Business and Economic Development

The story behind WV’s historic property tax credit legislation passing + where to go for details

10.19.17

On Tuesday, October 17, The West Virginia House and Senate passed House Bill 203 which increased the State Historic Tax Credit from 10% to 25% in a special session of the WV Legislature. Governor Jim Justice placed the bill on the Special Session agenda after consultation with legislative leadership and interested parties.

A coalition including the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, Abandoned Properties Coalition, US Green Building Council, WV Chapter, WV Community Development Hub, Wheeling Heritage, private developers, citizens, and municipalities created the Revitalize West Virginia Downtown Coalition. The Coalition developed a plan to increase the state historic tax credit to aid in economic development of the state and educate legislators on the importance of the historic rehabilitation tax credit.

For more information relating to the historic tax credit program, contact Jennifer Brennan, State Historic Tax Credit Coordinator at 304-558-0240.

The 25% credit brings West Virginia to parity with neighboring states. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have a 25% state historic tax credit; Maryland and Kentucky have a 20% tax credit. This increase will encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings and spur private investment, create jobs, and help rid our state of vacant and underutilized buildings.

Studies have shown that the estimated return on the state’s investment is approximately 2:1. This means for every dollar of tax credit provided by the state two dollars of additional state taxes and revenue will be created through investments.

The Legislature passed the legislation with overwhelming support in both houses. Mike Gioulis, Preserveration Alliance of WV Advocacy Chairperson, speaking for the group, stated: “The coalition would like to thank all of the legislators that voted in favor of the bill, including the sponsors, Speaker Tim Armstead (R, Kanawha) and Tim Miley (D, Harrison). We appreciate that Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns (R, Ohio) and Senator Glenn Jeffries (D, Putnam) spoke in favor of the bill. We also would like to thank Chairman Eric Nelson, Jr. (R, Kanawha) for his leadership on this issue. The group also values the support and leadership of Governor Jim Justice as well as his staff.”

The West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office is developing standards and procedures to educate and promote the program to the public. For more information relating to the historic tax credit program, contact Jennifer Brennan, State Historic Tax Credit Coordinator at 304-558-0240.

For additional information regarding this effort, please contact the Preservation Alliance of WV Advocacy Chairman Mike Gioulis at 304-545-4881. Also, please visit http://www.pawv.org and http://www.revitalizewvdowntowns.com.

The Register Herald: Rebounding after a historic flood, Mullens leverages new opportunities

10.10.17

West Mullens Playground. From the City of Mullens Foundation Facebook Page.

BY ANDELINA LANCIANESE FOR THE REGISTER HERALD

Mullens, a small town just 23 miles south of Beckley, has continued to rebound in the 16 years since a devastating flood wiped out homes, businesses, and streets.

Now, the Coalfields Expressway — which will provide a new 115-mile corridor between Beckley and Slate, Virginia — promises to connect Mullens with the bustling city to its north.

An enthusiastic group of former and current Mullens residents wants to be ready for that connection upon the expressway’s completion in 2019. The group, which calls itself the City of Mullens Foundation, is sprucing up the town’s recreational options in the hope that families who want to live close to Beckley will be attracted.

Mullens has low home prices, a safe atmosphere, pleasant aesthetics and Mullens Mayor Jon McKinney lauds the group’s efforts, saying that the volunteers exemplify the family-like atmosphere of the town…

Read the full article on The Register Herald website »

Coal Valley News: Boone County Group Transforming School into Community Center

10.10.17

BY PHIL PERRY FOR COAL VALLEY NEWS

The facility that once housed Nellis Elementary School is undergoing a repurposing project led by a local community group.

With the original gymnasium that was erected in the 1920s still standing strong, coupled with the attached school that was last remodeled in the 1980s, Nellis Elementary School last saw students in the 2015-16 school year before consolidation sent their students to Ashford-Rumble Elementary.

One community group called B.A.R.N. (Brushton, Ashford, Ridgeview, Nellis) has acquired ownership of the property and looks to repurpose it into a daycare, library, community center and, the group hopes, a medical facility. The first phase will include having a working gym, office, kitchen and restrooms.

B.A.R.N. event coordinator Michelle Graley of Ashford has led a charge toward flipping the building into something beneficial for the community…

Read the full article on the Coal Valley News website »

New York Times: Workforce Training Programs Bring Economic Diversification to Coal Country

10.10.17

BY DIANE CARDWELL FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

From the mountain hollows of Appalachia to the vast open plains of Wyoming, the coal industry long offered the promise of a six-figure income without a four-year college degree, transforming sleepy farm towns into thriving commercial centers.

But today, as King Coal is being dethroned — by cheap natural gas, declining demand for electricity, and even green energy — what’s a former miner to do?

Nowhere has that question had more urgency than in Wyoming and West Virginia, two very different states whose economies lean heavily on fuel extraction. With energy prices falling or stagnant, both have lost population and had middling economic growth in recent years. In national rankings of economic vitality, you can find them near the bottom of the pile.

Their fortunes have declined as coal has fallen from providing more than half of the nation’s electricity in 2000 to about one-third last year. Thousands of workers have lost their jobs and moved on — leaving idled mines, abandoned homes and shuttered stores downtown.

Now, though, new businesses are emerging…

Read the complete article on The New York Times website »

Pleasants County to organize pop-up holiday retail project, seeking vendors

10.03.17

The Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking local vendors, artists and crafters interested in the annual pop-up retail store concept in the Pleasants County area. Jody Murphy, executive director of the Pleasants Chamber, said the Chamber is again working with area landlords to offer temporary retail sales space for the holiday shopping season.

The Chamber wants to provide a retail outlet for artists, craftsmen and vendors to sell their products on a part-time seasonal basis. Comics & Kicks, Whippoorwill Artworks, and Toadally Tees all got started through a seasonal approach.

The Chamber is working on multiple sites for pop-up stores, depending on the number of retailers seeking space. The group anticipates the pop-up stores will operate for the holiday shopping season, running through November and December.

The Chamber will deal with the rental agreements on the building. Retailers are responsible for any business licenses, taxes, sales and store hours.

Potential vendors should contact the Chamber of Commerce about the retail opportunity. Call 304-684-9909 or email the Chamber at pleasantschamber@frontiernet.net.

Calling all WVians who want to start, grow, or save their business for the Good Jobs Conference

10.03.17

BY DAN TAYLOR, ENERGIZING ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM COORDINATOR, THE HUB

The first ever WV Good Jobs Conference is coming!

This new event will be held in Beckley at Tamarack from November 6-8. The conference is specifically designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners in West Virginia and is intended to provide workshops, technical assistance, networking opportunities and even funding possibilities for all those working to start, grow, or save their business here in WV.

For those small business owners and entrepreneurs who may not be able to commit to the entire three days, Tuesday, November 7th is the day not-to-miss.

For those small business owners and entrepreneurs who may not be able to commit to the entire three days, Tuesday, November 7th is the day not-to-miss, as it hosts the majority of the breakout-sessions and expos that focus on small business/entrepreneurial development, assistance, and funding.

Furthermore, the Conference is a great opportunity for the region’s stakeholders in economic development and diversification to gather and share best practices, debate policy, celebrate recent successes, and meet and mingle with the present and future economic game-changers for the region.

Lastly, the Good Jobs Conference will also serve as the final round for the WV Good Jobs Business Plan Competition. The top 15 plans (selected from the original pool of 90) will pitch for awards up to $10,000 in their respective categories. Not only that, but all the plans that placed in the top 25 are guaranteed at least $1000! Come meet and greet these incredible entrepreneurs!

This event has been put together by Strong Mountain Communities, a nonprofit focused on nurturing job creation, sustainable economic development and diversification in the southern coalfields of West Virginia.

The conference schedule, including topics, speakers, and links to our partners, is on the Strong Mountain Communities website. Registration is open and scholarships are available.

Event: WV Good Jobs Conference:
Location: Tamarack Conference Center (1 Tamarack Pl, Beckley, WV 25801)
Date: November 6-8
Details and registration: http://strongmountaincommunities.org/

Marshall University: 9 higher education institutions join forces to attract business to WV

09.26.17

BY MARSHALL UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR MARSHALL UNIVERSITY

Marshall University President Jerome A. Gilbert said this morning that southern West Virginia’s higher education institutions have joined for a major effort to help attract businesses to West Virginia and create jobs.

He announced the formation of the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 81st Annual Meeting & Business Summit at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. Led by Marshall, the Alliance is made up of nine two- and four-year higher education institutions and is focused on marketing the region to prospective businesses.

Members institutions include Bluefield State College, Bluefield; BridgeValley Community and Technical College, South Charleston; Concord University, Athens; Marshall University, Huntington; Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington; New River Community and Technical College, Beaver; Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Mount Gay; West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Beckley; and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg…

Read the article on Marshall’s website »

Take part – Create Your State is bringing new energy to the arts in 5 WV communities

09.26.17

Create Your State Tour

Are you interested in using creativity and the arts to build up your hometown? RiffRaff Arts Collective from Princeton is bringing the Create Your State program to five communities this October 9-13 to help do just that.

All events are free and open to all West Virginians. Residents from the select areas as well as surrounding cities and towns are encouraged to attend.

Stops on the tour include:

Monday, 10/9 – Boone Coal Heritage & Arts Center, Madison
Tuesday, 10/10 – East Bank Middle School, East Bank
Wednesday, 10/11 – Benedum Civic Center, Bridgeport
Thursday, 10/12 – Charles Washington Hall, Charles Town
Friday, 10/13 – Marlinton Municipal Building, Marlinton

All events take place from 6:30-9:30pm.

Create Your State is an entertaining multimedia musical performance and workshop that inspires and empowers creative community transformation.

Social entrepreneurs from Princeton, WV tell their personal story of how the arts are reigniting their once abandoned downtown with creative capital, reclaiming it as an arts district that is increasingly drawing new business and tourism.

The program is open to everyone, including town leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, students, and engaged residents. Participants will gain skills, tools, and on-the-ground contacts to spark positive change and cultivate similar momentum to what is now found in Princeton in their own towns. They will also be invited to take advantage of ongoing support—resources, contacts, mentorship—as they carry out arts-based community development projects after the workshop.

For more information, visit createyourstate.org or call 304-320-8833.

Williamson Daily News: BuildJobs Initiative helps miners get back to work in a new trade

09.19.17

BY DESIREE SHORT FOR WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS

There could be light at the end of the tunnel for coal miners who have been laid off in southern West Virginia. PRIDE community Services, Inc., based in Logan, West Virginia, has a new program called BuildJobs Initiative that assists laid-off coal miners by helping them get back to work in a new trade.

Director Sheila Riddle said the program was funded through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to assist laid-off coal miners in the Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo and Wyoming county areas.

The BuildJobs Initiative is a 16-week program that puts miners on the path to success with on-the-job training. Week one of the program is an application/orientation week that helps participants decide which career path would suit them. The program offers on-the-job training in plumbing, electrical, residential contracting, HVAC, welding and several other trades throughout the next 14 weeks of the program.

During these fourteen weeks, Riddle said, “We provide them with a $20-a-day stipend to help with any cost associated with the training, such as gas to get to and from the job…”

Read the full story on Williamson Daily News »

Williamson Daily News: Public Wifi coming to Williamson, WV

09.11.17

From the Williamson Daily News

U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) reported this week that the Downtown Wifi Access in Williamson project has received a $15,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The grant will help establish two free wifi hotspots in downtown Williamson. The initial hotspot will be at the Williamson Health and Wellness Center, and the second hotspot will be installed at the Mingo County Courthouse. The free wifi will be used not only by local residents who come to the downtown area for business and shopping, but also by visitors to the city.

“Internet access is a critical component for economic development and diversification. I commend Williamson Health and Wellness for giving access to free Wi-Fi to areas of downtown Williamson where people will be able to enjoy this key resource,” Jenkins said.

“This is a great first step in developing reliable broadband networks all across Mingo County that are essential to our economic diversification efforts,” said Leasha Johnson, executive director of the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority…

Read the full article on the Williamson Daily News website »