Answers to what people ask us most. Not here? Call 740-695-9678.
What is the CIC?
The Community Improvement Corporation of Belmont County is a 501c4 non-profit started in 1962 by local business people to improve life in Belmont County through economic development.
I want to start a business. Where do I begin?
Call us. We will talk through your idea and your situation and suggest next steps. Often we set up an appointment with our colleague at the Small Business Development Center.
I already run a business. Can you help?
Yes. We are happy to visit you at your business, talk about what works and what is hard, and refer you to resources that may save you money or make you money. For a specific challenge we can bring partners to you.
Does Belmont County have zoning?
The county has no zoning regulations. Each city and village sets its own. Building outside town limits needs plans approved by the Planning Commission. See Zoning & Planning for each town’s contact.
What is a Vision Plan?
A plan for a village built from community surveys, market studies and brownfield inventories, ending in ideas and drawings the village can use to apply for grants. We have completed them with the villages of Bellaire, Shadyside, Powhatan Point, and Barnesville.
What is a brownfield?
According to the US EPA, “A brownfield is a property where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.” We frequently assist with assessments and other aspects of a brownfield, so these properties can be used again.
What is Create Our Future?
A separate 501c3 non-profit. We collaborate with them often, implementing projects, including the county-wide youth essay contest and the Ohio Valley Trail Committee. See createourfuture.net. Create Our Future serves the Appalachian counties of Ohio.