daily304 - Episode 02.29.2024

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, Feb. 29  

A Bridgeport aviation company demonstrates how the industry is taking flight in #YesWV. Congrats to Bluefield Arts & Revitalization Corporation, the 2024 Governor’s Arts Organization of the Year. And a former intermodal gateway in Wayne County is revived…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV EDA – The aviation industry is taking flight in West Virginia. NorthStar Technologies in Bridgeport serves a vital role for the industry whether it’s repairing engines, inspecting and maintaining used parts, or sending teams out to work on aircraft in the field. 

To order these parts, it could take up to a year. But with equipment obtained with the help of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, NorthStar Technologies can get planes off the ground in a matter of days.​ NorthStar’s Director of Maintenance Chris Westfall explains how it works. 

Watch the video:

https://eda.wv.gov/success-stories/

#2 – From BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH – The Bluefield Arts and Revitalization Corporation has been named the 2024 Governor’s Arts Organization of the Year by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.

BARC is an arts-focused community based, not-for-profit organization which uses the arts to create opportunities for education, employment, and entertainment in Bluefield. 

The corporation fulfills its mission by providing entertainment through movies, music, live theater, and free community events at the Granada Theater and the Raleigh Street Cinemas, offering educational programs in collaboration with Mercer County public schools and local universities, and organizing exhibits from local and regional artists and artisans at the Paine Gallery.

In 2023, more than 20,000 people came to downtown Bluefield for movies, music, community events, and educational programs at the Granada Theater, Raleigh Street Cinemas, and the Paine Gallery, creating foot traffic in the city benefitting local businesses which would not have been possible without the corporation’s work, BARC officials said.

Read more:

https://www.bdtonline.com/news/bluefield-arts-revival-corp-named-wv-arts-organization-of-the-year/article_385d77fa-d27b-11ee-b322-4399659b7ed3.html

 

#3 – From WSAZ – The site of the former Heartland Intermodal Gateway in Prichard has been revived.

Initial plans for the property proved unsuccessful, which led to the property sitting vacant for years.That was until the Wayne County Commission obtained ownership of the site in 2022. Plans started to reach new heights when the commission secured a contract with R.J. Corman Railroad Switching Company. 

“We’re just so excited about this addition of this quality company in our county that’s generating jobs and revenue for the county,” said Jeff Maddox, Wayne County Commission President. “I look at this as something that’s not only going to impact our county today, but I see it impacting our county for decades to come. 

The facility is now called “Central Appalachia Inland Port at Prichard.”

Read more:

https://www.wsaz.com/2024/02/23/former-intermodal-site-revived/

 

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.