Sharon O. Flanery, a petroleum engineer and attorney who leads the Steptoe & Johnson Energy Team, will moderate  “Women with Energy,” a roundtable discussion with female business executives, lawyers, engineers and other professionals on the front lines of developments in the natural gas and coal fields.

Confirmed speakers to date include:

·          Maribeth Anderson, director, corporate developmentChesapeake Energy Corporation

·         Tania Hotmer, manager of external affairs, AEP

·         Linda Raines Torre, co-founder and senior engineer for Decota Consulting, a mining/environmental consulting firm

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with informal networking (optional), followed by a luncheon and program at 11:45 a.m.. 

Registration is $30 for Alliance members/$40 future members through July 22. Prices increase to $40 Alliance members/$50 future members after that date.  Reserved tables of eight, which include program recognition and signage, are $500 for Alliance members; $600 future members. 

For more information about reserved tables, contact JoEllen Zacks:  jzacks@charlestonareaalliance.org

 Click here to register!

“Women with Energy” is presented with the generous support of Steptoe & Johnson. 

The mission of the 1,700-member Elevations Professional Women’s Network is to “enrich, empower and elevate women to achieve success.”  Through luncheons and other events featuring high-profile speakers, Elevations provides an affirmative network that connects professional women with the information, resources and contacts that helps them, their businesses and their communities succeed. 

Elevations is presented by the Charleston Area Alliance and Title Sponsor DOW. 

The Alliance cannot invoice for groups of fewer than 10 and is unable to issue refunds for cancellations received less than 48 prior to an event.

The park’s annual economic impact is just under $100 million.

Battelle, a preeminent research and development organization, conducted the months-long study and recommendations for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  The commission will take ownership of the park on Dec. 15.

The Battelle report includes information on the “next steps” in the development of the Tech Park, but it also provides data on the jobs and economic impact of the businesses and jobs already in located there:

“Today, as the park property transitions to the Higher Education Policy Commission, the state has been able to retain these high paying jobs, which average $81,900 in salaries and wages,” the report says. 

“This represents a total payroll of nearly $39 million with estimated direct and indirect income impacts of over $96 million annually. This activity translates into millions of dollars in state and local taxes collected each year. Few recent state economic development deals have offered as high a return on investment.

“But it is the long-term potential for creating an innovation and technology development driver for reinvigorating the global competitiveness of the state’s long-standing chemical and energy sectors that stands to offer the highest economic development pay-offs for the state.”

“The Charleston Area Alliance would like to acknowledge the hard work and diligence of Battelle and CH2MHill, along with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, in completing the assessment and development plan for the former Dow Technology Park,” said Alliance President and CEO Matt Ballard. 

“This has been an open process, with all stakeholders having input. Mixing those ideas with the skills, expertise and knowledge of Battelle to recommend best practices in the development and management of technology parks has generated a solid document.”

HEPC Chancellor Brian Nolland appointed Ballard to serve on the Tech Park steering committee.

“This regional project will have a wide geographic impact,” Ballard said. “The park’s employment base spans from Ashland, Ky., to Charleston, to Flatwoods, to Ripley. While the jobs help our regional economy, the innovation potential for the park will positively impact our entire state and even the nation. After all, it is innovation that will be the driver to bring us out of this global economic slump.

“Now, the next phase begins,” Ballard continued. “We encourage all stakeholders to maintain their focus on the long-term goal of generating new investment and new jobs and diversifying the tax base through innovation and technology.”

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission press release, which describes the four primary recommendations of the report can be found at http://www.wvresearch.org/techpark/news.htm.

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.  

6.   How many people currently work at the tech park?  What do they do?

There are currently more than 500 people employed at the tech park by a variety of private and public organizations including Dow, MATRIC, CDI, Bayer, WVU, EDS and others.  Technologies under development at the park include: coal to chemical products, coal liquefaction, natural gas and water treatment, polyethylene, polyurethane, biomass and renewable energy, engineering, computer services and many other industry boosting technologies. 

The tech park also houses the Chemical Alliance Zone’s incubator, which is designed to support high tech start-up organizations through the early stages of development. Four companies are currently in the incubator including Progenesis Technologies, a biotech start-up from Marshall University focused on the development of new polymers using biotechnology process.

 7.  What is the current economic impact of the park?

The tech park already plays a major role in our area’s economic development.  Just consider the impact of one of its tenants, MATRIC:   

• By the end of the 2010, MATRIC will have put  more than $40 million into the local economy.
• Of the $40 million, 92  percent came from outside of the state of West Virginia ($37 million).
• Of the $40 million, 36  percent came from outside of the United States ($14 million).

8.  What is the vision of those who are advocating for a “new” tech park?

 To create a globally-competitive, multi-tenant research and innovation center focused on bringing new technology to the marketplace in energy , chemicals and materials using the existing facilities at Dow Chemical’s South Charleston Technology Park.

9. How could the State of West Virginia use the tech park?

The facilities at the South Charleston Technology Park are designed to support research and bringing innovation into the marketplace. Governor Manchin is working hard to make this project a reality and is exploring a range of options that will make the donation viable for the state. One option that has been suggested, relocating some state offices to the property, has raised many constitutional and legal questions. In addition, moving general offices to the park does not advance the vision of creating a research environment at the facility. The Alliance and its partners are committed to working with our leaders to create a research, innovation and commercialization center, not an office park.

10. What will happen to if the deal falls through?

If the State of West Virginia does not accept the donation by the final deadline of March 1, Dow will issue lease termination notices to existing tenants. In order to lower its operating costs, Dow may demolish certain buildings and facilities. 

11. How many people COULD be employed at the park?

The current buildings and labs have the capacity to employ more than 2,000 people. The donation also includes acres of developable land upon which new buildings employing many more could be constructed.  

12. Aren’t there other labs in the state where this work can be done?

There are no other facilities in the state that provide the benefits offered by the tech park’s combination of lab space and pilot plants.  These facilities are required for process and product demonstration, scale-up and technological verification of new technologies.  

13.  How will this donation affect the area’s tax base?

While the initial transfer of this property to a public entity could temporarily impact tax revenues, it should be noted that its tax value is already on the decline as Dow shutters and razes buildings. Keeping the park open and realizing its potential as a center of research and innovation will strengthen our local and state economy. The development of the park will create jobs, stimulate private investment and have a tremendous economic impact on Kanawha County and the State of West Virginia.
 
14.  What is the impact if the deal fails?

Unless decision makers finalize plans to accept Dow’s donation of property and buildings located at the tech park to the State of West Virginia, rare pilot labs and other valuable facilities could be closed and razed within weeks — taking with them more than 500 quality jobs and closing the door to the promise of 2,000+ new research and technology-related opportunities for West Virginians. Billions of dollars in federal research funds are poised to flow to states that are committed to energy research. Saying “no” to the donation will send a signal that West Virginia is not equipped or interested in exploring and bringing to the marketplace new technologies that will help our state’s leading industries stay competitive in a changing world.

15.  Have other technology parks been successful?

There are a number of examples of successful research centers that have their origin as industrial research facilities that have been donated or sold to a government or university organization for multi-tenant use. Here are a few examples:

University Multispectral Laboratories, Oklahoma

In 1996, ConocoPhillips donated a research building in its Ponca City, Okla., complex to be used for creation of a national sensor testing center. The new center was established as a government-owned, contractor-operated facility, organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Oklahoma State University is a partner and represents the state in the center.

The center was projected to employ 80 scientists, engineers and support staff when established. The economic impact on the surrounding area is estimated to be $120 million over ten years. The center is now fully operational and is represented as an example of fusing government, industry and academia to provide cost, capabilities, and results efficiencies.  

University of Pittsburgh Applied Research Center (U-PARC)

U-PARC formerly existed as the research facility of Gulf Oil, which was acquired by Chevron Oil in 1985. The University of Pittsburgh of proposed to maintain and operate the facility to keep the center open for the economic benefit to the community. Chevron agreed to donate the facility, valued at $100 million, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of added a $3 million dollar economic development grant.

U-PARC is a site of about 85 acres with 53 buildings, including office, laboratory, light industrial, and storage facilities. It is home to more than 100 companies from around the world, including Fortune 500 Companies. Pilot plant services are offered on chemical and petroleum-based technologies, and R&D is performed on synthetic fuels, biotechnology, environmental projects and other emerging technologies.

Michigan State Bioeconomy Institute

In 2007, Pfizer Inc. donated a pilot plant and research building in Holland, Mich. to Michigan State University for development of a bioeconomy research and commercialization center. The center is expected to employ 100 people. The facility has a replacement value of $50 million, and is seen as the foundation of a knowledge-based enterprise that will drive regional economic growth.

The Institute, opened in spring 2009, conducts research in biofuels, bio-based chemicals and biomaterials.

University of Michigan buys former Pfizer site

The University of Michigan is purchasing, for $108 million, a 30-building, 174-acre campus with 2 million square feet of offices and lab space from Pfizer. Officials expect that approximately 2,000 jobs will be created over the next ten years through expanded university research and new commercial partnerships. Pfizer announced in 2007 that the facility would be closed, displacing 2,100 workers. The company was not interested in selling the property piece by piece. Among the university’s considerations was a desire not to see Pfizer raze the campus.

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.

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.

The center’s work force of more than 2,600 included many scientists and engineers with advanced degrees, as well as a large support staff of highly skilled technicians and operators.  The average pay of about $75,000 — in the 1990s —  was significantly higher than average in the area and contributed greatly to the region’s economy.

That was then

Today, Dow has moved much of its research and development operation elsewhere.  With the continual downsizing at that facility, most of the tech park will soon be empty and, unless we move quickly, is set for demolition.  That would be devastating for the region, state and even the nation. 

However, the situation offers a significant opportunity and a foundation for future growth for West Virginia.   With low-cost research facilities and a highly skilled workforce already in place, we have the physical and intellectual resources necessary to transition the park into a world-class center of energy research and innovation.

This is now

Innovation is what our state desperately needs as its largest economic driver — coal — faces growing challenges. The Alliance believes that, as with any business, research, development and innovation will play a pivotal role in the coal industry’s ability to remain competitive in a changing world.

In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama pledged his support for “continued investments in clean coal technologies.”  Just last week, Governor Manchin, along with governors from other major coal producing states, met with the President to share their concerns about the industry’s future. The outcome?   President Obama announced the creation of a special task force to explore carbon capture and storage.  

Perhaps at no other time in our nation’s history has there been greater potential for millions of research dollars to be directed to West Virginia.  Who better to lead the nation in energy innovation than one of the nation’s leading suppliers of coal and natural gas? 

Should we step aside and let other states develop new coal and natural gas technologies and create hundreds and thousands of jobs that go along with them?  Can we trust those states to do what’s right for West Virginia?

Dow already has placed a carbon sequestration pilot plant near the South Charleston Technology Park, which could be expanded. Why not build on that foundation to advance the research that will help coal continue to be a major source of domestic energy and jobs for West Virginians?

The time is now

Governor Manchin recognizes the value of the South Charleston Technology Park to the future of West Virginia.  We appreciate his strong leadership in pursuing the opportunity that this project presents. Thanks to his commitment, the donation from Dow to the State of West Virginia is close to complete.  

Right now, officials are addressing local issues that could affect the outcome of the donation.  While important, these matters should not derail a project that will benefit the greater good of the Mountain State for generations to come.  We are confident that with the will to create a better future for West Virginia, our leaders can see this project through to the finish line.

We invite you today to join the Alliance in encouraging Governor Manchin, South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens and everyone involved in the outcome of the project to continue their dedication to make it a reality.  They have worked hard, and with our encouragement, we believe they can and will make this project a “go” for the future of our state.

So much at stake

The “new” technology park will be a dynamic environment for commercializing research.  Large companies will be welcomed and entrepreneurs and start-up companies will be nurtured.  New products and new companies will be created to stimulate economic growth and solve today’s critical challenges, many with national and global significance.

We have a brief window of opportunity. Dow has been waiting for more than two years to give our state the gift of the future, and cannot be expected to put major business decisions on hold indefinitely.  Failure to finalize plans for the transfer of tech park property could doom the project to failure.  

The land, research facilities and infrastructure are available. Many highly experienced and successful researchers, innovators and technical workers are still here in the Kanawha Valley. With these ingredients and some creative thinking, we once again can have a bustling research enterprise in our community — and all the economic benefits it would bring. But we cannot wait indefinitely. The facilities and work force will not be here forever. The time to act is now.

The Alliance, Chemical Alliance Zone, MATRIC, City of South Charleston, Mountaineer Capital, the Regional Intergovernmental Council and other organizations committed to our region’s future have worked together for more than a year to support the Governor and the Higher Education Policy Commission on this project.  We successfully applied for $500,000 in federal funding for the park, which was received in mid-2009.  Clearly, with the challenges that face us, even the federal government is hoping we can all work together for the greater good outlined above.

Call to action

If you care about creating high value jobs for West Virginians, giving our young people the promise of a brighter future and helping to solve the challenges facing our state’s industries, then share your views on what the “new” South Charleston Technology Park means to you, your business and your family today.

We urge you to contact Governor Manchin and local leaders to thank them for their leadership and encourage their continued dedication to seizing this once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of West Virginia:

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

South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens:  (304) 744-5300 or at scmayor@cityofsouthcharleston.com

Learn more at www.savethetechpark.com

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