With the new Federal Correction Institution McDowell opening this fall, county officials must be ready to seize upon the economic opportunities the $224 million facility will create at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park and surrounding areas.
Community tours of the federal prison were completed last week, and the first inmates will arrive this fall. As of last week, 236 of the 320 employees who will staff the facility had already been hired. In addition to correctional officers, the prison is also employing nurses, teachers, business administrators, counselors, accountants, case managers and other personnel.
The prison itself will ultimately incarcerate 1,152 medium security and 128 minimum security adult male offenders. The facility is impressive in scope and size, and is comparable to a small city located high atop the mountainous borders of McDowell and Wyoming counties.
The McDowell County Commission is currently in the process of developing a marketing plan in hopes of attracting additional businesses, industries and other spin-off entities to the industrial park, according to County Manager Clif Moore.
The prison itself is viewed as the anchor of the industrial park. Moore said many of the individuals hired for the federal prison are from McDowell County.
“This is certainly an economic boon to McDowell, hopefully to Wyoming and certainly to Mercer,” Moore said. “And some of it may stretch even as far as Beckley as people will need places to eat and shop. So it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
We agree, and we believe there is room to grow for McDowell County at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park. Two additional projects — the long-awaited interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway and a proposed health and educational pavilion — are already moving forward. U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., recently secured $900,000 for the interchange, which will be developed near the prison, and Moore reports that plans for the health and educational pavilion are on a fast track.
Given the great potential for additional growth at the industrial park, we urge county officials to actively market and promote this large-scale industrial site. We’ve known for years that the prison was coming, so its long-awaited opening this fall is not a surprise to anyone. Now that it’s here, the county and the region must be ready to seize upon the economic opportunities and the potential for spin-off growth that this facility will bring to the city of Welch and surrounding communities.
Those who will work at the prison will need additional places to eat, shop and purchase gas and other supplies. Many of those employees will also be looking for new housing opportunities close to the prison. Family members of inmates who will visit the prison will need hotels and motels.
Given the potential for future growth, now is the time for county officials to expedite their marketing efforts for the Indian Ridge Industrial Park. There is great potential, but only if local officials are aggressive in their pursuit of additional developments.
Editorials
August 24, 2010
Growth in McDowell Industrial park brings opportunities
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