Lt. Governor Husted Travels To Jackson/Gallia Counties To Hear Development Success Stories

Presented By Hometown-Motors, Inc.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted ventured into southeast Ohio Thursday for visits to a retail business that started in the Gallipolis area, then on to the Jackson County campus of the University of Rio Grande.

The first stop was at Silver Bridge Coffee Company in Bidwell, where Lorraine and Phil Walker started their business in 2008 and now sees their brand of specially brewed organic coffee being sold in various stores throughout Ohio and West Virginia. She also ships her coffee around the U.S. via their website.

Lorraine Walker expanded her manufacturing and distribution facility last fall to keep up with the rising demand for her product. The JobsOhio-SE Ohio team worked closely with Silver Bridge Coffee in providing a $50,000 JobsOhio inclusion grant to assist with machinery and equipment costs. Silver Bridge also received a $10,000 Small Business Relief Grant in 2020 from the Department of Development.

Lorraine Walker of the Silver Bridge Coffee Company in Bidwell, Ohio shows product to Lt. Gov. Jon Husted during a tour of the company Thursday. Photo submitted by Hayley Carducci

According to Silver Bridge’s website, “Lorraine is a Level 2 Certified Roaster with the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), and is an active member of the Roasters Guild. Silver Bridge Coffee is a member of the SCAA and Fair Trade USA.”

Governor Kasich’s administration appointed Lorraine to Ohio’s Small Business Advisory Council. She is also a member of The National Association of Women Business Owners.

Lorraine is a supporter of other women-owned and -run businesses. She sells several varieties of Café Femenino. The Café Femenino Foundation provides grants for women and their families in coffee-producing countries such as Peru, Columbia and Guatemala.

From there, the Lt. Governor headed to Jackson where he met with individuals concerning the workforce development program at the University of Rio Grande’s Jackson Campus.

Last year, the university in partnership with Jackson County Jobs and Family Services acquired a fanuc robot six Allen Bradley PLC Trainers through a grant awarded by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted visits the Jackson Branch of the University of Rio Grande to observe the fanuc robot purchased through a grant awarded by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. Photo submitted by Hayley Carducci

URG was advised in the development of a first-ever high school manufacturing class at Wellston High School, where 10 students participated working toward MSSC credentials and received college credit. This coming year, the class will expand to include students from Jackson and Oak Hill to be held on the Jackson Campus.