More than 1,400 West Virginians and people across the country have signed an online petition and joined a Facebook page urging state and local leaders to take immediate action to prevent the demolition of the South Charleston Technology Park.   That number continues to grow by the hour as people come to the realization that a wrecking ball is headed toward one of the best economic development opportunities this state has seen in decades.

Unless decision makers finalize plans to accept Dow’s donation of property and buildings located at the park to the State of West Virginia, rare demonstration plants and other valuable laboratory facilities could be closed and razed within weeks — taking with them up to 500 quality jobs and closing the door to the promise of 2,000+ new research and technology-related opportunities for West Virginians.

We urge our leaders to come together to preserve and create high-value jobs, make our region highly competitive in research and development and create new opportunities for West Virginia’s coal, natural gas, chemical and other leading industries.

The people have spoken – we hope our leaders are listening:

“The South Charleston Tech Park is key to my family’s future in West Virginia. Please act to keep the tech park open and the companies based there in business. I am a sixth generation West Virginian. Please take these steps so my kids have a better chance to stay in West Virginia.”

“This is the most valuable land asset in our entire region. It is a linchpin for development.”

“The loss of a facility of this type is inexcusable! The talent pool in this valley is tremendous and without the labs contained at the center, we will continue to see our smartest and talented citizens leave.”

“I need my job, and a place to do it in.”

“The federal government is going to spend billions of dollars on energy research over next 30 years to develop clean, CO2 capturing use of fossil fuels and to develop use of alternative energy sources. West Virginia needs to be part of this and capture economic value and jobs from this federal spending.” (more…)

This FAQs list was created to address issues related to Dow Chemical Company’s offer to donate property at the South Charleston Technology Park to the State of West Virginia. We encourage you to learn more about the project and see what you can do to ensure that its potential is realized before it is too late:
 

1. Exactly what is Dow proposing to donate?

Dow has proposed and is willing to donate 258 acres of its technology park including fully outfitted laboratory buildings, pilot plants and infrastructure to the State of West Virginia.  

2. Why does Dow want to donate this property?

As a publicly-traded global corporation, Dow has made strategic business decisions that have resulted in the downsizing of its research and development activities at the South Charleston site.  The company incurs significant expenses each year to maintain buildings and property it no longer needs.   

3. Is Dow leaving the technology park?

Dow would likely continue as a tenant in this park rather than a “landlord.”  This donation does not impact the manufacturing facilities of Dow that are located off of MacCorkle Avenue in South Charleston.  Those plants will continue in their operation.  

4. Are there environmental issues on the portions that Dow will donate?

Comprehensive environmental studies have been conducted by several neutral parties and the data collected show no reason that the donation cannot occur. 

5. Is Dow passing off its environmental liability to the state?

Under federal law, Dow is not permitted to “give away” any responsibility arising from potential environmental issues.   (more…)

The South Charleston Technology Park is on the brink of closing.

Why should you care? If we allow this to happen, the region could lose more than 500 quality jobs. If we maintain and nurture the park, it could create thousands of jobs.

Generation Charleston is dedicated to making Charleston and the Kanawha more attractive to emerging leaders and young talent. Standing on the sideline while our region’s future hangs in the balance isn’t part of that mission.

The time to act is now. Join us from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at MATRIC in Building 740 of the Technology for an open forum presented by Generation Charleston. The event is open to anyone in the community interested in learning about the park’s history and its potential impact on the state’s future.

To get to the park, take the Kanawha Turnpike exit from I-64, then turn left into the park. Building 740 is immediately on the right.

We believe that with growing support and a united voice, the technology park can become a symbol of our state’s resilience and ability to go the distance for the greater good. A successful outcome will be a transformational event in the history of West Virginia.

President Lincoln said the best way to predict the future is to create it – let’s start by saving the tech park. This is your opportunity to make change that matters.

Is winter getting you down? Then come in from the cold with Generation Charleston from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this evening at Capitol Roasters and warm your heart with food, friends, drink specials, a chocolate tasting and music.

A “Heart Wall” will be displayed with information about local children in need of foster parents.

Stop by and learn more about each child’s story. “The Heart Gallery of West Virginia — Portraits of Hope” is a traveling photography exhibit that features portraits of West Virginia’s foster children eligible for adoption.

The goals of the Heart Gallery are to spotlight children available for adoption, recruit families for children featured in the gallery, and recruit additional foster and adoptive families for West Virginia’s children.

More than 100 of our state’s most prominent business and community leaders, scientists and educators came together this morning to pledge their commitment to realizing the promise of the South Charleston.  At a combined meeting of their respective boards of directors, representatives of the Charleston Area Alliance, the Chemical Alliance Zone and MATRIC offered their support of a resolution “call(ing) upon both public and private leaders of the State of West Virginia and all local jurisdictions to put in place all plans, resources and finances necessary to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people of West Virginia to have a world-class research, development and commercialization campus.”

Our message is being heard, but we need your help to ensure that West Virginia does not turn its back on the future.

Dow Chemical Company is poised to donate valuable land and buildings located at the technology park to the State of West Virginia.

Right now, officials are working through issues that could affect the outcome of the donation. We are confident that with the vision and will to benefit generations of all West Virginians, those involved will see this project through to the finish line.

This is not just a real estate transfer — it’s about opportunity for the Mountain State.

It’s about stimulating private investment to move scientific discovery into the marketplace to solve environmental issues and increase our technical leadership in clean coal, natural gas and renewable energy. It’s about capitalizing on federal dollars directed at energy research and innovation. It’s about jobs.

Gov. Manchin recognizes the value of the technology park, which has more than $200 million in existing infrastructure, to the future of West Virginia. We appreciate his strong leadership in pursuing the opportunity that this project presents.   

Please join the Alliance, MATIC and CAZ in thanking Governor Manchin for his commitment to this project and let him know what it means to you, your business and the future of our state. 

The time to act is NOW:

Governor Manchin:  (304) 558-2000 or at Governor@WVGov.org

Read the joint Alliance/MATRIC/CAZ resolution.

Read the joint Allianca/MATRIC, CAZ op-ed.

Learn more at www.savethetechpark.com

Click here to become a Facebook fan.

The Charleston Area Alliance, Chemical Alliance Zone and MATRIC Boards of Directors at 10:30 a.m. this morning will meet jointly to consider a resolution reiterating the importance of the South Charleston Technology Park to West Virginia’s future economic prosperity.

A donation by Dow Chemical Company of valuable buildings and land located at the technology park to the State of West Virginia is pending.

If realized, the project could generate hundreds if not thousands of high value jobs, make the region highly competitive in research and development and create new opportunities for West Virginia’s coal, natural gas and other leading industries.

You may think work has stopped on the Greenspace project … but  Order’s Construction continues to make progress despite the bad weather. Between good days and bad days over the last few weeks, sections of sidewalk around the site have gradually appeared.
 

The picture above shows a section of the seat terrace wall taking shape. Look close and you will see where a row of brick pavers will be laid along each side of the sidewalk.
 
In this picture, you can see a finished section of sidewalk along Washington Street East and fast approaching the intersection of Washington Street East and Leon Sullivan Way. The offset section is where the brick pavers will be placed which will provide a border for the sidewalk.
 

Most of the granite curbing is in place along the perimeter of the project, and as seen here along Leon Sullivan Way, the Order’s construction crew has formed another section of sidewalk ready for a concrete pour. Notice the forming for the brick pavers.

We will all meet at this intersection soon!

Comments and Photos by Mike Aeiker

Want to be a part of a vibrant movement in the Kanawha Valley and truly affect “change that matters?” Be a part of Generation Charleston, the Charleston Area Alliance’s emerging leaders group.

It’s a continually growing group, and from community development to professional development, it has a long list of exciting opportunities lined up in 2010.

This evening’s Orientation is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the group and get involved. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Capitol Roasters, 160 Summers St.

For more information, visit www.GenerationCharleston.com.

In recent days you may have read about a project that would rejuvenate the South Charleston Technology Park. 

If realized, the project could generate hundreds if not thousands of high value jobs, make our region highly competitive in research and development and create new opportunities for West Virginia’s coal, natural gas and other leading industries.

At stake is a pending donation by Dow Chemical Company of valuable buildings and land located at the technology park to the State of West Virginia.

But this is not just a real estate transfer — it’s about the future of West Virginia.

The purpose of this message is to tell you why this project matters to you, your business and everyone in our region, and what you can do today to help make it happen.

Background

For more than 50 years, the tech park arguably was the top research center in the chemical industry.  Dozens of patents were produced there each year, resulting in globally distributed products worth billions of dollars. (more…)