TRIADELPHIA – The funding mechanism for development at The Highlands has been assured for the next 30 years, and that will help as movement continues to build a second interchange off of Interstate 70 at the property.

The original tax increment financing (TIF) district that provided the financial resources to begin development at The Highlands in the late 1990s has a sunset of 30 years, explained Cody Koehler, director of finance for the Ohio County Development Authority. He recently updated OCDA members on the matter.

TIF districts allow governments to move future property tax revenue increases from a defined area toward an economic development project or public improvement project.

Koehler said a loophole in the law allowed the county to create a new and second TIF district next to the existing one and combine them. The OCDA then could take advantage of another full 30 years of real estate tax revenue being generated by the newly combined TIF district.

Money generated by a TIF district can only be used to make improvements to develop the properties within the TIF district’s boundaries.

This week, Ohio County Administrator Randy Russell informed county commissioners the West Virginia Division of Highways has officially approved the establishment of new Fort Henry Centre Development District II at The Highlands.

The new district includes much of the existing property at The Highlands that already was part of the first district, as well as additional properties within the second TIF district.

The new area would continue down the hillside from The Highlands toward Middle Creek Road, taking in the Millenium Center and Touchstone Research Laboratory on the eastbound side of Interstate 70, then over to the Maroon Farm.

Russell explained the West Virginia Division of Highways put out a request for a bid for a study to determine where the best location was to locate a second interchange at The Highlands.

“We understand that study is now complete,” he said. “They are now in the process of doing it, and we hope to set up a meeting with them in the near future to discuss what they found and get the ball rolling again.”

Commissioner Zach Abraham said during the 2023 legislative session, he and Russell traveled to Charleston to speak with the WVDOH about the prospects for an interchange at The Highlands.

He noted the reengineering study just completed to determine location was made possible by a $700,000 congressional earmark secured by former U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley, R-W.Va. The money was intended for the updating of the proposed design for the interchange and for needed environmental work there.

“We’re coming up on a meeting soon and we’ll go down and meet with (State Secretary of Transportation) Jimmy Wriston,” Russell said.