West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 27

Photo by Putnam County CVB. An employee at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Buffalo. Photo by PCDA. Photo by Putnam County CVB. An Opportune Place to Live Employment opportunities naturally generate other positive attributes in Putnam County’s communities, including affordable housing, top-tier schools, diverse recreational opportunities and access to health care. The county’s 23 schools include three National Blue Ribbon Schools, 16 West Virginia Schools of Excellence, one National Title I Distinguished School and one Premier Career & Technical Center. Among Putnam County students, the average ACT scores are above the national composite, and the county’s graduation rate is one of the best in the state. Also, the Putnam Career & Technical Center boasts a 91 percent job placement rate for graduates. Putnam County residents also enjoy convenient access to six hospitals, including several university teaching facilities, and an abundance of health care specialists. It was ranked the third healthiest county in the Mountain State in 2020 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). One of the markers on the RWJF’s County Health Rankings & Roadmaps is access to exercise opportunities, and Putnam County is home to a variety of recreational activities, including amenities added during the recent upgrade to Valley Park in Hurricane. “The 60-acre park now includes the Waves of Fun water park; an 18-hole mini golf course; baseball, softball and soccer fields; tennis and beach volleyball courts; numerous multipurpose fields; fishing ponds; miles of walking trails; an outdoor amphitheater; a seasonal synthetic ice rink; numerous picnic shelters; and a fenced-in dog park,” says Dunlap. Along with the Valley Park renovation and other notable changes, other amenities that promote a healthier lifestyle have been part of the county culture for years. “Eleanor Park has these amazing hiking and biking trails that have been a bit of a best-kept secret,” says Kelli Steele, executive director of the Putnam County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “The Meeks Mountain Trails system at Hurricane City Park that recently opened and is still being developed offers even more trails for enthusiasts. Winfield also just put in a beautiful boat launch ramp right under the Winfield Bridge, which provides a safe place for motorboats to launch. It’s also an ideal spot for paddle sports because the water is relatively still there since it’s just upriver from the Winfield Locks and Dam. I think Putnam County will become more of a destination for trail runners, mountain bikers and watersports in the next five to 10 years.” An Opportune Place to Play Along with easy access the river and hiking and biking trails, Putnam County is also home to a growing foodie scene and boutique shopping. “Many people don’t realize how many great local restaurants are here in Putnam County,” says Steele. “We have everything from ethnic cuisine to country cooking, and I’m still surprised by the quality and variety of food for the size of the community.” The county’s impressive collection of beautiful indoor and outdoor locations makes the perfect backdrop for a wealth of community events and celebrations. “The chamber loves partnering with other organizations in the county like the Putnam County CVB, Putnam County Schools, Putnam County Library and Putnam Parks and Recreation to provide a wide range of events and services to help support people of all ages. We are all in this together, and that sense of community is what makes our county so attractive,” says Glance. Some of the county’s most successful events include Main Street Food Truck Fridays in Hurricane, the Putnam County Farmers Market and Tastes and Talents Month. “Tastes and Talents is our annual month-long focus on food and the arts that occurs each March,” says Steele. “We work with local restaurants to promote specials, local food, local music and local artists. By March, people are usually itching to get out again following the winter, so it’s a great time to remind people about the amazing food and artists right here in the area. I think there is a perception that there is nothing to WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM SPRING/SUMMER 2020 25