Published: January 20, 2009 10:37 pm      

Mineral County Day in need of donations

Legislative event running about $4,500 short

KEYSER, W.Va. — Though Mineral County Day at the state Legislature is quickly approaching, the planning committee is still short on donated funds from businesses for the reception.

“It’s tough economic times, so it’s understandable,” Rick Linthicum, chairman of the Mineral County Development Authority, said at the group’s Tuesday meeting. “I don’t think the message has gotten across to the business community what we do down there. ... The networking part is so under-appreciated.”

Linthicum compared Mineral County Day to Western Maryland’s PACE reception, saying there are hopes the Mineral County event will one day be as large and well-known as the Maryland one.

However, the group continues to ask local businesses to assist financially.

There had been $1,500 budgeted for the reception with hopes of raising an additional $8,500. However, according to Jennie Shaffer, $4,500 remains to be raised.

Adjustments to the development authority budget might result in $2,000 being made available as an emergency fund, but Mona Ridder, director, said what is taken from the budget would need to be “put back somewhere else.”

She said the money would require careful overview of the budget.

It was also mentioned that a number of businesses and organizations have reserved rooms but are not registered with the development authority for the reception itself.

Ridder also discussed the expansion of Automated Packaging Systems in the Keyser Industrial Park. The business is going to occupy the former Carroll Industries located across the street. The expansion could result in hiring 16 to 18 additional employees.

The development authority continues to work on an economic development proposal for a company to move into the Fort Ashby Business Park. Ridder said the authority has been working to offer the incentives necessary to remain competitive with nearby states.

Janice LaRue, county commissioner, said she had been told the proposal submitted to the company was one of the best that had been developed in the state. She added that some of the local competition could be diminished as tax increases are anticipated for Maryland, which could make that state less enticing to potential businesses when compared with West Virginia.

The development authority also approved forming a task force to study the feasibility of bringing in “green” businesses into Mineral County.

“We’re asking the development authority to create a task force,” Wayne Spiggle, county commission president, said. “We’re not alone in competition (for these businesses). I’d like, within three months, for us to see if it is feasible.”

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.