I-73/74 Corridor / West Virginia Counties
There are innovative and sustainable projects and businesses developing up and down the proposed 73/74 Corridor.
Mingo County
- A solar-powered eco-tourism development is under construction in Mingo County.
- A regenerative agriculture enterprise has also launched in Mingo County.
- The ReUse Corridor (advancing the circular economy here in Appalachia) continues expanding from Wayne County.
A key next step is asset-mapping these and other resources, in collaboration with Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER).
The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority (“MCRA”), in its effort to create an innovation economy in southern West Virginia, is spearheading an Advanced Air Mobility (“AAM”) education initiative intended to build an aviation workforce pipeline as AAM promises to revolutionize the transportation of people, goods and services in the nation’s rural settings. In partnership with NASA and Vertx Partners, and by virtue of a $2.9 million Congressionally Directed Spending award, the AAM education initiative aims to:
- Inspire and prepare the next generation in Mingo County and Appalachia for future AAM employment opportunities;
- Develop a K-16 STEM-based curriculum focused on AAM;
- Procure and deploy a mobile airspace monitoring unit to be used as a hands-on learning lab; and
- Promote AAM-related entrepreneurial activities.
Wayne County
Tri-State Airport Authority Southside General Aviation and Hanger/Aero Complex Development
- Commercial/Industrial Business Park (more than 100 acres available for economic development complementing the Marshall University/Mountwest CTC Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) School located on the Airport Property
- Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Operations, Administration Consolidated Facility
- GA Hangar Complex
- MRO Hangar Complex
The Central Appalachian Inland Port at Prichard (CAIPP)
- Rail-truck intermodal facility formerly known as the Heartland Intermodal Gateway facility (HIG) in Wayne County, and its partnership with R.J. Corman Railroad Company.
- The Wayne County Commission entered into an agreement with R.J. Corman to leverage this vital transportation infrastructure asset as part of a multi-phase project responding to the needs of the rail industry and regional firms. The project’s first phase will utilize a portion of the site as a car repair hub with later phases expanding operations into intermodal activities and logistics.
Mercer County
The Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA) was created to take an aggressive approach to economic development in the City and region. BEDA enacted a three-prong approach, which includes the following:
- To support existing business and industry.
- Cultivate entrepreneurship and innovation.
- To attract new industries, especially in the “TEAM” (Technology, Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing) sectors.
Notable examples of success include:
- March 2019 announcement by Intuit to establish a Prosperity Hub in downtown Bluefield, operated by Alorica and employing over 200 people.
- March 2022 announcement by Omnis Building Technologies. Omnis is investing $40 million to build a manufacturing facility at Exit 1 off Interstate 77 creating more than 150 jobs.
- BEDA continues to attract industries, recognizing that a skilled workforce is essential. Additionally, BEDA manages the Commercialization Station, a mixed-use incubator with a focus on manufacturing. One of its tenants, X-MAT CCC, is dedicated to developing carbon-derived building materials.
- Established the West Virginia (WV) CREATE Center as an industry-led, demand-driven innovation hub supporting businesses in the commercialization of advanced carbon products. A key part of this initiative is the development of the “Carbon Corridor”.
- The Center for Applied Research & Technology (CART) is one of our partners and they have funding for a battery dry room at the WV CREATE Center.
