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State, local leaders dedicate new state office building in Fairmont

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — State and local leaders gathered in Marion County on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of a new state office building.

“One of our primary responsibilities as a state is to offer services to the people and make it convenient for them,” Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said. “It’s been since 2009 that our offices have been scattered all around and this finally brings the state office complex together here in downtown Fairmont.”

Some of the agencies that occupy the 70,800 square feet of the building completed in June include the satellite office for the Secretary of State, WorkForce West Virginia, the Department of Health and Human Resources, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, the General Services Division and Offices of the Insurance Commissioner.

Some of these agencies were housed together in one building previously, but the building was condemend due to structural issues. For this reason, it was important to the state Department of Administration to build a similar complex in Fairmont.

“Because that building was condemned, we wanted to make sure those services were provided in a new, modern facility,” Gov. Tomblin said. “That’s the reason we decided to build it here in Marion County, for the citizens not only of Marion County but the surrounding counties that want to use the services.”

While he is pleased they were able to provide Secretary of State Natalie Tennant an office in her home county that will be able to serve the people of North Central West Virginia, he said he expects the DHHR to be the most frequently visited office.

“Obviously that department handles hundreds of different programs and people will have access to those people representing all those programs here in one spot.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday marked the end of the $17.9 million project, one which has received a Leed Gold certification for energy efficiency and cost savings.

Gov. Tomblin was glad to be able to see it through from beginning to end.

“The planning was going on when I became governor in 2010,” Tomblin said. “We were able to shortly thereafter award the contract and today to be here to cut the ribbon is just a tremendous accomplishment for everyone working together on the city, county and state level.”





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