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BUCKHANNON -- County leaders, city mayors, and development authority directors from Randolph, Upshur and Lewis counties are coming together for an inaugural event billed as "State of the Corridor" on April 10.
The lunchtime session will take place at the Event Center at Brushy Fork, which is located just off Route 33 in Buckhannon, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"This idea was actually created from an event called State of the Valley, which is held down in the Kanawha Valley," Randolph County Development Authority Director Robbie Morris told The Inter-Mountain. "We thought our economies along Corridor H work really well together, so Upshur County approached us about having this event.
"We thought it was a great idea to provide the public with an update on how things are going within our major cities and counties, and how we are working together and what we are working on."
Scheduled to join Morris at the event are Buckhannon Mayor Robert Skinner, Upshur County Commission President Samuel Nolte, Randolph County Commission President Cris Siler, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, Lewis County Commissioner Agnes Queen, Lewis County Economic Development Authority Director Ray Smith, and Weston City Manager Nate Stansberry.
"Hopefully this event will become an annual event where we can continue to report on progress as well as talk about new projects, new programs, and initiatives we are doing to create jobs and build our communities," Morris said. "It's going to be a fantastic event and we appreciate Upshur County for putting it together.
"Everyone attending will provide some great insight, and I plan on giving an update on Corridor H and the current construction. I think a lot of people will be happy to hear about that."
Morris said the dynamic of the entire area will begin to change as more of the construction on the highway is completed.
"As Corridor H comes closer to completion, it's going to change the economic and workforce dynamic of the region," Morris said. "It's going to be easier to get through this area and workforce patterns could change, because now all of a sudden it's going to be easier to access places to the east and west because of Corridor H. So people who may have not taken a job in Buckhannon that live in Parsons, may now consider that because the drive will be so much easier."
The event will be sponsored by Citizens Bank of West Virginia. Tickets are available at the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber's website at www.erccc.com, or by calling the Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber at 304-472-1722.