By Erika Elaine Wells
The Jounal of Martinsburg
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia officials joined the American Public University System on Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate more than $100 million of revitalization in Charles Town and Ranson.
Charles Town Mayor Peggy Smith, Ranson Mayor David Hamill, and APUS President and CEO Wallace Boston hosted Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and other government officials and business leaders. The ceremony was held at the APUS administrative center, which opened fall 2012, because half of the building lies in Ranson and the other is in Charles Town.
“What a great day to gather and observe the incredible progress that has been made,” said Tomblin. “I am honored to be with you as we celebrate the collaboration of these two great communities and the future economic opportunity that continues to bloom in the Eastern Panhandle.”
The event featured a preview of development plans for the APUS and for Charles and Ranson, which are working with four main federal agencies – the Department of Transportation; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and the Department of Agriculture – to improve their respective cities. The cities and institute are also partnering with state agencies as well as with the private sector.
Since 2002, APUS has invested almost $55 million in the revitalization process and employed more than 600 people in Charles Town and Ranson, according to the school…