By Stephen Smoot
Last year, the Seneca Rocks Regional Development Authority formed to combine the resources and efforts of the previously independent Pendleton County and Grant County economic development authorities.
After months of work, SRRDA formed as an umbrella organization over the still-existing county EDAs, taking on the work of both in promoting economic development, managing properties, and securing grant funding and other opportunities for the region.
The county EDAs must still remain in place due to their involvement in previous grants and projects. Retaining them proved more efficient than dissolving them and moving official responsibilities to SRRDA.
Sherry Mongold currently serves as the lead administrator as the organization searches for a new executive director.
In Pendleton County, the priority lies in getting the Franklin Innovation Hub prepared for use. Last year, the SRRDA purchased the former Pendleton County Schools main office on Walnut Street across from the Pendleton County Courthouse. In the time since, the authority commissioned a mural from Kelson Thorne to spruce up the exterior.
The Hub will serve independent workers and small businesses who need temporary access to office and conference space, as well as high speed internet.
Mongold shared that SRRDA recently met with an architect to approve a design for the new Hub. She said that “they sent me a rough draft of it to review,” sharing that they provided “a cool design of what they have set up.”
The plan will eliminate some of the walls to create an open space, as opposed to sets of cubicles. Those who need enclosed and quiet spaces for individual work or small scale meetings will have the use of prefabricated enclosures that shield users from outside noise or distractions.
“It will be really nice once we get it done,” Mongold stated. “Anybody that that needs to come in and use that office space for a day, a week, or longer, as long as they follow our guidelines and rules” will have access. Upstairs, SRRDA already has rented space to Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telecommunications and Kline May Realty. SRRDA itself will move its offices there when work concludes.
Another Pendleton County accomplishment lay in playing a role in getting the water study in place. Engineers will examine and analyze water resources roughly along the US 33 corridor extending from Franklin toward Brandywine. The goal lies in connecting the emergency services and West Virginia State Police barracks, the Pendleton County Schools bus garage, and private residences and developments, such as the Waterfront Group project at Fisher Mountain.
“I do what needs to be done to help them out,” Mongold said.
SRRDA also remains active north of the county line in Grant. One of the main focuses of their work there has been redevelopment of properties on Virginia Avenue in Petersburg. Surveyors have started laying out lots in anticipation of grant funding. Thorne will be commissioned to paint a mural on the side of one of the remaining buildings.
