1/7/2011
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today released the latest "Open for Business" report documenting the state's economic progress. The January 2011 report highlights projects and related announcements from businesses both large and small that will assist with the creation of new jobs and the preservation of existing jobs.
Macy's, Inc. to build fulfillment center in Berkeley County
Retail giant Macy's, Inc. plans to build a new 1.3 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Martinsburg. The fulfillment center will support Macy's growing online business. When fully operational, the new facility is expected to create 1,200 full and part-time jobs and 700 temporary seasonal jobs. Construction is scheduled to get underway in spring 2011. The fulfillment center is expected to begin operations in April 2012 and start shipping orders in summer 2012.
Governor appoints new cabinet secretary to lead the state Dept. of Commerce
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has appointed Keith Burdette as the cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce and Angel R. Moore as the department’s deputy secretary/general counsel.
Burdette succeeded Kelley Goes, who accepted a new post as state director for U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, effective January 2011. Burdette served two terms in the West Virginia Legislature. In 1989 at age 34, he became the youngest person in West Virginia history to be elected president of the state Senate. After leaving the Legislature, he formed a government relations and consulting business but returned to state government to serve then-Gov. Bob Wise as a senior assistant and as director of policy and legislative relations. Burdette then returned to his consulting business, which managed the Area Roundtable. Burdette was involved in economic development projects that included the arrival of Hino Motors in Williamstown, the expansion of the Coldwater Creek distribution center in Mineral Wells and the construction of the new Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters in Parkersburg.
Moore is a former attorney with the law firm Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP. The Mingo County native graduated from West Virginia University’s College of Law and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Marshall University.
Tourism reports banner year-to-date for overnight visitors
Hotel occupancy and room demand figures available from January through October 2010 show a banner year so far for the state’s travel and tourism industry. At 649,840, July 2010 achieved a 13 percent increase over the same month last year. That is the highest room demand rate since the West Virginia Division of Tourism began tracking numbers in 2002. October reported a room demand of 590,036, uncharacteristically high for a fall month. The year-to-date through October 2010 shows room demand up by 9.9 percent.
Jefferson County IT firm on team awarded health care database contract
KRM Associates Inc. in Shepherdstown has been selected with Westat Inc. as a subcontractor on an innovative health care research project. The project, called "Comparative Effectiveness of Quality Improvement Efforts Among American Indian and Alaska Native Communities," was awarded to Westat by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Under its two-year contract, KRM is providing database technical design, development, and support services. The project will use electronic clinical data from the Indian Health Service national health information system to compare the effectiveness of different health care methodologies and identify which result in the most improved health outcomes. The database repository may eventually be used to support extended analysis such as Meaningful Use compliance.
WVEDA approves $4.1 million for business equipment and expansion
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) approved three loans totaling $4,128,500 during its December 2010 meeting:
- Polymer Alliance Zone (PAZ), $2,945,000, to finance a 100,000-square-foot shell building in Davisville, Wood County. The structure is intended to attract businesses to the area. PAZ was formed in 1996 to expand the industrial base of Jackson, Mason and Wood counties and investment in the plastics and polymer industry. Projected employment figures will depend on the new building's tenant.
- Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation, $900,000, to finance a new storage building, a mezzanine in an existing building and the installation of equipment. The organization leases the facilities to M-Rock at the Fountain Springs Industrial Park in Lynside, Monroe County. M-Rock manufactures shaped and colored cement aggregate-based stone products. M-Rock currently employs 30 workers and forecasts employment will increase to as many as 60 after three years.
- Imperial Bedding Co., $283,500, to finance equipment. Based in Huntington, Cabell County, Imperial Bedding manufactures mattresses and box springs.
In other action, WVEDA allocated $60 million in tax-exempt bonding authority to American Electric Power (AEP) for environmental upgrades at its John Amos power plant in Putnam County and $20.6 million in bonding authority to Longview Power for sewage and pollution-control facilities at its power plant under construction in Monongalia County.
Contact Information
Jacqueline Proctor or Catherine Zacchi
(304) 558-2000 or (304) 957-9340