BECKLEY, W.Va. — The head of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority has resigned.
The NRGRDA Board of Directors announced Thursday in a release that executive director Jina Belcher was stepping away from the role. Belcher had served as executive director for over five years.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve Southern West Virginia in this role,” Belcher said. “I am incredibly proud of what we have built together; from supporting entrepreneurs through WV Hive to advancing transformative projects across the region.”
“As the organization continues to evolve alongside changing opportunities and priorities, I feel this is the right time for me to transition to more strongly align with my purpose and passion for impact,” Belcher added. “I step away knowing the NRGRDA will remain an economic development leader in West Virginia.”
The authority’s board chair Allison Rae Taylor thanked Belcher for her service.
“Since her transition to the role of Executive Director in December of 2020, Jina has been instrumental in bringing countless businesses and jobs to the four New River Gorge counties she served,” Taylor said. “Jina’s expertise and dedication to the NRGRDA’s mission is unparalleled and we are grateful for her service to our communities.”
Amy Showalter was appointed by the board to serve as acting executive director. The authority said Showalter will assist in the transition process over the next couple of months.
“The NRGRDA remains committed to its mission of driving economic growth, supporting entrepreneurs, and advancing opportunities that benefit the communities of the New River Gorge region,” the board’s release said.
Showalter had been serving as Community Asset Assistance Department Lead for the authority. She owns master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning, along with Public Administration, both from Virginia Tech.