The Commerce Park presents opportunities for cargo operators like FedEx and UPS to establish regional distribution hubs, supported by expanded airport operations.“It lowers the cost of the runway project and creates new job opportunities,” Rogerson adds. “We’ve worked hand-in-hand for over six years on this unique partnership.” A GROWING REGIONAL POWERHOUSE Rogerson points to the larger economic context that underscores Morgantown’s momentum.“Morgantown is one of the fastest-growing communities in West Virginia. The city itself has around 30,000 residents, and Monongalia County has approximately 100,000. But within a 60-mile radius, we serve over one million people. We pull from four states—West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.” Central to the area’s growth is West Virginia University, which Rogerson describes as an “anchor institution.” WVU has approximately 24,000 students with extensive graduate and doctoral programs. WVU Medicine, which operates 24 hospitals across the state, is a key anchor in our healthcare sector. Ruby Memorial Hospital alone has over 800 beds and world-class specialty institutes in heart, cancer, neurology, and ophthalmology.” Additionally, federal research and technology facilities, such as the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), offer highquality employment opportunities and attract skilled professionals to the area. 204 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
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