Photos by Brett Dunlap Gov. Patrick Morrisey appeared at Kent Welding on Pettyville Road near Mineral Wells with what has become known as the ‘Athey Property’ in the background as he spoke about the importance of ‘site readiness’ in economic development. He awarded the Wood County Development Authority $150,000 to help with site readiness at that property as well as a site at the Polymer Alliance Zone in Davisville. He also announced a $37,000 grant award to the Wood County Solid Waste Authority to make electrical upgrades and efficiency improvements.

Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol spoke Tuesday as Gov. Patrick Morrisey listens at Kent Welding near Mineral Wells and close to what has become known as the ‘Athey Property.’ The state awarded the WCDA $150,000 to help with site readiness at the Athey Property as well as a site at the Polymer Alliance Zone Industrial Park in Davisville.

MINERAL WELLS — In gearing up sites in Wood County for potential development, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the Wood County Development Authority will be receiving $150,000 to “jump start” the development of two local properties.

Morrisey appeared Tuesday morning outside Kent Welding Inc. along Pettyville Road with what has become known as the “Athey Property” in the background as he spoke about the importance of “site readiness” in economic development.

Needed infrastructure, such as fiber, water, gas, sewer, electric and more, needs to be in place so properties can be chosen more quickly by companies and development can begin sooner, he said.

“Site selection matters,” Morrisey said. “The one thing I keep hearing is the concept called `Speed to Build.’

“If you can move faster and be more nimble than the other states we touch then we can do really well.”

The money to the development authority is receiving from the state’s YesWV Site Readiness program will be used to help prepare the Athey Property and the Polymer Alliance Zone Industrial Park site in Davisville for potential development and could be used for engineering or architectural needs for the sites or other studies related to getting the sites ready for development.

“The goal for both of these properties is to attract a manufacturer or industrial entity that will provide high paying jobs for this area,” Morrisey said. “We want businesses to move here quickly to locations that are ready to build on and allow speed to build in order to get things up and running.”

The state wants to be in a better position to compete with its neighboring states that have invested 10 or 20 times more in site service, he said.

West Virginia has traditionally lacked those sites with critical infrastructure with fiber, water, gas, sewer, electric and more, Morrisey said. There wasn’t a plan to get that infrastructure in place which limited West Virginia’s ability to compete and win economic development projects, he added.

Morrisey said Wood County was one of “the gems of our state.”

He described Wood County as a “strategically important area” with access to U.S. 50 and Interstate 77 which can be appealing to companies to locate in the area.

“We want Wood County and all the counties to have all the tools they need to create jobs, stimulate local businesses and attract new ones,” Morrisey said.

He mentioned the state recently awarding Union Williams PSD $8 million to improve its wastewater system. Those improvements can help potential business development as well as improve the lives of local residents.

Morrisey also announced a $37,000 grant award to the Wood County Solid Waste Authority to make electrical upgrades and efficiency improvements which can include retrofitting energy efficient pumps and motors as well as other improvements to make this region more attractive for development.

Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol said site readiness is the most critical part of economic development.

“We cannot get projects if we are missing a utility of any kind,” she said, adding part of the funds they are receiving will be used to help prep the Athey Property, a 70-acre site poised for development, as well as the Polymer Alliance Zone site in Davisville.

Delegate Bob Fehrenbacher, R-Wood, said the area needs to be ready to entice development.

“We are going to win this backyard brawl, we need to be invited to the tournament,” he said. “As I have learned…if you are not ready they are going to find someone else who is.

“The funds we are getting will help this property as well as others participate, win and create jobs.”

Morrisey touted some big announcements that will be coming in the next couple of weeks “that will lead to more jobs in the Mountain State.”

The goal is to help the state grow by growing wages, eliminating taxes/fees, grow jobs by helping existing businesses and attracting new businesses. He also wants to grow West Virginia’s labor participation which is around 54.3% compared to the national average of 62.1%.

“We are looking to attract more advanced manufacturing jobs as well as creating new opportunities for trade jobs such as plumbers, sheet metal workers, electricians and contractors,” Morrisey said. “West Virginia will have it all.”