Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) FY 2020 Update June 2020 Region III Planning and Development Council (Serving Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam Counties) 315 D Street South Charleston, WV 25303 (304) 744-4258 FY 2020 CEDS Table of Contents Page I. Introduction and Purpose 3 II. Changes in the Region 4 A. Activities 8 B. In the Regional Economy 9 C. Demographics 19 III. Assessment of Progress in FY 2020 20 Boone County 21 Clay County 28 Kanawha County 34 Putnam County 40 RIC Progress Report 46 IV. Economic Resilience 52 V. Goals, Objectives and Strategies 53 VI. Regional and County Priority Listing 57 VII. FY 2020 CEDS Advisory Committee 70 VIII. Appendix 73 Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 2 FY 2020 CEDS I. Introduction and Purpose This document represents the FY 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Annual Report for Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties of the Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC). The report describes economic development activities and proposed projects within the 4-county region. Our local governments and development agencies were asked to submit their projects for the CEDS process. Our CEDS Committee then convened to review and prioritize the projects. It should be noted and recognized that since the inception of the CEDS for Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties, millions of dollars have been invested in economic development projects that are listed and tracked through this CEDS report. The CEDS process is long and involved, seeking time and effort from many individuals and organizations throughout the community. The CEDS for the Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties are successful due to collaboration and outreach. This report is a compilation of efforts by staff and volunteers to critique all economic development activities within the region. The FY 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) will go before the RIC Board for approval on June 11, 2020. Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 3 FY 2020 CEDS II. Changes in the Region Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 4 FY 2020 CEDS Within the Regional Council COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE Boone County Commission Eddie Hendricks Clay County Commission Connie Kinder Kanawha County Commission W. Kent Carper Putnam County Commission Andy Skidmore Town of Bancroft Donna McKneely Town of Belle David Fletcher Town of Buffalo Conrad Cain Town of Cedar Grove James Hudnall City of Charleston Amy Shuler Goodwin Town of Chesapeake Jack Lavender Town of Clay Josh Shamblin Town of Clendenin Kay Summers Town of Danville Mark McClure City of Dunbar William E. Cunningham Town of East Bank Charles A. Blair, II Town of Eleanor Cam Clendenin Town of Glasgow Donald Fannin Town of Handley Essie Ford, Jr. City of Hurricane Scott Edwards City of Madison Buddy Hudson City of Marmet Jay Snodgrass City of Nitro Dave Casebolt Town of Poca William Jones Town of Pratt Eric Holcomb City of St. Albans Scott James City of South Charleston Frank Mullens Town of Sylvester Harvey Ferrell Town of Whitesville Fred V. Harless, Jr. Town of Winfield Randy Barrett Boone County Citizens Representative Kris Mitchell Clay County Citizens Representative Barry McCune Kanawha County Citizens Representative John Luoni Putnam County Citizens Representative Mark A. Stolle, Jr. City of Charleston Citizens Representative Lawrence J. Malone RIC Minority Representative Oree Banks RIC Minority Representative Coston Davis, Jr. Private Sector Representative (Education) Heather Raines, BridgeValley CTC Private Sector Representative Joy Underwood, Coal River Inn Private Sector Representative (Workforce Development) S.K. Miller, Verizon Mid-Atlantic, Retired Private Sector Representative (Labor) Todd Mullins, Kanawha Valley Labor Council Private Sector Representative (Chamber of Commerce) Jeri Adkins, Charleston Area Alliance Private Sector Representative (WVDOH) Brian Carr, WV Division of Highways Private Sector Representative (KVRTA) Doug Hartley, KVRTA Private Sector Representative Damron Bradshaw, Bradshaw Consulting Services Private Sector Representative Anne Cavalier, Cavalier Business Development Private Sector Representative Trina Sweeney, West Virginia State University Private Sector Representative Eric Sharp, Labor Employees Cooperative Trust Private Sector Representative Lee Roberts, Tornado Products Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 5 FY 2020 CEDS RIC Staff Executive Director Colt Sandoro Deputy Executive Director Amy Talbert Administrative Assistant Joanna Keller Planning Director Kara Greathouse Transportation Planner Kelsey Tucker Transportation Planner Sam Richardson Project Administrator SoJuana Ellis Project Coordinator Terry Martin Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 6 FY 2020 CEDS RIC Officers Chair Anne Cavalier Private Sector Representative First Vice-Chair William E. Cunningham Mayor, City of Dunbar Second Vice-Chair Jay Snodgrass Mayor, City of Marmet Third Vice-Chair S. K. Miller Private Sector Representative Treasurer/Secretary Damron Bradshaw Private Sector Representative Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 7 FY 2020 CEDS A. Activities Water and Sewer infrastructure, broadband infrastructure, and technology remain very important to our region. Region III serves Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties and continues to provide technical assistance, project development and project administration to each county. Water and sewer infrastructure development is vital as these services are needed to enhance our region’s economic opportunities. During 2019, RIC administered many infrastructure, community and economic development projects, including: • Boone County Prenter Road Phase II Waterline Extension • Boone County Morrisvale/Cameo Waterline Extension • Belle Sewer Rehabilitation Project • Town of Clay Blue Knob Waterline Extension • Town of Clay Emergency Improvements Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation • TechConnectWV NextUp Project • Region III Hazard Mitigation Plan • Greater Saint Albans PSD Phase II Sewer Line Extension • West Dunbar PSD Sewer Line Rehabilitation • Kanawha PSD Sewer Extension • Putnam County Manila Ridge Waterline Extension RIC also assisted in the development of additional infrastructure, community and economic development projects, including: • Putnam County Jim Ridge Phase II Waterline Extension • Town of Cedar Grove Line Rehabilitation Project • Clay County PSD Big Otter/Nebo/Walker Road Waterline Project • Boone County PSD Wastewater Treatment Expansion • Boone County PSD Wastewater Line and Pump Station Rehabilitation Project • Boone County PSD Rock Creek Development Infrastructure Projects • Boone Raleigh PSD Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation • HUD Disaster Recovery projects for Clay and Kanawha Counties • Boone County Foster Phase I Sewer Line Extension • Clay Calhoun Roane Broadband Project • TechConnectWV – TKWKS Project • TechConnectWV – SBA PATH Project • Putnam PSD Sewer Extension to Martin Peterbilt with US EDA funding • Putnam PSD Water treatment improvement Project with US EDA funding • Yeager Airport for its improvements to support Marshall University Flight School • Upper Kanawha Valley Economic Development Corporation Financial Records Maintenance Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 8 FY 2020 CEDS B. In the Regional Economy The Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC) serves local governments within the four-county region of Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties. One of 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils located within the state of West Virginia and designated as Region III, RIC provides an array of services which support economic development, planning and inter- governmental cooperation. Region III features a mix of high-tech manufacturing and value-laden businesses as well as rich, mining based working lands. Region III, along with the rest of the State of West Virginia, continues to experience the negative impact of the once thriving, coal industry. Despite the difficult and extenuating circumstances, economic activity has developed in Region III as described in the following components of this report. The interstate highway system that serves Region III includes I-64, I-77 and I-79. This interstate system has largely been responsible for Region III’s growth as a major distribution center. The river, rail, air, and highway network has been a stimulus to all sectors of the economy and allows Region III ease of trade with all other areas in the nation. Appalachian Corridor G connects southern West Virginia (Boone-Logan) with the Interstates in Charleston. Regional Intergovernmental Council – Region III 9 FY 2020 CEDS Low energy prices and declining coal production have hurt the economy in West Virginia. The steady decline in coal production has been followed by the closing of many mines within the region resulting in a significant amount of job layoffs and economic downturn. The region continues to be negatively impacted by the downward trend of the coal industry. Innovative and entrepreneurial ideas are what economists are saying could bring the state of West Virginia some form of relief and ultimately, growth. The POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) is a congressionally funded initiative that is comprised of multiple agencies and makes federal resources available to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America's