Partners in Progress
By Samantha Cart
“ The whole is greater than the sum of its parts .” – Aristotle
In a small state like West Virginia , collaboration is key . Collaboration among organizations offers priceless benefits , including increased innovation , stronger programs , shared resources and increased community awareness . With these tools , communities can more easily achieve common goals and overcome obstacles .
Parkersburg , WV , is made up of a variety of enthusiastic and committed organizations dedicated to making the area an exciting and prosperous place to call home by attracting businesses , creating jobs and redeveloping its downtown district .
A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
The City of Parkersburg , Downtown PKB and the Wood County Economic Development Office work closely together to advance community initiatives and propel projects and ideas forward that may not come to fruition otherwise .
“ The general public may not be aware , but each of our entities is comprised of one- or two-person offices ,” says Lindsey Piersol , executive director of the Wood County Economic Development Office . “ Working together allows us to have more manpower to boost economic development county wide .”
This long-term community partnership is facilitated by monthly community leader meetings hosted by Downtown PKB where the Parkersburg area ’ s economic development leaders meet to discuss various issues and collaborate on projects to help each agency represented succeed .
“ Collaboration is the linchpin to economic development ,” says Wendy Shriver , executive director of Downtown PKB . “ The synergy we have developed is contagious , and when like-minded people are working toward a common goal , we begin to make a difference .”
AN IDEAL LOCATION
While these organizations enjoy an unmatched teamwork that fuels them to advance their own corner of Almost Heaven , the area truly sells itself . As the third largest city in West Virginia with a population of 31,492 , Parkersburg is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers in the Greater Mid-Ohio Valley . While it is home to beautiful scenery , it also provides a short drive to major hubs such as Pittsburgh , Columbus and Washington , DC , making it ideal for both families and businesses .
Pair that with year-round festivals and events , 130 acres of parkland , the Julia-Ann Square Historic District — the largest and oldest historic district in West Virginia — and a cost of living 15.2 percent lower than
the U . S . average , and Parkersburg offers the perfect venue for economic development and community planning .
“ I choose to live and work in the Parkersburg area because of the relationships I have forged and the opportunity to positively affect change in the community ,” says Rickie Yeager , development director for the City of Parkersburg . “ This area ’ s greatest asset is its people and their love of community . Mobilizing this deep-felt connection among residents and instilling a sense of pride in future generations are part of our mission and are critical not only to the city but the region ’ s long-term future .”
A SERIES OF WINS
Working together allows these groups to accomplish more than they could alone , and the City of Parkersburg , Downtown PKB and the Wood County Economic Development Office have worked closely on a variety of projects , including the development of an informational resource to help prospective entrepreneurs navigate the process of starting a new business and pre-development meetings and courtesy walkthroughs with the city ’ s fire department and code division .
The team has a strong relationship with its community partners . They include the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley , the Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council . The team also works closely with local philanthropic organizations , social service agencies and the arts community to advance positive improvements . Recently , Downtown PKB assembled a team to help conceptualize the possibility of developing a mixed-use project that could incorporate co-working space , a business incubator and downtown housing in the same building . The team continues to work on identifying the viability of this project as a way to spur economic development .