BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. — In just a week, Brooke County has seen a great amount of growth -- a new bridge, new business, and now more funding to improve the growing Beech Bottom Industrial Park.
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore-Capito announced the release of an additional $3.1 million for the Business Development Corporation to put toward the project.
The BDC acquired the property out of RG Steel bankruptcy in 2012, and some, like Beech Bottom Mayor Becky Uhlly, say it’s a different scene now.
"My worst fear was that we would have a laydown yard and this building would just rust to nothing,” she said. “To see the work the BDC has done, it’s a miracle."
Since then, great strides have been made, as $15 million in federal, state, and local grants have been secured to develop the complex.
With this $3.1 million in U.S. Economic Development Administration funding, BDC Assistant Executive Director Jacob Keeney says they'll focus on the infrastructure aspect.
"Those improvements are going to include electrical updates to the property, primary electric equipment, solar panels, between 400-600 solar panels on the roof, that we're excited about,” he said. “We got some storm water infrastructure improvements as well to make the space leasable."
BDC Executive Director Marvin Six has watched the park grow with new companies like Jupiter Aluminum and Pure Watercraft moving in.
“We were persistent and patient,” Six said. “We have good relationships with the U.S. EPA, West Virginia department, and the U.S. EDA, if we maintain the reputation of the BDC and utilize this grant money to the best of our ability."
How can the BDC keep this momentum up in other areas around the county and also in Hancock County?
“Those will take sites. We have to have site control and as long as we have site control, we can coordinate with the property owners and work with the agencies,” Six said.
The project, which will be matched with $781,585 in local funds, is expected to create or retain 220 jobs and generate $18 million in private investment.