By Megan Bevins
Business Developments
From West Virginia wineries to health care expansions, Harrison County’s business portfolio is quite diverse. Becky Titchenal, president of West Virginia Fruit and Berry, says her business will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“We’re coming out with a couple of new products,” Titchenal says, “We’ve been aging a bourbon for more than seven years. It will be a limited-edition, single barrel bourbon with 240 bottles available. We also have a new batch of our 304 Mountain Blackberry Bourbon Whiskey coming out. This will be the fourth batch of this product that we’ve released.”
In addition to new beverages being introduced, West Virginia Fruit and Berry will be updating its packaging to look more modern and give the brand a more cohesive look across all its products.
Healthy Harrison, a coalition that aims to improve the health and wellness of Harrison County citizens, has successfully launched its Change Your State Challenge in each of the county’s five middle and high schools.
“This program is offered to all students who want to improve their health, using tips that enhance mindfulness, movement and nutritional well-being,” says John Nardelli, executive director of Healthy Harrison.
Health is a fundamental pillar of economic growth, which is why partnering with Amy Haberbosch Wilson, economic development director of Harrison County, in her role as the president of Healthy Harrison has been instrumental to the organization’s success.
“Amy has effectively bridged the connection between a healthy community and a thriving economy,” Nardelli says. “Through collaboration, we ensure businesses have the support of a healthy community to enhance workforce recruitment and retention. Additionally, we recognize that prosperous businesses contribute to a growing population of families in the area.”
Healthy Harrison’s mission is to provide families with essential health and well-being education, fostering long-term improvements in health outcomes and reducing disparities. This investment in overall wellness strengthens the future of North Central West Virginia.
The Cecil B. Highland, Jr. & Barbara B. Highland Cancer Center at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) recently received accreditation under the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation Program. This rigorous evaluation occurs every three years.
“It is an honor for the cancer center at UHC to be recognized once again as an accredited program by the CoC, as our cancer center has received consecutive approval since 1989,” says Meredith Williams, MPH, RN, OCN, director of cancer services. “Physicians and staff communicate and collaborate to provide high-quality cancer care to our patients in the region. This approval acknowledges national recognition for the entire cancer care team at UHC.”
Emerging Industries
The North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB) has the longest commercial runway in the state and offers daily flights through Contour Airlines, which partners with American Airlines. Allegiant Air also provides service to Orlando Sanford International Airport as well as seasonal flights to Myrtle Beach, SC; Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL; and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Over the past seven years, CKB has invested $101 million in development, including a new state-of-the-art passenger terminal slated to open in 2025. The new terminal will be 50,000 square feet and three stories high; have four gates for additional airlines; and is located right off Interstate 79.
As part of this expansion, the West Virginia Aerotech Park was developed, adding 80 acres of land with direct taxiway access for aviation-related industries. The airport serves a 22-county catchment area, attracting travelers from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The North Central West Virginia aerospace cluster generates an annual economic impact of $1.1 billion, supporting major employers such as Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; Pratt & Whitney; Northrop Grumman; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Engine Airframe Solutions; HQ Aero; and KCI Aviation.
Jason Harshbarger, state policy director for Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) Gas Transmission and Storage, touches on two projects the company is currently focusing on: the Gateway Extension Project and the Appalachian Reliability Project.
“The Gateway Extension Project addresses a need for additional natural gas transportation capacity in the Marcellus Shale Region by utilizing parts of the former Supply Header Project located in Doddridge County,” Harshbarger says. “This project is designed to move gas from West Virginia into Pennsylvania with a projected third quarter of 2025 in-service date.”
Harshbarger says the Appalachian Reliability Project also helps move gas produced in West Virginia into Pennsylvania markets. This project has a completion date of June 2028.
The demand for data centers is increasing in West Virginia due to high energy consumption needs, and conversations are being held about how to power them.
“In 2022, legislation passed that allowed for two specific high-impact, industrial business development districts in West Virginia, one of which is a BHE Renewables, LLC site,” Harshbarger says. “There is ongoing discussion in the Legislature and Governor’s Office on whether to expand microgrid policies to attract more data centers.”
Amy Wilson, executive director of the Harrison Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), says the organization is in the process of adding a 50,000-square-foot building to the Harrison Regional Industrial Park.
The HEDC received a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Authority for this building, which is being designed for manufacturing use. The HEDC is the owner and developer of the approximately 20-acre industrial park, located in Bridgeport.
Currently, Harvest Care Medical, a medical cannabis growing and manufacturing facility, is located within the park. Wilson says there are two additional pads marketable for development.
“We are extremely fortunate to be located in one of the fastest and most stable growth areas of the state,” Wilson says. “With our housing growth, quality of life, work force, educational opportunities and state-of-the-art health care options, this brands us as a marketable location for industry expansion and relocation.”
Investing in Communities
Amy Baker, vice president of corporate communications and marketing for MVB Bank, recognizes the importance of partnerships when contributing to the quality of life in a community.
“MVB has an ongoing partnership with the Kelly Miller Community Center located in the Monticello neighborhood, a historically African American neighborhood, in Clarksburg,” Baker says. “MVB has provided well-attended information sessions with MVB Mortgage on the first-time homebuying process as well as sponsored and actively participated in the FHLBank Pittsburgh Blueprint Communities team for Monticello. The community center has a food pantry on-site, hosts clothing closet giveaways and provides programming for kids and adults.”
Baker says MVB Bank is also working with other residents in the Monticello neighborhood on ways to continue revitalization efforts in the community.
Another way Harrison County is investing in its communities is through its trail network.
“A well-connected trail network is the lifeblood of a vibrant community,” says Andrea Kerr, director of public information and economic development for the City of Bridgeport. “In Bridgeport, we pride ourselves on our trail system. Once spring hits, our trails are a chosen way for our residents to connect with the outdoors. Whether walking or biking, the trail system is a favorite amenity citywide.”
One of the projects currently being worked on is the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Rail Trail (P2P). According to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the 238-mile P2P is nearly 80% complete, but a few short gaps exist in West Virginia that are keeping a continuous stretch of the rail trail—spanning more than 150 miles—from running between Parkersburg and the state’s border with Pennsylvania.
Tourism
Aimeé Comer, BS, MSM, executive director of the Clarksburg Visitors Bureau, says one of the most exciting things happening in Harrison County is the opening of MK Airsoft Clarksburg. This is the second-largest airsoft field in the U.S.
“This company is based out of Ohio and decided to put its second location on Armory Road in Clarksburg, WV,” Comer says. “This is a great opportunity for the city, and we are looking forward to this being the first of many companies
finding their place in Clarksburg.”
Droo Callahan, general manager of The Bridge Sports Complex, says it currently brings more than 1.1 million people into the city to participate in health, wellness, community events and sports. He also says estimates from Johnson
Consulting suggest that the complex generates $12.8 billion in direct spending for the region.
Looking ahead, The Bridge is preparing for a major expansion.
“We are currently working on a more than $5.3 million project that will allow for versatility, bringing as many different sports to our complex as possible,” Callahan says. “We hope to start this project mid-2025.”
Reflecting on The Bridge’s impact on the community, Callahan credits the vision of the facility’s council.
“With their vision a decade ago of what this could be, there are so many ancillary benefits that weren’t anticipated,” he says. “With more than 6,700 members, it truly shows that what they dreamed then has become a great resource for our community and, most importantly, for people of all ages.”
James Corton, chairman of Genesis Partners, the developer of Charles Pointe, is excited about the ongoing and upcoming developments within the award-winning $1.5 billion, master-planned community in Bridgeport, spanning more than 1,700 acres in North Central West Virginia’s growth corridor.
“Focusing on opportunity, job creation, quality of life, sustainability and attracting talent to West Virginia, Charles Pointe combines commercial, retail, office, research and development, education, civic, recreation and residential land uses to create a complete community in which one can learn, live, work and play,” he says.
Among the latest milestones, Menards opened in February 2024 and has been met with strong community support. Infrastructure expansion is also a priority, with plans to extend Haden Boulevard past Menards, laying the groundwork for further commercial development.
Charles Pointe Crossing will break ground this year, introducing new retail stores to the area. Meanwhile, Community Care of West Virginia is renovating its office building and expects to move into its upgraded facility in June or July 2025.
Corton says residential growth is also on the rise, with 316 units already constructed across seven distinct neighborhoods, representing more than $129 million in investments.
