Press Releases

BROOKE COUNTY                  
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

TO:		See Distribution

SUBJECT:	PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:	Virgil Thompson, President, (304) 527-3824
		Norman Schwertfeger, (304) 737-3666
Joan Beck, Recording Secretary, (304) 527-2535

FOR:		IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION/RELEASE

Brooke County EDA Commissions Study

Virgil Thompson, President of the Brooke County Economic Development Authority (BCEDA),

 announced today that the organization has commissioned the WVU Extension Service to perform a

 Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Study for the county, beginning January 2005î.



The purpose of the study is to survey regional businesses, identify factors impacting those

 businesses, and offer recommended strategies and resources for promoting business retention and

 expansion in Brooke County.  A public meeting to review the completed report shall be held in the

 April timeframe.  Businesses and organizations desiring to provide input to the study may contact the
 project leader, David Hughes, Professor, West Virginia University Extension Service,  (304) 293-

6131 or Norm Schwertfeger at the Wellsburg WVU Extension Office at (304) 737-3666.



The Brooke County EDA was formed, under the auspices of the Brooke County Commissioners, to

 improve the economy and quality of life for Brooke County.  ìOur MISSIONî, stated Joe Adams, Jr.,

 Vice President, ìis to partner with public entities, to foster a vital and diversified economy, and to

 enhance our tax base by retaining, expanding, and attracting business.î 



Membership currently consists of 14 men and women from various sectors of the community who are

 committed to fostering business development and commerce in Brooke County.  The Brooke County

 EDA is a cross-functional forum , whose membership represents- small and large business, industry,

 education, recreation, tourism, city councils, labor,  and with advisors from the Business

 Development Corporation, the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Planning Commission, Brooke County

 Planning Commission, and the State of WV Development Office. 



Larry Swanson, Treasurer, commented: ìthe BCEDA is working on the following projects:


Updating the web site   HYPERLINK "http://www.brookewv.org"   www.brookewv.org  in

 partnership with the Brooke County Planning Commission; the goal is to make the site informative

 for businesses, prospective entrepreneurs, and developers as well as to provide linkages to various


 state and regional resources that promote commerce;


Reviewing the recently completed Land Use Study sponsored by the Brooke County Planning

 Commission; the goal is to identify and implement a pilot project to achieve a ìsuccess storyî for the

 region.  We welcome public input on possible projects/new business initiatives that could be

 considered for this pilot.


Contacting businesses as well as providing a forum of resources to support new business

 development as well as current business retention and expansion.



Individuals or companies desiring to contribute or provide input to the BCEDA Program of Work may

 contact Virgil Thompson, President, at (304) 527-3824. The organization meets the 3rd Wednesday

 of each calendar month at the Brooke County Court House, 3rd floor conference room; meetings 

are open to the public.



-END-
 PO Box 134, Wellsburg, WV 26070 
"http://www.brookewv.org"