HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Longtime supporter of Marshall University, the Dutch Miller Auto Group, has pledged one of its largest gifts to the institution yet.
On Thursday, the Marshall University Foundation announced that the Dutch Miller Auto Group pledged a gift of $1 million in support of the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation at Marshall.
According to Marshall, the new facility for the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business is slated to be built in the 1400 block of 4th Avenue on a plot of land that formerly housed the Flats on 4th apartment complex.
The building will provide for conference facilities capable of hosting both small and large business gatherings. Additionally, the building will serve as the hub for student-centric activities, providing students not only with instructional facilities but also facilities encouraging interaction and collaboration, a release stated.
“We couldn’t be more excited about what this incredible business school is going to mean for the region, for the city of Huntington and for Marshall,” said Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation in a release.
“And it is only possible through the generous support of individuals like Chris Miller and his family. We are proud to team with great partners like the Dutch Miller Automotive Group and others in bringing the very best educational opportunities to the students at Marshall University.”
.@MarshallUGive is happy to announce that Dutch Miller Auto Group has pledged a gift of $1 million in support of the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation at Marshall @marshallu @herdbusiness @MarshalluPres https://t.co/S4FLOp7YXt
— Marshall University Foundation, Inc. (@MarshallUGive) April 21, 2022
The forum part of the building will be named after Dutch Miller Auto Group, Area told MetroNews.
The building is scheduled to open in January of 2024 at the 4th Avenue area location which is expected to be overhauled. Area told MetroNews that 4th Avenue close to campus will be rebranded as Innovation District.
“That 4th Avenue is going to be called the Innovation District. We are looking at retail, professional housing. Fairmont Properties is geared toward making it a beautiful gateway,” Area said.
The Marshall Foundation stated that through a gift from current Marshall President Brad Smith and his wife Alys, the new facility became a reality.
Chris Miller, co-owner of the Dutch Miller Auto Group and member of the Marshall University Board of Governors said in a statement, “I cannot imagine anything more important to the overall success of the economic development of the city of Huntington and the region than doing our part to help fund a business school that will revolutionize and transform the way we do business in the 21st and 22nd centuries.”
“As Marshall goes, so goes Huntington. The correlation and connection between adding thousands of students to the city and what those students will do for Huntington and the region as far as economic development is substantial.”
Dutch Miller Auto was founded by H.D. “Dutch” Miller in 1961 with the opening of Dutch Miller Chevrolet in Huntington. Now owned and operated by Miller’s son, Matt, and two grandsons, Chris and Sam Miller, the business has grown to include Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Hyundai and Kia models.