[ economy ]
A United Front
Fighting for Economic Development
JEAN HARDIMAN
Historically, institutions of higher education have been competitors. Whether for students, funding or accolades, the competition has been stiff. But 10 institutions of higher learning from across Southern West Virginia have decided to seek out the benefits of coming together for a cause: attracting businesses to the region and spurring economic development.
Spearheaded by Marshall University President Dr. Jerome Gilbert, the group includes Bluefield State College, Bridge- Valley Community & Technical College, Concord University, Mountwest Community & Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia State University, West Virginia University Institute of Technology and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
These schools have formed the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia, which will focus on 21 counties in the southern part of the state that have been hit hardest by the decline in the coal industry and the opioid crisis. They will work collaboratively on initiatives to foster an environment for economic growth and support local and state agencies in recruiting businesses to the region.
“ This is a way to pool our knowledge, resources and abilities to assist our communities in raising that standard of living, raising expectations and creating a sense of a positive approach to the future,” says Gilbert.
Along with educating citizens, the alliance will look at public health, community revitalization and infrastructure, and it will create a web-based matrix highlighting the assets of each institution so companies considering relocation to the state or expansion within the state can easily identify the ways in which their business could benefit from what the institutions have to offer. This might include research and development catered to their industry; expertise in various aspects of business, from streamlining processes to product or software development to management consultation; and student training to fill a void and create a pipeline for a robust workforce.
The motivation is to support both the West Virginia Department of Commerce and local development organizations in their efforts, according to Gilbert, chairman of the alliance ' s steering committee, which is made up of the presidents of each institution.
“ By partnering with the region’ s other public colleges and universities in the alliance, we all combine our unique strengths to become an even more powerful force that can encourage entrepreneurs, help attract new employers, provide a highly educated and capable workforce and focus on solutions to transform the economy,” says Marsha Krotseng, president of Bluefield State College.“ Our higher education institutions produce a tremendous economic impact, not just for Southern West Virginia but for the state as a whole. That impact can be
multiplied many times over through the collective energies of this partnership.”
The need for a renewed effort is great. According to a report from the alliance, 14,444 individuals lost their jobs due to coal layoffs or closures between May 2012 and June 2017. The unemployment rate for these counties was 7.6 percent in 2016, compared with the statewide rate of 6 percent and the national rate of 4.9 percent. In 2015, 20.8 percent of the region ' s citizens lived below the poverty level, compared with 18 percent statewide and 15.5 percent nationally.
Meanwhile, the state has been battling a drug epidemic, some of which has stemmed from the high number of blue collar jobs and workers sustaining injuries and subsequently being prescribed pain medication that can lead to opioid addiction. The hopelessness that comes from unemployment is considered another leading factor in the addiction crisis, which has placed West Virginia as the state with the highest rate of fatal drug overdoses— 41.5 per 100,000 people. Between 2014-2015, the overdose rate rose 16.9 percent.
“ We can train students and utilize faculty expertise to look at the various facets of addiction, whether it ' s education, prevention, intervention or basic research on physiology or rehabilitation,” says Gilbert.“ Also, we can offer help related to the social services associated with assisting people in these crisis situations to reintroduce them to the job market.”
Additionally, the alliance will focus on workforce development. According to Gilbert, West Virginia’ s higher education institutions can provide a qualified workforce for industries that may come into the state and have a need for employees
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE