On Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, Governor Jim Justice, newly elected Senator for the State of West Virginia, and WV Secretary of Tourism, Chelsea Ruby, visited the future site of the Wheeling Gateway Visitors and Heritage Center. During his visit, he presented the Wheeling-Ohio County CVB a check for $4.4 Million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant dollars. This crucial funding will be the final piece needed to transition from demolition to the official start of construction!
This project represents a historic first: the State of West Virginia partnering with a local community to develop an official welcome center. Once completed, the Wheeling Gateway Center will serve as the state’s premier visitor’s center, offering tourists and locals an authentic West Virginia experience while boosting tourism, local business, and economic development.
The Wheeling Gateway Center is a true collaboration between the Wheeling CVB, Wheeling Heritage, City of Wheeling, Ohio County, Regional Economic Development Partnership, and the greater Ohio Valley community members. The community's top experiential priorities were integrated into the project's concept design, which was unveiled in early October. Community-wide support and enthusiasm has been the driving force to bring this project to life.
Governor Justice shared his enthusiasm, stating:
“What an honor to be here today to celebrate another historic investment for Wheeling. This is our first welcome center where we drive people into town, and Wheeling is an incredible place to do so. By revitalizing the old Wheeling Inn, we are blending a piece of our history with the incredible future ahead. The Gateway Center will be a state-of-the-art destination where visitors can get a true West Virginia experience. We’re making massive strides in tourism, moving away from the bottom ranks and becoming a must-visit destination for thousands. Investments like this will ensure our continued growth for years to come. It’s been a real privilege to pull the rope together with all of you.”
The project team is incredibly grateful to Governor Justice, the State of West Virginia, and the WV Department of Tourism for their unwavering support in bringing transformative change to downtown Wheeling.
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