Scout base will have huge impact

By Jackie Ayres

Changing the future of southern West Virginia forever.

That’s what impact Judy Radford, director of the 4-C Economic Development Authority, says the establishment of a new Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Center could have on the region.

“The high-adventure camp piece of this will change the way West Virginia is viewed because of the recognition of the Boy Scouts and the fact that we have one of their high-adventure operations here,” she said.

“This project will have an impact on our entire area. It will bring fresh funds into the area, and the influx of people will be spread throughout the region,” she said.

New River Gorge National River Superintendent Don Striker said his organization has worked very closely during the past year with state and local officials in pitching the idea to the Boy Scouts.

“A lot of the goals that I have for the National Park Service here are very consistent with the goals of the Boy Scouts,” Striker said. “I think it’s great that virtually every single public, private and government entity have gone out of their way to welcome the Boy Scouts with open arms.”

Fayette County Commission President Ken Eskew was thrilled with Monday’s news.

“I think it’s a huge economic imprint for not only Fayette County, but also Raleigh County,” Eskew stated. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think you could find a better tenant to occupy the land than the Boy Scouts. I think it’s just a tremendous asset to have in our county. I think economically it’s going to have a huge impact with the adventure centers they are setting up and leadership academies.

“It will bring young people, their parents and scout masters from all over the world. We’re very excited about this.”

Raleigh County Commission President John Humphrey echoed Eskew.

“I just think it’s a feather in our hat to be able to land something of this magnitude,” he said. “It’s going to be a big economic impact on Raleigh and Fayette counties to bring that amount of people into the area for the hotels and restaurants. This shows how working together hand-in-hand can accomplish things. When everybody works together, things can happen. We need more of that throughout the state of West Virginia.”

When contacted in his Washington, D.C., office, Congressman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., spoke about the Mountain State’s virtues and the efforts to bring the BSA facility to this area.

“Working with the Fayette County Commission and the National Park Service, we have tied a collaborative knot every scout would look upon with pride in which everyone has come together to support this national high-adventure base,” Rahall said.

“West Virginians know how to roll out the red carpet and warm their guests with southern-style hospitality,” he added. “Southern West Virginia offers some of the wildest and most wonderful adventures even the most seasoned scout will not soon forget. As a result, this operation would provide southern West Virginians with excellent job opportunities. Similar centers have created over 80 year-round jobs and 1,000 seasonal jobs, generating as much as $10 million in business to the local economy. It’s still too much of a hike to get in and out of the area, and I will be working to assist with the transportation access to the area. We have to balance a multitude of factors to make this base a go. I am committed to working with everyone throughout the process.”

Gov. Joe Manchin said Monday’s announcement that the Boy Scouts of America selected the New River Gorge region for the location of a National Scouting Center “speaks volumes” for West Virginia.

Manchin said he flew to Dallas and met with the Boy Scouts in the early stages of the bid.

“We made our presentation, and I felt good about it. There was an awful lot of competition,” Manchin said Tuesday.

“The government of the state of West Virginia has to be a good partner to people willing to make investments,” Manchin said. “I know as a state, we have to help them upgrade the infrastructure for the visitors and people who will be participating, and we’ll be committed to doing that. We’ve got to make it happen. We can’t expect them to make it happen.”

Manchin credits the hard work of the committee who worked on the project, and enthusiasm of the land owners in pleasing the BSA.

He says the acquisition of the National Scouting Center is a “good opportunity to show off our state.”

“I think we’re going to open a lot of the world to West Virginia — especially the New River Gorge and Fayette Station,” Manchin said.

He also says the BSA is a perfect fit for West Virginia.

“It’s part of our culture, who we are. Everything they represent in the Boy Scouts is everything we want in our families and our children,” Manchin said.

“There is nothing I see that’s a downside here. I see all upside. Everything is good.”

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