HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Hampshire County Development
Authority (HCDA) is creating sustainable
growth by building world-class digital
infrastructure. In collaboration with
the county commission and USDA,
the HCDA established a broadband
initiative with the goal of being the
first rural county in West Virginia to
achieve maximum connectivity resulting
in measurable economic improvements
through business recruitment and
expansion and job creation. The fiber
project, completed in 2017, resulted
in the relocation of SJ Morse Company
and the location of Virginia-based
Shadow Works to the Capon Bridge
Technology Park. The HCDA was also
pleased to welcome New England
Manufacturing LLC from Florida.
“Hampshire’s biggest challenge
to economic development was
proactively transitioned to our
biggest opportunity and recruitment
tool,” says HCDA Executive Director
Eileen Johnson. “The digital
infrastructure being built significantly
reduces the perception of our
geographic isolation to our north-
eastern markets. The improved digital
environment along with opportunity
zone and HUBZone designation
positions the county well for
continued growth.”
JEFFERSON COUNTY
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Jefferson County Development
Authority (JCDA) assists business
owners in identifying available
property and providing information
on infrastructure, labor force,
workforce training programs,
financing options and incentives
and permitting processes. With
a recent focus on advanced light
manufacturing, small business,
technology, health care, tourism and
agriculture, the JCDA is working hard
to create sustainable jobs in the area.
Several major economic development
projects are happening in the county,
including the ROCKWOOL North
America manufacturing facility in
Ranson and the TeMa North America
manufacturing plant and Blossman
Gas propane distribution facility in
Kearneysville.
“ROCKWOOL is making a $150 million
investment and is expected to provide
150 jobs, TeMa made a $10 million
investment that will provide 25-30
jobs, and Blossman intends to employ
approximately 20 people,” says
JCDA Interim Director Lyn Goodwin.
“Currently about 70 percent of our
workforce lives in Jefferson County
but travels outside the county to work.
By attracting new industries, we are
creating sustainable jobs and expanding
and diversifying our tax base.”
MORGAN COUNTY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Morgan County Economic
Development Authority (MCEDA) is
a volunteer group of local business
officials with a mission to promote
business investment, job creation
and economic development in
Morgan County. The area is currently
experiencing major investments in
infrastructure, education, parks and
tourism, including a major highway
project via the Roads to Prosperity
initiative; a $55 million natural gas
distribution project; a $25 million
upgrade to Cacapon State Park;
SpringTech Innovation Lab, a new small
business incubator; a growing Blue
Ridge Community and Technical College
campus; and the reopening of the
Coolfont Resort, a historic resort hotel
that has been refurbished to include
modern amenities and a restaurant.
“Morgan County has creative energy, a
cool economy and a healthy lifestyle.
It is a wonderful place to raise a family
and make a living, and the quality of
life is a major benefit,” says MCEDA
Executive Director Daryl Cowles. “Pair
that with the major infrastructure
projects underway, and we have a
clear, focused path toward success. ”
WESTERN POTOMAC
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
The Western Potomac Economic
Partnership (West-PEP) serves as
the primary entity for promoting the
Eastern Panhandle as a great place to
do business.
“We are unique in that we can
honestly promote a growing four-
county region that has historically
added population and provided an
exceptional workforce and diverse
economy,” says Bill Clark,executive
director of the Eastern Panhandle
Regional Planning and Development
Council and administrator for West-PEP.
“The Eastern Panhandle has a history
of being a great investment, and it
continues to grow in population and
add to its already vibrant economy. The
diversity of the business and industry
here is what is needed and supports
the overall economy of the state.”
West-PEP is always working with
other area organizations on a variety
of projects and recently succeeded
in getting several qualifying census
tracts approved as opportunity zones.
“The work and success of West-PEP
is based on a concept of working
together and sharing resources, and
all of the area’s economic development
organizations and the Eastern West
Virginia Regional Airport have shared
and partnered in some way to better
the region,” says Clark.