Future Forward

With new growth, investments, expansions and partnerships emerging throughout the region, the Eastern Panhandle is experiencing remarkable growth. Through efforts that help business thrive, education advance and communities flourish, progress is steady in this tight-knit corner of the Mountain State.

Development

Development is largely underway in the Eastern Panhandle, with new projects and expansions that benefit the economy and community.

Development at Shepherd University includes a multi-purpose dining facility and new agribusiness center at the Agricultural Innovation Center at Tabler Farm.

“The new center will expand what we can do to not only include crop production and farm management but also some agritourism elements and classroom spaces,” says Hans Fogle, executive director of university communications at Shepherd University.

The Mountain State is also seeing new business with HandCraft Services, a health care linen and uniform company, breaking ground on a new facility in Martinsburg and making plans for a second West Virginia location. This expansion will result in 220-230 new jobs across both plants.

Will Anderson, chief experience officer at HandCraft Services, says the new facility will also help the company advance its green initiatives like conserving water and reducing carbon emissions.

“Our goal is to support local growth while protecting the natural resources that make this region thrive,” he says.

The Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB) announced the addition of Columbia Aircraft Services in October. Columbia is an aircraft broker for the TBM Aircraft in addition to providing multi-level TBM aircraft maintenance. Their intention is to have a cooperative relationship with Blue Ridge Community & Technical College (CTC) as well as Shepherd and Marshall universities to provide students with aviation-related occupations.

“We are excited to see this new addition to the multi-faceted aviation community at our airport,” says Nicolas Diehl, executive director and CEO of MRB.

In Morgan County, a new bypass is underway on U.S. Route 522. The southern section of the bypass is now open to local traffic, and the northern section is expected to be completed in 2027.

“This will help alleviate traffic downtown and make for a safer, more pleasant and attractive environment for residents and visitors going to shops, restaurants and other businesses,” Lyn Goodwin, director of the Morgan County Economic Development Authority, says.

Sean Forney, president of the Morgan County Commission, says the county planning commission recently approved a new subdivision on the southeastern side of the county that will contain more than 55 houses and has purchased Rankins Physical Therapy to turn it into a public wellness center called The Well.

“That has had a really positive impact on overall health and wellness in Morgan County, so we’re really proud of that,” Forney says. Education in the Eastern Panhandle is being improved through development as well. Ryan Saxe, superintendent of Berkeley County Schools, says more than 100 new projects have been completed across the district, and four brand-new schools are on the way.

“Because we are halfway through that process, it’s now time to make sure we take a reflective look with our community to say, ‘What is left on this 10-year facility plan? Is it still based upon what we need for our enrollment growth and the direction we’re going as a school system?’” Saxe says.

In terms of legal development, Bowles Rice LLP moved into a new facility in Martinsburg this year, allowing the firm to serve clients in a location that is all its own.

“We miss our family in downtown Martinsburg, but we are enjoying welcoming our clients and servicing them in our new location,” Alison Cox, attorney at Bowles Rice LLP, says.

Cox also mentions the addition of a 28th circuit containing only Jefferson County, which was previously included in the 27th circuit with Berkeley and Morgan counties.

A new brewery outside of Charles Town, Rippon Brewery and Tap House, will open soon, constructed by Minghinis General Contractors, Inc. Bernice Collins, vice president of Minghinis, touches on the importance of investments like these in the Eastern Panhandle.

“I love the fact that outside investors are coming into the area to renovate, rejuvenate and revive Martinsburg’s textile mills,” she says. “One can see how the surrounding areas are slowly being revived through businesses investing in these areas.”

Education

Whether it’s through new schools, expansions or forging strong partnerships with local entities, education is flourishing in the Eastern Panhandle.

Many schools across the state are beginning to offer micro-credentials, including Shepherd University, which is also building partnerships with local entities, such as providing free education to county employees.

This year, the university is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of its nursing program, which continues to see strong demand and success.

“It’s the 50th anniversary of our School of Nursing, so we’re going to be doing some things to celebrate that milestone this year,” Fogle says. “Graduates from our School of Nursing have a 100% hiring rate, so before they even get their pins, they’re hired with a job and ready to go.”

Blue Ridge CTC is promoting tourism education through Tourism Works, an online tourist training video offering micro-credentials, certificates and even college credit hours. The program has had more than 2,000 enrollments and 11,938 micro-credentials awarded to date.

“As I travel throughout the state and talk to people who have completed all four units, I find that they love seeing people from West Virginia talking about their role in tourism,” says Anne Myers, executive director of business development and community advancement at Blue Ridge CTC.

Saxe says Berkeley County is working hard to position its education system as a first choice for education. A major advancement for the county’s schools addresses safety concerns, investing in an emergency management system to ensure quicker and easier response time to emergencies.

“All school staff this year are equipped with an alert badge,” Saxe says. “If they are encountering a crisis or something dangerous in their schools, all they have to do is press that button, and first responders will immediately respond based upon their geocoded location.”

Saxe says Berkeley County Schools is also excited about its many partnerships, one of note being a collaboration with WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center to run MedEd, a program offered to seniors at Martinsburg High School and Spring Mills High School, where students participate in classroom health science learning at the schools and at WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center, working alongside health care professionals.

“We’re really excited about this program and look forward to being able to expand it to other industries in the future as well,” Saxe says.

Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) Tabler Station facility is active with the local school system, promoting manufacturing education to local middle schools through the West Virginia Explorers Program.

“We bring things to the school to let students see, ‘How do you make Dawn dish soap or a Swiffer cleaning product, what do those products do, and what kind of work do we offer?” says Patrick Winkleman, environment, health and safety director at P&G.

Community

The Eastern Panhandle works consistently to remain a vibrant and welcoming place to call home.

On September 8, Girl Scouts Nations Capitol honored three Women of Distinction—Vicky Bullett, Joy Lewis and Cara Keys. Annual events like these not only celebrate the region’s high-achieving women but also serve as an example to young girls.

“Just think, we have an Olympic gold medalist and county commissioner living in our community and teaching our children,” Collins says. “If our girls can see women as Olympic medalists, school board members, county commissioners, philanthropists, doctors, lawyers and moms, they know they can be them too.”

An example of collaboration within the Eastern Panhandle, the Eastern West Virginia Economic Alliance (EWVEA) brings together Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties’ economic development authorities and MRB to promote the region.

The EWVEA’s pitch competitions—Build-Up Berkeley, Jumpstart Jefferson and Make it Morgan—provide opportunities, mentorship and resources to the region’s aspiring entrepreneurs.

“It’s helping launch new small businesses and strengthen the county’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which benefits the entire Eastern Panhandle,” says Jennifer Smith, executive director of the Berkeley County Development Authority.

The Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently conducted its fourth Washington, D.C., domination, where it partnered with Berkeley and Morgan counties to market the region in airports and metro stations.

Annette Gavin Bates, CEO of the Jefferson County CVB, also says visitor numbers are growing in Jefferson County’s local attractions, such as the Harpers Ferry Water Park, which saw record numbers this summer.

Guests visiting Shepherdstown will also now be greeted by a new welcome center housed in downtown’s iconic 1800 Market House building.

“We’re really proud of that partnership with the town and the fact that they trusted us to be good stewards of that building,” Gavin Bates says.

Mark Jordan, executive director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB, says the Eastern Panhandle is a popular destination for filming and describes the CVB’s partnership with the state film office to visit California each year and recruit new films to the area.

“We can promote not only Berkeley County and the Eastern Panhandle but also the whole state of West Virginia,” Jordan says.

Jordan says the fall season is big for the area, with many seasonal festivals taking place in Berkeley County. Raven Lamp, events and promotions manager at Main Street Martinsburg, emphasizes this as well.

Lamp says Martinsburg hosted its fourth Fall Food Festival on October 4, which included more than 20 food trucks and 40 merchandise vendors.

“The Fall Food Festival isn’t just about the food trucks. It’s about the full downtown experience,” Lamp says. “It’s so much fun to shop our brick-and-mortar businesses and enjoy our local restaurants along the way.”

Martinsburg will also host its annual Christmas on Main on December 6, featuring a tree lighting and holiday events, and a Christmas Parade will be held on December 9. Once March comes, Martinsburg will host its St. Patrick’s Day festival—the largest in the state.

Saxe mentions that Berkeley County Schools is making strides in its partnerships with local community organizations to help improve their summer and community-based enrichment programming, including robotics, STEM, theater and Horses with Hearts.

Cox echoes the importance of organizations like Horses with Hearts, providing equine therapy and leadership training; CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, providing services to children experiencing abuse and neglect; and Hospice of the Eastern Panhandle, expanding services to include palliative care and transportation for people who need to get to and from hospice.

Tourism

Tourism in the Eastern Panhandle is booming, driven by its vibrant mix of history, culture and outdoor adventure.

Berkeley Springs has long utilized its state parks to host nationwide and international events. Cacapon State Park has hosted the International Bow Hunting Organization’s international championships for the past two years and is also one host of the Enduro Series Race.

Cacapon State Park hosts 30 miles of single-track trails and will add another 30 miles of track over the next three years.

“We say it’s the best mountain biking from Arkansas to Vermont,” says Dusty Martin, executive director of Travel Berkeley Springs.

Goodwin touches on Cacapon State Park’s new bike trail development as well, saying that once completed, it will be one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s premier mountain biking destinations.

“The park has already attracted numerous riders with its current trails. They’ve hosted some high school mountain bike competitions and other events that have brought hundreds of riders from across the state and tri-state region to the park, so it’s already becoming an attraction,” she says.

Gavin Bates says tourism is the key component of growth in Jefferson County, which has the highest number of visitor spending in the state at $864 million.

“Tourism, I will say repeatedly, is nonpartisan,” Gavin Bates says. “I think it speaks to all parties and people, and I think it’s the positive driver across the state.”

Jordan says Martinsburg and Berkeley county’s occupancy was up in July and emphasizes the CVB’s partnership with neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia to drive visitation.

“We have visitors who don’t really see county lines, and where we’re located, they don’t really see state lines,” Jordan says. “They just want to have a great experience and see what we offer as far as fine dining, great distilleries, fun bars, nice shopping and eclectic buildings.”

Health Care

Health care in the Eastern Panhandle is evolving, strengthening the wellness of the entire community.

WVU Medicine is helping advance the region’s health care with a $260 million investment in Berkeley and Jefferson counties that will provide greater access to care.

“Access might be considered, ‘Is the service available, can I afford it or can I get to it? Are there appointments? Are there enough physicians?’ We’re trying to touch on all those components of access,” says Jeannie Constable, vice president of marketing and communications at WVU Hospitals East.

Part of the investment will go toward The Tower, a massive expansion to Berkeley Medical Center. This will provide more private rooms, update technology and reflow the emergency department. There will also be a $60 million construction project at the Jefferson Medical Center, adding a three-story building with new medical office space, updated infrastructure and specialty services.

Valley Health is expanding its presence in the Eastern Panhandle with a new state-of-the-art facility in Ranson that will replace its current internal medicine practice and provide services such as primary care and laboratory testing.

The system is also advancing care through a $100 million investment funding two major projects: the Behavioral Health Pavilion at Winchester Medical Center, which will double capacity for mental health services, and the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Tower, which will enhance recovery programs for patients with serious injuries or illnesses.

“With plans for continued growth, Valley Health remains committed to providing high-quality care close to home for West Virginia residents, specifically in Jefferson County, as one of the fastest growing areas in the state,” says Mark Nantz, president and CEO of Valley Health.

From expanding infrastructure and improving education to strengthening health care and promoting tourism, new initiatives in the Eastern Panhandle are promising the region’s long-lasting growth.