M . S ., administrator for the Cabell-Huntington Health Department . “ This report allows us to develop a community health improvement plan where we identify and address areas to improve upon over the next year or two years .”
According to the health department ’ s 2023 Community Health Assessment Report , Cabell County has more than twice the availability of primary care physicians as the state and nation overall .
Economic and Workforce Development
For Huntington communities to thrive , unglamorous yet significant improvements need to be made , one of which is the Hal Greer Boulevard project . With its location being so close to Marshall ’ s campus , this multi-year , $ 17.8 million project prioritizes safety by providing better lighting and accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists . The city is also investing its time and money in the wastewater system .
“ Between now and 2030 , the Huntington Sanitary Board , of which Mayor Steve Williams is chairman , will make $ 262 million worth of improvements to our sanitary sewer and storm water infrastructure ,” says Bryan Chambers , communications director for the City of Huntington . “ These are much-needed improvements that have been neglected for decades , and the funding is in place . Of that $ 262 million , $ 210 million will go toward a new wastewater treatment plant .”
This overhaul of the wastewater system is vital as the current plant is at 97 % capacity . With more industries coming to Huntington , more issues arise with what the sewer system can treat .
Chris Chiles , executive director of the Region 2 Planning and Development Council , touches on another infrastructure improvement — the addition of a new welcome center .
“ The Division of Highways was awarded $ 1.5 million to design and construct a new West Virginia Welcome Center off of I-64 Exit 8 , which is the 5th Street exit ,” Chiles explains . “ This welcome center will be accessible from both directions of traffic on the interstate , and it can also serve as a visitor center for some of the tourism-related activities in the area . From the 5th Street exit , you can be in downtown Huntington in 10 minutes , or you can be in rural Wayne County in the other direction in 10 minutes . There is a good mix of urban and rural experiences off this exit .”
Photo by Huntington Area CVB .
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