The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority (MCRA) will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the TransGas Development Systems, coal-to-liquids (CTL) facility Monday, May 9 at 11 a.m. More details will follow as the plans are finalized. The ceremony will be conducted on the project site at Gilbert Creek near Wharncliffe.

According to Mike Whitt, director of the MCRA, the project will employ more than 2,000 construction workers during the three to four year development phase, with approximately 300 direct jobs at the facility once construction is complete.

“These will be very skilled, good-paying jobs and this project is projected to triple the tax base of Mingo County,” Whitt said.  “It is exactly what our land use master plan calls for – diversification, good jobs and good taxes. This will be the first one in the nation and to think it is happening in Mingo county is unimaginable. It is a Godsend for a region that needs it. We are so grateful to the owner, Adam Victor, for his commitment to this project, to Mingo County and to our state.”

The Tug Valley Mining Institute’s May meeting is set for May 26, 2011 at the Mountaineer Hotel, Williamson, WV with Guest Speaker Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp.

The 8th Annual Friends of Coal Auto Fair will be held July 15-17 at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley, West Virginia. This fun, family-oriented event will include a car show, carnival rides and games, great food, interactive sponsor displays, special guest appearances, mine safety competitions and more!  Plus, for the first time ever, there will be not one but two nights of live entertainment!

Appearing live Friday, July 15th will be country up and comer Chris Janson; Clarksburg, West Virginia’s The Davisson Brothers Band; southern country rock band The BlackWater Outlaws; and North Central West Virginia’s the George Shingleton Band.  Then on July 16th, enjoy performances by country music superstars Josh Turner and Little Big Town!  Tickets for both shows are on sale now at www.friendsofcoalautofair.com.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (May 2, 2011) – The West Virginia Business & Industry Council (BIC), an organization representing more than 250,000 West Virginia employees across 26 separate industry categories, has endorsed Earl Ray Tomblin for Governor in the Democratic primary, organization officials announced today.

Jan Vineyard, chairman of BIC, said, “Under Earl Ray Tomblin’s leadership both in the State Senate and as Acting Governor, West Virginia has seen steady economic growth, greater transparency in government and decreases in both business and consumers taxes.  While much more work remains to be done, Earl Ray Tomblin is best prepared and best suited to lead us into the future.”