Championing Marion County Businesses

The Marion County Chamber’s Governmental Affairs and Economic Development divisions help the county’s businesses prosper by advocating for legislative changes that enhance the business environment and partnering with other local organizations to improve the local economy.

MCCC 2010 Legislative Agenda
State Office Complex Resolution
Technical Training Center Resolution

Governmental Affairs Division

This division’s objectives include communicating business positions on legislative issues to elected officials, offering guidance for monitoring business legislation and serving as a liaison between government and the local business community. The MCCC works in cooperation with the small cities in Marion County to find way of improving services and reducing the costs associated with those services. Although our country is struggling through difficult economic times, the communities in our region continue to grow. We will only realize our potential by working together. The Governmental Affairs Division supports legislation covering a variety of subjects:

• Excess Tax to Demolish Condemned/Abandoned Property
• Healthcare and Wellness Reform
• Highway Infrastructure Construction
• Civil Justice Reform
• Employee Free Choice Act
• Unemployment Compensation Reforms
• Drug-free Workplace
• Non-partisan Judicial Elections or Merit Selections
• Examination of Cost of Public Project Funding
• Education Funding
• Tax Reform

Economic Development Division

From entrepreneurs starting small businesses to large corporations, the Marion County Chamber of Commerce provides business owners and executives with the information and support they need to make informed, critical decisions on location, infrastructure, job creation and retention, training and financial assistance. Current and proposed economic development projects in Marion County include: Allegheny Energy – The new Transmission Operations Headquarters for Allegheny Energy is currently  under construction in the I-79 Development Park.  The new facility, which will house approximately 85,000 square feet of Class A office space and will serve as the center for Allegheny’s multi-state transmission functions. The building, expected to open in 2011 with 150 new jobs, will be certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED). I-79 Gateway Connector – Upon completion, this innovatively designed highway connecting downtown Fairmont and Interstate 79 will make the downtown area, especially the riverfront, a very attractive market for private development. Fairmont State University – The university is moving forward with numerous developments laid out in its 10-year Facilities Master Plan, which included the recently completed $15 million Enginerring Technology Building. I-79 Technology Park Expansion – Expansion continues at the West Virginia High Tech Park. The WVHTC Foundation is currently constructing two new facilities that will boast more than 125,000 square feet of Class A office and laboratory space, as well as two 2,300-square-foot roof gardens.

Downtown Revitalization Plan and Riverfront Development – A mixed-use plan designed to cater to business, recreational housing and commercial interests, this calls for condominium style housing, a hotel and conference center, walking trails and a marina. Fairmont Southside was selected as one of the first Blueprint Communities in West Virginia, this neighborhood is an emerging community with eclectic roots. The 18-block area directly adjacent to downtown will link the city center to the Fairmont Avenue Business District and the Gateway Connector. Administered through the Main Street Fairmont program, Southside is in the process of engaging business owners and residents in the development of this new community. Volcano Island Indoor/Outdoor Water Park and Conference Center – This $85 million private investment project will be located near I-79 and will be an all-inclusive resort featuring the 50,000-square-foot Volcano Island Indoor Water park, a 30,000-square-foot state-of-the-art conference center, a 5-acre outdoor water park, multiple restaurants and 300-room hotel with a full-service day spa.