Published: June 29, 2009 09:27 pm      

Officials say facility will be significant boost to economy

Changing the future of southern West Virginia forever.

That’s what impact Judy Radford, director of the 4-C Economic Development Authority, says the establishment of a new Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Center could have on the region.

“The high-adventure camp piece of this will change the way West Virginia is viewed because of the recognition of the Boy Scouts and the fact that we have one of their high-adventure operations here,” she said.

“This project will have an impact on our entire area. It will bring fresh funds into the area, and the influx of people will be spread throughout the region,” she said.

New River Gorge National River Superintendent Don Striker said his organization has worked very closely during the past year with state and local officials in pitching the idea to the Boy Scouts.

“A lot of the goals that I have for the National Park Service here are very consistent with the goals of the Boy Scouts,” Striker said. “I think it’s great that virtually every single public, private and government entity have gone out of their way to welcome the Boy Scouts with open arms.”

Fayette County Commission President Ken Eskew was thrilled with Monday’s news.

“I think it’s a huge economic imprint for not only Fayette County, but also Raleigh County,” Eskew stated. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think you could find a better tenant to occupy the land than the Boy Scouts. I think it’s just a tremendous asset to have in our county. I think economically it’s going to have a huge impact with the adventure centers they are setting up and leadership academies.

“It will bring young people, their parents and scout masters from all over the world. We’re very excited about this.”

Raleigh County Commission President John Humphrey echoed Eskew.

“I just think it’s a feather in our hat to be able to land something of this magnitude,” he said. “It’s going to be a big economic impact on Raleigh and Fayette counties to bring that amount of people into the area for the hotels and restaurants. This shows how working together hand-in-hand can accomplish things. When everybody works together, things can happen. We need more of that throughout the state of West Virginia.”

When contacted in his Washington, D.C., office, Congressman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., spoke about the Mountain State’s virtues and the efforts to bring the BSA facility to this area.

“Working with the Fayette County Commission and the National Park Service, we have tied a collaborative knot every scout would look upon with pride in which everyone has come together to support this national high-adventure base,” Rahall said.

“West Virginians know how to roll out the red carpet and warm their guests with southern-style hospitality,” he added. “Southern West Virginia offers some of the wildest and most wonderful adventures even the most seasoned scout will not soon forget. As a result, this operation would provide southern West Virginians with excellent job opportunities. Similar centers have created over 80 year-round jobs and 1,000 seasonal jobs, generating as much as $10 million in business to the local economy. It’s still too much of a hike to get in and out of the area, and I will be working to assist with the transportation access to the area. We have to balance a multitude of factors to make this base a go. I am committed to working with everyone throughout the process.”

Earlier this year, in his State of the State address, Gov. Joe Manchin said the new adventure camp would draw thousands of Scouts and outdoor enthusiasts — both young and old — from across the nation and around the world for years to come.

“This facility will highlight the best of ‘wild and wonderful West Virginia’ and provide us an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our state’s beauty and heritage,” Manchin said.