Millions sought for technology park
Groups hope to get $100 million from stimulus plan to take ownership of Dow center
Charleston Daily Mail
February 19, 2009
http://www.dailymail.com/Business/200902180630
by George Hohmann
Daily Mail Business Editor
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Three local organizations apparently tried to get $100 million inserted into the federal stimulus package for the South Charleston Technology Park, but it is unclear whether they succeeded. The Charleston Area Alliance, the Chemical Alliance Zone and the Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research & Innovation Center, also known as MATRIC, went together on the request, according to minutes of the Jan. 19 meeting of the Charleston Area Alliance's Executive Committee.
"The funds would enable the partnering groups to take ownership of the Dow Technology Park and also build a new facility on that property for a prospect company," according to the meeting minutes.
County Commissioner Dave Hardy, the public representative on the Charleston Area Alliance's Executive Committee, confirmed that there had been discussion about the grant application.
"The Charleston Area Alliance has generally been very interested in the possibilities for the Dow tech park," Hardy said. "We've worked with MATRIC in the past and gave them a $422,000 loan to get started. In addition, the county commission has supported the Chemical Alliance Zone with $25,000 a year for the last several years and we support the notion of reviving the tech park. That has been the subject of much discussion at the Charleston Area Alliance. I certainly understand that at this point it's unknown whether the grant application will be viewed favorably but we hope it is given very careful consideration."
Kevin DiGregorio, executive director of the Chemical Alliance Zone, said he knew of no application.
"We are indeed working with several groups on potential ideas and opportunities for the tech park, including the Charleston Area Alliance and MATRIC, but we have not submitted or written any applications," DiGregorio said. "In fact, I'm not sure any applications or application processes exist for stimulus money. The bill was just passed and, as far as I know, rules have not yet been written for the various agencies who might have funding."
President Obama signed the massive $787 billion federal stimulus bill on Tuesday. Details about what is in the law are still emerging.
DiGregorio said, "Once the rules and processes come down from the agencies, we may apply for funding if the dollars available apply to the tech park. For example, if all the potential dollars are for roads and bridges, we won't be able to apply. But if there is money for research parks, we may."
Jessica Tice, spokeswoman for Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said, "There was a strict no-earmark rule for the economic recovery and reinvestment plan and Sen. Rockefeller strongly supported this guideline. We can't yet say whether funding will be provided for this specific project. The vast majority of funding through the economic recovery plan will be coming through existing programs that are already administered by the states - so the states will be largely responsible for deciding which projects are eligible and ready."
Matt Turner, Gov. Joe Manchin's communications director, said, "We're still working through the requirements of the bill so I can't say what specific projects will be funded. We want to create jobs, while making responsible decisions with this money and meeting the requirements of the bill."
The 651-acre tech park has been on an insecure financial footing since July, when West Virginia University declined to accept The Dow Chemical Co.'s donation of a five-story building and 58 acres at the park. Dow valued the gift at $25 million. But WVU said it needed more legal protection against possible environmental liabilities.
Dow has been trying to transition from being the owner of the park to becoming a tenant. WVU's rejection of Dow's gift put the park's long-term ownership in question and made its financial situation insecure.
How $100 million would be spent at the tech park has not been revealed. The name of the company that might build a new facility at the park also hasn't been revealed.
Neither Keith Pauley, MATRIC's chief executive officer, nor Matt Ballard, president of the Charleston Area Alliance, returned an e-mail Wednesday seeking comment.
When asked on Jan. 23 about the application, Ballard replied, "We've been in on-going discussions since the WVU donation project fell through with stakeholders.
"The Alliance and many of our partners, including MATRIC and the Chemical Alliance Zone, believe this strategic site can be part of the answer for a national energy plan," he said. "At a time when the nation is focusing on stimulating economic growth through research and development, the park and its remarkable intellectual and physical assets create a tremendous potential for the Valley.
"If this opportunity is capitalized, it could usher in an exciting new era for our region as the nation's leader in energy and chemical research," Ballard said. "It will take the right partners, working together with one voice to make it happen and to build a plan that would be feasible for Dow.
"A project of this magnitude would require a significant investment, but that investment would lead to tremendous local economic impact in the form of capital investment, jobs, the generation of new taxes, new technologies, and answers to national challenges we face," he said. "Who better to lead in the chemical and energy industries than West Virginia?"
Contact writer George Hohmann at busin...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4836.
