Through a collaboration with the PACF, the MOVRC was also able to help the town catch up on overdue audits, allowing it to begin infrastructure improvements previously held up.
“ If you are talking about collaboratives in our eight counties, we seem to be working really well,” he says.“ I do not think there is a day or a week that goes by that I don’ t talk to Lisha with the EDA or Lindsey Piersol.”
Ecostrat, a biomass and organic feedstock supplier, recently reached out to the Roane County EDA and PACF with an interest in the area’ s natural resources. This encouraged local organizations to further explore the woody biomass feedstock in the area and see how it may attract new businesses.
Morlan explains that the Roane County EDA is working with these organizations to secure a USDA Rural Development Block Grant to fund a Bioeconomy Development Opportunity zone rating.
“ Lindsey, Mike and I talked, and it sounds like Roane County has a density of that woody feedstock, and they look at a 75-mile radius,” Morlan says.“ So, what is the feedstock? What is the supply chain, and what are potential companies that could be attracted to the area that want to make biofuel out of the woody stock?”
Morlan says the Roane County EDA is also hosting a grant writing workshop, in collaboration with Roane County EMS / 911 and MOVRC, facilitated by the Grant Resource Network. Other strategic efforts are leading a multi-county broadband initiative and a designated Appalachian drone and aviation weekend for the county on September 11-13.
“ The intent of that is to introduce drones and drone usage across multiple vertical industrial sectors and expose students to the different types of jobs they could secure utilizing drones,” she says.
At the 1982 Foundation, community revitalization is underway through renovations that will create space for new businesses in Grantsville. The organization has purchased the Calhoun County High School to rebuild, and has plans to build a private school, fine dining restaurant
Patrons swim at the Saundra Johnson Aquatic Center. Photo by Mary Mullenax. and collective restaurant. Focusing on serving children in the area, the foundation has also recently opened an aquatic center and hosts programs like Gift of Giving, giving out Christmas presents at no cost.
Vienna’ s Grand Central Mall, under new owner Cafaro Company, is undergoing major renovations, including new paint, roofing, HVAC, lighting, flooring, restrooms and entrances.
The Wood County Development Authority is also utilizing 2022 and 2023 federal earmark grants to renovate the former Civil War hospital in Wood County. A 2026 grant will allow the development authority to update Spencer’ s Landing as well.
“ This grant for $ 1 million will allow the concrete and industrial structure to be broken up, removed and have site work done to level the ground out for future use,” Piersol says.
Brenda Mobley, executive director of the Ripley Convention & Visitors Bureau( CVB), says the organization accomplishes many things through its community partnerships, including collaborating with retail businesses for shopping events like the Silver Bell Stroll, which the CVB plans to expand this year.
“ We promote everything we possibly can about Jackson County, whether it is shopping, dining, staying in the hotels or campgrounds,” Mobley says.“ Our goal is to bring people here to enjoy our area.”
Outdoor Recreation
According to Fleak, MOVRC, which acts as the administrator for Metropolitan Planning Organization TripleW, which is located at the agency, is currently working on its long-term transportation plan. It will run through 2050.
“ A hot topic is the rails to trails, the P2P, which is the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh trail,” Fleak says.“ We are ground zero, and you cannot really get on the trails at ground zero. There is a big push to try to get bikes to start in downtown Parkersburg, to hit the rails, to head out to North Bend and then on up through.”
Mark Lewis, president and CEO of the Greater Parkersburg CVB, says the West Virginia Motor Speedway has reopened in Mineral Wells and explains that the CVB is seeking out funding for a sewage extension to the track. Mark says he has also met with Richie County Commissioner Steve Ritter to secure funding for a four-county area that can be used to build routes and itineraries on gravel roads for bike packers.
“ We are trying to find the funding to do that with the potential of creating the largest connected network of mapped gravel trails in the eastern U. S. and maybe in the country,” he says.
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