OFFER AN UPDATE – Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce members and guests received an update on current and planned development efforts Thursday from Del. State. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke, standing; and Brooke County Commissioner AJ Thomas, seated left, as well as JP West, a representative of Glo Fiber, a business that plans to expand fiber optic Internet connections to many in the county. — Warren Scott
WELLSBURG — Del. State Rep. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke, said growing up in Brooke County, he grew accustomed to a bleak economic picture, with local steel mills that had once been a major force closing or downsizing. in size.
But in a report Thursday to Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce members and guests, Willis said that view has changed.
“You can feel a little excitement, a little joy, coming back to this area.” said the state lawmaker, who was joined by Brooke County Commissioner AJ Thomas and a representative of a business that plans to expand fiber optic Internet connections to 2,049 commercial and residential customers in the county.
Such plans were shared by JP West, senior leader of government affairs for Glo Fiber. Formerly Horizon Telecom, the company was rebranded following its April acquisition by Shentel.
Also known as Shenandoah Telecommuncations Co., the 122-year-old Virginia-based business also provides television and telephone transmission services.
West said the company normally uses existing overhead power and other utility lines to extend its connections, which will be 100 percent fiber optic and not include a shared network, which often results in fluctuations in internet access speed.
He said the company will offer affordable packages for speeds ranging from 300 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second.
West said that pending the receipt of the necessary permits, the company hopes to begin work on the connections late this year or early next year.
Thomas noted that the state has contracted with Comcast to develop Internet connections in underserved or underserved areas of the state using $1.2 billion given through the federal Jobs and Infrastructure Investment Act.
Thomas previously said county commissioners in Brooke, Hancock and Ohio counties planned to jointly seek millions of dollars for Internet expansion through a state program.
“We’re very pleased that Glo Fiber is committed to doing it themselves, and we’re committed to working with them to make it happen.” he said.
Thomas said many local officials have promoted the region as a bedroom community for Pittsburgh, and a key to attracting new residents is reliable Internet service. He added that it has already been requested by current residents who work from home.
Addressing the group, Willis said in the past 38 months, West Virginia’s gross domestic product has grown among the top 10 in the nation, “Much above his surrounding states,” its cost of living is 21.99% lower than the national average; and 128,000 new jobs have been created.
He said he and other state lawmakers have been able to lower the state’s personal income tax to 21.25%, and pending the state’s future economic outlook, he hopes it can be eliminated entirely.
Willis said a number of new businesses have opened or are in the process of opening in Brooke and Hancock counties.
They include Pure Watercraft, an electric boat manufacturer in Beech Bottom that is expected to hire 100 to 110 workers; and Form Energy, maker of a 100-hour iron air battery, that broke ground on the former Weirton Steel property.
Willis said he has learned that 80% of the roughly 500 people employed by the plant are from West Virginia and that the average annual salary there is $63,000.
He said Nucor Steel officials had considered leaving West Virginia and its Mason County plant until leaders of the state Senate and House of Delegates and state Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael approached them, leading to a planned facility in northern Hancock County.
Willis said a business-friendly climate in the state has supported the development of other businesses, including Empire Diversified Energy in Follansbee, Heavy Iron Oilfield Services in Chester and an abundance of restaurants and retail businesses on Three Springs Drive.
“We have a long way to go. This story is far from over.” he said.
Willis was asked about the future of the Market Street Bridge, which was closed in December after inspectors found severely damaged support cables.
Some attendees noted the historical significance of the 119-year-old span, but Willis said the cost to restore the bridge must be weighed when considering its preservation.
Thomas noted that in 2010, the bridge underwent about $17 million in repairs and upgrades intended to extend its life by 10 years.
Both he and Willis noted that the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission has announced the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s plan to apply for millions of federal dollars to replace it at or near its current location.
If approved, the funds would total up to $30 billion allocated to the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Improvement Program, through which each state has been invited to submit projects with an estimated cost of $100 million or more.
“If we can get a new bridge, that would be awesome.” Willis said.
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