Contact Martin@hepc.wvnet.edu to apply.

The story below appeared in yesterday’s Charleston Gazette.

By Jim Balow

Eighteen feet tall and about 40 feet long, the new sign along Greenbrier Street will be pretty hard to miss. And that’s exactly the point.

The “gateway” sign, which will spell out “City of Charleston” in letters up to 30 inches high, is intended to welcome visitors to the capital city. And in case anyone might think they’re near the ocean, the sign adds the words “West Virginia.”

If all goes well — designers are in final safety negotiations with the state Division of Highways — the sign could be erected this fall.

“The city of Charleston and the Charleston Area Alliance identified this as one of the major gateways into the Charleston,” said David Gilmore, land development services manager with GAI Consultants. “That’s where we have visitors coming into the city, especially from the airport.”

Gilmore got the design job about two months ago. His firm has gained a high profile around town lately as the prime civil, structural and architectural consultants on the riverfront projects — the canopy and stage at Haddad Park, the nearly completed overlook and canopy at the foot of Court Street and the soon-to-be-built floating boat dock.

“The assignment was to design a gateway that was iconic, that used natural regional materials identifiable to the area that kind of harked back to the area’s history. We wanted something simple and attractive, not something you’d see in other towns.

“The other requirement was to design something that could be scaled down to be used at other places around the city.”

Except for a few details, Gilmore’s work is nearly done. “It’s been approved by all the parties involved. We’re wrapping up some final decisions on material choices with the Department of Highways. We’re working with them to get final signoff on the materials.”

Gilmore’s original concept called for a steel beam, about 40 feet long, 18 inches high and a foot wide, running parallel to the road. DOH officials thought the beam could create a hazard if a vehicle ran off the road, so he’s come up with alternatives.

“Some sort of lightweight material — a thinner-gauge metal, like aluminum,” he said.

The uphill end will be anchored in a mound of boulders. The other will be supported by a stone monument, 18 feet tall. “It will be cut stone, sandstone, in an ashlar pattern typical to that seen in buildings around town.” (more…)

“I am glad we made the move to West Virginia.” 
 
That’s why local entrepreneur Jeff Imel responded to a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing West Virginia and its business climate.  Imel, founder of Air Robotics LLC, is a tenant in the Alliance’s small business incubator. 
 
Imel, concerned that people throughout the state and the country may believe some of the unfounded negative perceptions about West Virginia, felt compelled to respond: “West Virginia is a jewel. A treasure,” he says. “People sometimes say ‘no’ because they don’t ‘know’ the many advantages of doing business here.”
 
We’re proud to share his letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal with our members:
 
Brian Bolduc’s “Robert Byrd’s Highways to Nowhere” (op-ed. Weekend Journal, July 10) may have left your readers with the impression that the state of West Virginia is a desolate wasteland for business.
 
I am a business owner and my company designs and manufactures small unmanned aircraft systems, essentially “flying robots.” I recently moved my company to West Virginia from another state. In the site selection process I found the business environment in West Virginia to be vibrant and growing.  In fact, more than $12.7 billion of new business investments have been made in West Virginia since 2005.
 
Within the borders of West Virginia there are hundreds of other innovative firms like my own designing, building and competing successfully in the global marketplace.  These companies build robots used to destroy hidden bombs and manufacture systems and components used in the space program.  They are involved in genetics, chemical manufacture, aerospace, defense, transportation and heavy machines.
 
Companies from around the world have found West Virginia to be a profitable location for their investment, and more than 22,000 West Virginians are now employed by companies from 25 countries.  Not only are international companies coming to West Virginia, but our existing companies are competing successfully around the world. In 2009, businesses in West Virginia exported products to 135 countries. While U.S. exports grew a mere 17 percent over the past five years, West Virginia’s exports grew 53 percent during the same period. 
 
I also learned  that more than 4,800 patents granted by the Patent and Trademark Office since 1976 originated from inventors in West Virginia. Per capita, more patents originated from West Virginia than from Maine, Kentucky, Nevada, Alabama, South Dakota, Alaska, Hawaii, Arkansas and Mississippi.  These are impressive numbers by themselves, but even more so when you consider all of this takes place in a state with a population of slightly less than 2 million people.
 
I tell my peers that they need to seriously consider West Virginia to locate their business.  The environment is business friendly, there is a ready to work workforce, and there are resources available here not enjoyed by companies located in other states.
 
This thriving business environment is possible because of the hard working elected officials representing West Virginians in our state and federal government.  Each of them works to make West Virginia open for business.
 
I am glad we made the move to West Virginia.  I encourage your readers to see what West Virginia has to offer by visiting www.wvcommerce.org.
 
Jeff Imel, Founder
Air Robotics, LLC
Charleston, WV

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Great men stand like solitary towers in the city of God.”

No one represents that sentiment more than  the singular Senator Robert C. Byrd , whose contributions to our state and nation have forever changed history. 

Our hearts are heavy on this sad day, which marks the loss of  one of West Virginia’s – and of the country’s – greatest stalwarts.

Sen. Byrd was a leader our nation could count on.  He staunchly defended the intentions of our founding fathers through his stewardship of the Constitution , a copy of which he always carried in his pocket . He often was a voice of reason during times of unrest.

He did not care about doing the popular thing, just the right thing. 

He was accessible. Whenever our sister organization, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, would desire to discuss a public policy matter with the Senator, he always was willing to listen.

Partisanship didn’t sway his efforts to do what was best for West Virginia. His home state always came first.

Senator Bryd has left a void that can never be filled.  We have lost a great mind, a great heart , a great man  and a great friend. 

On behalf of our 600 members and their 40,000 employees, we extend our sympathy to the Byrd family.  May they be comforted by the prayers and thoughts of all who share their sorrow.

Charleston, West Virginia is fifth place among U.S. housing markets ready for recovery, real estate expert Barbara Corcoran recently reported on NBC’s Today Show.

Charleston earned its spot on the list with a low foreclosure rate, relatively low unemployment and a median home price of only $121,000.

The 2009 Moody’s North American Business Cost Review noted West Virginia has the nation’s third-lowest cost of doing business.

Among the factors contributing to West Virginia’s strong showing were its competitive wage rates – ranked 14th best in the nation - and its low energy costs – the second lowest in the country.

Following the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration in West Virginia for several counties affected by the severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides beginning Administrator Karen G. Mills of the U.S. Small Business Administration issued the following statement: 

“The U.S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the people of West Virginia with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and small businesses with federal disaster loans.  Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

The disaster declaration covers Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Mercer and Raleigh counties in West Virginia, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans:  Boone, Clay, Jackson, Lincoln, McDowell, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Roane, Summers, Webster and Wyoming in West Virginia; and Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Giles and Tazewell in Virginia.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.  Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage in the future. (more…)

The Community Outreach Team of Generation Charleston has announced the beginning of a year-long health awareness campaign in response to West Virginia’s less-than-desirable statistics in the health arena.

Food for thought (pun intended): During 2006, two-thirds of WV adults were either obese or overweight, and the state’s children have not escaped this statistic.

To kick-off this campaign, the group will be hosting a Healthy Cooking Demonstration and Nutrition Talk from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Ferguson Enterprises, 160 Spring Street.  The free event will include a short session on “Nutrition 101″ and a cooking demonstration to show how to easily prepare healthy meals that taste good. 

Children are welcome, too. Fun activities will be available.