LANCASTER, OH — Prosperity is getting a power boost in Fairfield County. AEP Ohio announced today that the Lancaster Port Authority is one of the select recipients of the 2026 Local Economic Advancement Program (LEAP) grant, a key initiative designed to supercharge local economies and prepare industrial sites for future business.
The Lancaster Port Authority joins Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) and 16 other organizations across the state in sharing more than $461,000 in total funding distributed by AEP Ohio this year.
Powering Up the Local Economy
The LEAP grant program is specifically designed to help communities “plan for the future.” For Lancaster, this funding serves as a vital tool to:
- Prepare Industrial Sites: Making the area more attractive for new businesses looking to break ground.
- Business Attraction: Developing creative ways to introduce the Lancaster community to prospective employers.
- Strategic Planning: Helping the Port Authority bridge gaps and execute long-term economic development goals.
“These recipients are helping make their communities better places to live and work,” said Zach Miller, director of economic development for AEP Ohio. “We’re honored to support the important work of our neighbors.”
A Regional Win
While the grant is a major win for Lancaster specifically, the broader OhioSE organization—which covers 25 rural counties in southern and eastern Ohio—also received funding to address organizational gaps. This dual-layered investment ensures that while Lancaster grows, the entire southeastern Ohio region remains competitive on a state and national level.
As the newest and geographically largest of the six JobsOhio regions, OhioSE works closely with local offices like the Lancaster Port Authority to retain existing companies and attract new industries to the “Hocking Hills gateway” and beyond.
