Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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March 15, 2010

Leaders dust off idea of boosting economies with regional cooperation

By GREG JORDAN Bluefield Daily Telegraph

TAZEWELL, Va. — In the midst of a recession, working together can be more productive than working apart. Leaders in counties divided by a state line are thinking of ways of working together more on economic development projects that would benefit people in both Virginias. Interstate cooperation was among the topics representatives of Mercer County discussed with state officials March 4 during Mercer County Day at the West Virginia Legislature. One idea that was formed about three years ago may be “dusted off” if the right projects can be found for it, said Jim Spencer, chairman of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. Spencer is also the Tazewell County Administrator. In 2007, Mercer County and neighboring Tazewell County, Va. pushed legislation to form the Appalachian Regional Interstate Compact Commission, Spencer said. “That was the result of a meeting between Gov. (Joe) Manchin and former Gov. (Timothy) Kaine,” he recalled. “We’ve really not realized that group.” Chambers on both sides of the state line could look at joint economic development projects that would benefit chamber members in both Virginias by creating jobs, Spencer said. “I have no doubt in my mind that the two counties (Mercer and Tazewell) are stronger when they pull together,” he said. “And if you think about it, there are other bordering counties we need to talk about working with...Giles, McDowell, Buchanan. We need to work together as a region.” Already there are projects such as the new section of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail that will be near Bramwell, and the new Spearhead Trail near Pocahontas, Va.; both all-terrain vehicle trails are expected to bring both ATV riders and tourists to the neighboring communities. “We commend the Hatfield-McCoy Trail for wanting to work with Kentucky and Virginia,” Spencer said. Besides the border districts, other sections of Mercer County have expressed interested in working more with neighboring counties. “We’re interested in working with the Bluefield chamber,” said Sue Shields, chairperson of the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce. “It would most interesting to our board members. If a committee is formed, I’d certainly like to be included.” Revenue sharing aspects are among the factors that would have to be in any cooperation between counties in the two Virginias, said Marc Meachum, president of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. If one county made an investment in another county across statelines, a way to share revenues would have to be arranged. Forming the Appalachian Regional Compact Commission wood be one way to do this. “The challenge was and still is to have a project that the commission could work on and the first step is identifying that project,” Meachum said. “The legislation has been passed, people have been appointed. It’s a matter of getting a project and getting that group together if it’s indeed something the commission would be interested in working on.” Past studies have indicated that cooperation across the state line would benefit parties on both sides of it. “Keep in mind that in 2002 the Shott Foundation and the Hunnicutt Foundation paid for an economic development study,” Spencer said. One of the recommendations was that the counties of the region work together for economic development. “Really what the region needs to do is dust off that (report) and see who we can partner with make this region as strong as it can be,” he concluded.

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