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RED Partnership Eyes Chemical, Manufacturing Projects in Marshall County

MOUNDSVILLE — Chemical and manufacturing plants are among the types of businesses the Regional Economic Development Partnership hopes to attract to Marshall County with a sizable financial boost from county commissioners.

In an effort to attract industry to Marshall County, commissioners voted this week to contribute $2 million to support the Regional Economic Development Partnership’s land acquisition process in Marshall County.

According to RED Executive Director Don Rigby, the funding will be used to assist the partnership’s goal of bringing new businesses, such as chemical and manufacturing plants, to the area.

“We’re looking at several pieces, but for most of them we have signed non-disclosure agreements on location and prices, so we can can’t share those at these time, but we have a long history with the commission and we’ve developed three industrial parks with them over the years,” Rigby said. “It’s all about bringing jobs and investment into the county to fund schools and let people buy homes.”

We’ve got inquiries from a variety of folks from chemical manufacturing to gas.”

According to Commissioner Bob Miller, the $2 million in funding came from a general economic development fund. He said the fund was built up through surplus money available at the end of fiscal years, mostly derived from oil and gas revenue.

“It’s not about filling the space and getting property taxes but getting jobs to help our citizens,” Miller said. “We’ve been able to set aside good revenues from the oil and gas industry so we’re trying to invest for the long term. In good times you try to maintain and reinforce the basic infrastructure of the county so if cycles come and go, and we don’t have as much money one day, things will be secure. We want to build a war chest so we’re ready to act with all the industry building up in the area.”

Marshall County Administrator Betsy Frohnapfel said the $2 million commissioners approved Tuesday would only be used in Marshall County. She added the sum is only a part of RED’s overall effort and would “not nearly cover the entire cost.”

Based in Wheeling, RED is an agency that attempts to recruit new business investment, assist with local business expansion and encourage new business startups. It also offers financial assistance through state and local loan programs, according to its website.

RED leases and manages more than 600,000 square feet of real estate and over 117 acres of land in Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties.

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