MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — More development planned for the Harmony Grove TIF District has received a formal green light on a county level.
The Monongalia County Commission unanimously approved a combination of resolutions around both the original $21.5 million bond issuance for the TIF as well as an expansion of the TIF boundaries, both of which are aimed to support separate economic development projects. Steptoe and Johnson attorney serving as bond counsel for the county, Tom Aman, presented details on the individual proposals that will allow for developments such as the Harmony Grove Interchange to move forward. Details that were further elaborated on by Enrout Properties LLC owner Glenn Adrian during the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, where he also gave updates on other developments around the TIF.
“Development and revenues have gotten to the point where the banks are comfortable with releasing the additional funding amount,” said Aman. “There’s still a commitment for the developer to continue efforts with respect to the interchange to get that committed and built.”
According to Aman, the resolution that would allow for the reissuance of bonds for the secondary tranche dollars valued at approximately $6.5 million would support development of the Harmony Grove Interchange, which has been discussed both on a state and federal level due to other developments taking place around the Morgantown Industrial Park. This is based on the relocation of the new Owens and Minor distribution center into the original Morgantown Industrial Park TIF that has endorsed continued economic development in the area, as well as the completed Mountaintop Beverage facility and Monongalia County 911 Call Center. The recommendation to move forward on the adjustment of the Harmony Grove TIF was made after Adrian discussed positive conversations that have taken place with developers and the West Virginia Department of Highways and the Federal Highways Administration, as well as the other developments in the TIF.
“There has been quite a lot of work put in behind the scenes for this,” said Adrian. “The TIF met certain criteria as it related to the release of this second tranche that is going to afford us the opportunity to actually finish the development of the park.”
The new TIF bond issuance will extend the drawing of the remaining $6.5 million, a part of the second tranche, up to October 2026.
The commission also approved a resolution that would allow for the Harmony Grove TIF to be expanded by approximately 82 acres to account for property between Interstate 79 and property owned by the Monongalia County Board of Education. This will allow for a residential development to be constructed between the locations of Skyview Elementary and Westwood Middle schools that will be supported through funds not allocated as part of the Harmony Grove TIF bond issuance. This development is expected to add to the continued growing value of property around the Morgantown Industrial Park without expecting it to take away from funds that are considered crucial for the Harmony Grove Interchange project to move forward.
“It’s approximately 82.11 acres of residential development area,” said Aman. “It’s not anticipated that any of the bond proceeds would be used to develop that area; it’s just an area that will be helpful in getting the bonds repaid.”
The plan for the Harmony Grove TIF District is to continue developments that have been in the works for several years. This includes the allowance of the remaining $6.5 million to support development for the Harmony Grove Interchange while allowing for the development period to take place for the incoming residential property and other potential businesses that could locate into either the TIF or the Morgantown Industrial Park. With an extra $1.6 million in TIF funds also allocated in reserve, the hope is that progress can continue for developments that could have hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact on Monongalia County by the October 2026 deadline for the bonds.
“It’s sufficient time to complete the additional site work, which is what the proceeds of the bonds will be used for,” said Aman. “To make a significantly sized pad site available for development.”