“Biotechnology is what Progenesis is all about, and biotechnology can be a big factor in West Virginia’s economy. We need this tech park. This is the perfect location. It’s something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in West Virginia. Recruitment is going to be easy, and I think that’s what we can focus on now.”

Deepay Mukerjee
President, Progenesis Technologies

“Governor Manchin has demonstrated tremendous vision and leadership in saving the Tech Park. This action will not only preserve my job at MATRIC but will also save hundreds of other good jobs at the site. More importantly, having access to world-class labs and pilot plants will facilitate building a more robust West Virginia economy based on innovation to create sustainable prosperity via high-tech and clean industry jobs.”

Parvez Wadia
Chief Technology Officer, MATRIC

“I am one of the many parents working in the tech park. I grew up in this region, and I wouldn’t be able to stay here if we didn’t have this facility. I do want to raise my child here. I’m thankful I can do this work here and not have to move away. I’m appreciative of what the governor and so many others were able to do.”

Kristy Dillon
Chief R&D Technician, Progenesis Technologies

“We appreciate the vision and commitment to accept the tech park donation and keep the possibilities for innovation in West Virginia. I’m sure I would have moved had they not. I came here from Houston, and the innovation is what brought me here. The labs here are very unique, but beyond that is the human capital that has been developing patents and developing new technologies for so long. Scattering that would have been a huge loss.”

Nolan Nicholas
Research Scientist, MATRIC

“This deal has allowed me to stay in the Kanawha Valley with my family. I originally had moved away from Charleston for a job, and this position with MATRIC gave me a chance to come back home. Now, I’m able to stay. The tech park’s potential is big. There’s no facility like it anywhere in the state. If we hadn’t kept these high-paying jobs here, Charleston and South Charleston would have lost that tax revenue.”

Adam Lucas
Director of Information Technology, MATRIC

This is the second in a series of FAQs to address issues related to The Dow Chemical Company’s donation of property at the South Charleston Technology Park to the State of West Virginia:

Click here to view the first part of the FAQ.

16.  What happens now that the Higher Education Policy Commission has accepted Dow’s donation?

The Higher Education Policy Commission and its partners will continue implementation of a $500,000 federal grant to study research park models and develop plans for the South Charleston property.  Initial mapping of the property has been completed.   Now that the state has formally accepted the donation, remaining grant funds will be available to continue planning activity related to marketing and fiscal and facilities management.

The Governor will appoint a transition team to oversee this process and ensure that every opportunity to realize the potential of the park is pursued.  The Charleston Area Alliance expects to be at the table during this process.

17.  When will new business tenants move to the tech park?

In the two years since Dow announced its desire to donate the property, global energy-sector corporations and other businesses have expressed interest in utilizing existing facilities or constructing new buildings on the site.  However, because the ownership status of the property was uncertain, these businesses were unable to move forward with meaningful plans to locate at the park.  

Since the Governor announced a week ago that the state would take ownership of buildings and land located at the tech park, venture capital firms and other businesses have begun to inquire about the property again.  

In light of nation’s growing need for energy innovation and the park’s location and rare pilot plants, the site was and is very attractive to corporations and start-ups looking for facilities where they can commercialize research and bring solutions to national and global challenges to the marketplace.  The Alliance will continue working with the Chemical Alliance Zone, Advantage Valley and federal, state and local partners to promote the property to site consultants and others looking for an opportune location to launch or expand a research and technology-related business. (more…)

“This was great news for me. I have a long tradition here. My father began working at Union Carbide in 1959, the year I was born. I’ve been working here for 30 years, and I’ve worked in all three buildings that have been donated to the state. These are excellent facilities, and I love the campus atmosphere. We have a lot of good technological minds in the state, and when facilities like this go away, they go away. And you don’t get that back.”

Vince Stricker
Senior Process Engineering Specialist, Dow

The Higher Education Policy Commission today voted in favor of accepting a donation from The Dow Chemical Company for property and buildings at the South Charleston Technology Park. Following Governor Joe Manchin’s announcement last week that the state plans to transform the park into an “Education, Research and Technology Park,” Commission members echoed that commitment and formally approved the agency’s new role in overseeing the park.  The vote was unanimous among participating members.

“This represents a tremendous opportunity for higher education, for research and development, and for the future of West Virginia,” said David Hendrickson, Chairman of the Commission. “We are ready to take on this new venture, which is sure to be challenging – but also has the potential to present a new terrain of possibility that our state has never before seen.”

West Virginia’s strategic plan for science and technology is to transform West Virginia’s economy by spurring job creation and technology-based business development. With far-reaching research taking place across the state, the primary goal of the park is to create a business incubator for developing and commercializing ideas, including research in energy, chemicals and materials, and biotechnology.

“Thanks to leadership from Governor Manchin, legislators, federal representatives, local officials and the business community, all of the right pieces are coming together to put the tech park – and West Virginia – on an encouraging new path,” said Brian Noland, the Commission’s Chancellor. “Members of the Commission today again signaled the state’s willingness and desire to make that happen, and I am eager to pursue the promise that I know the park holds for education and the economy.” (more…)

“I’m here because of the labs and facilities, so I’m happy they were able to save the Tech Park. I’m happy we’ll have more opportunities here. We’ll see more potential clients who need experimental facilities. We already have a lot of good people here, and now we can keep the existing workforce.”

Chuck Moyers
Senior Chemical Engineer, MATRIC