Wallace E. Boston, Jr., President of American Public University System

Address to Guests Attending Today’s Groundbreaking Ceremony

Good morning and welcome to the American Public University System’s groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on our Academic Center.  The construction of a new building is particularly important to any community, especially during this time of heightened global economic uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, American Public University System continues to maintain its commitment to bring major economic investment to downtown Charles Town.  In partnership with Noah Mehrkam, a local developer, APUS will break ground on construction of its new multi-million dollar Academic Center.  We have expanded the design of the new facility to a total of nearly 45,000-square feet of state-of-the art educational and office space, which will seek the LEEDS Gold standard in terms of energy and environmentally-friendly design.  When completed, the building will serve as the academic and admissions building for an estimated 140 APUS personnel.  The facility will be located in the heart of the Charles Town/Ranson “Commerce Corridor” – a former Brownfield of abandoned and under-utilized former industrial sites slated for new office and retail development.

The American Public University System is a regionally and nationally accredited higher education institution composed of two fully-online universities: American Military University and American Public University.

Since locating to Charles Town in 2002, APUS has grown into a leader among online post-secondary institutions.  APUS now has more than 53,000 students enrolled in one of our 76 master’s, bachelor’s, and associates degree programs.  Moreover, our West Virginia facilities have grown from 8 employees occupying about 1,200 square feet of space in a single building, to 240 employees occupying 57,100 square feet of space in 12 buildings (prior to the building of the academic center).

From the first day that it moved to West Virginia, APUS has been mindful of the sensitive historical context that downtown Charles Town presents to an expanding business.  We value and appreciate the collegial atmosphere of the small town and have consistently resisted efforts to expand elsewhere.  Similar to the development of some of the early colleges and universities, we have purchased and or leased downtown buildings that were vacant, abandoned, or available and have spent millions of dollars renovating them.

Our more notable building renovation efforts to date have included the former County Office Building at 120 South George Street, the former Jefferson County Hospital and Knott Nursing Home at 111 West Congress Street, the former Acme grocery building and ABC building at 661 South George, the former Avanti Restaurant at 119 East Washington, and the former home of Mayor Thomas Claiborne Green, one of John Brown’s defense attorneys, at 203 South George.  In September, we acquired the Williams House (former home of Dr. Leah Williams) at 115 West Congress and the Washington House Inn at 216 South George Street.  These two properties are undergoing renovations and will be put into service early in 2010.  Upon completion of the Academic Center at 330 North George Street late next year, APUS will have in excess of 100,000 square feet with an aggregate construction value of more than $16.0 million, all within the city limits of Charles Town, WV, the county seat of Jefferson County.

APUS has a local annual payroll of nearly $16.0 million translating into high-quality, professional jobs that make a difference in Charles Town.  Each day, APUS employees, consultants, and visitors spend money in local restaurants and businesses helping downtown Charles Town and Jefferson County establish and sustain new businesses.  APUS supports local and state-wide initiatives through partnerships with organizations across the community such as the Jefferson County Board of Education, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and the Education Alliance to name only a few.  Lastly, its operations contribute significantly to the tax rolls.  APUS is a corporate taxpayer and paid $600,000 in state income taxes last year.  Additionally, its facilities will add approximately $200,000 in annual property tax revenue to the state and county.  In sum, APUS supports the community on many different levels.

As construction commences on the Academic Center, the role APUS plays in downtown Charles Town’s continued growth will become more apparent.  APUS is proud of its role as an economic development catalyst in the community, creating new jobs, and renovating and building new buildings.  Through its continued investment in downtown Charles Town, APUS will:

• Continue to add high-quality, permanent jobs as well as temporary construction jobs;
• Drive downtown foot traffic and generate retail sales;
• Source local goods and services;
• Generate income and property taxes; and
• Stimulate the redevelopment efforts in the “Commerce Corridor”; and
• Be mindful of the historical character and small-town charm of Charles Town.

APUS is pleased to be a partner with the City of Charles Town and the surrounding community in what is turning out to be a shining example of what can happen when private enterprise works hand-in-hand with the local government, community groups, and the business community.

We would specifically like to thank Mayor Peggy Smith and Members of the Charles Town City Council for their continued support, as well as the Jefferson County Commissioners and Governor and Mrs. Joe Manchin for their commitment to assuring that Charles Town remains among the best small towns in America.

Additionally, we thank the representatives of our national leaders who are present today to show their support for our efforts:

• Keith R. McIntosh from Senator Robert Byrd’s Office;
• Penny Porter from Senator John D. Rockerfeller’s Office; and
• Ashley Paxon from Representative Shelly Moore Capito’s Office;

Finally, the success of this project is also attributable to the support of the U.S. EPA.  David Lloyd, the Director of the Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Land Revitalization at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is also here today to help us celebrate

As we kick-off construction of the Academic Center, it is our belief that as American Public University System benefits from its successes, so too will the residents of our community.

I now would like to welcome Mayor Peggy Smith to our ceremony and invite her to say a few words on behalf of the residents of Charles Town.

—————————————————————————-

Thank you Mayor Smith, we appreciate your encouragement and support.    Now, I would like to invite Mary Jo Brown from the Governor’s Office to say a few words on behalf of the State of West Virginia.

—————————————————————————-

Thank you Mary Jo Brown, we appreciate your comments.  Next, I wish to welcome David Lloyd from the U.S. EPA, who would like to say a few words on behalf of the US Government agency that was created to protect human health and safeguard the environment.

—————————————————————————-

Thank you David Lloyd, we hope that the new academic center serves as a catalyst for many more environmentally-friendly revitalization projects in our region and across the Nation.   Now, if everyone would please join me – over to my left – for a groundbreaking photo session.