Corridor G Stimulates Multi-County Collaboration in Southern West Virginia
As Chairman of the Corridor G Regional
Development Authority, it is my pleasure to highlight the collaboration and partnerships that underlie our five-year strategic
plan for our region, which consists of Boone, Lincoln, Logan, and Mingo
Counties in southern West Virginia.
The concept of regional collaboration in
southern West Virginia is the result of several factors.
Over the years we have seen the results of not working together, as numerous communities throughout our region have literally
disappeared. We recognize that many of our traditional patterns of behavior — turf protection, competition between partners
and neighbors, and the building of moats instead of bridges — have not moved us forward.
We are also blessed with many thoughtful,
energetic and effective leaders, who share the conviction that we can create a very bright future for our region, and that
effective collaboration is the key to creating the future we envision. These leaders have come together in recent years to
chart a bold new course, which is reflected in our plan.
Finally, we have Corridor G itself. This
highway, Route 119, constitutes an essential link, permitting us to travel and see beyond the next hill, and understand that
the future success of each of our counties lies in the collective success of our region. Indeed, Corridor G is so central
to our vision and mission that we have named our organization after this modern river of commerce.
For those interested in seeing our
entire plan, I invite you to visit our web site, www.corridorgrda.org, which details our many existing and developing partnerships. In this article, I would like to share with you just a few
of the projects we are working on.
One of the primary partnerships we have
developed is with Southern West Virginia Community and Technical
College. We understand that education is the key to success, and that
a well-trained workforce is essential to the success of businesses in our region. Working with SWVCTC, we have become leaders
in workforce development, and we are already beginning to see the commencement of a positive cycle of better jobs and better
education across our region.
We have created linkages with business,
elected officials and local development authorities, as well as with education. Through these multiple partnerships, we have
created over 390 new jobs in the region in the last three years, following years of economic stagnation or decline.
We recognize that this is only a start
in the work that needs to be done, but the forward progress we have experienced is very exciting for all of us in southern
West Virginia, and especially those who have new jobs through
our efforts. Our successes have resulted from — and will continue to grow out of — thoughtful planning, effective
implementation of our plans, and active partnering. Indeed, we measure our success in part by those with whom we are able
to partner.
Another important initiative of the CGRDA
is better post-mine land use planning. Mining has been the staple industry in our region for the last 100 years, but it has
only been the last decade that post-mine land use has been viewed with an eye toward stimulating economic growth. The CGRDA
is in the forefront of this important effort.
We have created partnerships with coal
operators and landowners in our region, to expand the scope and amount of long-term investments — monetary, civic and
others — in our communities. We have witnessed great success from the Hatfield-McCoy Trail, which was the result of
active collaboration with coal operators and landowners in the region. We are sponsoring a land use management forum with
coal companies and land owners that have a direct or indirect interest in the future of our region. We are committed to forming
partner-ships with all major coal operators and landowners in the region, in order to make our region a vibrant, exciting
and attractive place to live, learn, work and play.
The
CGRDA has developed strong partnerships with local elected officials in the region. One county commissioner from each of the
four counties in our region serves on our Board of Directors. These close working relationships afford the CGRDA the opportunity
to identify, build and support local efforts for needed infrastructure in areas that have been identified for the best potential
growth.
Our strategic plan focuses on creating
jobs in value-added wood products, metal fabrication, automobile supply manufacturing, tourism, motor sports and the health-care
industry. Through this work, we hope to build on the strength of our energy resources and diversify our economy over the next
several years. The very strong energy economy that currently exists affords us this rare opportunity to create a diversified
economic base from a position of economic strength. We are dedicated to seizing this opportunity to fundamentally re-create
southern West Virginia, because we know that our current
window of opportunity will not last forever.
The members and staff of the CGRDA are
deeply committed to realizing the vision you see reflected in our vision statement. Based on the work, leadership and collaboration
I see today across our region, I am confident that our vision will become reality for our children and grandchildren in the
very near future.