The story below appeared Thursday evening on WSAZ-TV. Click here to view the piece.

There are high hopes for a new state research park in South Charleston.

A special committee met for the first time Thursday to discuss what to do with the former Dow Tech Park.

The park will be state owned, but the goal is to create high tech jobs in the private sector. Officials say the transition period isn’t going to happen overnight.

Representatives from Battelle Memorial Institute, who won the contract to redevelop the park, say the park’s success depends on their ability to bring in talented people and innovators.

The transition between Dow and the state is set to be complete by December 15.

Project leaders are hopeful that as many as seven tenants could be ready to move in by then.