The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

November 28, 2010

Legislator wants to diversify economy

By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — West Virginia leans heavily on such bedrock industries as coal, natural gas and timber.

And that’s fine for the workforce and West Virginia’s state budget as long as the energy market is on a high, state Sen. Richard Browning says.

“For that reason, we ride this roller coaster of an energy market,” Browning said Wednesday.

“When coal and all that stuff is doing well, we’re OK. But when the bottom drops out of energy, we suffer.”

Which is why Browning, D-Wyoming, is spearheading an effort to diversify the economy by enhancing tourism, luring more manufacturing jobs and hopefully expanding broadband to get some high-tech firms to set up shop.

Money has been assured for the effort by the state Department of Commerce to finance a request for proposal, inviting firms in a bidding process to specify a commodity or service.

“Our only recourse is to diversify our economy,” Browning said.

When he was named chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee, that was one of his goals.

“West Virginia is blessed with all those natural resources,” he said.

“You take those away and what we’ve got left makes us equal with most other states. We’re blessed with those, but we ought to be able to compete without them. I’d like to diversify into tourism, the low-hanging fruit first, and then work on our manufacturing base. We’re on a mission to make West Virginia globally competitive.”

In recent years, Browning feels the state has improved its image in the business world with insurance reform and some cuts in business taxes.

No one can dispute that tourism is already a viable industry with even greater potential.

Two years ago, it gave the state’s economy a $4.38 million shot in the arm. Travel spending directly provides 44,000 jobs. Millions in such dollars arrive each year in all counties, rising from $1.3 million totally for 2000 to $729.3 last year.

“Tourism generated 14 million overnight visitors and 40 million day-trip visitors in 2008,” the senator said.

“And West Virginia’s landscape, culture and history present tourism development opportunity in every county. Our tourism industry is truly a sleeping giant and I am extremely pleased we are beginning to give it the consideration it needs.”

Browning assembled a special panel after lawmakers this year adopted SCR31 calling for a comprehensive plan, and then expanded that under HCR131 to embrace the impact of downhill and Nordic skiing.

“Tourism is the low-hanging fruit,” Browning said.

“I worked in economic development 10 years with highways, and I’ve seen what the Hatfield-McCoy Trail did with tourism. I don’t see why we can’t partner with other things to make West Virginia a destination place.”

Manufacturing is the second arena Browning wants to visit, and there are others in mind, including research-based technology to turn that into entrepreneural development.

All requests for proposals will be examined by a selection committee led by the commerce secretary who succeeds Kelly Goes, now a part of former Gov. Joe Manchin’s senatorial staff.

Others serving on the panel include former Senate Finance Chairman Oshel Craigo, now chairman of the West Virginia Tourism Commission; Carol Fulks, West Virginia Hospitality and Tourism Association; Betty Carver, commissioner of the Division of Tourism; Sharon Cruikshank, representing the West Virginia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus; Jeffrey Lusk of the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority; Frank Jorgensen of Bright Enterprises; J.D. Morgan of Frostline Consulting; Bill Rock, Snowshoe Mountain Resort; Juliet Terry of Vision Shared; and Delegates Steve Kominar, D-Mingo, and John Doyle, D-Jefferson.

“People look at our mountains as an economic deterrence,” Browning said.

“I look at them as a blessing. I’m thankful we’ve got extreme sporting adventures. Sooner or later, we’re going to get competitive. We’ve got coal, natural gas and timber to make us all that much better. We’re going to get stronger.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

Text Only
Today's Front Page
  • FvilleVigil1 Fayetteville candlelight vigil

    Community members and local chuch leaders gathered Sunday evening for a Memorial Day candlelight vigil at Huse Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fayetteville.

    May 28, 2012 2 Photos

  • 52nd season for Outdoor Dramas to begin June 12

    Theatre West Virginia’s 52nd season will be “Where Legends Live,” focusing on bringing to life West Virginia’s history and local legends.

    May 28, 2012

  • W.Va. political leaders honor nation’s veterans

    From snow-laden Valley Forge to the battered walls of the Alamo, on the blood-stained beaches of the French coastline, in the frigid mountains of Korea and the steamy jungles of Vietnam, and the blistering sands of Iraq and Afghanistan, there is one constant: American heroism.

    May 28, 2012

  • Bodies believed to be missing family found in woods

    Four bodies recovered from a wooded area in Nicholas County near Carl, off Brushy Meadow Creek Road, Saturday are believed to be a missing family from Rainelle, reported First Sgt. Michael Baylous, public information officer for the West Virginia State Police.

    May 27, 2012

  • founder1 Founder’s Day celebrates city’s history

    Coordinators were pleased with the number of people who attended the fourth annual Founder’s Day at Beckley’s founding father’s estate, now the Wildwood Museum.

    May 27, 2012 2 Photos

  • auction NIE Auction and Flea Market coming Saturday

    With more than 200 items to be auctioned off and more than 100 flea market vendors, no one will have to go home empty-handed at Saturday’s 17th annual Newspapers in Education Auction.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • wvsom WVSOM holds 35th commencement

    More than 170 freshly minted physicians walked across the stage Saturday morning during the 35th annual commencement ceremony at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • Beckley’s Founder’s Day a success

    Coordinators were pleased with the number of people who attended the fourth annual Founder’s Day at Beckley’s founding father’s estate, now the Wildwood Museum.

    May 26, 2012

  • WVSOM has 35th annual commencement ceremony

    More than 170 freshly minted physicians walked across the stage Saturday morning during the 35th annual commencement ceremony at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

    May 26, 2012

  • school A fun day at school

    Students who participated in a school fundraiser at Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School sprayed their principal Becky Smith during a hot Friday. Smith was decked out in flippers, goggles and floaties during the fun. Smith paraded past students as they drenched her with water guns.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo