Governor Accepts Dow Park

Following weeks of intense negotiations and public meetings, Gov. Joe Manchin announced that the state would accept Dow Chemical’s gift of 258 acres and three buildings at the South Charleston Technology Park.

“We came to the conclusion that this is right and good for the state, to make this park a part of our vision for West Virginia and how we can transform who we are,” said Manchin during a press conference at the Capitol on February 25th.

Charleston Alliance President and CEO Matt Ballard was instrumental in leading the private sector push to gather public support for the project. Ballard described the Technology Park as one of the most important economic development projects in history and pledged financial support for the project.

The project was endorsed by the Advantage Valley Executive committee and AV President Mike Herron spoke in support of the state accepting the park during the most recent public meeting of stakeholders.

“We commend the Governor and West Virginia Higher Policy Commission Chancellor Brian Noland for their commitment to the ‘new’ tech park and their diligence in gathering and analyzing the information needed to make a final decision on such a complex project,” noted Ballard. “Through their determined leadership, West Virginia is working to set its own course for the future, rather than let others set it for us.

“We look forward to working with the Governor, the Higher Education Policy Commission, the Chemical Alliance Zone, Advantage Valley and many others to create a recipe for success at the tech park,” said Ballard. “This project represents the opportunity of a generation.”

The governor said that the state will build a technical training center on park land. The state Council for Community and Technical College Education will oversee the $15 million Advantage Valley Technology Center. The Legislature appropriated money for the center in 2008 and will be operated by Bridgemont, Kanawha Valley, and MCTC (soon to be renamed Mountwest) community & technical colleges.