By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
I attended the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce business breakfast this week,
where the focus was on our county’s economic development. The breakfast was held at
the Hilton Garden Inn on Emily Drive, and Chamber President Kathy Wagner introduced
Amy Haberbosch Wilson, the Exaecutive Director of the Harrison County Economic
Development Corporation. As someone who has been involved in economic
development for over forty years, I was impressed to hear about the positive
happenings in our county. We sometimes take for granted the economy in our county
and don’t realize that many people work behind the scenes to make things happen.
Years ago, economic development focused on attracting heavy industrial companies.
The competition was fierce, and we frequently competed with several other locations,
often losing more companies than we gained. Haberbosch Wilson described current
efforts as targeting companies in similar sectors so they can collaborate for maximum
results. The AeroTech sector has particularly benefited from this method, with a
booming market for Aeronautics and Technology companies at the airport and other
sites in the zone.
Another innovative approach is the revival of the I-79 Corridor Group, which was active
several years ago. This group allows us to work with counties along I-79 to build our
area into a thriving region. Sometimes companies have unique needs that Harrison
County may not meet, but Haberbosch Wilson described how her office regularly
collaborates with professionals in Lewis, Marion, and Monongalia Counties to pass
along economic development leads that have resulted in jobs throughout our region.
Haberbosch Wilson highlighted the Meadowbrook Mall as one of the top economic
successes in the state. With the addition of Boscov’s, the largest department store in
the state, the mall is now on an upward trajectory at a time when many malls are
struggling. A recent announcement of a new trampoline park in the mall promises to
bring over fifty jobs, complementing the recreational facilities in our area. Several other
multi-million-dollar expansions and renovations are in the development phase at this
forty-year-old mall. At the recent Harrison County Chamber Awards Dinner, Boscov’s
was named “Best New Business,” and the mall received the “Business of the Year”
award.
I was impressed by how well the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce works with
economic development offices on both the local and statewide levels. Kathy Wagner is
a veteran leader of the Chamber and has brought both leadership and innovation to the
organization. She announced the upcoming events for the remainder of 2024, and it
looks to be a very productive year. The second “Tank” competition will be coming up,
where participants compete in a Shark Tank-like process to win both cash and services.
Another class of Leadership Harrison is being formed, which has been one of the most
successful programs for teaching young professionals about our county and how they
can be part of the process. A new program, “Dancing with the Stars,” will feature local
talent, providing a great fundraiser and networking opportunity for local businesses.
While West Virginia often ranks low in economic opportunity, we can be proud to live in
a region that is seeing the results of cooperation and vision for the future. When our
new airport terminal is completed in the coming year, Harrison County will be a place
where opportunity meets hard work, and our children and grandchildren will have well-
paying jobs and the ability to raise their families in our beautiful state. Congratulations to
the Harrison County Chamber and the Harrison County Economic Development
Corporation for playing a role in this success!