29-03-2025
PROGRESS 2025: New authority is pushing growth along King Coal corridor
A newly created economic development authority is hoping to be proactive when it comes to promoting growth along the King Coal Highway corridor in Southern West Virginia.
The Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority held its first meeting last December on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington. The group met again this past February in Putnam County and their next meeting is scheduled for April, according to Jim Spencer of Buefield, who is serving as the authority chairman.
'The meetings are every other month,' Spencer said of the authority, whose primary objective is to look for opportunities for economic development and growth along the King Coal Highway corridor, which is West Virginia's routing of the future Interstate 73/74/75.
The authority is composed of 15 members representing Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
Spencer, who also serves as the executive director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority, was elected in December as the chairman of the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority.
Leasha Johnson, who works for the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, was elected as the highway authority's vice chairman.
Spencer said the group is working to identify several areas of focus for economic development and growth, including John Nash Boulevard in Bluefield. However, it may take another meeting or two before many of the priority sites along the entire length of the highway corridor are identified.
'I think you will see that,' Spencer said of future plans taking shape.
The Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority was created by the West Virginia Legislature in 2024.
Senate Bill 354, which passed during the 2024 regular legislative session and was signed into law by then Gov. Jim Justice, set the new authority into motion.
Originally called the West Virginia Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority, the group opted to change its name to the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Corridor Authority (CAHEDA).
The authority filed papers with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office as a 501©3, not-for-profit organization on November 18, 2024.
It is the first time in several years that a state recognized committee associated with the King Coal Highway has been actively meeting.
The last committee associated with the King Coal Highway was the King Coal Highway Authority, which was disbanded several years ago due to a lack of state funding. In addition to the authority itself being discontinued, the King Coal Highway Authority office was closed and its executive director retired when state funding was no longer available to support the position and office.
The purpose of the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority is not to promote or assist with the actual construction of the highway. That's the job of the West Virginia Department of Highways, Spencer said.
Instead the authority's goal is to simply promote economic development and growth along the future corridor of the King Coal Highway.
A section of the future I-73/74/75 routing is already open to traffic in Bluefield extending from John Nash Boulevard to Airport Road.
Construction also will begin soon on a new $58 million contract that involves the development of a new 2.5 mile stretch of the King Coal Highway near Bluefield that will take the interstate corridor from Airport Road toward Littlesburg Road, near Bluewell. A third project that will extend the the King Coal Highway from Littlesburg to Montcalm is currently under environmental review by the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
In terms of Mercer County, Spencer said in an earlier interview areas that will be examined for potential economic development projects include John Nash Boulevard in Bluefield as well as land that is jointly owned by the cities of Bluefield and Princeton near Kee Dam, not far from the current section of the King Coal Highway that is now open to traffic.
Members of the new authority, in addition to Spencer, include former Senator Bob Pylmale, Welch Mayor Harold McBride, who is representing the McDowell Economic Development Authority; Leasha Johnson with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority; David Lieving with the Wayne County EDA; Christy Laxton with the Wyoming County EDA; Jason Roberts with Region 1 Planning and Development Council; Chris Chiles with the Region 2 Planning and Development Council; Tim Burgess representing West Virginia Business and Industry; Heather Vanater, a utility company EDA representative; Marvin Woodie, who is representing manufacturing; James Owrey, who is representing energy; Nancy Ritter, who is representing aviation and air mobility; Terry Sammons, who is representing energy, mining and law; and former Senator Chandler Swope, who is serving as a at-large member.
The King Coal Highway is a four-lane highway that will extend approximately 95 miles through Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming and Wayne counties along or near currently existing US 52 from US 119 near Williamson to Interstate 77 in Bluefield. In the bigger picture, the final Interstate 73/74/75 routing will run from Detroit, Mich., to Myrtle Beach, S.C., opening up a large swath of southern West Virginia to interstate access.
— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
