The Ritchie Gazette, June 25, 2015

First District U.S. Representative David McKinley stopped in Harrisville Monday to speak with community leaders. This is his third or fourth trip to Ritchie County since taking office in 2011. Each time the congressman invites a different cross-section of community leaders from mayors, town council members, small business owners and on Monday, county financial officers from West Union Bank.

Mr. McKinley has been a strong supporter of the coal industry and has strongly disagreed with how the Environmental Protection Agency has been handling regulations to that segment of industry. He feels it is literally killing small town economies by shutting down the coal mining operations because of the stringent regulations.

Ritchie County is not a center for coal mining, but McKinley is certain the oil and gas industry is next on the list for stringent regulations just as we are seeing with coal now.

“It’s only a matter of time,” he told Ritchie Online. “All the signs are there that the ultimate target is all fossil fuels and natural gas is on that list. I’m trying to hold on as long as we can, so other jobs and industries can be developed to backfill - to fill the void that will be created by coal jobs leaving. We need time to find ways to diversify our economy.”

On the topic of jobs, McKinley is known for putting his audience or invited panel on the spot by asking what they see as the problem, then asking “What would you do about it?” He admits there is no right or wrong answer. “If it were easy it would be solved,” McKinley noted, “But I need input. I’m always looking for input and a different perspective.”

He sees the amount of regulations put on people as a hindrance to growth and anyone willing to start, relocate, or expand a business.

To be an entrepreneur is something inherent and not easily taught. Alderson Broaddus College and WVU-P are working on introducing programs to teach about being an entrepreneur which is all well and good in his opinion, but it’s more something inside a person. “This is not book learning. Are people willing to take a risk? That’s something that cannot be taught.”

The congressman is of the mindset from what he has heard around the state and from his own experience as a businessman that it is easier to expand an existing business than attract another one, a new one. “Why not build on what you’ve already got? Why don’t we listen to the needs of the existing businesses and help them connect with the other companies?” questioned Mr. McKinley. “I think by far it would be easier for us in Harrisville if we expanded our existing businesses. Once we get that critical mass of people returning to work in those expanded businesses, then others will follow.”

“But we’ve got to show that we have a workforce,” he continued. “A business adding just one or two employees, how we can help them market their product, working to enhance what we have already are all things that can turn things around.”

He gave the example of West Virginia consuming $8 billion of food in a year, but the state only produces $5 million used here. There are programs and ideas being explored to increase agricultural output, but also marketing it to be used more right here in the state and getting it to the table of West Virginians without buying our supply from other states.

Glenville State College is implementing a new agriculture program with practical lessons and plans on increasing productivity and being more efficient. The whole approach is to keep re-inventing yourself. Times change, needs change, a business or community should be looking at how to benefit from the changes and not be left behind.

“Someone has to catch a vision,” concluded Congressman McKinley. “I don’t know what it would be from the federal level, but it should be the county commission, the communities themselves - someone has got to put a vision together of what they want to do and how they want to do it.”

 McKinley is more than willing to help, but sees the work beginning at the local level and the role of the community to be more involved