A New Name, a New Era, and Greater Impact

Over the past few months the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership has worked closely with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce to plan for the Partnership's first annual Shale Shoot Sporting Clay Championship & Utica Conference, which is coming up Nov. 5 and 6 of this year.

Partnership Chairman Dave Kirven has had a number of meetings and conversations with Amy Rutledge, executive director of the Carroll Chamber, and other representatives to determine ways the two organizations can work more closely together to promote the oil and gas industry in the region.

While Stark County has offered its many resources for company relocation, residents moving into the area, and numerous entertainment, dining and shopping options, Carroll County is Northeast Ohio's hub of activity in the Utica Shale; it's where the majority of drilling is actually taking place in our area.

After ongoing discussions dating back to late 2014, the Partnership's name is changing to the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership, to reflect the participation of businesses and organizations that are not only doing business with companies in the region, but are located in those respective counties as well.

More details will be shared in the weeks ahead. Stay in touch with the Partnership via this blog, our website, and our Facebook page. And, if you're not already a member, be sure to join to receive all the benefits of membership, including our bi-weekly "Drill Bits" e-newsletter and more.

Pro Football HOF Village Holds Promise for Region, Building Trades

The news about the Pro Football Hall of Fame and their Hall of Fame Village project just keeps getting bigger, better and more impressive, and promises to deliver a tremendous economic boost to Stark County and the entire region.

As published in ShaleMart magazine

We at the StarkCounty Oil & Gas Partnership are especially excited, because it represents continued diversity to the development of the region. We are already actively involved in the biggest economic windfall to affect the United States in this young century—the expansion and growth of the oil and gas industry. While that is having a positive effect nationwide, the expansion of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have a significant impact close to home, and is clearly deserving of our support.

David Baker, president and CEO of the Hall, began sharing the potential for the project more than a year ago in speeches and presentations to chambers of commerce and other business groups in Stark County. When he and others involved in the Hall of Fame Village announced the details at a press conference in May, the full scope of the $476 million project became known. It will be exciting to watch the village become a reality in the months and years ahead.

One of the reasons we’re so excited is that the Hall of Fame has a track record of using local contractors and local Building Trades craftsmen, and our area Building Trades are actively involved with the oil and gas industry. Dave Kirven, chairman of the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, is also president of the East Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council.

“We’ve been in discussions with Dave Baker and others at the Hall of Fame with the goal of securing a commitment to the hiring of local Building Trades craftsmen for the Village project,” Kirven said.

Kirven attended the press conference at which the Hall of Fame Village details were announced, and drew applause from the audience when he assured Baker that the project would “be ready for you when you bring the NFL Draft here in 2019.”

Stuart Lichter, president of the company that is developing the village, assured those in attendance that they would utilize local labor as much as possible.

That’s good news for Stark County. The Partnership applauds the Pro Football Hall of Fame for its commitment to our region, and to the local workers who are helping to build it.

This article was originally submitted for publication in ShaleMart's print and online editions.

Our Marketing Partners Are Here to Serve Our Members and the Oil and Gas Industry

As published in ShaleMart magazine

As the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership continues to be an advocate for bringing jobs, residents and opportunity to Stark County and the surrounding region, we are striving to provide additional services to our members and to the community.

On our website (www.choosestark.com), we list the many advantages of being a member of the Partnership, including a number of benefits that we’ve added in 2015. One of those advantages is the access we can provide to our strategic marketing partners. We’d like to introduce those partners to you in this article.

Creative Source, based in Canton, is a leading supplier of signs, displays and printing. Co-owners Mike Boyd and Dave Hess founded the company almost 20 years ago and have gained a reputation for outstanding service. They’re fast and easy to work with. Contact them at (330) 497-5556 or online at www.csforideas.com.

Delamater Media Group, based in North Canton, provides advertising and public relations in Canton and the surrounding region for a fraction of the cost you’d encounter at a traditional agency. DMG handles the public relations, website, Facebook page and e-newsletter distribution for the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership. Contact Tom Delamater at (330) 437-5975 or online at www.delamatermediagroup.com.

Ponder Systems Media and Marketing is a video production company that has produced programs for PBS affiliates, network affiliates, cable systems and corporate clients. It is owned and operated by Ron Ponder, who is host of a popular weekday morning show on WHBC radio in Canton. Ron can be reached at (330) 705-6730.

Studio 7 Photography is a commercial photography company in Canton. Owner Shawn Wood blends a masterful eye with a flawless technique to bring ideas to life. Shawn has photographed many of the key events for the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership. You can reach him at (330) 224-0641 or online at www.studio7photography.com.

We also want to acknowledge ShaleMart.com for collaborating with us to promote the Partnership and our many events. In fact, members in the Partnership will now qualify for promotional opportunities with ShaleMart.com in its print and online publications.

We hope you will consider the many advantages of being a member of the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, and we encourage you to patronize our strategic marketing partners for all of your promotional needs.

This article was originally submitted for ShaleMart's print and online editions.

The 'Shale Shoot' Makes Its Debut in November

The Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership will debut a brand-new event in November, and it's already drawing the attention of sporting clay enthusiasts in Northeast Ohio.

The first annual Shale Shoot Sporting Clay Championship & Utica Conference will take place in Carrollton on Thursday Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6. Final details are still being set, but it will kick off with the Shale Shoot event (dinner included) at Upland Sporting Clays on Thursday, followed by a Utica Conference at Atwood Lake on Friday.

The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce will co-sponsor the event. For more information or to sign up to receive updates via email, click this link: Shale Shoot 2015.

Ohio Valley Expo: Dave Kirven, chairman of the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, attended the Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Expo, April 28 and 29 at the James E. Carnes Center in St. Clairsville.

The two-day expo included a network reception, one-day vendor displays, trade professionals and speakers from the oil and gas industry.

Dave also spent time distributing literature about membership in the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, the upcoming Supply-Demand-Price Expo in Canton on March 13, and the Shale Shoot in Carrollton Nov. 5 and 6.

Keep an eye on the Partnership's website at www.choosestark.com for updated details on future events.

Alliances with Area Chambers of Commerce Benefits Partnership, Oil and Gas Industry

As published in ShaleMart magazine

The Stark County Oil and Gas Partnership is an alliance between local governments, chambers of commerce, labor, education, development groups and employment organizations, formed to promote a complete understanding of the oil and gas industry, promote oil and gas extraction efforts that are environmentally responsible and encourage the use of Stark County residents and businesses in the development, extraction and processing of oil and natural gas.

To accomplish its objectives, the Partnership works closely with area chambers of commerce and economic development organizations to help promote the region and raise awareness about the importance of the oil and gas industry to the Stark County economy. Included among those partners are the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has actively promoted the oil and gas industry and its impact on Canton since 2012. In addition to working with the Partnership to help promote the region, the Canton Chamber offers a series of seminars and conferences “designed to help businesses find their opportunities in oil and gas economy,” according to David Kaminski, the chamber’s vice president for public policy and energy.

The Canton Regional Chamber maintains a website at www.cantonchamber.org.

Meanwhile, the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce (www.northcantonchamber.org) emphasizes the benefits of living and doing business in its community. They’ve developed a special website that focuses specifically on those benefits, www.liverightherenorthcanton.com.

“We have excellent city services, a low income tax rate, and no traffic congestion,” said Doug Lane, president of the North Canton Chamber. He points to the development of the Hoover District, located in the former headquarters building of the Hoover Company, as one of the citys many locations that offer low-cost office space.

Lane also promotes the fact that parking is free throughout the city, along with the convenience of immediate access to both Interstate 77 and the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. Walsh University is located in the city, and four other institutions of higher learning—Kent State University at Stark, Malone University, the University of Mount Union, and Stark State College—are located nearby.

The Stark County Oil and Gas Partnership is proud to work with these and other area chambers to help promote the advantages of living and doing business in Stark County.

This article was originally submitted for publication in ShaleMart's print and online editions.

Stark County Oil and Gas Partnership Promotes Understanding of the Industry, Economic Growth

True to its name, the Stark County Oil and Gas Partnership has become a leading voice promoting the economic impact of the oil and gas industry on the region.

According to Chairman Dave Kirven, the organization’s purpose is three-fold: to promote a understanding of the oil and gas industry; to promote oil and gas extraction efforts that are environmentally responsible; and to encourage the use of Stark County residents and businesses in the development, extraction and processing of oil and natural gas.

As published in ShaleMart magazine

The partnership describes itself as an alliance between local governments, chambers of commerce, labor, education, development groups and employment organizations.

“We believe Stark County is the ideal place for companies involved in the oil and gas industry, and their employees, to locate, live, work and shop,” said Kirven. “Our activities are focused on making that a reality as the fracking boom continues in Northeast Ohio and throughout the state.”

The partnership seeks to assist companies as they move into Stark County by directing them to local services, organizations and businesses that can make their move as seamless as possible.

Stark County boasts major interstate highways, access to rail, a neighboring airport, an abundant supply of water, and major metropolitan areas that offer outstanding residential, dining and shopping opportunities. Those factors and more make Stark County the ideal location for any business.

The partnership also points to Stark’s educated and skilled workforce, as well as the training provided through local colleges, the local building trades, and local employment organizations, as an added benefit to attracting businesses involved in the oil and gas industry.

Each year the partnership sponsors several events and seminars designed to inform and educate the community about the safety and effectiveness of fracking, and to bring together business and civic leaders in a networking environment.

“The Utica shale play continues to become a larger piece of the nation’s energy pie, and Ohio has benefitted immensely from the safe fracking practices that are in place,” said Kirven. “Stark County is experiencing an ongoing influx of oil and gas companies and their support industries, and we will continue to encourage those companies to ‘Choose Stark’ when deciding where to locate in Northeast Ohio.”

Stark County Economic Benefits: A Roundup of Ongoing Developments

Positive news keeps springing up everywhere, as jobs and dollars continue to flow into Stark County thanks to Ohio's key role in the oil and gas industry.

Jackie Stewart reports in the Energy in Depth Blog that "the unemployment rate in shale counties has fallen at a staggering rate," citing a recent report from Crain's Cleveland Business indicating that there will be more jobs for people in Northeast Ohio over the next decade.

Indeed, the report in Crain's indicates that "the oil and gas fields of the eastern and southern parts of the region will boost the regional economy beyond what can be forecast today."

Positive developments in our region had previously been highlighted in a Crain's article about the growing need for commercial buildings and properties thanks to the rapid growth of the shale industry. The article cited the efforts of Stark County's Bryce Custer, of NAI Spring in Canton, who focuses his efforts as a real estate adviser on servicing clients who come to the region to work in the Utica shale.

The article quotes Custer as estimating that his firm has done "in excess of $45 million in oil and gas business" over the past two years. The really enouraging news? The trend, according to Custer, is "business and industrial, followed by retail, followed by housing." In other words, economic development affecting all aspects of the economy.

And there's no end in site, as a report in Ohio Gas & Oil magazine indicated. The article quotes Mike Chadsey of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association as telling the Cambridge Rotary Club that "petroleum experts predict 1,000 wells per year will be drilled" in the Utica Shale "for the next 20 years."

A thousand wells per year. For 20 years.

Buckle up, because the forecast says we're in for a long ride -- one that promises to transform Stark County and all of Northeast Ohio.

More Progress in 2014, and the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership is Leading the Way

Fracking in Ohio | Stark County Oil & Gas

It was another banner year for shale development in Ohio in 2014, and the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership led the way in promoting its economic benefits for Stark and the surrounding region.

It began in January when we hosted a special “State of the Utica” event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Speakers emphasized the county’s infrastructure, including the finest schools and hospitals in the region, along with optimum industrial, office and retail opportunities. Rapid development in the housing industry was highlighted, including the construction of six new hotels in the county, along with the remodeling of the Holiday Inn Belden Village.

The Partnership’s Dave Kirven was a panelist at the “Energize Canton” event in June, also at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The event had a specific focus on opportunities for women and minorities in the oil and gas industry, and highlighted its continuing impact on Ohio.

Also in June, we hosted our second annual golf outing at Shady Hollow Country Club in Massillon. The outing provides an excellent opportunity for business and civic leaders to network in a relaxed setting, while also hearing from speakers about the progress of shale drilling and exploration in the state.

Finally, we hosted the “Pipeline 101” event in November at Tozzi’s on 12^th in Canton. Speakers highlighted the many ways that the oil and gas industry, and the pipelines that support it, are helping to drive economic growth in Ohio, Michigan and the surrounding region.

At a time when the governor of New York has issued a ban on fracking in that state—even as its benefits to neighboring Pennsylvania continue to bolster that state’s economy, just as it is doing here in Ohio—we at the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership remain committed to promoting its safety and overall benefits to our community and our state. We look forward to continued growth and progress in 2015!

Pipeline 101 Event Highlights Ongoing Development in Stark County and Ohio

The oil and gas industry, and the pipelines that serve it, represent the backbone for growth in Ohio, Michigan and the surrounding region.

That was the message heard at Pipeline 101, the latest  event sponsored by the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, which took place on Nov. 19 at Tozzi’s on 12th  in Canton.

Mike Chadsey of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association opened the evening by explaining how existing and proposed pipelines will affect the overall Utica Shale play, 

Peter Lidiak, pipeline director for the American Petroleum Institute, gave an overview of pipelines in the U.S. He explained that 50 percent of pipeline in the ground was installed before the 1950s, and that the rest were installed primarily from 1970 to 2000.

Today, Lidiak said, the industry has responded to safety considerations learned from past technology to use higher strength materials, better welding practices and better construction methods.

Dylan Borchers, and attorney with Bricker & Eckler Attorneys at Law, discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s regulation issues, along with the process for siting pipelines for the FERC and the State of Ohio.

Finally, Arthur Diestel of Spectra Energy gave  a positive overview of the Nexus Pipeline that will be running through northern Stark County. He said the primary focus of the project is to deliver natural gas for power generation, industrial growth, and local distribution to consumers, citing the fact that the gas delivered by the pipeline would be enough to heat 8 million homes per year.

Doug Lane, a board member of the Partnership and chair of the Stark County Chamber Association, moderated the event. Refreshments were provided and a networking hour concluded the evening.

Pipeline 101: Separate Fact from Fiction at Partnership Event on Nov. 11

As U.S. oil imports rise and gasoline prices drop, there's an increasing amount of information in the news and on the Web about oil and gas in Ohio and the country, as well as horizontal drilling, and, of course, pipelines.

So what are we supposed to believe? Find out for yourself on Wednesday, Nov. 11, when the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership presents "Pipeline 101," a seminar featuring several representatives from the oil and gas industry.

Speakers will include Mike Chadsey of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, Peter Lidiak of the American Petroleum Institute, Dylan Borchers of Bricker & Eckler, Attorneys at Law, and Arthur Diestel of Spectra Energy. Doug Lane, chair of the Stark County Chamber Association and president of the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, will emcee.

The event will take place Nov. 11 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Tozzi's on 12th. Admission is free and hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine will be available. Registration is requested for planning purposes.

Sponsorships are $200 and include a display table at the event.

For more information or to register, visit www.choosestark.com.

Education Attainment Rates, Local Training Initiatives Point to Promising Economic Future for Stark County

Recent data cited by the Stark Education Partnership indicates that education attainment levels among Canton adults ages 18 to 24 exceed both the state and national averages.

According to the data, released by the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 60 percent of Canton residents in that age group have taken post-secondary classes or gone on to earn a degree, a figure higher than the state (55.3%) and national (54.7%) averages.

A recent report by the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington D.C. think tank, emphasized the importance of education to a local economy: "Overwhelmingly, high-wage states are states with a well-educated workforce. There is a clear and strong correlation between the educational attainment of a state's workforce and median wages in the state."

This news comes on the heels of the announcement in August by Stark State College to establish a natural gas and oil drilling training center as part of a satellite academic center in Downtown Canton. This direct partnership between a local college and the energy industry will better prepare skilled laborers for workforce.

The Stark Education Partnership collaborates with educators, businesses, and civic and community leaders to foster sustainable improvement in schools throughout the county. Furthermore, Stark County is well-positioned to remain competitive in the years ahead, with four-year universities such as Kent State Stark, Malone, Mount Union and Walsh, as well as the education available in technology and the trades at Stark State, one of Ohio's premier community and technical colleges.

Ohio at the Center of USA's Surge to World Energy Dominance

“The volume just keeps going up and up.”

That sentence highlighted a report on the Crain’s ClevelandBusiness website that outlined how oil and gas producing states outside of Texas and Oklahoma are driving the surge in U.S. production.

“The Marcellus and Utica shale plays continue to become a larger slice of the nation’s energy pie,” said the report, which points out that the progress in the region is beginning to dwarf that of other oil-producing regions in the country.

A separate report at CantonRep.com indicated that the Utica Shale had surpassed the 1,000-well mark for wells listed as drilled, drilling or producing.

Those encouraging reports were followed by data from theEnergy Information Administration  indicating that in April the U.S. produced 2 million more barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids than Saudi Arabia, “the largest difference ever recorded between the two nations.” The report went on to state that such an “energy miracle has been made possible by the shale oil and gas booms” in states around the country.

As the article on the Motley Fool website points out: “People who think America’s oil boom will prove to be short lived fail to realize that the United States has some of the largest shale formations in the world.”

The article points out that the shift in energy dominance from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to the U.S. continues, offering “more stable energy prices, scores of new high-quality jobs, and increased world stability.”

Stark County and the surrounding region are playing an important role in that shift, and stand to benefit for years to come from the oil and gas exploration and drilling taking place in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays.

How One Foundation Works to Reverse the Once-Supportive Position of Environmental Groups on Natural Gas Exploration

It’s remarkable to think that just a few years ago leading environmental groups were heralding natural gas as the key to a “climate-friendly energy supply.”

In fact, that phrase is taken from a statement by Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, in a 2008 speech. For at least a decade before that, green activists were hailing natural gas as being “inherently cleaner than coal or oil.”

But the rhetoric suddenly began to change a few years ago, and, according to one leading philanthropic publication, it’s traceable to an anti-fracking opposition campaign being funded by the Park Foundation, a small organization based in New York.

“Gas Heat,” an article published in Philanthropy Roundtable, concluded that “The morphing of natural gas from promising next step to ‘worse than oil and coal,’ as some activists now claim, happened almost overnight.”

The report tells the astonishing account of how the Park Foundation “uses focused academic, media and activist grants to redirect a policy debate.” (The foundation's website says that Park "supports public interest media that raises awareness of critical environmental, political and social issues to promote a better informed citizenry in the U.S.")

"Gas Heat" is a remarkable story, worth reading to understand the Park Foundation's one-sided tactics. Click here to read it on the Philanthropy Roundtable website.

2014 Golf Outing Set for June 19

The second annual Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership Golf Outing is set for Monday, June 16 at Shady Hollow Country Club in Massillon.

The event sold out last year and we're on course to do the same this year as well. Cost is $500 for a foursome, $125 for an individual, and $35 if you'd like to join us only for the steak dinner afterward. Players in the event will receive a complimentary lunch at the turn. As we did last year, we'll also have a putting contest as part of the event.

Our speaker at the dinner will be State Sen. Scott Oelslager, who will give us an update on the Utica Shale.

Sponsorships are also available. For information on sponsoring or playing in the event, email us at rsvp@choosestark.com or call us at 330-451-6207. To pay on line or to download the registration/sponsorship flier, click on this link: 2014 Golf Outing Registration.

Oil & Gas Activity Helps Drive Stark County Hotel Boom

The continued progress on the hotels being built in Stark County has been a hot topic for more than a year now. Last fall we wrote of six hotels being built (5) or renovated (1) in the region.

Springhill Suites (Courtesy Canton-Stark County CVB)

Would you believe seven? That's right, another one was added to the mix when Embassy Suites announced plans to build a new hotel at the Shuffel Road exit off of I-77 at the northern edge of Stark County.

Recent updates in The Repository and from the Canton Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau provided more details of the hotel construction boom, which is being fueled in large part by the oil & gas activity in Northeast Ohio.

Progress continues on the Springhill Suites by Marriott (set to open in June), the Hyatt Place, and the Staybridge Suites, all in the Belden Village area, along with the Fairfield Inn at the intersection of I-77 and Faircrest on Canton's south side, and the new Comfort Inn in Hartville (that community's first major hotel chain property). In addition, the major renovation of the Holiday Inn in Belden Village continues, with a projected completion set for early 2015.

These properties will not only be supported by the oil and gas industry, but also by tourism in the region (especially for the Pro Football Hall of Fame annual activities), airport traffic at CAK, and travelers to the flea market and other activities in Hartville.

Click on the links to read more from The Repository or the Canton Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Ohio's Gas and Oil Output 'Should Get People's Attention'

That's what Peter MacKenzie of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association said on March 6 about the numbers released by the organization during its 67th winter meeting in Columbus.

As reported in the Akron Beacon Journal, the data shared at the winter meeting showed that oil production nearly doubled over the past year, and natural gas production rose 2-1/2 times higher.

The data "should get people's attention," the story quoted MacKenzie as saying. "It sure got my attention."

In all, Mackenzie said, oil production in Ohio rose from slightly less than 5 million barrels in 2012 to more than 9.7 million barrels in 2013. Natural gas production increased even more dramatically, from 83 million cubic feet to more than 203 million cubic feet in a year's time.

The OOGA is a close working partner of the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership. Their annual Winter Meeting brings together industry leaders from Ohio and across the nation to share news about the state of the oil and gas industry, through business sessions and a trade show. About 80 vendors participated in this year's trade show during the meeting.

More Good News On the Way for Stark County's Economy, Research Reveals

Sales receipts in Stark and surrounding counties were boosted by shale activity in 2013, reflective of a massive $8 billion investment spree taking place in Ohio due to the Utica Shale play.

(hivelocitymedia.com photo)

Edward (Ned) Hill, dean of the Maxine College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, recently led a webinar on the status ofthe Utica shale’s development. He indicated that more gains are anticipated as a result of drilling in the state.

Hill (pictured) also had good news for Stark County in his department’s most recent edition of the Ohio Utica Shale Gas Monitor, dated January 10. CSU includes Stark among the moderate shale counties at this point, along with Mahoning, Portage, Trumbull and Tuscarawas counties.

The report said that sales receipts through August 2013 in those counties increased by 10.7% over the second quarter of 2012. “Increased sales reflect spending by land and mineral rights owners as well as spending of out-of-state workers because hotel and lodging bills are subject to the sales and use tax in Ohio, as are restaurant meals,” it concluded.

The report indicated that the larger metropolitan areas of Akron-Canton and Youngstown-Warren are benefiting because they have a stronger retailing presence than the counties that are currently the center of the most drilling activity.

This is what the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership has been promoting as we continue to point out why Stark County is a great place to live and establish a business presence.

Click here to read the CSU report: Ohio Utica Shale GasMonitor – Jan. 10, 2014

Great Turnout at 'State of the Utica' Event

More than 100 people representing area businesses, unions and associations joined the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership on Jan. 13 for our 2014 kickoff event.

The event, billed as the "State of the Utica," took place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. A series of speakers presented updates about oil and gas developments in the region, as well as information about drug testing, health care reform and environmental issues.

Mike Chadsey of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association highlighted the industry's latest accomplishments and developments in the state, and offered insight about developments on the horizon for 2014.

Hors d'ouvres and beverages were available compliments of the partnership and key sponsors AultCare, Aultworks, AXA Advisors and the East Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.

For local newspaper coverage, go to: Discussion highlights developments in the Utica Shale.

For complete photo coverage, go to: State of the Utica Event.

Ohio's Shale Boom Getting Closer

Only a fraction of Ohio's horizontal drilling wells are producing to this point, meaning the state's shale boom is still on the horizon.

That was the highlight of one of the presentation's at this year's Ohio Oil & Gas Expo at the IX Center in Cleveland. Dave Kirven and Brodie Haer represented the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership at the expo.

According to Peter MacKenzie of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, most of the wells are waiting for pipelines and other facilities to be completed. MacKenzie's comments were included in an article published on Cleveland.com.

More than 200 exhibitors and 1,500 people attended the expo. Complete coverage can be found here: Ohio shale gas boom closer than many realize.

Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership Website Updated

The website for the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership has been updated and redesigned as 2014 approaches.

Many of the former elements of the site were retained, and a number of new features were added to make the user's experience simpler. They include larger photo galleries, a more concise and easy-to-navigate member directory, and a calendar feature. The home page layout was adjusted to help users see site content at a glance.

Site design was completed by Delamater Media Group, a North Canton public relations, social media and communications company. DMG also handles blogging and social media for the partnership.

The website can be viewed at www.choosestark.com.