With a passionate, all-volunteer Staff, the Clay County Business Development Authority worked on these Major Projects during the past year:

Building a better Clay County, for today and tomorrow...                                                                  

Visit our facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/CCBDA

Partnering with Buffalo Creek Recreational Trail

The CCBDA partnered with BCRT to accept the lease on the railroad right-of-way.  We submitted and received a grant for $7478.87 from the WV Humanities Council to purchase seven wayside panels (these are signs containing historical information of the area, and are of the quality seen in national parks), walking brochures, advertisements in Charleston papers, billboard advertisement and banners.  Frontier Communications will also contribute an additional $2492.97 to this project.

 The BDA put in many man hours on the Governor’s Day of Caring cleaning the trail.  We will continue to work on the trail and will also be organizing inmate work parties.

Encourage “Buy Local” Campaign

Working with Solid Waste on Donations for Spring Clean Up
Making community aware of the State Police Tip Hot Line
Working with Frontier to try to improve Internet Service
Worked on Solutions to the Day Reporting problem
Promoted Clay County through WV Public Radio
Clay County Day at the Legislature

Lazy Elk Float and Rockin’ on the River Concert

This event was organized to show off our beautiful Elk River and to create Tourism.

Working With Local Furniture Makers
The CCBDA has been meeting with local craftsmen to organize a furniture co-op.  The primary market for their goods will be online.

Installed Billboards
Four billboards have been installed at Valley Fork to not only create revenue for the CCBDA, and also provide an inexpensive, but effective advertising tool for local businesses.

Assisting WV Land Trust
The CCBDA is assisting Ashton Burdine, with WV Land Trust to find suitable projects, specifically along the river, to acquire and set aside for future generations.  After seeing Spread Park, he is checking into the possibility of setting aside a trust fund of $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 specifically to maintain the park.

“What’s Next, Clay County?”
The CCBDA secured $300.00 in donations for banners and postcards to advertise the first meeting in which over 70 people attended.  The group is still meeting regularly and continues to work to improve the county.  Some of our projects are:

Elk River Fest
The CCBDA started The Elk River Fest in 2013.  The direct economic impact of the 2014 Elk River Fest is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000.  This includes all money that was spent at the Fest, but does not include money spent at local gas stations, restaurants, etc.  It is our hope the Elk River will continue to grow and bring additional tourism dollars into our county.

Valley Fork Property
The CCBDA is actively seeking a buyer for our Valley Fork property who will make a meaningful positive impact on the local economy. 
 
Offered a Series of Free Classes
How to Classify Your Business – presented by Roger Hanshaw, Attorney
Strategies for Minimizing tax Liabilities for Small Business – presented by Emily Lambright, Tax Attorney
Using the Internet to Grow Your Business – presented by Mark Wolfe, Mark Wolfe Designs, LLC
 
Installed New Playground Equipment at Spread Park
This was purchased with a grant.

Partnered with Local Business
The CCBDA partnered with “Bits and Pieces” flower shop for an open house.

Received $12,000.00 Governor’s Participation Grant
The CCBDA is working to rid our county of abandoned and dilapidated structures.  This is a slow process, but we have seen some success.

Partnered with Farmer’s Market
The CCBDA financed a portion of the local Farmer’s Market.

Promote the Countywide Yard Sale
Enables locals to make some $$$and also encourages clean up.

Promote Clean Up-Fix Up Week
Encourage and promote local businesses, churches, schools, individuals, etc. to pick an area of the county to clean up or improve.  The CCBDA provides vests, gloves and necessary supplies, when possible, for this event.
Sponsored the mural on the wall across from the old IGA.

Promote Exceptionalism
The CCBDA sponsors Business of the Month, Citizen of the Month, and Yard of the Month

Partnering with the Department of Natural Resources

The CCBDA has leased the river access behind our building to the DNR for public use.  The DNR will maintain the access.