July 26, 2010
LOOKING BACK: 2001 Economic Development Study on Huntington and Tri State Had Strong Manufacturing Presence
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - In June 2001, a group of economic development agencies and higher educational researchers developed a collective report of Tri State economic conditions. Titled Tri-State Data An Economic Development Resource, Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research “compiled and prepared” the report for Morehead State University’s Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy and for Ohio University’s Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development and Ohio University’s Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurship Institute.
As its objective, the report sought “to improve the economic conditions of the entire area” enabling researchers ( in this case Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO), Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and Ashland Alliance) to “make informed decisions about distribution of limited resources” and influence business climate policies.
WAGES THEN
According to Tri State Data An Economic Development Resource (which began preparation in 2001), Cabell County had about 6,000 people employed in industry earning about $36,000 annually. The service industry had over 17,000 employees with an average wage of $25,000. Those in retail earned about $11,000. The mean average income for management occupations (define in the report as chief executives, general and operations managers, financial managers, and engineering managers) was about $48,000. Surveyors and chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers earned about $43,000.
“The services industry is the largest employer in Cabell County. Of all sectors combined, the number of those employed by some type of service was 36% in 2001. Retail trade and government totaled approximately 21% and 13%, respectively.“
Ironically, the report names leading employers (at that time) in the manufacturing field in Cabell, Wayne, Lawrence and Boyd Counties. Here is a partial listing --- how many do you remember?
ACF
Alcon Surgical
Corbin, Ltd.
Celegene Corp.
Aristech Chemical Corp.
Pilgrim Glass
Liebert Corp.
At that time, Huntington Alloys (Inco Alloys International) employed over 1,000 individuals. AK Steel in Ashland, Ky. had over 1,400 employees. Marathon Ashland Petroleum had 890 employees. At that time, Sears and Lazarus in Cabell County had over 250 employees each.
AN OCCUPATION TAX?
The report identified the Huntington $1.00 a week user fee as a “local occupation tax.”
The report reads, “Cabell County has a local occupation tax on all residents and non-residents that work with the city limits of Huntington. The tax charged is $1.00 per week. This fee is withheld by the employer on behalf of the employee and is in effect until June 30, 2004.”
You can download a copy of that report by clicking HERE.
As for Kentucky --- specifically Boyd, Carter and Greenup Counties. They had a local occupation tax then.
“The tax is paid by the employee and is based upon the individual’s residency status. The tax rate for a city resident is between 0.25% and 2.5%. The tax rate for non-city residents is between 0.5% and 2.5%.
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LOOKING BACK: 2001 Economic Development Study on Huntington and Tri State Had Strong Manufacturing Presence
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - In June 2001, a group of economic development agencies and higher educational researchers developed a collective report of Tri State economic conditions. Titled Tri-State Data An Economic Development Resource, Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research “compiled and prepared” the report for Morehead State University’s Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy and for Ohio University’s Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development and Ohio University’s Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurship Institute.
As its objective, the report sought “to improve the economic conditions of the entire area” enabling researchers ( in this case Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO), Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and Ashland Alliance) to “make informed decisions about distribution of limited resources” and influence business climate policies.
WAGES THEN
According to Tri State Data An Economic Development Resource (which began preparation in 2001), Cabell County had about 6,000 people employed in industry earning about $36,000 annually. The service industry had over 17,000 employees with an average wage of $25,000. Those in retail earned about $11,000. The mean average income for management occupations (define in the report as chief executives, general and operations managers, financial managers, and engineering managers) was about $48,000. Surveyors and chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers earned about $43,000.
“The services industry is the largest employer in Cabell County. Of all sectors combined, the number of those employed by some type of service was 36% in 2001. Retail trade and government totaled approximately 21% and 13%, respectively.“
Ironically, the report names leading employers (at that time) in the manufacturing field in Cabell, Wayne, Lawrence and Boyd Counties. Here is a partial listing --- how many do you remember?
ACF
Alcon Surgical
Corbin, Ltd.
Celegene Corp.
Aristech Chemical Corp.
Pilgrim Glass
Liebert Corp.
At that time, Huntington Alloys (Inco Alloys International) employed over 1,000 individuals. AK Steel in Ashland, Ky. had over 1,400 employees. Marathon Ashland Petroleum had 890 employees. At that time, Sears and Lazarus in Cabell County had over 250 employees each.
AN OCCUPATION TAX?
The report identified the Huntington $1.00 a week user fee as a “local occupation tax.”
The report reads, “Cabell County has a local occupation tax on all residents and non-residents that work with the city limits of Huntington. The tax charged is $1.00 per week. This fee is withheld by the employer on behalf of the employee and is in effect until June 30, 2004.”
You can download a copy of that report by clicking HERE.
As for Kentucky --- specifically Boyd, Carter and Greenup Counties. They had a local occupation tax then.
“The tax is paid by the employee and is based upon the individual’s residency status. The tax rate for a city resident is between 0.25% and 2.5%. The tax rate for non-city residents is between 0.5% and 2.5%.
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