Also receiving funding is $1.5 million to the North Depot Road Safety & Resilience Reconstruction project. The North Depot Road Reconstruction Project will rebuild approximately one mile of North Depot Road between Feeder Road and St. John School to improve roadway safety, reliability, and flood resilience.
He also highlighted $6.2 million going toward Conneaut Harbor Dredging and Navigation Maintenance, and $1.35 million toward Roaming Shores Water Infrastructure Replacement.
Lastly, he highlighted funding going toward the Ashtabula County Public Safety Center (jail) renovation and expansion project.
“Let’s fix the jail once and for all,” Joyce said.
Also speaking at the event was Lake to River Economic Development CEO Dani Robbins.
Lake to River is the regional Jobs Ohio network partner for Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
“We currently have almost $4 billion in pending projects…$1.1 million in potential payroll, and 41 projects. So we are getting things done collectively,” Robbins said.
She said the region and state have just been named number 1 for business, referring to CNBC’s ranking of 2026 America’s Top States for Business.
“A lot of that work is [done] together. It starts at the local level with all of our partners, at the municipal level, at the township level, at the county level, moving up to Growth Partnership and into that network,” Growth Partnership Executive Director Greg Myers said. “All of this takes teamwork, and I’m really excited about the team we have collectively, locally, at the regional level, at the state level. And I think the sky’s the limit for where we get over the next five to 10 years in terms of the opportunities that we seek.”
