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HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP - Congressman David Joyce was a special guest at the Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County trustees’ meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
Infinity Resources sponsored the meeting, held at Ferrante Winery.

Before Joyce spoke, Growth Partnership Executive Director Greg Myers offered some brief remarks.
“We’re working on some very exciting projects in every area of the county,” Myers said.
Myers said these projects could result in hundreds of millions of dollars of capital investment in the county, in a wide range of areas, from manufacturing to tourism.
Growth Partnership is working on everything from infrastructure issues, to the gas-line project, to rail.
“All of that is for naught if we don’t address workforce,” Myers said.
Companies in the county are dealing with this challenge, Myers said.
Myers said they know there’s a potential work force in the high schools, and he challenged the companies to have their young employees serve as ambassadors to these students.
“One of the things we’re looking at is to have some 20-something ambassadors,” Myers said. “We’re looking at some new opportunities there.”
Joyce then spoke, thanking Growth Partnership for having him there.
Joyce said he has visited Ashtabula County three times in the last week, starting last Friday with a tour with The Ohio State University President Michael Drake.
“This county is an absolute jewel. You’ve got everything,” Joyce said.
Earlier that day, Joyce had visited a wetlands area in Rock Creek. These wetlands are helping to prevent the damage that the west side of Lake Erie gets, he said.
He said he is impressed with the pride that Ashtabula County takes in the community, and that together, they can fix every problem.
Joyce spoke about Washington, D.C. and noted, “It’s so refreshing to be back with you in the land of common sense.”
Joyce also spoke about a bill passed this summer that helps put money into places like A-Tech, Kent State and Lakeland to get people trained.
He also spoke of the bipartisan efforts he undertakes with other congressman and women from Ohio.
“We enjoy each other’s companies,” he said. “We know we’re trying to move the company forward…I care about what we can do to make this the greatest location in the nation, which I truly believe it is.”