Release from NRGRDA:
BECKLEY, W.Va. – The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) met Feb. 22, with three new members joining incumbent members in guiding the economic development progress of Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers counties.
“Ambitious projects like the expansion of the Raleigh County Memorial Airport, re-designation of the New River Gorge National Park, and entrepreneurial and business support through programs at the West Virginia Hive Network and Country Roads Angel Network do not happen without a great deal of planning, coordination and collaborative decision-making,” said Jina Belcher, NRGRDA executive director. “We are privileged to have such a strong and committed board to provide the leadership to fully support our mission and range of projects.”
The NRGRDA board is chaired by the Hon. Robert Rappold, mayor of Beckley. Other incumbent members include:
Raleigh: Tom Cochran, Raleigh County Memorial Airport; Bill Baker, Forward Southern WV
Fayette: Commissioner John Brenemen; Dave Arnold, Adventures on the Gorge
Nicholas: Commissioner Garrett Cole; Elizabeth Dix, Kirkwood Winery; W.D. Smith, Nicholas County Building Commission
Summers: Larry Meador, Mountaineer Gas Company; Greg Rogers, R.T. Rogers Oil Company
New NRGRDA board members include:
Raleigh: Commissioner Greg Duckworth
Fayette: Heather Johnson, River Expeditions
Summers: Commissioner Ted Kula
Non-voting members of the organization’s leadership who contribute include:
Jason Roberts, Region 1 Planning and Development Council
Robin Morgan, Region 1 Workforce Development Board
John Tuggle, Region 4 Planning and Development Council
Belcher said members of the NRGRDA board of directors work together to provide strategic vision, set organizational policy, ensure compliance, determine programs and budgets, set fundraising strategies, enhance the organization’s brand, measure program effectiveness, as well as serve on various committees.
During the first meeting of the New Year, the board members discussed new funding priorities, projects intended to grow the already thriving outdoor economy across the region, and reviewed impacts from 2020.
NRGRDA board meetings occur the third Monday of every other month.
