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Belmont County Commissioners Hear About Plans for Ohio Valley Regional Oil and Gas Expo

Photo by Robert A. DeFrank Belmont County Commissioner Jerry Echemann listens Wednesday to a presentation from Natalie Brown, president of MPR Transloading & Energy Services and an organizer of the upcoming Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Expo.

The Ohio Valley Regional Oil and Gas Expo is in its eighth year and still going strong, according to Natalie Brown, president of MPR Transloading & Energy Services and an organizer of the event.

She made a presentation to Belmont County Commissioners Josh Meyer, J.P. Dutton and Jerry Echemann on Wednesday about expectations for this year’s event, to be held at the Carnes Center at the county fairgrounds.

“We haven’t seen a decrease in the amount of exhibitors or attendants, like many other oil and gas events have seen throughout the area,” she said.

“It’s nice to come out and walk the expo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 24, and we’re also having the networking evening (at 5:30 p.m. April 23).”

Brown added that tickets for the networking evening can be purchased at ohiovalleyoilgasexpo.com.

She said the size of the expo is expected to be similar to last year’s, with people securing their booths earlier in 2019.

“So far, we have 99 booths reserved. We have two indoor spaces available left,” Brown said, adding that these are sponsorship areas and that there are 17 available spots outdoors.

She said top sponsors are returning, including Belmont County Tourism Council, EQT, XTO Energy, DUG East, and MPR.

“We have about 75 percent returning exhibitors,” she said. “We’re creating value for them. They’re seeing business come with the expo. It’s exciting for them.”

Brown added that businesses from across the country and beyond are represented at the expo, and about 1,500 attendees are expected.

“We appreciate … the work you do,” Meyer said. “Our area’s become a major hub in the world. … We’re looked on as a player in the oil and gas arena.”

Dutton, who came to his commission seat with a background in energy, said the expo has done much for the industry.

“It’s a great event. We talk about it every year, but it really is a great event. It’s the only one in the area,” he said. “We’ve talked to folks in Columbus. It’s on the radar screen, and they want to attend in April.”

Dutton also praised the quality of speakers who lend their expertise in a variety of matters, from technical information provided by industry producers, to policymakers discussing the impact of government regulation.

Dutton pointed out the expo is also an opportunity for the general public to learn about the industry and how it operates in the local community.

In answer to a question from Echemann, Brown said the expo has proven a valuable resource for other industries beyond oil and gas, such as mining, insurance, banking and hospitality.

“There’s a lot of business done at the expo and after,” she said, adding that her own business of MPR has found vendors to purchase from at the event.

In other matters, Pease Township Trustee Michael Bianconi asked if a running total of yearly revenue from county oil and gas leases could be provided. Meyer said the county has been receiving about $200,000 a year. Bianconi asked if the funds could be allocated for road paving.

“We look at all options on how to utilize that money,” Meyer said. “We are looking at options with our county engineer.”

Dutton added that other options include using some of the funds as matching money for possible grants.

Meyer added that with the county’s decision to raise license plate fees in 2018, he believes it is the state’s place to raise the gasoline and diesel tax to provide revenue to county engineers’ offices.

“I would prefer to see the state do their part before we have to start robbing Peter to pay Paul to do some of the projects within the county,” Meyer said.

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