From Morgantown News

by Clarissa Cottrill, July 10, 2020

“A proposed runway extension and related commerce park at the Morgantown Municipal Airport is still in the works despite the COVID-19 pandemic slowing many aspect of the local economy.

Russ Rogerson, CEO of The Morgantown Area Partnership, says that while the virus has affected almost everything, economic development is still taking place. 

“We’re in the final stages of selecting our engineering firm that will help us work with the city as the runway project moves forward,” he said, adding that planning, layout and infrastructure are part of moving ahead. “We’re in the heavy planning stages.”

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From the Chronicle of Higher Education

By Danielle McLean MAY 27, 2020

“The impact is apparent in Morgantown, W.Va. Leidos, a government-contracting company, used the Census to decide recently to expand its footprint in the city, home of West Virginia University, in part because it was attracted to the work force, backed by a young, growing population, said Russell Rogerson, chief executive of a local business organization, the Morgantown Area Partnership.

But as of May 21, Morgantown’s self-response rate was about 19 percentage points below its 2010 rate of 64.5 percent. Like many colleges, West Virginia University is trying to reach its off-campus students with mass emails, said Ron Justice, the university’s local-government-relations specialist and a former Morgantown mayor.”

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“The toolkit is designed to provide businesses with quick, easy access to reopening requirements while also listing local and state resources to get the additional cleaning supplies, facemasks and other items necessary to open responsibly,” said Russell Rogerson, President & CEO of the Partnership. “There is a lot of information out there regarding the reopening process and we wanted to assist our businesses by providing condensed and factual information with resources for additional assistance.”

The Partnership has hardly been idle during the COVID-19 shutdown and has added programs, services, and information for local businesses throughout the past two months. The Partnership has put nearly $20,000 back into the local economy with its Gift Card Stimulus Program. Virtual Learning Labs also continue to be hosted online to support the local business community.

“The Morgantown Area Partnership is the community’s primary business advocacy and economic development organization,” Rogerson states. “We’re here to champion for business. Reopening in a responsible way to keep everyone safe and healthy is important. That’s why we’ve been working relentlessly to provide the right resources to our business community.”

The Partnership staff have personally contacted more than 400 area businesses in addition to surveying local businesses to find out what they need to survive and thrive in this most difficult situation.  “We will continue to stay in close touch with our businesses to identify ways to provide assistance moving forward,” Rogerson said.

Back to Business—Responsibly Toolkit
The Partnership’s Back to Business—Responsibly Toolkit is a guide featuring providers of items deemed necessary for reopening responsibly. Local vendors that are manufacturing, selling, or installing PPE, face coverings, cleaning and sanitizing supplies and services, and printing services are listed in the Toolkit. It also acts as a compiled resource for Governor Justice’s West Virginia Strong – The Comeback phases and features CDC planning guidance and sign templates for reopening businesses.

Businesses can download the toolkit directly at bit.ly/Back-to-Business_Responsibly and find information on additional resources and guidelines online at map-wv.org/covid-19.

Gift Card Stimulus Program
The Gift Card Stimulus Program was launched to support area restaurants going through operational changes during the height of the pandemic shutdowns. As of Monday, May 18, 515 restaurant gift cards were purchased through the program with an expected $20,000 dollars reinvested into the economy. 75 cards remain to be purchased at map-wv.org/gift-card-stimulus.

“Sales were down more than 60% at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, and the Gift Card Stimulus Program helped provide us with cash that we needed to pay our bills, pay our employees, and operate our business,” says Ryan Niceler, Director of Operations WV at Taziki’s. “We will be forever grateful for their support during these scary and uncertain times.”

The program was originally seeded with Partnership funds and eventually carried through to success with six Donating Sponsors: Summit Community Bank, Arrow Engineering, Ascent Consulting & Engineering, Huntington Steel, Ford Lincoln of Morgantown and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat of Morgantown.

Virtual Learning Labs
The Partnership decided to take events online with Virtual Learning Labs, educational webinars hosted by Partnership members for businesses, nearly weekly since April. Upcoming events include Managing Stress in Uncertain Times on Wednesday, May 27.

A list of previous Virtual Learning Labs can be watched on the Partnership’s Business Resource Page at map-wv.org/covid-19.

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About the Morgantown Area Partnership:
The Morgantown Area Partnership is a business organization that focuses on wealth growth for all entities in the Morgantown MSA. It is a public/private alliance encompassing four entities including the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Monongalia County Development Authority, the Morgantown Area Economic Partnership and the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation (Sunnyside Up). The Partnership takes a holistic approach to economic growth and focuses on creative, strategic solutions to our growing community. Learn more at morgantownpartnership.com.

Contact:
Russell Rogerson
President & CEO, Morgantown Area Partnership
Phone: 304-292-3311 ext. 1010
Email: russ@morgantownpartnership.com

The post Morgantown Area Partnership Continues to Support Area Business Through Pandemic appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

From WBOY.com

By Larmie Sanyon, Apr 17, 2020

The Morgantown Area Partnership is launching a new ‘Gift Card Stimulus Program’ for local restaurants in order to help them during the financially burdensome times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Russell Rogerson. MAP’s president and chief executive officer, they had a soft launch starting April 6 but the real launch will be Monday, April 20, and they will have 10 businesses participating. The idea, Rogerson said, is to add on as many local restaurants as possible in order to invest in local restaurant locations going through operational changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The post In the News: Morgantown Area Partnership launches new ‘Gift Card Stimulus Program’ to help restaurants during COVID-19 outbreak appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

“We wanted to help in a way that could make an impact now,” says Morgantown Area Partnership President & CEO Russ Rogerson. “The Partnership has established an initial $1,000 in a gift card matching fund, so card buyers can order food for takeout or delivery now, with an added bonus.”

Participating restaurants include Almost Heaven Bar & Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Get Fit Juices & Shakes, Lotsa Stone Fired Pizza, Qdoba Mexican Eats, Shoney’s and Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe. While Morgantown Area Partnership restaurant members who choose to participate will receive the additional $10 on the gift card, the gift card sale is open to any restaurants that are interested.

Rogerson explains, “The program incentivizes investment in local restaurants while being mindful of state recommendations affecting business operations. Similar programs have been done in other communities, resulting in thousands of dollars of investment to local businesses.”

The Morgantown Area Partnership will purchase gift cards from the restaurant and mail them directly to the homes of those who order from the program online. Learn more at map-wv.org/gift-card-stimulus

Restaurants that are interested in participating in the program can contact Amy Loomis, VP of Member Engagement at amy@morgantownpartnership.com.

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About the Morgantown Area Partnership:
The Morgantown Area Partnership is a business organization that focuses on wealth growth for all entities in the Morgantown MSA. It is a public/private alliance encompassing four entities including the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Monongalia County Development Authority, the Morgantown Area Economic Partnership and the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation (Sunnyside Up). The Partnership takes a holistic approach to economic growth and focuses on creative, strategic solutions to our growing community. Learn more at morgantownpartnership.com.

Contact:
Russell Rogerson
President & CEO, Morgantown Area Partnership
Phone: 304-292-3311 ext. 1010
Email

The post Morgantown Area Partnership Launches Gift Card Stimulus Program appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

The Morgantown Area Partnership is working together with Monongalia County Health Department and several other community stakeholders to streamline communications during the COVID-19 situation. The Partnership has been invited to access Monongalia County’s Joint Information Center (JIC), the health department’s information hub, which will have formal check-ins twice a week.

We have created a resource page for business owners and members, bringing together information from the CDC, Monongalia County Health Department and other local and national resources: map-wv.org/covid-19

While the situation remains fluid, there are still no cases of the virus in West Virginia as of March 13, 2020. You can stay up to date by visiting the WV Department of Health & Human Resources COVID-19 testing and update page.

We must recognize the impact that current events will have on area businesses. The Partnership remains steadfast in support of our membership. Please continue to shop local and support our members and businesses.

Partnership Events

We will make every effort to continue with our regularly scheduled programs to support our local businesses. As always, the health and safety of everyone who will be attending these events is of vital importance. We will continue to monitor the situation and update our members of any changes to the schedule.

To protect our membership and attendees, we will:

• implement preventative practices by providing hand sanitizer at our registration table, as well as offering access to antibacterial wipes and facial tissues.
• ask that if you are feeling sick, or have reason such as those listed below, to rest at home. We will see you at future networking opportunities.

Tuesday, March 17 (8:30 am – 10 am) : Business Before Hours at Panera Bread Evansdale

Wednesday, March 18 (5:30 pm – 7 pm): Business After Hours at Sargasso

Friday, March 20 (Noon): Ribbon Cutting at Dockside Grill (formerly Crab Shack Caribba – Cheat Lake)

We ask that you please do not attend if you or anyone in your household has:

• Flu-like symptoms, the common cold, sinus infection, etc.
• Symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath: CDC’s Information.
• Have been notified by medical or public health personnel that you are being assessed or monitored for the virus;
• Been advised by medical or public health authorities that you are at increased risk and should self-monitor;
• Traveled in the past 14 days to any Warning Level 2 or 3 location listed on the CDC Travel Notices webpage.

These precautions are being put in place to ensure that you and all our attendees stay healthy.

Regardless, we ask you to take the advice of the CDC, including:

• Frequently and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, or use your inner elbow or sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home if you’re sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
• Clean surfaces in your home and personal items, such as cell phones, using regular household products.
• Consider an “elbow bump” instead of a hug or handshake.

We hope to maintain business as usual, but also want to ensure we’re aligning with best practices to do all we can to keep our community healthy.

Local Business Support

With the impacts of COVID-19 on our local business community already in effect, in addition to good hand hygiene and common-sense precautions with your employees and patrons, the Morgantown Area Partnership encourages all local businesses to consider the following:

1. For your business: Prepare for negative economic impacts.
   1. Capital: Create, confirm or expand your line of credit.
   2. Staffing: Develop staffing plans for varying levels of customers and revenue.
   3. Insurance: Check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage and options.
2. For your customers: Make your place of business as hygienic as possible and communicate what you are doing to customers so they feel comfortable visiting.
3. For your employees: Check, modify and communicate HR policies regarding remote working, sick-leave and compensation during health crisis. Try to ensure your policies are as flexible and non-punitive as possible. Sick employees should be encouraged to stay home.
4. For your workflow: Cross-train employees for key functions so that daily schedules can continue relatively uninterrupted by potential employee absences. Where relevant, consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming together at the same time; and create and test remote employee collaboration systems (consider apps such as Slack and Zoom).
5. For your cashflow: Communicate with your landlord (or tenants) and lenders about expectations and request flexibility (better to have that conversation now).
6. For yourself: Eat well, sleep and exercise. Taking care of yourself in this time of stress will improve your resistance to infection and resilience in managing difficult business situations. And of course, wash your hands and don’t touch your face, or anyone else, for that matter.
7. For the Partnership: For us to best serve you, we need to know and share what our members are doing to manage risks. To that end, please tell us what what’s working and what you need from us!

We’d like to keep an open communication with our members. How is your business preparing for the containment efforts? How is your business affected by these changes? What additional do you need from the Partnership?

Please contact the Morgantown Area Partnership at info@morgantownpartnership.com with what your efforts and actions are, and what we can do to assist you further.

The Morgantown Area Partnership office will remain operational in order to continue to serve our members. Please stay alert for updates on events, news and resources to help your business weather this trying time.

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Contact:
Russell Rogerson
President & CEO, Morgantown Area Partnership
Phone: 304-292-3311 ext. 1010
Email: russ@morgantownpartnership.com

The post Preparing & Responding to COVID-19 While Continuing to Support Our Local Business appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

• Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce
• Monongalia County Development Authority
• Morgantown Area Economic Partnership
• Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation

“The Partnership board is made up of 36 diverse members,” says Sarah Woodrum, Chair of the Morgantown Area Partnership Board. “It’s a unique blend of public and private partners including those from the four legacy organizations and local government bodies.” She adds, “This robust and diverse team will bring forth innovative and holistic strategies for the Partnership to lead economic growth for the Morgantown MSA businesses and the entire community.”

The Morgantown Area Partnership will reveal its new logo on Thursday, January 23rd at their Annual Dinner held at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.

To further the new brand’s presence, the Partnership is calling all area businesses to showcase their organization at Monongalia and Preston County Day at the Legislature at the Capitol in Charleston on Wednesday, January 29th.

“It’s a chance to showcase how Monongalia and Preston Counties are prospering within the state. We want businesses and organizations of all sizes and industries to attend for the chance to be recognized, regardless of membership,” states Russell Rogerson, President and CEO.

For more information on how to register to attend the Day at the Legislature, visit the events calendar at www.morgantownpartnership.com or contact the Morgantown Area Partnership at 304-292-3311.

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About the Morgantown Area Partnership:
The Morgantown Area Partnership is a business organization that is focused on wealth growth for all entities in Monongalia County, WV. It is a newly formed public/private alliance for the betterment of economic, business, and community development in the area. The Partnership encompasses four entities including the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Monongalia County Development Authority, the Morgantown Area Economic Partnership, and the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation (Sunnyside Up). The Partnership takes a holistic approach to economic growth and focuses on creative, strategic solutions to our growing community.

Contact:
Russell Rogerson
President & CEO, Morgantown Area Partnership
Phone: 304-292-3311 ext. 1010
Email: russ@morgantownpartnership.com

The post The Partnership Launches New Brand Showing Strength of One Voice appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

Since its creation, the Annexation Task Force directed Partnership staff to gather information on the proposed annexation that would include but not limited to:

• annexation laws in WV;
• potential financial impacts to the City, as well as those who are included in the proposed annexation;
• potential benefits or negatives for businesses inside the proposed annexation area and for the City;
• identify what other groups are presenting on this issue (both for and against); and
• identify potential alternatives to the proposed annexation.

The collection of this information involves different methods, such as direct meetings with the City and opposition groups, materials published by others, legal research, gathering of reports, and pure data collection. These efforts are ongoing. Informally, Task Force Members represent a diverse group of private sector individuals who have discussed this issue with many others in the community.

This subject has generated strong negative reaction from many businesses and individuals inside the proposed annexation area. Therefore, it is important that the Task Force take its time to review the information being gathered and produce a report that presents its findings in context and in agreement with the Partnership Board.

The need for a visioning process for the City and the entire County is apparent. The Partnership is about collaboration and innovation, and our value proposition includes the endeavor to gain consensus on where we want to go as a community.

The Task Force does not have a specific deadline for completion of its task but will continue to work diligently on the issue and keep you informed with updates.

The following Partnership Board members have been appointed to serve on the Annexation Task Force:

• Damian Ferek
• Pat Martin
• Kimberly Moyers
• Mark J. Nesselroad
• Edward Phillips
• Craig Walker
• Tom Witt
• Sarah Woodrum
• Russell Rogerson – Partnership Staff

About the Morgantown Area Partnership:
The Morgantown Area Partnership is a business organization that is focused on wealth growth for all entities in Monongalia County, WV. It is a newly formed public/private alliance for the betterment of economic, business, and community development in the area. The Partnership encompasses four entities including the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Monongalia County Development Authority, the Morgantown Area Economic Partnership, and the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation (Sunnyside Up). The Partnership takes a holistic approach to economic growth and focuses on creative, strategic solutions to our growing community.

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Media Contact:
Russell Rogerson, President & CEO
Morgantown Area Partnership
Phone – 304.292.3311
Email – russ@morgantownchamber.org

The post Morgantown Area Partnership Annexation Task Force Update appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

“As a public/private organization that is focused on innovative and strategic approaches to growing the community at large, we are compelled to take a strategic look at annexation to ensure that our community can grow cohesively, cooperatively and for the betterment of all,” said Kimberly Moyers, Chair of the Partnership.

The Partnership Board has received information regarding the City of Morgantown’s annexation proposal from both the City and an opposition group – Forced Annexation Isn’t Right Inc (F.A.I.R.). “Annexation involves significant consequences for both the public and private sectors and stakeholders of multiple types and sizes, many of which are Partnership members/constituents,” Moyers added. “For the Partnership to successfully tackle its strategic initiatives, our resources should pursue comprehensive strategies for the betterment of economic, business, and community development in the greater Morgantown area.”

The Partnership Board is engaged and will be in direct communications with its membership of more than 450 businesses on the facts about the proposed annexation. It will also engage its public partners that have proposed annexation, to promote transparency of the process to its impacted members and, in turn, the Partnership will communicate information as it is available. The Partnership will work with all parties collaboratively to look at alternative and innovative solutions for the betterment of the Morgantown MSA as a great place to live, work, and play.

The following Partnership Board members have been appointed to serve on the Annexation Task Force:

• Damian Ferek
• Pat Martin
• Kimberly Moyers
• Mark J. Nesselroad
• Edward Phillips
• Craig Walker
• Tom Witt
• Sarah Woodrum
• Russell Rogerson – Partnership Staff

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About the Morgantown Area Partnership:
The Morgantown Area Partnership is a business organization that is focused on wealth growth for all entities in Monongalia County, WV. It is a newly formed public/private alliance for the betterment of economic, business, and community development in the area. The Partnership encompasses four entities including the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Monongalia County Development Authority, the Morgantown Area Economic Partnership, and the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corporation (Sunnyside Up). The Partnership takes a holistic approach to economic growth and focuses on creative, strategic solutions to our growing community.

For more information, please contact:
Russell Rogerson, President & CEO
Morgantown Area Partnership
Phone – 304.292.3311
Email

The post Morgantown Area Partnership Creates Annexation Task Force appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.

The Partnership is a new alliance entity in the Greater Morgantown community that combines four local organizations including the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce, Monongalia County Development Authority, Campus Neighborhood Revitalization Corp. (Sunnyside Up) and Morgantown Area Economic Partnership. At the start of the New Year, the Board of Directors worked directly with recruiting firm Jorgenson Consulting in a national search for an experienced leader.

While all of the professionals who applied for the position were terrific candidates, Rogerson proved to be best person for the job.

“It’s an honor to be selected as the first President and CEO of the Partnership,” said newly hired President and CEO, Russell Rogerson. “The community’s public and private leadership has done a great job creating structure, strategy and implementation plan, and I look forward to utilizing my diverse professional experience to help move the team forward to achieve the Partnership’s goals.”

Rogerson, a born West Virginian, previously served as the President and CEO for Iredell County Economic Development Authority in North Carolina where he announced 30 projects that invested more than $227,000,000 into the community and provided more than 1,500 jobs. Rogerson’s successful, 18-year career of leading a variety of economic development organizations in North Carolina ultimately impacted the board of director’s hiring decision.

“As our new President and CEO, Russell brings a depth of economic development experience and a familiarity of having prior success in aligning organizations similar to those that now make up the Partnership,” said Board of Directors Chair, Kimberly Moyers. “We look forward to the momentum that he will instill as he leads our alliance for the betterment of economic, business, and community development in the Greater Morgantown area.”

With the Partnership’s new leadership, the entity can continue its planning process and begin positively impacting the community by bettering Greater Morgantown’s overall development.

For more information, please contact 304-276-8046.

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About: The Morgantown Area Partnership is a coordinated alliance for the betterment of economic, business, and community development in the Morgantown Area. The Partnership better positions the Morgantown area to pursue holistic strategies for numerous comprehensive strategic initiatives, under a unified vision and strategy. The Morgantown Area is defined as inclusive of Monongalia County, which is part of the Morgantown MSA.

For more information, please contact:
Terri Cutright, Chief Operating Officer
territrc@gmail.com
304.276.8046

The post Morgantown Area Partnership hires new President and CEO appeared first on Morgantown Area Partnership.