File Photo by Joselyn King Stephanie Hockenberry, the former growth and retention manager for the Ohio County Development Authority, addresses those attending a 2024 meeting of the Ohio Valley Workforce Collective. Hockenberry resigned her position Thursday.

TRIADELPHIA — Ohio County Growth and Retention Director Stephanie Hockenberry is stepping down as the county looks to reduce costs.

Hockenberry made the announcement Thursday evening during a meeting of the Ohio County Development Authority at The Highlands Event Center.

Hockenberry said she was approached by Lowe’s to work in the company’s pro builder sales department. It was a position she had been offered before taking the growth and retention director job.

Her three-year contract with the county concludes in December.

When the Lowe’s position became available again, she discussed ongoing county budget cuts and their potential impact on her job with Ohio County Administrator Randy Russell.

There was a concern “about what it would look like” when her contract came due, Hockenberry acknowledged.

She plans to start the new job with Lowe’s “in a couple of weeks,” covering the Wheeling, Pittsburgh, Morgantown and Clarksburg areas.

Meanwhile, she will continue to work part time for the county through the end of the year so projects she is working on “don’t fall through the cracks.”

“I do believe in what we’ve done, and I want to see it through,” Hockenberry said. “I’m super grateful I had this opportunity, and I want to continue doing this. Hopefully, I will be able to stay here casually through the end of the year.

“There is some money left in the Growth and Retention bucket, and we will continue to push through the marketing.”

Russell said the hiring of Hockenberry three years ago was a collaborative effort among the Ohio County Commission, the Ohio County Development Authority, the city of Wheeling, the Wheeling Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Regional Economic Development Partnership.

“When the three-year agreement is over, we are going to decide whether to continue it,” he said.

“For now, Stephanie will work part time to make certain her projects aren’t losing steam.”

Hockenberry told OCDA members Thursday that during her tenure, the county’s growth and retention goals mostly were met.

“We’re still looking at applying for funding to help in different areas — marketing, housing and workforce,” she said.

When opportunities arise, Hockenberry said her plans are to forward them to the county so officials can apply for them. Any funding can help internship programs and assist with the jobs component of growth and retention.

She said she has engaged a marketing firm to start an online campaign promoting Ohio County as a place to live. The firm has assembled a video available online through YouTube, the commission website and other social media platforms.

The firm is researching which areas of the country it should target most with a message encouraging people to move to Ohio County, according to Hockenberry.

Growth and Retention also is working with local universities and a job placement website to provide job opportunities for young people, she continued.

The goal was to have 50 businesses involved with the project, and there are presently 51, Hockenberry reported. The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce has pledged to work with its members on the initiative.

She said she also wanted to have at least 500 students at the high school and college levels participating. That number has now grown to more than 2,600, she added.

Students are from Ohio County Schools, The Linsly School, West Liberty University and Wheeling University. Bethany College is expected to join beginning next month, with West Virginia Northern Community College to follow, she said.

In the marketing area, some developers have lined up to begin building housing in Ohio County.

“They came into the area in May to do tours, and we took them mostly downtown,” Hockenberry said. “They are interested in building here.”

She noted the housing project came about through her relationship with local trade unions, and union members will be employed on any of the construction projects.

Hockenberry said she also has been conducting tours for families considering a move to the area.

One issue that has emerged is a lack of temporary housing for families while they wait for home purchases to be completed, she added.

“We’ll be working with local B&B units and hotels to make certain we can help these families,” Hockenberry said.