South Charleston Has Hopes for MATRIC
Charleston Daily Mail
January 21, 2008
http://dailymail.com/News/Kanawha/200801210129
By Luke R. Mitchell
South Charleston council has approved a plan members hope will help generate some high paying, high-tech jobs.
Council members have signed off on a $100,000 loan to MATRIC, the Mid-Atlantic Technology Research and Innovation Center in the South Charleston Technology Park.
The non-profit MATRIC will use the money, along with $500,000 from the Kanawha County Commission and $2 million that has been pledged from the state to create more jobs in fields including engineering and computer science.
MATRIC has been working to provide new job opportunities for some of the 150 workers that will be laid off in the next couple of years by Dow's research arm.
To do that, MATRIC will need more funding.
South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said the three-pronged financial backing from various government agencies could help the city stabilize its work force.
"This will not only save jobs, but create new ones as well," Mullens said.
The city's $100,000 contribution will be paid back after five years, Mullens said.