Statistical area merger ahead? Idea to combine federally designated regions worth exploring to spur real bragging rights

It would be utter exaggeration to draw parallels to our circumstances and those in “The Grapes of Wrath.”
But John Steinbeck’s remark about bragging is as befitting today as then: “Perhaps the less we have, the more we are required to brag.”
Certain politicians and industry leaders of late often brag about our state’s “economic recovery.” How well we’re doing now. But if we’re doing so well, why are we still the poorest state? And let’s face it, we’re running out of taxes to cut or phase out to spark growth and development.
However, recently we reported on a commercial real estate firm associate’s idea that might do more for growth and development than any tax initiative ever did.
When corporate real estate departments do their research for a new location, their go-to source is the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Though the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which creates these areas, stresses that these designations are purely for statistical reasons, economic development officials see dollar signs in those statistics.
An MSA is a geographic region with a relatively high population center at its core and close social and economic links across an area.
In June 2003, the Morgantown area was designated an MSA that consisted of Monongalia and Preston counties. It’s safe to say that conception opened a lot of doors since.
Not only did it clear the way for the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization, which works hand-in-hand with highway officials, but helped secure housing and recreation grant money.
Currently, the Morgantown MSA is combined with the Fairmont Micropolitan Statistical Area to form the Morgantown-Fairmont Combined Statistical Area (CSA).
In addition to the Morgantown MSA’s two counties, that CSA comprises Fairmont and the rest of Marion County.
This may look like alphabet soup. But the primary distinction between these designations is the level of social and economic ties. There’s also a Clarksburg Micropolitan Statistical Area, which represents Doddridge, Harrison and Taylor counties.
The real estate associate’s idea is to merge these statistical areas for one greater north-central West Virginia statistical area, reflecting a population of more than 300,000.
That would certainly get the attention of corporate researchers and it may take a lot to convince the OMB that social and economic ties across this region are high.
Obviously, getting county and municipal leaders all on the same page to propose this designation to the OMB might take work. But the framework probably already exists to initiate this in this area’s North Central Road Caucus.
No, such a region-wide MSA designation will not turn us into the promised land.
But it might give us something that could give us something to brag about.