About Us

The Huntington, WV-Ironton, OH Empowerment Zone (EZ)

Our mission – to educate, to employ, to empower

Simply put, this is why we’re here. It’s what we do. It’s our vision. And it’s quickly becoming the reality for the areas we serve.

What is the EZ?

The Huntington, West Virginia-Ironton, Ohio Empowerment Zone, Inc. is a regional (bi-state) economic development initiative for the cities of Huntington and Ironton, Cabell and Lawrence Counties.

The EZ provides the communities we serve with additional tools for economic growth and revitalization. Our vision is to educate, employ and empower families by focusing on new job creation; creating new business and industrial sites; training our workforce; and improving our infrastructure to complement economic development.

To accomplish these goals, we operate based on our regional strategic plan that was developed by broad-based citizen participation. This plan identifies specific objectives and projects to achieve our vision. This plan is also the substance of our zone designation. Our goal is to successfully implement these activities.

How do you become an EZ?

Federal Urban Empowerment Zone Designation
The Huntington, WV-Ironton, OH area received the Federal Urban Empowerment Zone (EZ) designation in January 1999 based upon our competitive application in the following areas:

- Grassroots participation
- A strategic vision for economic change
- Community-based partnerships
- Identified economic opportunities
- Sustainable community development

The 10-year designation we received brings the following economic tools:

- Tax incentives
- Tax-exempt bonds
- Monetary awards

However, this designation itself does not guarantee funds for 10 years. The U.S. Congress must appropriate all funds annually.

The Huntington, WV-Ironton, OH Empowerment Zone is considered a “Round II” Federal Urban award. There are only 15 Urban Round II Zones in the U.S., including cities such as Boston, Columbus, St. Louis and Miami.

Key Accomplishments

2,159 Full-Time Jobs Created or Retained

468 total full-time equivalent jobs created in the zone with EZ financial assistance
  • InfoCision Management Corporation   
20
  
  • Amazon.com Customer Service Center  
302
  
  • American Foundation for the Blind  
5
  
  • IC Logistics 
4
  
  • CapreWest, Inc.    
5
  
  • Close To Home   
10
  
  • Bob Evans Restaurant  
30
  
  • Merle Norman Cosmetics 
2
  
  • Chili Willi’s Mexican Restaurant  
20
  
  • Pizzeria Uno Chicago Grill 
50
  
  • Engines, Inc. 
20
  
     
212 total full time equivalent jobs created in the zone with EZ technical assistance
  • Marshall Hall of Fame Café  
60
  
  • Fifth Third Bank  
55
  
  • The Sterling House Jewelry & Gifts 
1
  
  • James Communication  
1
  
  • Marquee Cinemas 
30
  
  • Empire Books    
20
  
  • Starbucks Coffee
20
  
  • Cold Stone Creamery 
10
  
  • EB Games   
10
  
  • Digital Communications    
5
  
     
1,135 additional jobs created/announced in the region
  • Liebert Corporation 
353
  
  • United Airlines Mileage Plus 
130
  
  • Okuno International     
17
  
  • Peachtree/SNE  
495
  
  • Allevard Springs (Sogefi)    
140
  
 
 
Retention of Jobs
344 total jobs retained in the zone with EZ financial & technical assistance
  • InfoCision Management Corporation
171
  
  • Total Safety   
19
  
  • M & M Services dba Mid Valley Supply 
16
  
  • RDI Construction  
4
  
  • BASF  
134
  
     
Creation of New Structures
Huntington Industrial Center
  • A new 42,500 square foot shell building constructed and leased to CapreWest, a Spanish company manufacturing automotive suspension components
Commercial Food Facility
  • A new 14,000 square foot USDA & FDA certified kitchen facility under construction
Commerce Park
    • A new 32,00 square foot “flex” building for office, warehouse and industrial uses under construction
     
    Creation of Developable Sites
    • KineticPark, A Huntington Technology Community
      Phase 2 site work (utilities, roadway, landscaping) complete
      1st commercial tenant (Bob Evans Restaurant) opened July 2005
      Mitigation measures 90% complete
      Marketing materials developed
      Environmental permits approved
      Property is owned by the Huntington Municipal Development Authority
      12-acre site for commercial development
      25-acre site designated for businesses specializing in information, medical and identification technology
      Access bridge completed
      Velocity Center, technology incubator, schematic design completed
     
    The Point, Southern Ohio’s Premier Commercial Park
    • A 42,000 square foot shell building constructed & occupied by Engines, Inc.
      Water line upgrades complete
      Roadway, utilities (Phase 1) under construction
      Marketing materials developed
      Property is owned by the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation
      Environmental Review Process Phase 1 completed, Phase 2 underway
      Environmental remediation completed
      500-acre site for manufacturing, warehousing & commercial development
      Tenants announced:  

    Superior Marine
    M & M Services dba Mid Valley Supply
    Total Safety
    RDI Construction
    Ohio University Southern Training Center
    Engines, Inc.
      • Engines, Inc. will create 50 new jobs
        Foreign Trade Zone application submitted
        A second shell building under construction
     
    Route 2 HADCO Business Park Property
    • Property owned by the Huntington Area Development Council
      Environmental Review Phase 1 & Phase 2 completed
      State designing entrance road
      72-acre site for business development
     
    Commerce Park
    • 26-acre privately developed site
      70,000 of newly constructed office building occupied by State offices
      Newly constructed access bridge complete
      50 units of new housing complete
      Flex space under construction
     
    Financing Incentives
    Zone Loan

    Creation of a loan program providing financing to businesses within the zone
    Closed on four loans in excess of half a million dollars
    Adena Ventures

    Venture capital funding serving a geographic area in which our zone is a part
     
    Infrastructure & Downtown Improvements
          • Ironton downtown Phase I street paving (9 streets) and sidewalk improvements (1,900
                   lineal feet) completed.  Phase 2 under construction
            Ironton Center Street Flood Gate Improvement – construction completed
    • The Depot
        •        Roof restoration of an historic structure in Ironton’s Commercial District
      • Huntington street paving (10 streets) and storm drainage improvements (5th Avenue)        completed
        Frederick Douglass Business Centre renovations complete with expanded medical        services available
        Pullman Square Tenants include:
               Empire Books & News
               Cold Stone Creamery
               Pizzeria Uno Chicago Grill          
               Digital Communication
               Merle Norman Cosmetics   
               Marquee Cinemas
               Max & Erma’s Restaurant   
               Starbucks
               Environmental approvals obtained
               Public & private developers in place
               2 parking garages completed
        3rd Avenue Improvements from 13th to 12th Streets complete
        Ironton Building Exterior Improvement Program underway
        Huntington Downtown TIF District Approved
          •        First project to reopen 9th Street to two-way traffic and continue improvements        along 3rd Avenue underway
     
    Creation of New Housing – 393 Units
    • 50 units in the newly renovated Park Avenue Apartments
    • 37 units in the newly renovated Simms School Apartments
    • 224 units in the newly constructed University Courtyard
    • 31 units newly constructed in Ironton Empowerment Zone (Roosevelt Building and South 9th and 10th Street area)
    • 12-bed unit Mended Reeds in an historically renovated building
    • 50 units at Commerce Park
     
      Youth Services
    • Marshall University Child Development Academy constructed serving children 3 months to 5 years and licensed to serve 110 children annually
    • 423 zone families served by Team for WV Children and linked to needed services
    • 400 zone youth served at Huntington High and Cammack Middle Schools with Prestera Behavioral Health Specialists reducing violence and substance abuse and promoting higher levels of academic success
    • Virtual Job website developed at www.huntingtonchamber.org
    • Building Blocks sculpture constructed by 11 teenage youth
    • Ironton Service Scholarship at Ohio University Southern established for Ironton zone residents – 4 students have benefited

     
      Workforce Development Training
      • 205 zone residents trained by Coalition for the Homeless
      • 107 zone residents trained by Tri-State Literacy Council
      • 43 zone families trained by Operation Be Proud
      • 141 zone youth trained by Youth Empowerment Program
      • BizAssist entrepreneur training by Unlimited Future, Inc.
     
    Financial Update – As of June 30, 2005
    • Funds received    $24,953,967
    • Expended as of 3/01/05   $17,500,000
    • Matching Funds    $111,800,000