Latest news with #JinaBelcher
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future Forward Summit/Expo to focus on crucial pillars of success for region
Local leaders are poised for a major networking event later this month which will explore avenues for future growth in southern West Virginia. According to a press release, the Future Forward Summit and Expo in April will focus on four crucial pillars of success for southern West Virginia – housing, downtown development, small business growth and the economic outlook. The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce (BRCCC) have recruited expert speakers to lead discussions and to seek recommendations for improvements in each of the four areas for the summit, which is planned for April 22-23 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. 'The Future Forward planning committee has done an excellent job in securing in-state talent who can be a convener for innovation, collaboration and actionable progress in southern West Virginia,' Jina Belcher, executive director of NRGRDA, said in the press release. Michelle Rotellini, president/CEO of BRCCC, said the annual Future Forward Summit gives business leaders, entrepreneurs and community representatives the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, forge strategic partnerships and explore opportunities. 'The focus is a little bit different' than last year's summit, Rotellini said. 'We're very excited about it.' The aim is to 'provide a platform for our community stakeholders to engage in meaningful conservations' geared toward laying the groundwork for workable solutions to guide long-term success in the region, said Rotellini. The BRCCC is partnering with the NRGRDA and West Virginia Hive (WV Hive) to bring together the various industry, business and civic leaders and policy-makers who will be featured on the agenda for the two-day summit. Sessions and presentation leaders scheduled to attend include: • New and existing housing modernization needs — Patrick Bowen, president, Bowen National Research; • Southern West Virginia economic outlook — Dr. John Deskins, director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research at West Virginia University; • Downtown development and revitalization — Moderated by Jina Belcher, NRGRDA; and • Small business development — Judy Moore of NRGRDA and the WV Hive. In addition, West Virginia State Sen. Brian Helton (R-Fayette) will guide a dialogue with state legislators and industry leaders. That session is expected to cover recent legislative developments and provide a platform for attendees to ask questions and gain insights into policy changes, organizers say. There will also be breakout groups featuring areas of concentration including downtown planning and zoning, tourism and workforce resources. In addition, a diverse range of exhibitors is expected to showcase products, services and initiatives from the region. "We were asked this year to partner with the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce on Future Forward," said Moore, executive director of the West Virginia Hive and deputy director of the NRGRDA. "We have very diligently worked to pull together what we think is going to be a really good conference opportunity. "It definitely is an economic development-based conference, and what we're attempting to showcase in this conference is some of the topics that are most prevalent right now with economic development. That's everything from housing to child care to small business support." "The conference is appealing to community leaders, legislators, decision-makers," she added. "That's who we want to have in the room." Moore said the summit will also provide an opportunity for WV Hive to spread the message on the services it offers. "Sometimes, quite honestly, even though the West Virginia Hive has been in existence since late 2016, a lot of people still don't know about us or the services that we provide," said Moore. "So, we're going to take this opportunity to be in front of these key community leaders to let them know what we can actually do to support the small businesses that they are also supporting as legislators and community developers and community leaders. "We're really looking forward to having that opportunity to be on that platform." The 'Future Forward: Growing Our Economy, Strengthening Our Community' event will kick off Tuesday, April 22, at 3:30 p.m. with a downtown development and revitalization session followed by a legislative reception from 5 to 7 p.m. On Wednesday, April 23, a full day of forums, educational sessions and networking opportunities will all focus on driving local communities toward a prosperous future. For more information on this year's Future Forward Summit and Expo, visit For ticket information, visit For information and booth reservations, contact 304-252-7328 / chamber@
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NRGRDA welcomes former reporter Josephine 'Jozy' Moore to their team
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) announced the addition of Josephine 'Jozy' Moore to their team as Policy and Government Outreach Coordinator. Over the last several years, NRGRDA has worked closely with Jozy on local programs and projects and appreciated her skilled reporting and trust with high profile and sensitive information. After learning Jozy's government relations outreach background and watching her grow and earning the confidence of many of our local, state, and federal leaders, we knew she'd be a phenomenal asset to the NRGRDA team to help navigate the political landscape in WV. Jina Belcher | Executive Director, NRGRDA WVU Mine Rescue Team wins 3rd international competition in a row A native of Indian Trail, North Carolina, Moore earned a bachelor's degree in Print Journalism from Marshall University. Prior to working at the Register-Herald, she was employed as a government affairs reporter in Huntington at The Herald-Dispatch newspaper. Recently, Moore was recognized for her coverage of the Natalie Cochran murder trial for The Register-Herald. She was featured as a journalist in a special episode of 20/20 that showcased the trial. After crafting a reputation within the area as an accurate and fair reporter, Moore stated she looks forward to bringing those values to her new position. As I transition into my new role, I hope to build on that trust and the community relationships I've formed. As a reporter, I've spent a lot of time covering the wonderful work the NRGRDA does and I'm excited to now be on the other side, actively contributing to their initiatives that drive growth and impact in our community. Jozy Moore | Policy and Outreach Coordinator, NRGRDA This new position serves as a key liaison between NRGRDA, government agencies, community stakeholders, and the public to ensure alignment with strategic goals and effective communication. Jina Belcher | Executive Director, NRGRDA Types of donations communities need after a disaster Important responsibilities of the position focus on: Policy and advocacy Community outreach and stakeholder engagement Journalism, communications, and digital engagement Program support and coordination NRGRDA must constantly thread the needle with our advocacy and outreach at the local, state, and national levels. Our growth of pending projects, programs, and robust network of relationships amidst transitions at the state federal government make Jozy's addition very timely. Jina Belcher | Executive Director, NRGRDA For more information regarding the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing crucial to economic development, way of life in region
Housing is a core, vital component of improving the quality of life in a region. That can take many forms and accomplish wide-ranging objectives. It enhances economic development efforts in attracting outside businesses to locate to the area or existing businesses to expand. And, more available, affordable housing may offer seasonal workers a place to call home while they work in the area before moving on to their next stop, it may provide a better way of living for senior citizens, and it may simply give comfort and a dash of hope to a family struggling to survive a difficult period in their lives. The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) last fall undertook a process that will analyze the housing situation in a four-county region (Raleigh, Fayette, Summers and Nicholas). Bowen National Research, an Ohio-based firm, was engaged to compile the survey. Jina Belcher, executive director for the NRGRDA, said that a draft plan of the study was received last week, and an advisory team is currently reviewing it to make necessary edits. 'Our goal is to have it reviewed and finalized by the end of February,' Belcher said on Feb. 12. Partnering with Michelle Rotellini and the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, the study will be unveiled at this year's Future Forward event April 22-23. Bowen National representatives will be onsite on April 23 to present the findings. 'It definitely provided us some data to show us what we all know, that we do not have enough housing,' Belcher said while highlighting some of the findings listed in the draft report. 'With the current job projections, with the national park (New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Fayette County) designation, we are experiencing a considerable deficit on workforce housing and single-family homes in our whole four-county region. 'One of the really interesting data sets that I'm excited to hear and learn more about is the median household price, especially in Fayette County, compared to the median household income. That data is telling us that the influx of out-of-state purchasers for short-term rentals has drastically affected the median income price of housing, especially in Fayette.' For instance, Belcher says the median household income for residents in Fayette County is 'right around $45,000,' adding, 'But, the median average price per single-family homes came back at just under $400,000.' In Raleigh County, she pointed out, the median household price is around $450,000 per home, while the average household income in Raleigh is about $150,000. The higher Raleigh income standard is based on demographics such as the county having more school-age children leading to larger families, and more families with dual incomes, she noted. 'Fayette County is a drastic shift for us to see, so I'm really anxious when Bowen presents this to the public for them to share what they feel some of the challenges are and how we're going to overcome them. Because the last thing we want is to recruit homebuilders that are building $400,000, half a million dollar homes and then price out residents.' A possible remedy to that is working with zoning in local municipalities that could include price caps or stipulate that individuals 'can only own a short-term rental if you have a full-time residence here, something like that,' she said. 'One of the challenges that you face in purchasing for short-term rental is that ... the bed tax from those rentals goes directly to support CVBs and the tourism industry, which we would never want to diminish, so it's sort of this double-edged sword,' Belcher continued. 'We want to make sure our tourism industry is thriving; we want to make sure we have the marketing dollars to market our region and market the assets that we have here, but that money comes from the bed tax. If you don't have those short-term rentals, you're not seeing as much of an influx in the bed tax. 'It's a challenge all the way around.' A handy portion of the study is that '(Bowen) gave us a land plan and a tool to use to determine the best type of housing for a parcel of property, so determination can be made if it should be mixed-use or low-income or single-family,' she said. In doing the legwork for the survey, NRGRDA presented five different properties to Bowen, including Wolf Creek Park in Fayette County and two sites in Raleigh County, to explore. Among the considerations, too, were a scenario in which a new developer comes into the region and has a large tract of property on which to operate. A public information session was scheduled by the Fayette County Commission on Feb. 19 for Wolf Creek, which NRGRDA owns via an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the county commission, the latter which purchased the site for about $2 million utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The Wolf Creek property, located on the Nick Rahall Greenway near the intersection of Appalachian Drive and Rte. 16, features a Dept. of Environmental Protection office, the Fayette County 911 Center, Fayette Veterinary Hospital, Bridge Brew Works and is host to the annual New River Nature and Birding Festival. According to Belcher, there are scattered houses, but in the nearly 900 acres which NRGRDA owns, there is no housing. The area features a trail system and a bird watching area. Of the acreage, she said it is estimated that between 200 and 250 acres are developable, and the rest would be conserved. That will be detailed in a land plan. 'The goal is to preserve as much of the trail system and bird watch area that we can, and we're committed to that,' she said. 'And we do feel that it's going to be priority housing and maybe some single-office spaces that are developed there.' No major development is planned. The property and the utilities around the area aren't conducive for large job creators, said Belcher. 'We're hoping to find a developer to build more housing (multi-use) at WCP and are looking to NRGRDA to advise us on ways to make it an attractive development opportunity through things like incentives or creative financing,' said Fayette County Commissioner Allison Rae Taylor. The overall housing survey includes low-income, single-family, multi-family, apartments, senior housing and seasonal workforce housing, Belcher said. 'We really asked them to run the gamut.' The study also features 'a lot of conversation' about Airbnb and Vrbo, short-term rentals and monthly rentals. 'Again, looking at the ownership structure of those and the percentage of out-of-state owners versus in-state owners,' she said. Independent/assisted living facilities, such as The Villages at Greystone in Raleigh County, provide multiple options for area senior citizens, in addition to making more housing stock available to the public, she noted. 'I feel it is going to be an all-around good report, but I do find a little bit of the numbers a little shocking, especially around Fayette County,' Belcher said. 'We all knew it was going on. I don't think I realized it was going to reflect like that.' What are the ramifications of housing availability on economic development? 'When we look at companies that are expanding (such as Klöckner Pentaplast of America in Beaver, Gainwell Engineering in Hico, and SMR Technologies in Nicholas County), it poses a real issue for companies that have multiple locations throughout the U.S. for them to choose their West Virginia site to invest in, because if they can put their money in (a site in another state) because they can find more housing for their employees, it's a lot easier for them to do that,' Belcher said. 'It does create a challenge with being competitive with our recruitment of business and also expansion of existing businesses.' For more on the preliminary process involved in the housing study, visit Among the ongoing work in the region to bolster housing opportunities is renovation of the Hargrove Apartments in downtown Beckley, Belcher pointed out. 'That's a really good example of the Build WV credit that we (the state) have that provides an incentive for housing development,' Belcher said. 'We helped (developers) access that credit.' Concurring with Belcher's sentiments about Fayette County prices, Fayette County Assessor Eddie Young says housing prices have seen a major shift in his county in recent years. 'Prices have gone through the roof since Covid,' Young said. 'Covid kicked in, then we became a national park and everybody's getting on the bandwagon with Airbnb and the Vrbo (vacation rentals by owner) thing, and people from out of state are coming in and buying up everything they can find sight unseen for Airbnbs.' Young said he ran some random samples of property sales in the county's New Haven District from 2020, and the samples averaged $80 per square foot. The same random sales in 2025 averaged $175 per square foot in sales. Samples weren't located in city limits, he said. 'Those obviously would be more.' 'The problem we have here, that I see, is a person can't move to Fayetteville, and Oak Hill not quite as bad, and rent a home to live in,' Young said, due to scarce availability. The Airbnb movement has 'kind of leveled off somewhat,' he said, 'but what it's done has driven the prices up to where now that anybody that lives here has to pay these phenomenal prices. And, that makes it hard to do my job, because everything I do is based on what everything is selling for, and we have to value these properties. ... It's a tough situation right now as far as trying to find a place to live.' Take Young, for example. 'I myself have wanted to sell my house for two years now. I could sell my house just like that, but I can't find anything to move to, and that's what we're facing here in this county.' Currently in the county, he said recent work has included a project by Whitewater Property Ventures to transform the former Fayetteville Elementary School into apartments, and to construct some adjacent town homes. Similar projects have occurred elsewhere in the county, he said. 'Other than that, we don't have any new construction to speak of. You have a few new homes and everything, but right now the cost of materials is so high that people are not building much.' Another project utilizing the Build WV legislation, as well as federal and state historic tax credits, for funding is the long-term Wiseman & High Apartments in Fayetteville, built earlier this decade on the site of the former Fayetteville Elementary School. According to Preston Wendell, a principal of developer Whitewater Property Ventures along with his father, Charles Wendell, and his uncle, Pat Hooten, said that Wiseman & High features 19 apartments, of which 17 are currently rented. Four town homes are also being erected nearby and should be completed within the coming months. The developers are still weighing whether to rent or sell the town homes. Hooten said several of the apartment tenants are part of the Ascend WV program, as well as some locals. It's a 'fantastic group of tenants,' he said. Hooten, who manages the apartments, said a one-bedroom unit rents for $1,410 per month and a two-bedroom unit goes for $1,725 monthly. That includes fast internet, water, sewer, trash and free storage (the latter on a first-come, first-served basis). According to Preston Wendell, the school gym was renovated into a co-working space for Ascend WV workers and other tenants. Wendell said he would be remiss not to mention his father, Fayetteville leaders and others throughout the state for backing the project of converting the old school into apartments and preserving the historic aspect along the way. 'They saw the value,' he said. In 2022, former Gov. Jim Justice encouraged the creation of Build WV, a program aimed at spurring housing development in certain areas of West Virginia to help address the need for achievable housing, according to previous reports. The creation of the program is intended to support the expansion of technical, industrial and commercial markets for West Virginia by providing tax incentives to developers and builders for constructing qualified housing projects under the umbrella of the WV Department of Economic Development. Local Realtor David Sibray, of Foxfire Realty, said the current seller's market has been solid and should remain that way. 'What we're witnessing is the most potent seller's market in recent history, and it doesn't look like that will end in the next decade at least,' said Sibray. 'Much of that is due to the remote-work revolution, which is allowing many people to leave the factories and offices in population-dense areas. They appreciate the friendliness of West Virginians and, of course, the relatively low taxes and cost of living and its mountain beauty. 'In southern West Virginia, this leap in demand has been magnified by the presence of the new national park, which has been attracting residential investors since its (late 2020) inception,' he added. 'They're attracted by the economic growth that national parks have been shown to create and by the opportunity to interact with others who share their love for the park. Thus, rock climbers, in particular, have been investing in building homes here in record numbers.' Sibray services both middle- and high-end properties. 'We need more skilled contractors to keep up with it all,' he said. 'Sales are certainly on the rise. It hasn't ended. Communities that are lagging are those that are not investing in their infrastructures. People who are moving here want walkable towns with good public safety. Good landscaping and attention to beautification on a serious scale is now vital, where it was once an afterthought. People aren't moving here because they have to; they're moving here because they want to. Towns like Lewisburg that employ best practices in community development are succeeding wonderfully.' On the lower end of the market, availability and affordability of housing for low-income and underserved residents is just as critical as homes being available to those who are more well-to-do, says Dr. John David. 'One of our concerns is we believe there is a huge problem with habitable housing' in addition to options for what is considered affordable housing, he says. In a recent op-ed column in The Register-Herald, David highlighted the Southern Appalachian Labor School's long-term partnership with Colorado-based Group Mission Trips in rehabilitating substandard homes in southern West Virginia. In the column, David wrote: 'The current slowdown in the economy has raised new fears that the housing crisis will continue to worsen. While housing is now on the front burner as the next challenge in helping families escape from poverty, there is renewed concern that the welfare-to-work initiatives may sour. Joblessness is increasingly becoming visible, sustainable year-around employment is becoming more scarce, and retraining programs are having more placement difficulties. 'At the same time, those promoting economic development fully understand that adequate housing is a key success component. More often than not, a 'curb-site' inspection of housing in the community can easily deter a prospective firm. Thus, upgrading the housing stock is not only a quality of life issue, it is also the cornerstone for rebuilding West Virginia's economy for the new century.' Securing loans to pay for ownership of homes — including for two structures built or in progress in Page by SALS staff and housing volunteers — for many residents is a non-starter, said David. 'We're being bombarded with people that don't have the proper credit rating to obtain loans. 'West Virginia has home ownership,' he continued. However, some of the homes still in use by residents have improper insulation, wiring and water and sewer services, according to David. 'What really, really concerns me is we are getting almost no help (from county governmental agencies) in doing repairs,' David added, with the Kanawha County Commission being an exception. 'People here in Fayette County are calling like crazy. What they need is wheelchair ramps, insulation, roof repairs ...' Available land is also an issue, he stressed. 'Affordable housing requires land, and that land has to be served by utilities.' David mentioned an unsuccessful move to obtain the former Hawks Nest Country Club land (now occupied by the Fayette County Firefighters Association) to build a low-income community. 'That land is an example of land that would have been appropriate. There is no question that housing is needed, the question is where are you going to put it and how are you going to afford it?'
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beckley Planning Commission approves site plan for drive-through business on Harper Road, despite neighbors' protests
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Beckley Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a site development plan for a drive-through Starbucks on Harper Road, submitted by a Nicholas County developer. Dozens of residents of Homewood Drive, along with customers of a locally owned and operated cafe, were at the meeting to protest the Starbucks being built on Harper Road, and city officials said they had received around 250 emails from those who oppose the plan. The executive director of New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, Jina Belcher, said the incident should encourage city officials to take proactive steps to protect small businesses in the future from similar situations. City attorney Bill File and the city's chief zoning officer, Donald Morgan, each said the developer's site plan must be approved, based on current law. 'At the end, it's not a situation where this body has the ability or the right to deny the request,' File said. 'You'd be asked to approve the site plan or to approve it with additional conditions.' Morgan and a representative of Beckley Sanitary Board each said plans submitted by the developer met state and local requirements. Public hearing on proposed Harper Road Starbucks postponed, as Chocolate Moose customers vow opposition However, Homewood Drive residents questioned the traffic study, which city officials said the developer had paid to have performed, although. By law, West Virginia Department of Transportation officials must approve traffic studies. Residents that the traffic on Harper Road is already slow, sometimes slowing down those on their way to nearby Raleigh General Hospital, while a delivery driver for Young Chow's, a locally owned Chinese restaurant, said that some Harper Road businesses are already harmed by traffic flow on Harper Road during certain hours. Melissa Farrish, a resident of Homewood Drive, pointed out that her street is across from the lot slated for development. She said that when residents turn left into the Harper Road turning lane from their street, they will be facing oncoming drive-through traffic from the proposed Starbucks, under the current traffic study. Beckley coffee shop now offering new curbside pickup option A number of people, including Farrish's neighbor, Sam Lambert, also spoke against the developer's plan to build a Starbucks a few doors down from The Chocolate Moose Cafe, a local business owned by Kevin Traube, which also offers Mountain State Mini Golf and the Outdoor-In Climbing Gym. 'My wife Elizabeth and I actually had our very first date at Kevin's Chocolate Moose, and here we are, all these years later, celebrating the fact that we live across the street,' said Lambert. 'You know, as young homebuyers, that was really important for us, to know that we had something to do and somewhere to go.' Traube's employees said the local business founder had given them timely raises over the year and that the business sourced its coffee ethically, paying coffee farmers well. One speaker said his son was in Tennessee, completing his studies to be a doctor, and that he wanted him to return to West Virginia. He said unique places like The Chocolate Moose and other businesses could draw West Virginians home. Scott Hill, a longtime customer of The Chocolate Moose, suggested Traube was a visionary who had invested in the Harper Road area at a time when others were not. He came here forty years ago and started a business, when a lot of people weren't starting a business here, and that business evolved. He's a genius,' said Hill. 'He said, 'I'm going to build a golf course on a hillside,' and he went and did it.' Never Have I Ever: Outside-In Climbing Gym The executive director of New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, Jina Belcher, said that, in light of current laws which forbid city officials from denying approved site plans in properly zoned areas, the incident involving The Chocolate Moose and Starbucks should encourage city officials to take steps to protect small businesses in the future. 'This situation presents a very unique opportunity for some pro-active planning, to strengthen protections and incentives for our small businesses in the future,' said Belcher. 'Our communities across the region have implemented policies such as small business overlay districts that have zoning incentives that encourage small and locally owned businesses in very key areas.' Belcher said city officials could limit national chains in key districts and can adopt rules regarding signage, turning lanes and lighting, which could also protect small, local businesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ten projects selected for New River Gorge region to boost economic development
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) announced the ten awardees of its NRG Working Group Technical Assistance Fund, amounting to more than $490,000. Beckley Planning Commission approves site plan for drive-through business on Harper Road According to a press release, Jina Belcher, Executive Director of NRGRDA, explained that funding through a Congressionally Directed Spending request affords the New River Gorge Regional Working Group Technical Assistance Fund to give support to projects within the areas they serve. During the competitive selection process, non-profit organizations and governmental units within the area sent in proposals for a variety of improvements to communities that would bring about an economic impact that would justify the funds. Selected projects had to: Focus on a need for an infrastructure improvement necessary for an increase in economic growth Bolster business retention through working with local businesses for improvement project implementation Find potential chances for connectivity in the region through the implementation of the project Those selected for funding suit the NRG Working Group priorities, which are geared towards utilities, public health and quality of place, transportation, development, and environmental justice, the release noted. Lauren Daigle to perform at the 100th State Fair of West Virginia Selected project proposals include: Raleigh County Airport Rail Access Initiative Meadow River Recreational Corridor Master Plan New River Train: Planning for Fayette County's Public Indoor Training and Recreation Facility Forest Hill Water Access and Infrastructure Enhancement Project Raleigh County Parks and Recreation Master Plan Camp Summers Multipurpose Building and Site Development Project Summersville Lake Trail System Feasibility Study Site Suitability Plan for Longacre Section of Smithers WV Hawks Next Rail-Trail Network Mountain Bike Study Beckley Raleigh County Convention Center Economic Impact Study Belcher stated that projects receiving assistance must be put in at least one of the four counties within the New River Gorge Region: Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers. Though this round of funding was limited, NRGRDA aims to secure more funding to support projects in the future. For more information regarding the NRG Working group, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
