One of the most exciting things currently happening in Calhoun County is the work being done through the partnerships of FENIX InC (Facilitating Investing & Economic Expansion in Calhoun County). The very active group of business and government leaders in Calhoun County have set their sights on opening the doors of Calhoun County wide with opportunity.
Crystal Mersh, who formed the West Virginia–based American Medicines Company, is focused on bringing generic medicines back to the U.S. for manufacturing. However, in order for this story to end in success, Crystal Mersh and Calhoun County, cannot get it accomplished alone.
Mrs. Mersh spent time last. week in Washington, DC in meetings with four Senators and two House of Representatives discussing why the American Medicines Company opening a manufacturing facility in Calhoun County, West Virginia is the right decision for the United States of America. In addition the American Medicines Company team spoke with the Executive in Trade and Manufacturing who works directly with President Donald Trump.
Mrs. Mersh said during the FINEX InC meeting that it is obvious there are two classes of medications at play for American dollars. The high dollar medications of the wealthy, which are currently making their way back into American manufacturing facilities; and the low dollar generic medicines that millions of Americans, of all incomesrely on for lifesaving treatments every day. Currently 125 million Americans take heart medicine and it is all manufactured in India. Even a temporary disruption in their access to these much needed medicines could put them at risk of harm, including death (many of those medications would be gone in United States after 30 days). There are more than 104 active drug shortages in the United States, including common antibiotics like amoxicillin. China is one of the world’s three biggest exporters of the drug, and the US is the largest importer.
But the good news on the literal home front is that Calhoun County, West Virginia could be vital in shoring up the shortages in America, and in the process shoring up the Economy in Calhoun County by providing up to 350 jobs at the manufacturing facility to be located at Annamoriah, WV.
The good news doesn’t stop there; as the construction begins again at the Avalon Campus (formerly Calhoun High School) and Minnie Hamilton Health Systems gets their 11 million dollar upgrade, both of those will serve to draw people to the community for tourism and health needs. The Calhoun County Commission has taken serious action to clean up the county by creating ordinances to eliminate dilapidated dwellings and unlicensed salvage yards that create eye sores in our beautiful rural county. Shelia Burch of the Little Kanawha Area Development Corp. works diligently to help existing businesses and invite new businesses into the our neighborhoods and surrounding counties. For the first time in nearly a century Calhoun County is an exciting place to live!
At the State level Governor Morrisey, Delegate Roger Hanshaw and Congresswoman Carol Miller have taken note of the attention Calhoun is receiving and have assured local leaders that they are on board for helping to make it all happen.
It has yet to be seen what off chutes of industry will occur once things begin to take shape. Everything takes time and everything takes work.
