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By Bob Weaver
It would come as no surprise that the Economic Development Grant Committee favored the home counties of the most powerful state legislators.
At stake is $225 million for economic development, supposedly to bring jobs to the state.
It is essentially free cash.
The least developed counties got little money. Projects were funded for the growing areas of the state that have "potential," or areas that need revitalization.
The same model the Appalachian Regional Commission has used for thirty five years to help the under-developed region.
The state's poor rural counties rarely have the resources to file for grants.
What about the counties that didn't get "help?"
"How many video poker machines are in Calhoun County," asked Alex Marcia, a committee member from the governor's office.
The poker money still pays for education and state services there (Calhoun), said Marcia, indicating why should Calhoun people complain.
The poker money will be used to repay the $225 million development project. Poker money is mostly generated by the state's four racetracks.
At least every member of the 26 member grant committee got money for at least one project in their home county.
Committee members fought for their own projects, but they refrained from the final vote.
Ohio County got $37.5 million for a Cabela's outdoor retail store that has promised to create hundreds of jobs and attract millions in tax dollars.
Jefferson County claimed $6 million for building a new high school, described as "outside-the-box" economic development. The school "Will prepare county youth for the job market and help them get high-tech jobs," according to school super Steven Nichols.
The grant committee approved $3.3 million for a Putnam County business park in which the state's lottery headquarters is to be moved to from Charleston. Kanawha County commissioner Kent Carper said "There's no excuse for taking millions of dollars from the taxpayers to move these jobs from one area to another."
The Supreme Court ruled against the economic development program last year following a lawsuit by attorney Larry Harless, a
case which is still unsettled and is still putting the development projects on hold.
Critics remain skeptical about the value of the $225 million project in terms of economic gain for the state, since the state is still paying for the last development project.
While some of the projects seem worthwhile, most of the "development" on the list has been approved for the state's power brokers and the regions they serve. Many have a vague attachment to job creation, although many are nice causes.
After the committee declined to fund either of the racetrack proposals ($13 mil each) at Flatwoods or in Kanawha County, Delegate Brent Boggs complained his part of the state suffers just as much as southern West Virginia, but doesn't get any attention.
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