By early next year, the field overlooking Interstate 77 could be the site of a facility where medical waste would be treated using an autoclaving process.

"We've had some success here recently with magnum magnetics and national converter," says Mike Lloyd, who heads up Noble County's development office. "This is just another tool we have to create some jobs for the county. We're delighted the state has stepped in to help make this a reality."

And the former Malta windows plant, the current site of a business park, will probably be renovated to accommodate more tenants. They're both recipients of a total of $575,000, from an Ohio Development Department fund intended to improve areas intended for industrial and business improvements.

Fifty jobs in Noble County and maybe a few dozen more in Morgan County may not sound like much, but in one of the most depressed economic areas in Ohio, every little bit helps.

"We're seeing employment numbers up; we're seeing productivity up, and we're seeing unemployment down," says Lt. Gov. Bruce Johnson, who also heads the Ohio Department of Development, and who took part in Wednesday's check presentations. "We're not happy yet, we're not satisfied. We have to keep making these investments. We've turned the corner here in Ohio."

Noble County's development office also has been involved in the establishment of an industrial park in the Belle Valley area.