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.