Today, the Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to saving and expanding the South Charleston Technology Park as Governor Manchin hosted another meeting to discuss the details and logistics of accepting Dow Chemical’s donation of property and buildings at the site to the state.

The stakeholders are dedicated to making it happen. The Governor asked for support from the private sector and received this message from the Charleston Area Alliance: “We are the private sector and we fully support this project.”

The Alliance is speaking for more than 600 members and the business community as a whole when we pledge to continue to invest time, expertise and resources to realize the potential of the tech park. This project represents the region’s most significant economic development opportunity in decades.  We stand ready to work with partners such as the Chemical Alliance Zone and Advantage to market the property and its assets, attract new companies to the site and help it become a research commercialization hub for the East Coast, as well as support MATRIC in its continued growth. Valley

We commend the Governor and West Virginia Higher Policy Commission Chancellor Brian Noland for their commitment to the “new” tech park and their diligence in gathering and analyzing the information needed to make a final decision on such a complex project. Through their determined leadership, West Virginia is working to set its own course for the future, rather than let others set it for us.  Accepting the donation would be a major undertaking for the state, but the potential payoff is well worthwhile.

In media interviews before today’s meeting, several young MATRIC scientists said they would be forced to move from the region if the tech park closed.  Five hundred jobs hang in the balance as the March 1 deadline looms, and we can’t stand on the sideline while the Charleston-Metro region stands to lose so many quality workers, particularly young professionals who represent West Virginia’s future.

But saving the tech park isn’t just about saving jobs — it’s about creating jobs. The facilities hold the promise of thousands more. We envision a globally-competitive innovation center where research is commercialized to meet global challenges and help West Virginia industry stay competitive in a changing world.

The Governor has affirmed his belief in the vision of such a center with a higher education component, a model that has been a blueprint for success in other parts of the country.   Thanks to the Governor, Chancellor Noland, Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Paul Hill and others within the Governor’s staff, this vision is closer to reality.

The citizens of the Kanawha and of the state been instrumental in keeping this vision alive. More than 1,000 have joined a Facebook page urging leaders to take immediate action to prevent the demolition of the tech park. Nearly 900 more signed an online petition. In a grassroots effort that gained momentum practically overnight, they brought this project to the forefront of the state’s public policy agenda. Valley

We have much to do. We call on everyone committed to our future to continue to communicate and work together to maximize the potential of the world-class facility to bring innovation to the marketplace and create new opportunities for West Virginia’s coal, natural gas, chemical and other leading industries.

More and more people are seeing the vision. Working together, we will make it happen.

Matthew G. Ballard

A small road might not seem like much, but in the economic development world, it can have a big impact. 

In the case of Leslie Equipment, having an access road was the difference-maker when the company decided to locate a facility in Cross Lanes. It opened in 2007 and today the John Deere dealership and regional training center employs more than 30.

With the help of the Kanawha County Commission and the Division of Highways, the Charleston Area Alliance was able to procure up to $400,000 from the Industrial Access Road Fund.

“That’s one of the reasons we bought the property,” said Rick DeMoss, Leslie vice president and project manager. “It really helped us. If the Alliance hadn’t applied for that money, we wouldn’t have gotten it.

“Now other businesses are benefiting from it,” DeMoss said.

The access road leads to the Golden Corral, and a soon-to-be-open hotel will use it. With a little effort and know-how, an inconspicuous access road has helped create jobs and new business in the Kanawha Valley.

This is a great example of creating a prosperous economy. We’re not waiting for change to happen, and we’ll do anything we can to make the region more attractive to potential employers.

Leslie Equipment Company has been a John Deere Equipment Dealer for more than 38 years. The company has received high recognition in the industry for being an innovative leader in sales and product support.

Leslie has ten locations in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. It stocks a complete line of John Deere construction and forestry equipment to handle almost any job. Leslie has available inventory for immediate purchase and a rental fleet that will meet just about any construction or forestry need.

That means the Kanawha Valley now is a little more attractive to John Deere customers. Companies with these kinds of needs might consider Leslie’s services when looking at the Valley as a potential location.

We often hear the refrain about West Virginia’s failures, but we’re here to sell its potential.

Leslie’s journey to its new facility began as a promise. It continued with a road and then an expanded facility. Then came more jobs. Business followed.

Individually, these might seem small. Together, they are significant, and we’re going to see more positive news resulting from Leslie Equipment’s impact.

We have a bevy of stories like this of which to be proud, and that’s why we’re continually optimistic about Charleston and the Kanawha Valley.

We’re on the right road, and we see great things on the horizon.