South Charleston Technology Park Transition Begins

South Charleston Technology Park Transition Begins
Posted Friday, July 30, 2010 ; 10:52 AM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Friday, July 30, 2010; 11:05 AM
Steering committee met for the first time July 29 to discuss transition of former South Charleston Technology Park into state-run facility.By Walt Williams
SOUTH CHARLESTON–The team heading up the transition of the former South Charleston Technology Park into a state-run facility met for the first time Thursday to begin mapping out the transfer.
Press materials passed out at the meeting touted the parkâ??s new name â?? the West Virginia Education, Research and Technology Park â?? which better reflect its multiple roles under state ownership.
The park will eventually become the home of the Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College, as well as a $15 million advanced technology center that will house up to 2,000 students. Many private start-up businesses already are located on campus, which is currently owned by the Dow Chemical Co.
â??There is a lot of renovation work that has to go on, but at this moment, our primary focus is on maximizing opportunities for business development and new business creation at the park,â?? said Brian Noland, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and chairman of the transition steering committee.
State officials reached a deal with Dow in February to have the company donate the park to the state along with $10 million to help with the transition.
There are three large buildings on the property along with a handful of pilot plants and smaller buildings used for research, maintenance and office space.
The largest building is Building 2000, which is shaped like an X. The college will take up two wings of the X. Noland said that renovation is likely to take 18 months.

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