BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia University will develop a Memorandum of Understanding with county commissions and municipalities that will be affected by WVU Tech’s move to Beckley and commit to helping the local economy improve.
After months of silence and little information from the parent university, Fayette County Commissioner Matt Wender said the school is now meeting and developing ideas to improve the economy of Montgomery, Smithers and the Upper Kanawha Valley.
Among other possibilities, WVU has indicated it is willing to expand its extension service and station a full-time agent in Montgomery to focus on economic development. At this time WVU has one agent in the county, in Fayetteville.
The university is also willing to fund or use university resources for economic analysis and economic impact studies for the region.
The school is also exploring alternative uses for WVU Tech facilities in Montgomery…