Soaring
to New
Heights
Something remarkable is happening in Harrison County. A vibrant and growing
region with low unemployment, affordable land ready for development and a
top-tier business community, Harrison County continues to grow and attract
new industries and new people. As an integral part of West Virginia’s high-tech
corridor, the county is home to prominent aerospace, biometrics, engineering and
energy companies. The Harrison County Economic Development Corporation
(HCEDC) is the lead economic developer for the county and works continuously
with businesses that are considering relocating or expanding in the area by
promoting its many advantages. Established in 2015 to create jobs and foster
economic growth, the HCEDC works with new and existing companies with
job retention, creation, training and recruitment.
As the economy continues to grow, the HCEDC is helping attract aerospace
and technology companies in particular, making Harrison County a trailblazer in
technological advancement throughout the Mountain State. As such it is home to
the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex (MAAC), which promotes the North Central
West Virginia Airport (CKB) and is home to West Virginia’s only true cluster of
world-renowned aerospace companies, including Aurora Flight Sciences – A
Boeing Company, Bombardier, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney. MAAC
also hosts West Virginia’s only FAA-certified training facility, the Robert C. Byrd
National Aerospace Education Center. This coupled with the Harrison County
Board of Education’s Academy of Aviation Technology program for high school
students helps ensure a constant supply of this niche, highly trained workforce.
This aerospace cluster provides a $1.1 billion annual economic impact on West
Virginia’s economy.
CKB is a regional entity that is jointly owned by Harrison and Marion counties
and a thriving airport that offers West Virginians global connectivity. Through
the recruitment of Allegiant and United Express, access to the world for business
or leisure has never been easier. CKB is currently undergoing a $70 million,
three-phase development project. Phase I will consist of excavation to build a
site for a new terminal located directly off I-79. The terminal will have three
gates with jetways and ample parking facilities and will accommodate any size
and type airplane the runway can handle. Phase II will create approximately
50 additional acres with direct taxiway access to the airports 7,800-foot-long
runway. This can be used for AeroTech commercial and industrial use. Phase
III will be final development of land not accessible to the runway for additional
AeroTech commercial and industrial use. Other developments at CKB include
the Benedum Logistics Park, located at the intersection of Route 50 and Route
76 East, and a new planned Harrison County Industrial Park that will support
growth to the county and aerospace industry. Thanks to the work of the HCEDC,
MAAC and CKB, the sky is the limit for Harrison County.
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