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"The 4-C staff provided resources that enabled us to develop a business plan and secure financing for our project. Their commitment for new and existing businesses is an asset to our community and the state of West Virginia."

Bill & Sharon Glasscock
Owners
Laurel Creek Hardwoods
Nicholas County
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Highspeed Broadband: Moving Towards Full Availability

Governor Manchin has declared that by 2010 all communities in West Virginia will have access to high-speed broadband internet connections. Acting upon this promise, the state has collaborated with Connected Nation, an organization with a track record for spreading broaband access. Mapping technology overlays up-to-date reports on Broadband coverage upon population density maps of counties in West Virginia. The project relies on users to report the status of broadband accessibility from their location. Go to their website, provide feedback and view high quality maps constantly updated to reflect the current state of Broadband availability. Connect West Virginia reports that broadband service is currently available to 81% of households across West Virginia.

 

West Virginia's Region 1 Workforce

A program nationally recognized as the best 'rural one-stop' in the nation.

Workforce West Virginiais divided into seven regions. Region 1, serving an eleven-county area in southern West Virginia including the 4-C EDA counties, was recognized as the "best rural one-stop in the nation". In cooperation with the West Virginia Development Office, they provide regional coordination for recruiting and training qualified job applicants. The program outreach works directly with companies and/or applicants to ensure a well-trained, productive work force. Lower training and retraining costs has helped the region to achieve consistently low turnover rate.

 

The Connected Technologies Corridors Program

The Connected Technologies Corridors Program is an eleven-county initiative to bring a concerted technology focus to southeastern West Virginia. The 4-C Economic Development Authority partnered with the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rahall Transportation Institute at Marshall University and West Virginia State University to develop the I-64 Technology Corridor. This corridor is anchored by the Woodlands in Beckley and the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs.

Coordination amongst these entities has produced a plan to grow education and workforce training in hi-technology. An investment in the people coupled with a dedicated investment in infrastructure as produced the following achievements and working projects

Construction of a technology facility at the Greenbrier Valley Airport.

Construction of the Hinton Technology Building.

Construction of a Nick Rahall Technology Center in Beckley.

Development of Phase II of the Raleigh County Airport Industrial Park - 300 acres.

Development of Pinecrest Business & Technology Park - 1,000+ acres.

Construction of the Beckley Bypass at Pinecrest.

Construction of the Education Center at the Woodlands.

Development of Wolf Creek Park.

Development of Glade Creek Park.


Southern West Virginia Metal Fabricators Partnership

The Metal Fabricator's Partnership is a cooperative effort to identify markets for metal fabricating companies located within the region. The partnership includes Region 1 Planning and Development Council, Marshall University and economic developers of the counties of Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming and McDowell.