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ELKINS -- Two agenda items regarding the development of the Randolph County Industrial Park were approved during Wednesday evening's Randolph County Development Authority meeting.
The RCDA approved a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement with a manufacturing company, and more funds were allocated to help with the construction of the access road leading to the park's expansion.
The RCDA approved an agreement with Empire Renewable Development on the purchase of 10 acres of land in the park with an option to purchase an additional 9 1/2 acres.
"We have agreed to it on our side, now we have to give it to (Empire Renewable Development) to finalize and enter into it," RCDA Director Robbie Morris said of the agreement. "It's another step in the right direction in the expansion of the industrial park."
Morris said Empire Renewable Development is a hardwood company that utilizes wood waste in its manufacturing process.
"We are doing everything we can to land this project," said Morris. "It would not only be a nice anchor tenant for the new Industrial Park, but it would help out our hardwood producers, loggers and sawmills. It would add a nice source to all of those. Wood that is low grade timber and can't be used for a whole lot, would have an increased value on it because of their (ERD) usage. So that would help stabilize that market and hopefully grow it. There's a major domino effect that can come from this project."
Morris said there would be between 30 to 50 jobs available with the company at the start, and if it options the other 9 1/2 acres, that number would grow even more.
"I'm not marketing the property in the Industrial Park yet, because we don't have the entrance built and it's still in the development phase," Morris said. "But when they called wanting to be in this area and told me what their specs were, I had to tell them about it because it's absolutely perfect for their needs…They are really excited about it, so we will keep moving forward with it."
It was also announced at Wednesday's meeting that the state Department of Highways and Department of Economic Development awarded the RCDA another Access Road Grant in the amount of $400,000. That money will be added to the $280,000 the RCDA previously received for the project, and will go toward the construction of an entrance and new road leading to the park.
"The construction documents and design for the access road and entrance are being completed now," Morris said. "We will put the project out to bid this winter and our goal is to begin construction sometime this spring."
Randolph County Development Authority meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning at 4 p.m. at the RCD office on 11th Street.