Charleston, West Virginia

Vision 2030 Strategic Advisement

In 2003, three primary economic development organizations coexisted in West Virginia’s Capital Region: the Business and Industrial Development Corporation (BIDCO), Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber), and Charleston Renaissance Corporation (Renaissance). BIDCO was primarily responsible for marketing, development, and running the local incubator. The Chamber acted as a convener and also focused on small business assistance. Renaissance was charged with downtown revitalization efforts.

Local business leaders were concerned that the current community and economic development structure was not working at an optimum level. Regional leaders contracted with Market Street to take an objective, outsider look at the existing structure and to present ways in which it could be improved. Market Street’s work included three primary components:

Review of Existing Economic Development Organizations. Through interviews with staff, board members, and other community leaders, as well as additional research, Market Street conducted an analysis of the three economic development organizations. Market Street reviewed the mission, history, program of work, funding, and structure of each organization. In addition Market Street determined what performance measures, if any, these organizations were using and assessed their appropriateness. Some of the issues that Market Street identified dealt with aging leadership, cooperation, and limited financial resources.

Analysis of Comparison Economic Development Organizations. Market Street presented three best practices for economic development organizational structure and programs. Additional comparison communities included two regions of similar size to Charleston. The purpose was to provide the Capital Region with a solid view of successful programs from across the nation.

Following a review of three best practice economic development organizations, Market Street presented a Final Report that included a summary of information and key issues an outline an option for an alternative structure. The Steering Committee agreed to create a 501(c)3 organization called the Charleston Area Alliance, into which the Chamber, BIDCO, and Renaissance organizations were combined, leveraging Market Street's advisement regarding implementation of the organizational structure. Since its creation in August 2004, the Charleston Area Alliance has improved communication across its programs and with the community, started the Leadership Kanawha Valley program, and has an active Young Professionals program. It also worked with state officials to bring a number of foreign companies to the area.

In 2011, Market Street once again partnered with the Charleston Area Alliance, as they embarked on Vision 2030, the region’s 20-year economic development vision. Market Street facilitated stakeholder input through one-on-one meetings with top leaders and key partners in the Charleston region. Market Street also provided assistance during the process of crafting the Vision 2030 Roadmap, reviewing drafts and offering feedback based on experience in other best practice communities and knowledge of the Charleston region.