Sun staff
Clermont County Commissioner Bob Proud will step down as chairman of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission on March 31.
The OVRDC is a public regional planning commission that serves as a regional economic and community development agency, according to the commission’s website. OVRDC coordinates federal, state and local resources to encourage development in Adams, Brown, Clermont, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton Counties.
OVRDC is run by 177 officials that meet semi-annually. Members include representatives of county and local governments, social services, educational organizations, minority community groups and the private sector.
Proud’s move comes as he ends his 28-year tenure as a county commissioner. His term ends on Dec. 31 of this year, and he is not seeking reelection; he is resigning his position to spend more time with his 18-month-old son.
“I decided to step down from my position with the OVRDC early to allow me time to work with the incoming chairman,” Proud explained.
He added, “I absolutely love my job as a county commissioner and have kept that as the main focus for all these years. I plan to retire and be a stay at home dad for our son; that is one of the highest callings.”
Proud will be honored for his 27-year service on the OVRDC, a local district of the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, during the group’s meeting on March 18 at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College. A new chair will be appointed at that meeting.
“It’s going to be hard; there’s no two ways about it,” Proud said. “I love, love being part of the OVRDC; it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done as a commissioner.”
He added. “My wife and son are going to be at the event, and I will have some tissues in my pocket; I won’t be able to get through the event without shedding a few tears.”
Proud was first elected chairman of OVRDC in March 1991; he was re-elected every year since. He attributes his success within the commission to fairness.
“The group has really managed well because of everyone’s ability to work well together,” he said, adding that it’s a matter of give and take.
“It’s a bottom up approach instead of top down,” he said.
Proud worked closely with OVRDC board members on a multitude of projects to promote economic development equally throughout the region, according to a press release.
For example, one county’s representatives will step back from pushing for a project in their county for a year to benefit another county, saying, “you need this more than we do,” Proud said.
He added, “We’ve not had an argument in 25 years.”
More than $4 million has come into Clermont County in federal and state funds under the auspices of the OVRDC since 2005, according to a press release. Projects ranged from $400,042 for the Old state Route 74 Service Road Connector to College Drive in 2006; to $1.04 million for the Loveland downtown redevelopment project and $475,821 for the New Richmond Front Street revitalization, both in 2009; to $504,400 for the UC Clermont College Center for Advanced Manufacturing in 2012.
Since Proud became chairman in 1991, the OVRDC brought more than $130 million in economic development grants into the region, according to a press release.
Some of the largest and more recent projects include the Madison Mills Water Extension Project in Fayette County for $2.4 million, the Gallia County Industrial Park Development for $1.34 million, the Greenfield Rail Line Improvements in Highland County for $2.8 million and The “Point” Industrial Park Development in Lawrence County for $1.8 million.
Pike County Commissioner Blaine Beekman said that Proud has been particularly helpful in bringing infrastructure projects to Pike County, according to a press release.
Beekman worked closely with him when Proud sought to move the headquarters of the OVRDC from Portsmouth to Waverly, according to a press release.
While Proud looks fondly upon his contribution to the OVRDC, it’s the people he said he’ll miss the most.
“It will be hard at the end of my tenure, at the end of my time, to say good-bye to these folks,” he said. “These people are like family to me.”