Legislature ’ s support on legislation to provide employer expanded child care site availability .
“ We are grateful for this investment in child care services to better support our region ’ s health care employees ,” says Susan Beth Robinson , chief human resources officer for MHN . “ While our employees are caring for others , we want them to have the assurance that their children are taken care of as well . We are committed to providing families with access to child care options that improve their work / life balance and , ultimately , their overall well-being .”
Mountain Health Network ’ s new child care centers .
The child care centers , in partnership with Ridge Kids Academy , offer services for children from six weeks to age 12 between the hours of 6 a . m . and 7:30 p . m ., says Heather Blake , executive director of Ridge Kids Academy .
“ We are proud to offer a space where children feel invited to think creatively , explore , ask questions , use their senses and form relationships ,” Blake says .
Families will also have access to gymnastics and dance classes as well as therapy rooms and skilled professionals with special needs training .
The CHH Child Care Center is located at 3350 Woodville Drive in Huntington . The SMMC Child Care Center is located at 2788 Collis Avenue in Huntington . The centers are currently only open to children and grandchildren of MHN , Marshall Health and Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine employees . Plans are underway to expand these child care services to other health care workers in the community .
Christopher Peacock Manufacturing Begins Expansion
September 12 , 2023 , marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the start of construction of the expansion of a 31,000-square-foot building at Christopher Peacock Manufacturing ’ s woodworking facility in Wardensville , WV .
The facility , which world-renowned luxury cabinetry designer Christopher Peacock has owned for 27 years , will double its size , providing extra capacity for continued growth and include state-of-the-art machinery . He will also construct a stand-alone cabinetry showroom and learning center on the property to provide ongoing training for his workshop team and to host private factory tours for his clients . The projected completion of the project is scheduled for July 2024 .
“ We have been planning this for some time and the additional space will double our production capacity and create manufacturing efficiency , while also providing an opportunity to handle further growth of our domestic and international showroom network ,” Peacock says . “ The expansion will create another 30-40 jobs over time and fits perfectly with the rejuvenation of the local community . Needless to say , I am proud of our continued commitment to make our product here in the USA and to invest in the future of the town of Wardensville and the great state of West Virginia .”
Pendleton , Grant Counties Form Joint Development Authority
The Pendleton County Economic and Community Development Authority and the Grant County Development Authority have partnered to form a new regional joint economic development authority . This new regional development authority represents both counties in the pursuit and recruitment of new businesses and economic development opportunities to the region .
The new authority is called the Seneca Rocks Regional Development Authority , capitalizing on the name recognition of one of the most iconic locations in West Virginia .
A new regional board of directors has been appointed to oversee the operations of the regional development authority . Each county commission appointed seven board members . The current board of directors of both county authorities will remain in place for the next year to ensure a smooth transition of current projects and opportunities to the new regional authority .
Laura Brown is the executive director of the new regional joint development authority . She is joined by two administrative staff members , Sherry Mongold and Sherri Arbogast .
West Virginians for Affordable Health Care Names Executive Director
West Virginians for Affordable Health Care ( WVAHC ) is pleased to announce Ellen Allen as its new executive director . Allen brings over 35 years of management and leadership experience to WVAHC .
Ellen Allen .
“ I am honored to be working alongside experts in the field of health care to advance public policy that gives West Virginians a voice in health care choices ,” says Allen . “ I look forward to continuing in the tradition of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care to promote public policy that makes for better informed and healthier families .”
Allen most recently served as executive director for Mountain State Spotlight , a nonprofit newsroom . Before that , she provided executive leadership at Covenant House , a Charleston-based nonprofit , for over 10 years .
Allen ’ s tenure at Covenant House included advancing housing rights and opportunities that prevented homelessness , improved food security and improved access to high-quality and affordable health care for people experiencing homelessness , low wage workers and those living with HIV / AIDS . •
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