RCDA director: 2023 has been a banner year, with more to come in ‘24
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ELKINS -- After 12 years serving as director of the Randolph County Development Authority, Robbie Morris believes 2023 has been the best year since he's been in charge of the organization.
"We've had a tremendous year with the number of projects and prospects we are working with," Morris told The Inter-Mountain. "It's really a lot of fun right now and I still don't think we've hit our peak yet. There's still a lot of great things to come."
Morris admitted that with so much currently happening in the county, it's sometimes hard for him to keep track of all the projects that are going on.
"It's a really good day when I can't think off the top of my head all the great projects we have going on," said Morris. "I honestly have to sit down and make a list of everything, versus saying we have a couple things going on and that's pretty much it. I have to keep a running total of all the great things we have happening."
As notable current projects, Morris mentioned the opening of 22nd Century Technologies Inc, the Industrial Park project, and the new Event Center planned for downtown Elkins.
22nd Century Technologies is a secured managed services facility located in the former Reidbord Building on Wilson Lane in Elkins
Meanwhile, planning is currently ongoing for the development of the Industrial Park expansion, which is located on a 71-acre tract of land on Georgetown Road.
Construction for the new Event Center is projected to begin during the first quarter of 2024. The RCDA is hoping for a grand opening in the second quarter of 2025.
"We are very excited about the 22nd Century project, the Industrial Park project that we are working on, and further work on the new Event Center," Morris said. "Broadband expansion is also starting to happen and there is progress on Corridor H. There's so many great things happening right now."
Once completed, Morris said the Event Center will only add to many of the other big things transpiring in the heart of downtown Elkins.
"The Tygart Hotel is going to be an amazing unique hotel, which most boutique hotels are," said Morris. "To have something like that here in Elkins is going to be great because we already have a wide variety of lodging options here. Add in that the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad had a great year, the Gandy Dancer had a great year, and Augusta purchased the Wilt Building and is moving downtown. There's a lot of good things happening.
"Once we get the Event Center open, we will be able to compound all of our projects into greater growth and economic vitality for the county."
Morris said there have been further investments in the Mill Creek area, and that he was happy to see how things are progressing with the Dry Fork Recreation Center project, as well as the Coalton Water Plant project.
"Things are happening all over the county," he said. "Whether it's public or private, for profit or non-profit, we have a lot of progress and many exciting things are happening in Randolph County right now."
Even though 2023 was a banner year for the RCDA, the county still faced some challenges.
"We had the Carter Roag closure that wasn't good, especially from a county severance tax revenue propesective," said Morris. "Fortunately, I believe all of the employees have found nearby work in mines in Barbour County or areas like that."
Carter Roag, a subsidiary of United Coal Company LLC, employed more than 200 workers at its Morgan Camp and Starbridge Plants near Mill Creek. It closed its doors for good this past summer.
Overall, Morris said 2023 was a good year for the area, and he expects even bigger and better things moving forward.
"New projects will start in 2024 and that's what we need," said Morris. "As soon as one project finishes up, we need to have two or three more going.
"I'm really appreciative of all the hard work, not just with what the Development Authority has done, but all the other organizations and businesses in the county who have been working toward their projects. It's definitely been a team effort and when we work together we see those results and we are going to see more in 2024."