AEP program names grant recipients

COLUMBUS — AEP Ohio has issued about $160,000 in economic-development grants in 2017, part of the Columbusbased utility’s effort to help local workforce-development agencies and companies looking to expand.

The grants are part of AEP’s Local Economic Assistance Program, which was started in 2005. These are some of the grant recipients for 2017:

Athens County Economic Development Council, which will establish redevelopment districts.

Crawford County Economic Development Partnership, which will add to the financing of a job program for high-school juniors.

City of Gahanna, which will offset some of the costs of developing an office park.

Grow Licking County, whose project involves drone photography and tourism.

Area Development Foundation of Knox County, which will use the money as part of its economic-development plan.

City of New Albany, which is doing a study related to central Ohio’s Smart Cities initiative.

Pickaway Progress Partnership, which is working on an economic-development plan.

Wyandot County Economic Development, which is helping to pay for a workforcedevelopment plan.

Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, which is spending the money on marketing local sites.