KEYS 4 HealthyKids has been awarded a $360,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to improve opportunities for physical activity and access to affordable, healthy foods for children and families in Kanawha County.  Based on a rigorous selection process that drew more than 500 proposals from across the country, Kanawha County is one of 41 sites selected for the RWJF Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities initiative.

In Kanawha County, 47 percent of predominately low-income children are overweight or obese. Not only do these children face health issues such as higher rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, they also incur higher medical costs and are generally less productive in school. As its name suggests, KEYS 4 HealthyKids will use a four-key approach to achieve healthy communities:

• The Key to Knowledge will emphasize the importance of eating adequate fruits and vegetables, limiting screen time, engaging in regular physical activity, and eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages.
• The Key to Eating Healthy will work with local merchants to sell fresh foods, enhance existing farmers markets, engage community members in gardening projects, and help daycares and after-school programs provide nutritious snacks and beverages.
• The Key to Youth being Active will help revitalize community centers and other play spaces, and assess and improve local greenways, trails, sidewalks and street crossings.
• The Key to Safety and Empowerment will address residents’ concerns and enlist them in efforts to help make their communities safer places to walk and play outdoors.

The initial focus of the effort will be on at-risk youth and families in the West Side and East End of Charleston, eventually expanding to other Kanawha County communities.

Dr. Jamie Jeffrey, a local pediatrician and director of the KEYS 4 HealthyKids initiative, said that she often encounters parents who are struggling to find affordable, healthy foods and safe places for their children to be active close to home. “I am so excited for this opportunity for our youth!” Jeffrey said, “We all want to be healthier and now, through this grant, we will be able to accomplish the policy and environmental changes needed to make our dreams a reality. “But,” she added, “we will need local residents to participate to have the greatest impact.”

“With the help of the RWJF and our partners, we will have an opportunity to work with after-school programs to adopt a comprehensive food policy to develop nutrition, health, and environmental guidelines that ensure meals, snacks, and beverages include healthy and sustainable choices,” added Kate Alie,  West Virginia University Extension Specialist and project evaluator for KEYS 4 HealthyKids.

Krista Farley, director of Health Promotions for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, said the initiative also will “create an environment to engage and empower youth to be active everyday, in their own back yards.”

Encouraged by this opportunity to make long-lasting changes in the community, Judy Crabtree, Director of the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement, and Coordinator for KEYS 4 HealthyKids said “community mobilization and seeking meaningful environmental change are two strategies that research indicates can influence entire communities.” She added, “changing the world might be a little difficult, but you can certainly improve your neighborhood and impact behaviors and decisions regarding eating healthy and being active.”

Susie Salisbury, Vice-President with the Charleston Area Alliance, and member of Charleston City Council, said “I am impressed by the number of organizations that have come to the table to develop KEYS 4 HealthyKids and its strategic plan to address childhood obesity in Kanawha County. Both the City of Charleston and the Alliance are pleased to support these efforts.” (more…)

State income taxes could be slashed – or even eliminated – for state residents the first two years after graduation from an institution of higher education under a plan unveiled by the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce today at its annual “Issues & Eggs” legislative breakfast. The plan also calls for $500 state tax credit for interest paid on a qualified student loan.

Chamber Chairman Mike Basile, Spilman, Thomas & Battle, announced the proposals to an audience of nearly 300, including an estimated 65 West Virginia Senators and Delegates, at the Charleston Marriott Town Center.

The “Intellectual Capital” legislation outlined by the Charleston Chamber calls for a $25,000-per-year reduction of the federally-adjusted annual income for the purposes of calculating an individual’s state income tax. The reduction would only be available to West Virginians residing and working in the state for two years following graduation from a qualified institution of higher education with a two-year, four-year or advanced degree.

This proposal would translate into a sizeable pay increase for new graduates at the beginning of their careers when their salaries may be low and their student loan burden high.   There would also be a major benefit for graduates, particularly those from law, business and medical schools, whose salaries could be higher. For example, an individual earning $50,000 per year would see his or her taxes cut by approximately $1,100.

Senator Richard Browning (D-9th), chair of the Senate’s Economic Development Committee, and Senator Brooks McCabe (D-17th) have requested that the proposal to be drafted into legislation and assigned a bill number to be reviewed and considered in this legislative session.

“I cannot think of anything that would have a bigger impact on the future of West Virginia than expanding our intellectual capital and capacity for innovation,” said Basile.  “We will not be able to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities facing the Mountain State if we don’t attract and retain the best and the brightest young minds.

“The continuing exodus of young, educated professionals from West Virginia requires decisive action,” he explained.  “We are excited to propose this bold step to reverse this troubling trend.” (more…)

To shine a spotlight on polices that will advance critical goals and share the views of the business community with state lawmakers, the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce will kick off the state’s legislative session with Issues & Eggs from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the Charleston Marriott.  

“The Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce is a voice for change, speaking out for reforms that will create jobs, attract investment to our region, improve your bottom line and build a promising future for our families and future generations of West Virginians,” said Matt Ballard, president of the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“As we enter another legislative session, the Charleston Chamber wants to be proactive, introducing innovative ideas about how the state could retain its young citizens and attract new businesses,” Ballard said. “At the same time, we want to keep a look out for policies and bills that could hurt the region and state.”

Presented by title sponsor Appalachian Power, this high-profile forum will feature a keynote address by Richard Thompson, speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and a preview of the Charleston Chamber’s 2009 legislative agenda by Chairman Mike Basile. The event will wrap up with a question and answer session moderated by State Journal Managing Editor Beth Gorczyca Ryan.

“It provides an excellent opportunity for you to hear directly from your representatives on the issues that matter to you and your business,” Ballard said. “Issues & Eggs typically draws a sold-out crowd and is one of our most anticipated and popular events of the year.”

Professional issues of workplace e-mail and social networking get trickier every day.

Join MSU Director of Recruiting and Training Dallas Bragg for an informative seminar that will include techniques for creating a thriving online image as well as for making the best professional use of electronic communications resources from e-mail to Twitter.

The Netiquette Seminar is scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Mountain State University’s Northgate Business Park campus.

Please bring a laptop if possible.  A limited number of extra laptops will be available on a first come, first served basis. There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is required by February 1, 2010.

For more information or to RSVP please contact:

Patra Jarrett
PJarrett@mountainstate.edu
1-800-766-6067 ext. 3216
Or
Lesley Hager
LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org
304-340-4253

Looking for an effective way to market your facility, goods and services to hundreds of area professionals? Then consider hosting a Business After Hours!

Business After Hours is one of the most popular events the Alliance presents for our members and there are still opportunities available for 2010 to host one of these up-beat events. 

If you would like to host a Business After Hours, please contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org or 304-340-4253 for more information. 

Only members of the Charleston Area Alliance are eligible to host a Business After Hours. If you would like to become a member, please give us a call at 304-340-4253.

Winter storm warnings have pushed back Generation Charleston’s Open House to Wednesday, Jan. 13. The event still will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Ballroom.

Help Generation Charleston kick off the new year, and if you’re unfamiliar with the group, this is your chance to get involved in change that matters.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drink specials will be available.

Meet the new leadership team for 2010 and learn about our work teams, including two new teams – Economic Development and Public Policy.

Learn how joining one of these teams can benefit you. Active work teams are essential to reaching our goals.

Be a part of what Generation Charleston is planning for 2010. It’s going to be a great year!

New York-based RGZ Solutions has opened an office in the Charleston Area Alliance Small Business Incubator on Smith Street.

The professional services firm helps management achieve greater business value from information technology. Its management services include computer systems development, data management, organizational change management and system project management.

“We hope to develop a practice here in West Virginia using local talent…relying on local university graduates,” said Robert Kurtz, RGZ president. “We like the area. We like the people. … And it’s not tough to drive from here to anyplace within a 500-mile radius.”

Its clients have included AIG, Educational Testing Services, the New York Times Company, AOL and Target Corporation, as well as Mountaineer Gas in West Virginia, which has been utilizing RGZ the past 14 months to open a brand new customer services center using state of the art technology in the middle of downtown Charleston. The center now employs more than 50 people from the community.

“We view this region as untapped,” said Glenn Dinetz, senior vice president at RGZ, who will be running the Charleston operation.

Dinetz, a licensed private investigator in New Jersey, said he hopes the company eventually adds an investigative services arm to the firm’s already proven service – anything a business would need to perform a investigation involving computers.

Kurtz and Dinetz said they chose the incubator because it would help the company save money for business development. Being in the same building as other businesses they can utilize is a plus, as well.

“This is a great example of the important role a business incubator can play in creating a prosperous economy,” said Matt Ballard, Alliance president and CEO. “The Alliance is in the business of creating jobs, and when RGZ came to us with an impressive business plan and promising goals, we knew the firm would be a perfect fit for the incubator.”

The incubator provides flexible space and below-market rates, coupled with a package of free and low-cost services that allow entrepreneurs to concentrate their assets on growth rather than bricks, mortar and other administrative costs. It opened in 1986 with six tenants and has seen more than 100 companies come through its doors, creating more than 265 jobs. Today, the incubator has 20 companies with more than 45 employees.

The Alliance Incubator is the only business incubator dedicated to business start-ups in the Kanawha Valley region and is conveniently located in a Small Business Administration HUBZone. The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program is an initiative designed to stimulate economic development by providing federal contracting opportunities to small businesses located in eligible areas.

East End Main Street’s wireless network continues to grow and expand.

The network currently covers Washington Street from Greenbrier Street to Maxwell Street, along with part of Smith Street. EEMS now is working to expand the Washington Street coverage to Morris Street and connect the Charleston Area Alliance building to Capital Market on Smith. The network should reach Appalachian Power Park, as well.

The project represents “a substantial economic development and revitalization effort on the East End,” said East End Main Street Director Ric Cavender. EEMS is a part of the Charleston Area Alliance.

The East End Wireless initiative was born in 2007. A $25,000 Local Economic Development Assistance (LEDA) grant paid for the equipment, and East End Main Street fundraising is paying for the network service.

Grant money helped buy 10 Dell laptop computers, which will go to various East End businesses within the network area. The computers can be locked to tables for customer use.

“The main purpose of East End Wireless is to strengthen East End businesses and attract new business to the area,” Cavender said. “Many residents have access to this free network, too, but our goal is strengthening the main throughways and making the East End more attractive to both visitors and residents.”

Future project phases will include Virginia and Quarrier streets, along with other East End neighborhoods and the Capitol Complex.

Help Generation Charleston kick off the new year, and if you’re unfamiliar with the group, this is your chance to get involved in change that matters. Generation Charleston’s Open House is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 at the Embassy Suites Ballroom.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drink specials will be available.

Meet the new leadership team for 2010 and learn about our work teams, including two new teams – Economic Development and Public Policy.

Learn how joining one of these teams can benefit you. Active work teams are essential to reaching our goals.

Be a part of what Generation Charleston is planning for 2010. It’s going to be a great year!