MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County leaders are reflecting on what new development at the University Towne Center TIF district will mean for existing business.
“Where are the contractors going to stay? For those who will become permanently employees, where are they going to live? What houses will be built. Where are they going to shop? Where are they going to eat this evening? It just sort of continues to have a positive downstream,” said Dan Kimble, President and CEO of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce.
Ruedebusch Development and Construction has signed a letter of intent and hopes to break ground within the next 60 days on a distribution center on the western side of Interstate 79.
The 105,000 square foot facility could be open for operation next year.
The Wednesday announcement comes amid recent local mining and energy industry layoffs. Attention is on Mylan Pharmaceuticals where the company has been targeted by an Israeli company for a buyout. According to Kimble, diversity in industry and employment is especially important when jobs are at risk.
“You can at least better absorb those times than if you’re tied to one stream of income,” Kimble said.
Hundreds of jobs are expected to be created by the distribution center. Several other businesses have chosen to locate inside the development district, including Starbucks, Chipotle, Ulta and A.C. Moore.
“I am amazed. We rarely get through a week in Morgantown where there’s not some kind of exciting economic development announcement occurring anymore,” Kimble expressed.
The new distribution center will be located a half a mile from the I-79 interchange currently under construction between the Westover and Star City exits.