Mayor David McCauley’s remarks at Citizens Bank of West Virginia Groundbreaking Ceremony

City, County, and Citizens Bank representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony on Main Street in downtown Buckhannon. Photo courtesy of City of Buckhannon Councilman Robbie Skinner.

Mayor David McCauley’s remarks at Citizens Bank of West Virginia Groundbreaking Ceremony – Friday, July 13, 2018

Good morning ladies & gentlemen & welcome to this wonderful event as our friends at Citizens Bank of West Virginia formally break ground on your new facility, expanding your presence in our beautiful downtown. It’s my privilege to bring greetings on behalf of our 86 fulltime, dedicated, municipal employees & our City’s 5,700 residents. Citizens Bank already has established itself as a collaborative group of folks who support our community’s events.

Our Main Street is lined with businesses operated by people who are committed to advancing our City. In a week, the Opera House will open. Recently, Community Care, Orion Strategies, Stone Tower Brews, & Almost Heaven CrossFit celebrated their grand openings. The ground was broken on our Innovation Center just a few weeks ago. The Colonial Theatre restoration is well underway. St. Joseph’s Hospital & WVU Medicine have plans to expand their presence virtually across the street from here. A few blocks out on Route 20, Harbor Freight will open in August. The Figueroa family is opening a new convenience store but four blocks from here. Soon, we’ll break ground on our new arena at Stockert Youth & Community Center, & Trader’s Alley is scheduled for completion in the weeks ahead connecting Main Street with beautiful Jawbone Park in the heart of our arts district. Many upscale apartments are being installed up & down Main Street to entice people to reside in our downtown. Small town America provides many fertile opportunities for business success, & nowhere is that being more validated than right here in Buckhannon. Our friends at Citizens Bank get it, they understand well what is happening here. This is a very sound investment for you & everyone else who will flourish in this downtown.

In 1966, Stephen Stills wrote that terrific rock opus that was performed by Buffalo Springfield, with the first lyrics being, “There’s Something Happening Here- But what it is- ain’t exactly clear.” We embrace that first lyric, that “something’s happening here,” but- we collectively know that what’s happening here is actually VERY clear. The Buckhannon experience is a most positive one, a formula for success for business, for our residents, College students, & visitors. The expanded presence of Citizens Bank here validates that positive experience. We all are so pleased to have you here further contributing to our community’s success & extending our downtown. We all wish you the best of luck in your expanding presence & we appreciate your investment in our downtown. Our City is here to serve you & aid your success! Rock on Citizens Bank & Buckhannon!