Since 1979, I have served the City of Beckley, first as a Councilman from 1979-1988, and since November of 1988 as Mayor. During this time, I have seen tremendous changes that have transformed Beckley into a leading economic generator for Southern West Virginia.
During the many events that I attend, I always speak to three main points:
1. Beckley is the service provider for Southern West Virginia with a demographic base of 260,000 people; and
2. Beckley is the medical hub for Southern West Virginia; and
3. Beckley is the educational hub for Southern West Virginia.
How did we manage to come this far? Through cooperation between all of the stakeholders that are involved in the development of our area. We realize that, by working together, greater things can happen for the common good.
The City of Beckley cannot develop and grow on its own. We depend upon our partners such as the Raleigh County Commission, the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, the Raleigh County Board of Education, the 4-C Economic Development Authority, Forward Southern West Virginia, the Jobs Foundation, Mountain State University, and the Raleigh County Airport Authority. One recent example of cooperation really comes to mind. The Boy Scouts of America were looking for a site to develop a high adventure center. Due to cooperative efforts led by the 4-C Economic Development Authority and the Fayette County Commission, the scouts settled on a piece of property in Fayette County. Even though this project is not in Beckley, we realize the tremendous potential and benefit it will provide to our area. Without the efforts of a lot of individuals and groups pulling together, this project may not have happened.
In 1993, the City of Beckley had a budget of approximately $6 million. Today, our budget stands at $15 million and seems to grow a little every year. Our 250 employees and their families contribute greatly to our urban economy. I attribute our growth to sound financial planning and the development of infrastructure that will continue to accommodate our growth. I have learned over the course of my years, that you can never have enough roads, ready-to-go lots, water, and sewer.
When business comes knocking at your door, you need to be ready to respond to their needs. Our area now offers two business parks that can accommodate virtually any size business looking to relocate or expand.
Pinecrest Business and Technology Park started when then Governor Gaston Caperton embraced the vision we had formed for the property that was owned by the Farm Management Commission. Today, Pinecrest Development Corporation has developed 220 acres of property that are ready for development. Several tenants occupy the Park, and new construction will start up in spring.
The West Side Airport Industrial Park only opened two years ago but already is host to several businesses that employ approximately 150 people. Here again, the Raleigh County Airport Authority, in conjunction with the Raleigh County Commission, has been proactive in developing an industrial park that has sites that are ready to go.
The road system that serves Beckley and Raleigh County has been developed with the input of the Beckley-Raleigh County Transportation Authority. We are fortunate to have access to two interstates (I-77 and I-64), and an Appalachian Corridor (Route 19) that gives our citizens tremendous access to all areas of the State. For the past three years, the Beckley-Raleigh County Transportation Committee has been advocating a new highway corridor called the Z-way. This will give our citizens and visitors access to an eastern bypass around the city. Construction on the first portion of this new highway started in the fall of 2009 with completion scheduled for spring of 2011. Here again, we have approached the West Virginia Department of Transportation with a unified voice. They know this is a project that our entire community supports.
The City of Beckley and our surrounding area are on the move. It seems every day new projects are being discussed, planned, and implemented. The Beckley Intermodal Gateway Project (BIG), the Raleigh County Judicial annex, and the new student housing at Mountain State University are three projects that immediately come to mind.
We invite you, the readers of West Virginia Executive magazine, to come and spend some time with us. I think you will be amazed at how far our area has come in such a short time.
Emmett S. Pugh III
Mayor
City of Beckley
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