$96 million development project includes, new interstate exit, WVU ballpark and 1,400 acres for private development
The Legislature has completed much anticipated legislation that allows Monongalia County to establish a sales tax increment financing (TIF) district for the University Town Centre in Morgantown.
The TIF will freeze the sales tax in the area at their current rate. It then allows the county to use the funds from future economic growth in the district to pay down bond debt incurred to build this initial infrastructure.
This is the final step in a  $96 million development project that will include an exit off Interstate 79 between Westover and Star City, and development of a $16.2 million ballpark for the West Virginia University baseball team. The project is also expected to free up 1,400 acres for development of retail stores , office space and light industrial facilities on each side of the interstate. A New York-Penn League short season A ball team will share the ballpark with WVU along with small colleges from around the area and likely high school teams. Work on the new ballpark is expected to start in 2014.
According to various realty companies, more than 60 percent of the development on each side of the Interstate is already committed. The Morgantown project is expected to create an estimated 1,100 construction jobs and as many as 1,500 Â permanent jobs.
