Business Opportunities

Business Growth and Potential
The Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation (HCCIC) coordinates economic development activities that have recently become increasingly diversified. One such development is wine production. A winery opened recently in Harrison County, and two others are in the early stages of grape production, with winery operations beginning in the near future. Agriculture is a mainstay in the economy of Harrison County. Its importance is experiencing a resurgence with the availability of reclaimed strip mined land, which provides exceptional hay production and grazing for livestock. That trend, combined with Harrison County's location within 100 miles of more than 8 million people and excellent access to rail and interstate highway systems, has produced considerable interest from livestock producers for farmland in Harrison County.

Major Employers
AEP / Harrison Mining Corp.
Conotton Valley Local Board of Education
Freeport Press
Harrison Community Hospital
Harrison County Government
Harrison Hills City Board of Education
Integrated Health Services
McDonough Corp. / LJ Smith

Natural Resources
Predominant cash crops in Harrison County are oats, hay, corn, soybeans and wheat, which generate more than $2.77 million annually. Harrison County has ample mineral wealth: coal, limestone and sandstone mining as well as petroleum and gas wells. Harrison County ranks second in Ohio for sheep raising.

Business Support Organizations
The Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce cosponsors a class with Belmont Technical College called How to Start a Business as well as sets up worker's compensation for local businesses.

Harrison County Regional Chamber of Commerce
37850 Cadiz-Dennison Road
Cadiz OH 43907
(740) 942-3350

Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation
538 N. Main Street Suite A
Cadiz OH 43907
(740) 942-2027

East Ohio Development Alliance
326 Highland Avenue
Cambridge OH 43725
(740) 432-7902

Educational Opportunities

Belmont Technical College, North Center, is located in Cadiz. It offers two-year degree programs, adult education and special programs, including customized job training in various fields. The main campus is located in St. Clairsville (less than 30 minutes away) and offers specialized programs and degree programs not available at the North Center. Many programs are operated in conjunction with Ohio University-Eastern.

Tourism and Lifestyle

Recreation
In Harrison County, outdoor recreational areas abound with more than 4,200 acres of public lakes, 20,000 acres of public land, and more than 100 miles of public hiking and bicycling trails and routes. Some of these attractions include the Moravian Trail, Harrison State Forest and Sally Buffalo Park. Tappan Lake Park, operated by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, is popular for boating, fishing, swimming and camping. Clendening Lake is the largest designated primitive lake in Ohio. It has excellent fishing opportunities and holds the record in Ohio for flathead catfish. Piedmont Lake holds the record in Ohio for muskellunge and offers excellent angling opportunities to catch many species.

Attractions and Points of Interest

• General George Armstrong Custer's Birthplace in New Rumley is commemorated with a statue and historical markers located in a park dedicated to Custer.
  
• At Ourant School, built in 1873, the highlight of the year takes place in the spring, when each of the second grade classes from the various Harrison Hills elementary schools spend a day as students in this one-room school house.
  
• Skull Fork Bridge in Freeport is the only remaining covered bridge in the county and is within a short walk of what is believed to be the only 16-sided barn in Ohio. Greenfield celebrates its industrial history at the Wheels of Progress Festival each July with displays, tours of historic buildings, crafts, food and entertainment.
  
• The Clark Gable Birthplace in Cadiz has been reconstructed by the Gable Foundation and is operated as a museum containing many Gable memorabilia, including items belonging to Gable's wife, actress Carol Lombard.
  
• The Franklin Museum in New Athens is the grounds of former Franklin College, which was a hotbed of abolitionist sentiment and teaching during the years leading up to the Civil War.
  
• History of Coal Museum in Cadiz provides exhibits explaining in detail the mining processes and the many uses of the coal.
  
• Scio Historical Museum in Scio Village contains collections and memorabilia from the 1889 oil boom, Scio College, Scio Pottery, Scio High School, and Scio American Legion. It also contains pictures and first-edition books on General Custer and various Civil War items.
  

Famous People
Many famous people are native to Harrison County. General George A. Custer was born in New Rumley, in northern Harrison County. The Custer Memorial Association holds several events annually, Custer days in June and a celebration of his birthday. Clark Gable, the Oscar winning film actor, is from Harrison County. Some other famous people from Harrison County are:

• Edwin M.Stanton, U.S. Secretary of War
• George M. Verity, founder of Armco Steel
• John A. Bingham, Statesman/Judge
• Matthew Simpson, the Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church who delivered Lincoln's eulogy

Visitor Information

Convention & Visitors Bureau
Cadiz/Harrison County Visitors Bureau
37860 Cadiz-Dennison Rd.
Cadiz, OH 43907
(740) 942-3350

Airports
The Harrison County Airport, three miles south of Cadiz, is located adjacent to the Harrison County Industrial Park and features a 4,300-foot lighted runway, instrument landing facilities, fuel, repair and other services. Harrison County is close to three major airports: Pittsburgh International (less than a one-hour drive to the east on U.S. 22), Akron-Canton Airport (a one-hour drive to the north on I-77) and Cleveland Hopkins International.

Travel Agents
Harrison County Travel Center
Rt. 3
Freeport, OH 43973

Hospitals
Harrison Community Hospital
951 East Market St.
Cadiz, OH 43907
(740) 942-2944