Published: January 11, 2009 09:25 pm      

Landmark harbors growth

BLUEFIELD — A historic downtown landmark is quietly continuing to create new job growth for downtown Bluefield.

The six-story Bluefield State College Research and Development Corporation building was opened in June of 2005 at the old Appalachian Power Company building on Bland Street. Today, more than 12 businesses are located in the building employing more than 60 people.

Despite the national economic downturn, officials are hoping to see continued growth in the facility.

“We actually just rented another office in 2009,” BSC Research and Development Business Director Gerald James said. “So we’ve actually had some growth in 2009. In this time, any growth is a positive factor.”

The facility is primed for additional growth. In addition to the availability of high-speed broadband thanks to a Point of Presence connection at the building site. The facility also is equipped with a conference room, an auditorium capable of seating several hundred, a computer training lab and classroom.

“We can easily accommodate an additional 100 people working out of that building,” James said. “There is room for additional growth. We have everything from corner offices to light industrial manufacturing space.”

James said the building is currently housing two computer service providers, one Internet service provider, two engineering firms, an engineering consultant firm and several community based organizations, including WISE, or Women in Search of Empowerment, and the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The facility also serves as an incubator for new small business growth.

“Small businesses are anchored to the community and are anchored to the region,” James said. “They aren’t going to leave if they become successful. My viewpoint is we are better off helping the homegrown become successful than we are chasing after a lot of large companies.”

The city of Bluefield has partnered with Bluefield State College and the Research and Development Corporation, BSC President Dr. Albert Walker said.

“The greatest part of it is it allows people coming into the community to see the city of Bluefield is progressive and moving forward with technology,” Walker said. “Mayor (Linda) Whalen has been a champion of the college, and we really appreciate it. Mayor Whalen has said she wants this town to become a college town. In the spring, we’ll have banners up saying ‘Bluefield, W.Va. - home of Bluefield State College.”

In addition to the growth at the historic Bailey Building on Bland Street, the Bluefield State College Research and Development Corporation also recently assumed the ownership and operation of the MountainView Student Residence and Conference Center on Cumberland Road.

“It has gone really well,” James said of the operation of the 158 room student dormitory. “When we took over there was less than a 70 percent occupancy rate, and now we average in the high 80s in the occupancy rate.”

James said enrollment at Bluefield State College has increased, and college officially partially attribute that enrollment growth to the MountainView Student Residence and Conference Center. James said the student dormitory also is helping existing businesses on Cumberland Road.

“You are hearing all of the things about the economy, but we are fairly stable here in Bluefield,” Walker said. “The housing facility has been a boon to Cumberland Road. The kids eat a lot of sub sandwiches and things like that. The students also are buying cars at the local dealerships. So the economic impact of the students being here is tremendous. So I think overall the Research and Development Corporation is doing its fair share in trying to keep the city stable.”

“You look all down Cumberland Road, and you see property is being upgraded,” James added. “I think part of that growth can be attributed to having 158 to 164 people living right there on Cumberland Road.”

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com