FirstOhio.com is a web portal that serves as a vital marketing and communication tool for the 29-county region of Appalachian Ohio by providing businesses and tourists with a repository of economic, community and tourism information.
In 2003, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia (GOA) initiated the project with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, providing technical development and maintenance for the site. Originally named AppalachianOhio.com, the Website has expanded over the years and now gives viewers access to a wide variety of data about Appalachian Ohio, including its economic information, workforce characteristics, tourist attractions and community life. FirstOhio.com also supplies links to other helpful sites within each county, such as the county government, chamber of commerce, convention centers and visitor’s bureau offices.
Through the combination of these features, the Website gives exposure to business development, expansion and entrepreneurship and to various community and tourism activities. In 2005, National Geographic Traveler magazine featured the Website in its April issue.
Two of the most helpful and innovative features of FirstOhio.com are the business and tourism portals. The business portal allows users to access building and land information, engage in customized searches for buildings and development sites by county or technical requirements and gather information on business assistance. It also showcases various international corporations and start-up companies that have been successful by establishing themselves in Appalachian Ohio.
The tourism portal offers visitors the chance to plan out their trip to the region through easy access to information on local restaurants, places to stay, tourist attractions and community events. Some of the more valuable tools within the tourism portal are the interactive maps, which allow users to search county by county for locations and events of interest to them. The interactive maps highlight the unique historical and cultural heritage of the 29-county region through over 1,000 photographs, 200 3D panoramic views and links to other Websites of interest. The maps, which are continually updated, also feature hyperlinked icons to connect users with additional tourism information.
Anselm Bradford, a visual communication graduate student working at the Voinovich School, created many of the site’s interactive features, including an animated tourism attraction map. The map brings together detailed county maps, 3D panoramic views and location descriptions that are drawn from a database of attractions. Visitors can quickly browse the 29-county region for dining, lodging, shopping and attractions. This visual approach enhances the ease of using the site for potential tourists.