East Central Ohio Educational Service Center Celebrates Grand Opening

ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The East Central Ohio Educational Service Center officially opened its new community and health services facility Tuesday.

Located on Ohio University Eastern’s campus, the center is the result of a major transformation of the former Health and Physical Education Center. Acquired by the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, the facility has been reimagined as a regional destination for education, wellness, events and community engagement.

The center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday through the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce, although portions of the facility have been operating for more than a year.

Renovations began in the summer of 2025, creating a multipurpose facility designed to serve residents, students, organizations and businesses throughout eastern Ohio.

The project was made possible through the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, a $64 million investment by Gov. Mike DeWine and the state of Ohio to improve access to health care throughout Appalachian Ohio.

The East Central Ohio Educational Service Center received $3 million to develop the student-centered health center. The project also was supported through funding from the Ohio Department of Development’s Appalachian Community Grant Program, expanding access to affordable health care services close to home and improving the well-being of families across the region.

Additional renovations include a redesigned lobby and reception area, the new ECO Café serving Starbucks coffee and Hall of Fame Café West, which provides concessions during events and catering services. The facility also includes office space for the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference executive director, fitness and wellness services through Edwards Absolute Kinetics, and additional leasable space to support future community partnerships and growth.

Superintendent Randy Lucas said the health care facility opened in May with a gradual rollout, beginning with a limited staff and a small number of patients before becoming fully operational.

He said the center includes a primary care clinic and dental services operated through its partner, Ohio Hills Health Centers.

“They do accept Medicaid, so that was the big draw of our partnering with them. Then, of course, we have all of the other services as far as being able to use the gymnasium,” Lucas said. “We have the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference housed out of here, we host many of their events and activities and tournaments for student athletes. We partner with Edwards Absolute Kinetics, which is the physical therapist in the area as well.”

Lucas said the center’s goal is to continue providing the facility for area school districts to use for activities such as welcome-back events, graduations, athletic events and other community functions.

“Going back to the clinic and the dental services, a lot of our students and families struggled finding providers that accept Medicaid. So oftentimes, if they need dental services or primary care physician services, they would have to go to maybe Zanesville, Columbus, or Cleveland and be out for an entire day which doesn’t help with chronic absenteeism,” Lucas said. “It doesn’t help our students, of course, if the area’s not meeting their medical needs and they’re not going to do well in the classroom.”

Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik said she was pleased to attend the grand opening because she understands the importance of access to health care.

“I’m a mother of three, so I know that there’s nothing that can derail a morning faster than when you find out that one of your children is sick, and it certainly can take the day in a completely different direction depending upon how sick they are,” Mihalik said. “I know how difficult it is to be able to get your child into their primary care provider on a moment’s notice, and so I feel like having a place like this that is rooted in the community, that is open access to anyone not just students, but to the people in the community is going to be a vital enhancement for Belmont County.”

She said many services needed by residents of rural communities have not been readily available close to home, forcing parents to take time off work while students miss class.

“What we know is that when healthcare is nearby, students spend more time in the classroom, parents spend less time away from work, and families are more likely to receive preventative care before those little issues become really big problems,” Mihalik said. “It’s better for families, better for schools, and it’s better for the long-term health of the overall community.”

ECOESC Board President Ron Busby said the center is the result of a collaborative effort between the educational service center and the state.

“Our entity applied for a grant, through the Appalachian Foundation and it was just an idea. We had purchased this facility with a vision and trying to find ways to make it happen, and a lot of most of that vision was from [ECOESC Treasurer] Matt King and Randy Lucas who saw what this place could become, and how it could impact the community here in Belmont County,” Busby said. “There were a lot of obstacles along the way, and they pushed through all of those and didn’t lose faith and kept working and finding a way to get this project to where we are today. It was just a fantastic moment to see everything that’s been accomplished, with all the hours and the hard work that’s gone into this dream.”