Tuesday, July 16th, twelve representatives for Calhoun County, West Virginia, gave their pitch to the American Medicines Company team, Brian Duncan. Nicole , Kathy Meyer, Ureil Kusiatin, Sandy Tigner, and Dilip , over five hours. It was the opening game in what could be an entirely new season for Calhoun County. The group met for the pitch, followed by a tour of the property under consideration, the Army Reserves Center at Annamoriah, a visit to the Science Camp at Calhoun Middle High School, a tour of Calhoun County Park and a final stop at the Saundra Johnson Aquatic Center for an evening celebration of what Calhoun has to offer. Tour bus provided by Glenville State College.
A key player, and one of Calhoun’s best supporters is Delegate and Speaker of the House, Roger Hanshaw.
He informed AMC that Calhoun County has the full support of the State of West Virginia in seeking to convince their company to locate a multi million dollar pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Annamoriah, West Virginia. Speaker Hanshaw told the team that West Virginia ended their fiscal year with nearly $800 million in surplus tax revenue. West Virginia is doing very well and they intend to invest that funding into business growth and infrastructure projects. He added that the State of West Virginia is willing to put all their resources into making it happen, because it’s a good choice for all concerned. We’re here to make the point that from a business case it makes sense.
Second to address AMC was Calhoun County Commissioner Roger Propst. He conveyed with great pride in his community that Calhoun County is filled with hard working people, and many that have moved from the community because of the lack of opportunity who would love nothing more than to return home. He explained that for decades the county had lost it’s way, but community leaders and the FINEX InC Group had “moved the needle in the past few years, and our county is in a very different place because of this grass root effort. They’re ready to move forward.
Shelia Burch, Director of Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation shared the vision and work that the county had put into a new comprehensive plan. A living document created and adopted in 2021 which has already seen the need to be amended because of the progress the county has made. She informed AMC that with the help of Speaker Hanshaw, Calhoun’s progress on Fiber Network through City Net and Frontier Communications continues to expand throughout the area and is available at the property under consideration.
Also included in Mrs. Burch’s pitch was the wonderful outdoor recreation and tourism available in the area that attracts visitors from other counties to the area. “We are a great community, but we are terrible at marketing ourselves,” Burch said, “but we’re getting better!” The Quality of life has been much approved by area expansions like that of Calhoun county park’s cabin and dark sky project.
In a Housing study accomplished by Glenville State University it showed that there was a need to increase the housing opportunities in both Calhoun and Gilmer by 20-30 new homes each year to accommodate the influx of people moving to the area. The West Virginia Home Owners Association is working with LKADC and Glenville State University to aid in finding developers and contractors for the areas.
Adding to the conversation was Steve Whited, CEO of Minnie Hamilton Health Systems who stated that Minnie Hamilton has 100 acres for development in the area and there is an additional 1,000 acres in Calhoun that can be developed. The 1982 Foundation will be adding two luxury apartments in the upstairs of their office building on Main Street as well as apartments on the Avalon Property, formerly the old Calhoun High School. Housing opportunities like these and others will insure that Calhoun can support the families that the new industry will bring.
“The excitement is infectious.” Shelia Burch continued. “Developers who have been sitting on property are now looking to develop this year because they see the great things happening.”
The group discussed the current per capita income being $39,000. Much of that income is made out of county and out of state by people who would gladly return to the area to work in an industry paying upwards of $100,000 a year for those at AMC.
“We’re a community in transition,” described Roger Propst as he reminisced about the South Side of Grantsville housing being filled with residents employed by the Oil and Gas industry in the mid 20th century. “It was a booming time,” he said, “But we’ve had a lot of opposition throughout the years with leaders in the same political party worried about losing control. But new ideas are coming! Harvard University has been working with Minnie Hamilton to learn more about rural medicine, this community is making progress.”
Derek Villers, Real Estate Agent provided a description of the 12.5 acres, plus an additional 50 acres of the Smith/Sayer property that will be available to the American Medicine Company. “Close to Wirt, Wood, Ritchie, and Roane, it is the best laid land in Calhoun county,” he said. It has all infrastructure that will be needed available and the property is without restrictions on the deed. Villers informed the AMC group that Calhoun County has a lot of people moving to the area because of the lack of control in other States, high property taxes. New York and New Jersey people are coming because we have the largest eco system.
Mr. Villers introduced a photograph of the family of Ari White, recent residents of New Jersey who left because of over taxation and being forced by a political movement. “Ari’s wife Amanda is the Chemistry teacher at Calhoun Middle High School, and Ari, who owned a small electric engine business in New Jersey is a multitalented man that can do just about anything” he said, and “the community has embraced them.”
Mark Sarver of Glenville State University told AMC that the University is very responsive to the industry needs. With their education opportunities and great resources available they’re looking forward to making it happen and working with American medicines.
Martha Haymaker, CEO of Calhoun Banks, explained to AMC that the people of Calhoun County are loyal to the area. “They don’t leave,” she said. Part of that reasoning comes from having a beautiful commute to work without interference. Unlike what city residents face in their commute. “We are accustomed to driving to get any where.” That sacrifice is very small in comparison to what living in Calhoun affords. She too addressed the housing issue but cited that a there was a short term plan to take care of.
President of the Calhoun County Commission, Craig Arthur, who has worked diligently on addressing the infrastructure problems in Calhoun, told AMC that this is the county’s current focus. He described how many people can’t understand the concept of having to haul water into their home because it’s water is unavailable locally. The county has extension projects on both ends of the county that will provide much needed water. One such water project that has been going on since 2015 is now moving with the help of Speaker Hanshaw. Arthur told the AMC staff that “Calhoun has a lot of loyal people who have worked to make the progress. Our churches are important. Faith is an important aspect. We’re a giving group. If people fall ill, or have a traumatic event in their life, the people will give to make sure people have the best of what they need. It makes us very unique.”
Other local traditions that Commissioner Arthur highlighted was the local Wood and Molasses Festival where area talent could be seen and older generations could teach the younger those trades. In this era of homesteading interest it has long been a tradition for local residents to raise their own Gardens and can the result. “Many of our people may not be college graduates,” Arthur said, “But their the most intelligent people you’ll ever meet. If you give us opportunity, you’re going to see us shine”
Described by Crystal Mersh as the competitor of the group, Michael Fitzwater, Superintendent of Schools spoke saying “Momentum is everything and Calhoun had lost it’s momentum – but it’s swinging.” He too gave credit to Speaker Hanshaw and also Governor Jim Justice and Mitch Carmichael for the excitement brewing in Calhoun by the help they’ve given. Calhoun County Schools is the first West Virginia School operated 60% by solar energy. “Great things are happening!” He said. In addition Calhoun was given 5 electric school busses, the most in the state. Three electric charging stations will be in the county. “We are closers” Fitzwater said in reference to getting things done.
Mr. Fitzwater also wanted AMC to know the level of loyalty Calhoun County people have for their community. He shared the terrible accident of his brother on July 2, 2001 when he rolled a farm tractor in a very rural area of the community. He described how his parents stayed for months with his brother in the hospital, but the community fed him and took him where ever he needed to go, making sure he was cared for, built a handicap access to their home for his brother, and what an impression that made on him as a young person.
He also shared about the Bus accident on March 4, 2024 in Calhoun, describing how the community came together. In awe that within 13 minutes the children hurt were evacuated from the scene. “The Community raised a ton of money for the kids involved. Fundraisers are done to take care of ourselves. Small America takes care of ourselves.”
Crystal Mersh, CEO of the 1982 Foundation and one of the greatest championing women of Calhoun County said that when people see the pharmaceutical industry owners, they view them as the filthy rich and in control. But AMC believes that “We can do well and do good.” And that’s is their intention.
She described Calhoun as the forgotten people. Having the highest unemployment rate in the State most of the time. This is an opportunity of a life time for Calhoun County people to have the option to stay where they want to be. Calhoun, from children to adult, fearless, smart and willing to work.
Eric Lupardus, Businessman and now candidate for Commission has understood the difficulties in business operations in Calhoun County. He and his wife Brandi have each operated their own local businesses and he shared how he fell in love with the community because of the goodness and loyalty of the people. He is a supporter of industry and opportunity and wants to see families like that of Brian Cottrell be able to raise their children without having to work so far away from home and miss out on the special times in a child life.
Crystal’s final exercise of the meeting was to ask everyone to close their eyes and imagine it was the opening day of the American Medicine Company in Calhoun County, “what would it look like.”
People cheering, sharing the amazing stories, parents home every evening, a community restored. Will it happen?
The pitch has been made. Time will tell if we connected to the American Medicine Company staff and if Calhoun County will be awarded this amazing opportunity.
Commissioner Propst closed with the words to AMC, “We want you. We need you. This is going to make national news in bringing pharmaceuticals back to the United States. Our people will return. Why not Calhoun County?”
If American Medicines Company chooses Calhoun County as their location for the Pharmaceutical operation, Calhoun County will have the only manufacturing facility manufacturing medications that currently have 95% of our most used prescriptions being made in India and China.
