In the toughest of economic times, we can take comfort in the knowledge that our region is still seeing pockets of economic development and growth.
Business is still bustling along the Interstate 77 corridor near Princeton, and new business growth is being seen in both Bluefield and Princeton as well.
Work continues on a new Taco Bell store along Stafford Drive in Princeton, and renovations also continue on a nearby building that will house an Aaron’s Sales & Lease.
Construction also is underway on a new home for National College. The $4.8 million facility is being constructed near the Route 460 and I-77 interchange. When completed, the 18,000 square foot institution will have an information technology lab, medical laboratory, classrooms, a student lounge and library.
A new seafood restaurant, Webb’s Seafood, also recently opened on Oakvale Road near Route 460, and a new Dollar Store recently opened along Cumberland Road in Bluefield.
The Mercer Mall is also seeing new growth, including the recent addition of Roses, BB’s Treasures and Rusty Nails, along with a new Cole Harley store.
While we learned Tuesday that one long-time store at the mall will be closing — Borders Express — mall officials say they are actively looking for new tenants.
Construction also continues on the new PikeView Middle School near Gardner, and the new River View High School near Bradshaw. Site work also continues on the new Bluestone Regional Business and Technology Park near Bluefield, Va. Construction on the new multi-million dollar federal prison project in McDowell County also is nearing a long-awaited conclusion.
While the Great Recession may be over, challenges remain for our region. There are still many empty storefronts to be filled, including the recently closed Goody’s stores in Bluefield, Va. and Princeton, as well as the old Big Lots and Kroger stores in Bluefield, Va.
While it will most likely take time to fill these empty storefronts, we are confident that these structures will be occupied again in the not-too-distant future.
It will take time.
We won’t recover from this recession overnight. But small business growth across our region will be key to our success.
The long road to recovery continues. Yet the future is starting to look a little brighter.
