It’s taking a while, but a bold vision is taking shape in the hills of Gilmer County. John and Charuwan Kasuba selected the location to build a unique airpark community and have persistently been working towards the project despite some frustrating delays in building the infrastructure required. The project is outlined in the latest State Journal.

The development will include an industrial airpark, a housing development and an airport with a runway of more than 5,000 feet. In a bit of unique twist in West Virginia, little or no public funds (save for building an adequate bridge to the property) have been used. “We’ve dumped a lot of money into this,” Kasuba said. “It’s all privately funded. It’s a huge project.” 

The project is illustrative of the elements of building a creative community, encompassing the pillars of

• Technology – Those who work in the high-tech aviation zone will design and build experimental civilian aircraft.
• Talent and Education – The aviation technology focus will build demand for high-tech skills, and you can expect that families who move to the area will be looking for enhanced educational opportunities for themselves and their children.
• Quality of Place – A major focus of the project is new housing, sort of a “just add water” community with increased demand for entertainment and cultural options. It’s a unique opportunity for Gilmer County to plan how the historic town of Glenville can connect with this new modern community.
• Tolerance and Diversity – The diverse clientele, which is the focus of the initial effort to recruit residents, will bring an international flavor to the Gilmer County scene, the largest influx of diversity the region has seen since a small blip a decade ago when a Federal prison project launched.

If they build the airpark, will they (new air travel-centric, high-income citizens from around the U.S. and the world) come? Time will tell, but Mr. and Mrs. Kasuba have the experience and expertise to make it happen. And they have the confidence that their Central West Virginia vision will soon take flight.

We love the entrepreneurial spirit and are rooting them on!