Project now trails the others

THE Wheeling Outlets was the first project approved by the WestVirginia Economic Development Grant Committee. But Kanawha CircuitJudge Charlie King tossed out the project's $70 million grant inJanuary and said the outlets would have to go back through thecommittee's process.

So the Wheeling Outlets is back to zero funding. It may be one ofthe last projects considered if the committee itself withstands alawsuit now before the state Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bob Wise and the West Virginia Development Officewant the grant committee to allocate a total of $34 million toattract newcomer Cabela's, a retailer of outdoors equipment, to OhioCounty.

It reminds me of Matthew 20:16, which says, "So the last shall befirst, and the first last."

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Toyota on Friday announced plans to build a die-casting plant tomake aluminum engine blocks in Jackson, Tenn. The plant is expectedto begin operations in 2005 and will eventually employ 200 people.Toyota will invest $124 million.

David Satterfield, executive director of the West VirginiaDevelopment Office, was asked if West Virginia was ever in therunning for the plant. "Not that I am aware of," he said.

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Nobody has officially said why Luigino's, a maker of frozendinners, decided last month - after two ground-breaking ceremonies -that it will not locate a $36 million plant at Mineralwells. Theplant was expected to employ 600 people.

On Monday I asked Satterfield why Luigino's pulled out and whetherthere are any lessons to be learned. His reply:

"Right now we're still talking with Wood County as well as thecompany, still trying to do everything we can to keep thatopportunity in West Virginia, although they have decided they willnot go to the site previously agreed upon."

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The $3.6 billion estimate of what the Workers' Compensation Fundwill pay out in claims for work-related injuries and illnesses thathave already occurred includes claims already awarded, claims stillpending and claims not yet filed.

Ernst & Young actuary Art Cohen and Workers' Comp division ChiefFinancial Officer Melinda Kiss illustrated the difficulty ofestimating the "not yet filed" category to Daily Mail reporter BrianBowling.

The widow of an 80-something man filed for death benefits. The manwas diagnosed about 30 years ago with lung disease, and his death wasapparently due to complications from that lung disease. So the statefaces paying the widow survivor benefits for the rest of her life.

The widow is a teenager.