Topic: Brad Smith Donation to ...................

[svherd]

Donates 25 Mil. to WVU for business and entrepreneurial program.

[herd2win]

He has been good to MU...what ties does he have to WVU?  Just checked and he has no educational experience at WVU..graduated from MU and then a school in Michigan.

[svherd]

It was to continue efforts statewide to increase entrepreneurship and develop small business. As long as he doesn’t cut off MU, I am good with it. Many are realizing coal is dead and we need to move on. Should have done it 40 years ago. Gotta diversify. 

[lexkyherdfan]

It was to continue efforts statewide to increase entrepreneurship and develop small business. As long as he doesn’t cut off MU, I am good with it. Many are realizing coal is dead and we need to move on. Should have done it 40 years ago. Gotta diversify.

WV should have diversified a long time ago.  Coal was dying a long time ago.  I remember my dad in and out of work in the 80s and 90s.

[herdfan429]

An investment in education and you complain.

[herd2win]

Who was complaining, just wondering what the connection was to WVU to give $25M...

[coalherd]

Apparently WVU is trying to develop a link or connection between business development and recreational activities in the State.  Giving younger folks, recent college grads, etc., more reasons to come here and/or stay here to develop businesses for the 21st century economy and to raise families here.  To push all the natural and recreational assets the State has as factors in growing our economy and population.  Certainly would seem to have a better chance for success than the emphasis on "needle exchanges" and opening another "drug recovery house" that seem to be the impetus of the current local government in Huntington.  Be glad the Smiths are funding something that has real possibilities for positive growth in the State!

[marshallmark]

If Marshall was located closer to the outdoor recreation that's the centerpiece of this initiative, then Marshall would have received the donation.  WVU already has the internal infrastructure for this, and has integrated outdoor activities/lifestyle into its curricula for a decade.  This will just expand those efforts to include professionals that West Virginia will be recruiting to live in WV, even though they work for major corporations world-wide. 

Apparently, Tulsa and Colorado have done this successfully in the last few years, and its a brilliant concept.  Brad has said that as many as 75% of Silicon Valley jobs may go remote in the next 10 years so - assuming we have decent broadband - why can't those young professionals do their jobs in WV? 

[coalherd]

For one thing, the city of Morgantown has planned and DEVELOPED recreation, including nature and walking trails along the river in that city, providing recreation for the local citizens and WVU Students.

Back in Huntington, the much discussed and TALKED about Ambrose walking trail/loop that initially was to go from somewhere in the East End around the flood wall towards downtown and then out towards Ritter Park and back east somewhere, perhaps crossing Hal Greer near the CHH complex.  Perhaps it is still somewhere "on paper", in City Hall, gathering dust!!  Along with how many other development, economic and recreational, project plans!!

[VA Herd Fan]

If Marshall was located closer to the outdoor recreation that's the centerpiece of this initiative, then Marshall would have received the donation.  WVU already has the internal infrastructure for this, and has integrated outdoor activities/lifestyle into its curricula for a decade.  This will just expand those efforts to include professionals that West Virginia will be recruiting to live in WV, even though they work for major corporations world-wide. 

Apparently, Tulsa and Colorado have done this successfully in the last few years, and its a brilliant concept.  Brad has said that as many as 75% of Silicon Valley jobs may go remote in the next 10 years so - assuming we have decent broadband - why can't those young professionals do their jobs in WV?

I would think that Covid has shown many people can work remotely. 

[elginherd]

I would think that Covid has shown many people can work remotely.

That is so true, with one hugely major caveat:

Affordable (like near free) reliable, fast broadband.

[Herdmeister]

This was announced this morning.  WV needs more news like this  Marshall and WVU will be involved

https://wvmetronews.com/2020/10/08/west-virginia-economic-development-announcement-set-for-this-morning/

[wasbarryb]

This was announced this morning.  WV needs more news like this  Marshall and WVU will be involved

https://wvmetronews.com/2020/10/08/west-virginia-economic-development-announcement-set-for-this-morning/

Thousands of jobs in the Tucker-Grant county area. 

Yea, Right.  I call BS on this.

 I have a home in Pendleton County (Next to Grant and Tucker Counties) and am familiar with the area.  First there aren’t thousands of people in the area.  Second there isn’t housing for that many people in the area.  Finally, while there is lots of undeveloped land in the area, much of it isn’t available for development, as it’s tied up in State and Federal parks and forests.  This is the area where Canaan State Park and Ski Resort, Dolly Sods, Timberline Ski Resort, and Monongahela National Forrest are located.

It’s election season folks and Richard Branson is always engaged in self-promotion.  The one part of this announcement I can’t figure is John Chambers involvement, historically he ran Cisco and wasn’t overly involved in self-hype like Branson and Justice.  Maybe he’s planning to come home and enter politics.

I’m not familiar with Western Pocahontas Properties, something tells me if the ownership of this outfit were known we’d find a self-interested party behind that outfit.  (Justice maybe?)

Sorry folks, I'll believe it when I see little green pods whisking zillions of skiers between Canaan and Snowshoe (where I also have a condo) back and forth at 600 MPH.

[marshallmark]

Thousands of jobs in the Tucker-Grant county area. 

Yea, Right.  I call BS on this.

 I have a home in Pendleton County (Next to Grant and Tucker Counties) and am familiar with the area.  First there aren’t thousands of people in the area.  Second there isn’t housing for that many people in the area.  Finally, while there is lots of undeveloped land in the area, much of it isn’t available for development, as it’s tied up in State and Federal parks and forests.  This is the area where Canaan State Park and Ski Resort, Dolly Sods, Timberline Ski Resort, and Monongahela National Forrest are located.

It’s election season folks and Richard Branson is always engaged in self-promotion.  The one part of this announcement I can’t figure is John Chambers involvement, historically he ran Cisco and wasn’t overly involved in self-hype like Branson and Justice.  Maybe he’s planning to come home and enter politics.

I’m not familiar with Western Pocahontas Properties, something tells me if the ownership of this outfit we’d find a self-interested party behind that outfit.  (Justice maybe?)

Western Pocahontas is one of the largest land owners in WV - I'm not sure about the technical affiliation, but NRP (I think) is the holding company for WP and both are HQd just outside Huntington.   

Chambers is a big WVU supporter/alumnus.  I'm guessing that WVU will have a close relationship with this project. 

[wasbarryb]

Western Pocahontas is one of the largest land owners in WV - I'm not sure about the technical affiliation, but NRP (I think) is the holding company for WP and both are HQd just outside Huntington.   

Chambers is a big WVU supporter/alumnus.  I'm guessing that WVU will have a close relationship with this project.

I was aware of Chambers ties to WVU.

The WVU relationship to this project is another issue I have with the project, not just because of Chambers, but physical location.  Grant-Tucker county is  much closer to the Hole than to any other population center in WV, though the road access is piss poor.  Not only are the roads toward the hole bad, they are heavily populated with slow moving coal and log hauling trucks.

[Herdmeister]

Western Pocahontas is one of the largest land owners in WV - I'm not sure about the technical affiliation, but NRP (I think) is the holding company for WP and both are HQd just outside Huntington.   

Chambers is a big WVU supporter/alumnus.  I'm guessing that WVU will have a close relationship with this project.

Either this or another story I read says both Marshall and Wvu will be involved.
Frankly,  if this actually goes it is good for WV and its image. Maybe it goes a long way in persuading other companies to try WV

[herdorbust]

What ever happened to the BILLION dollars China was putting into WV about 1-2 years ago?

[Herdmeister]

What ever happened to the BILLION dollars China was putting into WV about 1-2 years ago?

Good question

[wasbarryb]

What ever happened to the BILLION dollars China was putting into WV about 1-2 years ago?

Another casualty of the trade war.

[herdorbust]

Another casualty of the trade war.

If so then awesome. You libs just love China eating our lunch and stealing our jobs!!!

[coalherd]

Another casualty of the trade war.

Yes, ever since that announcement of China's potential investment in WV, relations have soured as BOTH the White House and Congress got pretty fed up with the Chinese continuous attempts at hacking both government and business computer systems here in the US.  Stealing data, spying, attempts at spying, on various American military entities, etc.  Not likely to see any Chinese $$$$ and investment in such a poisoned atmosphere.