“The evolution of Ohio’s shale boom has moved beyond the rush to lease oil and gas mineral rights into midstream and downstream phases involving the storage, transportation and processing of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids,” according to shaleohio.
While the report covers development in some 40 (mostly eastern) Ohio counties, the investment has had a significant effect in Mahoning, Stark, Monroe, Trumbull, Columbiana and Belmont Counties, and includes adding oil-and-gas-related degree, research and law programs at several schools. Many of the projects cover multiple counties.
In addition to new motels and hotels, railway expansion projects, infusion of capital into local banks, drilling and pipeline building and support facilities, increased retail operations, and thousands of new jobs, the region has also seen the acquisition and upgrade of manufactured home communities, in particular by UMH Properties, Inc., as reported by MHProNews in several posts. Modular and MH retailers are also benefiting from the increase in employment and subsequent housing demand in the Marcellus Shale boom in western Pennsylvania and New York, as well as West Virginia. However, the Ohio portion is believed to be richer in oil, condensate and natural gas liquids, according to wikipedia.
The development and subsequent investment has also entered into the banter of the presidential debates, with Donald Trump telling Ohio Gov. John Kasich that he got “lucky” with rising employment because of the oil shale boom. Kasich agreed Ohio has benefited from the shale but that the state has a diversified economy.
To see the Bricker and Eckler list of developments of well over 100 projects that are impacting eastern Ohio, please click here. ##
(Map credit: wikipedia commons–oil and gas development in the Appalachian Basin)
