The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Editorials

March 13, 2007

Growth

‘Blueprint Communities’ plan offers good economic incentives

Gov. Joe Manchin is right on target with a community growth initiative unveiled Tuesday at the Capitol.

The plan calls for 10 counties and cities to be designated as “Blueprint Communities.” As such, they will become part of a federal program designed to help them plan for sustaining economic development.

Ansted and Mullens are included in the 10. These cities are poised to grow. They just need a strategic plan to make that happen.

Manchin’s plan calls for stronger local leadership, a key ingredient in any economic development program. The people at the top have to be movers and shakers, and they have to be people who think ahead and have good problem-solving skills.

They must be, above all else, solution-oriented. We have far too many naysayers in this state. Leaders who whine, complain and do nothing but point out everything that’s wrong with their community need to move to the sidelines and make way for people with vision and drive.

Economic development is more challenging in this state for many reasons. The topography isolates many communities. Broadening the focus from extraction industries, which have, in large measure built this state, to a mindset that looks for new ways to create state revenue is a vital link in bringing those new endeavors into reality.

Pulling from an old Appalachian adage that warns us “not to put all our eggs in one basket” has probably never been more timely.

We have to think differently in order to bring the changes that will help us grow.

A strong state is made up of strong cities and communities. Starting at the bottom and building the state from within is smart business.

With backing from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, which has developed the community-based economic initiative model for Manchin’s plan, communities will have access to a wide variety of community development resources. Instead of relying on taxpayer money, the FHLBank is one of 12 federally chartered banks in the United States. Its mission is to help create and maintain affordable housing and provide money for business startups and expansions.

“Blueprint Communities” combines good leadership with some financial backing and creates the opportunities on which community visionaries can build.

This is definitely another cornerstone of a plan that can keep West Virginia “open for business.”

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