Kanawha County
By Arianna Whitehair
Home to the state’s Capital City, Kanawha County is the very heart and soul of West Virginia. To keep up with its fast-paced, bustling way of life, the most populated county in the state is continuously expanding its horizons through exciting new technological, economic, recreational and educational developments with the goal of bringing the community together like never before.
Economic Impact
Photo by Adam Bryan.
From annual festivals to local events, Kanawha County offers numerous events that bring in large amounts of revenue
for the state.
One of the county’s most popular events, the Sternwheel Regatta recently made its grand debut after a nearly 14-year-long hiatus. The summertime festival, which began in 1971, includes live music, rides, food trucks, a distance run, fire-
works and so much more. This year’s Regatta brought in an astounding $31.5 million, the city of Charleston’s largest economic impact from a single event in over a decade.
While Charleston’s Sternwheel Regatta was a massive success, YakFest, one of St. Albans’ most popular events, encourages people to get outside and enjoy West Virginia. With vendors, art, craft beer, music, kayaking and fishing, this festival has brought in adventure-seekers from as far away as Texas.
“In 2018, the first year of YakFest, the attendance was estimated to be 8,000 people between Friday and Saturday,” says St. Albans Mayor Scott James. “The 2019 YakFest brought approximately 10,000 people to Olde Main Plaza between Friday and Saturday. While the third year was cancelled due to COVID, this past year, the attendance was estimated to be 12,000 people. Each year there have been 40 to 45 vendors on the street, and each year we have had 10 bands that played live music.”
In its very first year alone, YakFest was voted by StepOutside.org as the number one outdoor festival in the state of West Virginia. Despite being located in a small city, YakFest continues to make a big economic impact.
“To the best of our knowledge, the economic impact is approximately $2 million. Having events in St. Albans that bring people to our community is of utmost importance—once they visit, they keep coming back,” says James. “Our population in 2019 was under 10,000 and in the 2020 Census, we were at 10,861. From the 2010 Census to 2020 Census, St. Albans lost less than 1% of the population, whereas the state of West Virginia lost approximately 3%.”
Developments
Rendering by Williamson Shriver Architects, Inc.
Determined to grow the population, Kanawha County is introducing multiple major projects to accommodate its growing community.
One of the most highly anticipated developments this year, the multi-million-dollar Park Place Project, is currently underway in South Charleston.
“Businesses will be retail big box and outlets, several restaurants are planned and possibly hospitality and entertainment. As for any announcements, Chick-fil-A started construction on August 29, and we also closed on Menards, so they should start construction this fall,” says Frank Mullens, mayor of the City of South Charleston.
The estimated completion date for this project is August 2025.
Another major development coming to the Kanawha Valley is The Valley Plan, which seeks to increase tourism in the state and encourage residents to get outside and explore the state’s abundant beauty.
“We want to connect these tourism and recreational activities to give folks the opportunity to enjoy tourism activities in Kanawha County and then travel on to Fayette County for additional activities,” says Jennifer Herrald, county manager with the Kanawha County Commission. “We want to make the Upper Kanawha Valley a tourism destination.”
This plan is just one part of the county’s long-term project of revitalizing the Upper Kanawha Valley.
“The Upper Kanawha Valley was chosen for the trails as this area is the gateway to Fayette County and other recreational activities that lead to the New River Gorge National Park,” says Herrald. “We hope to have some major projects started and a few completed in three years.”
The latest research, education and technology campus in all of West Virginia’s higher education systems, the West Virginia Regional Technology Park (WVRTP) in South Charleston, is planting the seeds of innovation throughout the Mountain State.
“The West Virginia Regional Technology Park recently completed Building 754, a build-to-suit project for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. National Weather Service’s (NWS) local forecast office that will house approximately 24 NWS employees and has approximately 9,000 square feet available for an additional tenant on the second floor,” says Matt Ballard, CEO for the WVRTP.
Building 754 is also home to the park’s Science on a Sphere display, a system that displays planetary data on a six-foot diameter sphere that will be used for educational purposes. The system is set to open this fall in partnership with BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
“WVRTP’s robust and reliable infrastructure allows NWS to predict and track weather for our county and region around the clock,” says Ballard. “Having NOAA/NWS locate its new facility at the WVRTP also provides the county with a growing technology campus of scientists and STEM professionals that help diversify our local economy and attract new industries and professionals to our county and region.”
Sports
Photo by Charleston CVB.
With a variety of hiking trails, state parks, rivers and athletics centers, Kanawha County is quickly becoming one of the state’s primary destinations for sports enthusiasts and outdoor recreation seekers alike.
In August, the City of Charleston announced the implementation of a groundbreaking new sports complex, The Capital Sports Center, which will give the state a competitive edge in the ever-growing sports tourism industry—which went from a $15 billion industry in 2019 to a nearly $40 billion industry today.
“The Capital Sports Center will position our city and our county to compete on a national level, attracting top-tier regional and national events and generating a significant economic impact for local businesses and our economy,” says Charleston Mayor Amy Schuler Goodwin.
This world-class facility will provide the needed infrastructure to support the local sports tourism industry.
“In addition, The Capital Sports Center will provide our young athletes with a training facility that will better prepare them to compete in collegiate athletics or other sports opportunities,” says Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango. “The initial design for the 254,000-square-foot sports complex includes an aquatic center with a 50-meter pool, six full-size basketball courts that can transform into 12 full-size volleyball courts, eight indoor pickleball courts, an elevated indoor running track, a 30-foot rock climbing wall, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a wrestling room and a turf area for soccer.”
While the exciting news of The Capital Sports Center is a big win for Kanawha County, the Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar has had a significant impact on the region since it opened in 2018. With aspirations of becoming the premier sports complex in the entire tri-state area, this multi-million-dollar sports complex includes two championship-sized soccer fields, 11 grass fields, six rectangular fields and four baseball fields.
Education
Photo by Dave Traube.
Dedicated to equipping the future workforce in West Virginia with the necessary knowledge and skills that allow them to continue driving the state forward, Kanawha County offers a myriad of universities and programs to meet every educational need.
In South Charleston, just one of an impressive nine branches of Marshall University, not including its main Huntington location, provides coursework in education, business, technology and information technology.
One way Marshall is continuing to advance the state in education is through the newly implemented, state-of-the-art Bill Noe Flight School.
Opening last fall, the Bill Noe Flight School is helping the nation meet the ever-growing need for commercial pilots. With both ground and flight courses, this program prepares graduates to become pilots of single and multi-engine aircraft.
With a goal of bringing the university to the people, West Virginia State University (WVSU) enthusiastically lives out its mission of prioritizing teaching, research and service. Some outreach efforts include innovative programs in areas of youth development, business, community, families and agricultural and natural resources.
“Since its founding in 1891, WVSU has played a pivotal role in the fabric of life in the Kanawha Valley, throughout the state of West Virginia and beyond. The university has served as a springboard for thousands of students to obtain the education that they desired to achieve the lives they knew possible,” says Jack Bailey, assistant vice president for university relations. “Equally important, we count among our alumni more than 8,000 people in the Kanawha Valley that collectively make a powerful contribution to the local and state economy and play important roles in the community through their leadership roles in every walk of life.”
Located directly across the river from West Virginia’s Capitol Building, the University of Charleston (UC) rightly calls itself Charleston’s university. Dedicated to producing students who embody its mission statement of productive work, enlightened living and community involvement, UC is always finding new ways to actively serve in the Charleston area.
“Simply put, we love our community. Outside of the economic impact our institution has on the area, each August when we welcome over 1,000 residents to Charleston, our students perform community service, gain meaningful employment and build lasting relationships with the residents of Kanawha County,” says Dave Traube, vice president of communications and marketing for the university. “While some of our students are only in Kanawha County for a short time, others decide to stay and build their careers, start their families and continue investing in the area that has invested in them while they pursue their education.”
Passionate about building the future leaders of tomorrow, BridgeValley Community & Technical College—with campuses in both South Charleston and Montgomery—offers cutting-edge technology and works to put highly skilled scholars into the state’s workforce. Committed to increasing the participation of the state’s youth in STEM, BridgeValley is leading the way in introducing STEM to a budding generation of scholars.
“We’re blessed here. West Virginians are blessed. We all live pretty close, we all get along, and we’re all really kind of from the same culture,” says Greg Ingram, mayor of the City of Montgomery.
Just as the state’s largest waterway, the Kanawha River, flows dynamically through this county, so does its people’s passion, commitment and dedication to upholding the state’s legacy and ensuring that West Virginia remains a must-visit tourist destination for many years to come. The perfect combination of small-town charm and vibrant city energy, Kanawha County is a place that everyone can call home.
