Putnam County remains one of the fastest growing counties in West Virginia. Industrial, commercial and residential growth in the county continues to outpace most of West Virginia. As industrial and commercial growth continues, new home construction in subdivisions such as Crystal Springs, Northwoods and Cathcart Properties provides new living opportunities for existing and new residents.
To keep up with the increased business growth, the development authority hired Heather Lewis as a new economic development project director. Lewis earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Marshall University and was previously employed by Perot Systems in Huntington.
She assists the director with existing business visitation in order to assist in the growth of Putnam County's businesses and manufacturers.
At least 80 percent of PCDA's staff time is spent working with existing business expansion projects. Increasing our presence for Putnam County's existing industries is important as we work to grow our businesses.
Some of the commercial growth includes a March 7 grand opening celebration at the new Wal-Mart Super Center in Hurricane. It is located just off I-64 at exit 34 (Hurricane Exit). Adjacent to the new Wal-Mart is Hurricane Marketplace, LP. Hurricane Marketplace includes almost 40,000 square feet of retail lease space expected to open at or about the same time. In addition to Wal-Mart and Hurricane Marketplace, even more development is expected at the Hurricane Exit.
Hurricane Gateway Center opened in late 2007. The center, located on the south side of Exit 34, features a Little Caesars Pizza, Nationwide Insurance, Alcom, and Creative Spas. More restaurants, banks and other retail businesses are expected to begin construction this spring.
Putnam County also continues to attract industrial growth. Trinity Coal Corp. moved into the former CNB building on Teays Valley Road in 2007. Trinity Coal is the second coal company headquarters to locate in Teays Valley within the last three years. The other is International Coal Group, which is located in the Teays Valley Business and Industrial Park.
In 2007 construction of a new facility for Appalachian Railcar Services in Eleanor was completed. The company purchased an existing building and four acres at the Eleanor Industrial Park. Recently it purchased an adjoining 7-acre lot and built a new 17,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility.
Multicoat Corp. will begin construction on its new manufacturing, office and warehouse facility in Putnam Business Park in Fraziers Bottom. The company purchased a three-acre tract at the entrance to the park. Three companies have already constructed buildings in the park. Nippon Thermostat of America Corp. has a 32,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Tasty Blend Foods, Inc. has a 58,000-square-foot production facility for Teays Valley brand dry food mixes. Schwan Foods, Inc. constructed a new approximately 14,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in the park.
In January 2008, the Putnam County Development Authority awarded a contract for construction of a fourth industrial access road that will begin development of Phase II of Putnam Business Park. Putnam Business Park, one of 13 business and industrial parks in the county, includes almost 205 acres. Phase I of the property contains about 70 acres. More than 33 acres of the Phase I property is sold. All roads and utilities are in place on the Phase I property. Phase II construction includes utility extensions and site work in the new section of the park with frontage on the new four-lane U.S. Route 35.
U.S. Route 35 is, of course, now undergoing a major upgrade to four lanes. The new four-lane crosses the southern portion of Putnam Business Park and will provide direct access to the park. The new four-lane will travel in a southeasterly direction to the new Crooked Creek interchange on I-64, approximately nine miles east of the park. The section of the four-lane from I-64 to Buffalo is expected to be opened in 2008-2009.
Toyota and Diamond Electric have both expanded a number of times in their almost 12-year history in Putnam County. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Buffalo operations is once again rated No. 1 in productivity by the Harbour Report. Maybe that explains why Toyota's plant at Buffalo has expanded five times since its opening and now occupies in excess of 1.2 million square feet.
The county's globally competitive, diverse business base is an example to other businesses that Putnam County, West Virginia, is a place to grow and prosper your business in a constantly changing world.
Gary Walton is the executive director of the Putnam County Development Authority.
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