Published: October 13, 2008 11:36 pm            

Louisa: the fastest growing community on the Big Sandy

LOUISA — This story is the first of a two-part series.

The list of businesses that have opened shop, or are looking for places to build in or near Louisa, has earned the small city the unofficial title of “fastest growing community along the Big Sandy River.”

In the years since U.S. 23 routed traffic away from downtown Louisa, the small city between Paintsville and Ashland has concentrated efforts and funding to build an industrial park, water tanks, a water treatment facility and upgrades to the sewage treatment plant to achieve its goal of attracting new businesses to Lawrence County.

”In my six years as mayor, and in my whole life, I’ve never seen so much be built or planned here,” said Louisa Mayor Teddy Preston. “I am really excited about the growth in Louisa and around Louisa.”

The list of businesses that are now open, or building new shops, in Louisa is impressive. In addition to a new Wal-Mart, the mayor cited the opening of a new Arby’s restaurant, a Tractor Supply shop soon to be opened along U.S. 23, Inez Deposit Bank, The Community Bank, foundation being built for an Auto Zone and a Peebles Department store set to open Oct. 23 in the former Pamida building.

Final negotiations are also being made for a new Hibbett Sporting Goods, a Dairy Queen and a Bob Evans restaurant in addition to the 49-unit Bay Pointe Apartments set for a grand opening later this month, Preston said.

In spite of predictions that Wal-Mart would be the end of many long established downtown businesses, the mayor said the city is instead thriving.

“I’ve talked to the people at the dollar stores and grocery stores and everywhere else. They said there was an adjustment period, but Wal-Mart didn’t hurt them a bit,” Preston said, theorizing the super center on the main highway around Louisa actually served to keep Lawrence County dollars in Lawrence County and made the city a destination for people from Martin County, Blaine and other communities “who used to go to Paintsville or Ashland” to do their shopping.

“This place is just booming and I’m just enthused,” said Preston, who has made it his business to personally meet and guide anyone interested in bringing a new business to Louisa.

Preston said his next project is to lure a good steakhouse to Louisa, although he is looking for a restaurant that won’t insist on selling alcohol.

“I know there are places that would come here if we had the moist law, but that hasn’t been discussed or proposed by anyone,” he said.

The mayor said a cooperative effort between city and county officials has been crucial in the bid to bring new business to town. A new water plant is capable of serving the area’s business needs, Preston said, and federal funding is now being used to upgrade the city’s sewage treatment plant.

The mayor said a new sewer line is being installed from the Food City grocery store to U.S. 23, and funding sources are being explored to develop another sewer line from Hardee’s to the Five Forks Hill area, which would eliminate “straight pipe” sewer lines there and allow further development of new housing in that community.

A recently installed water tank atop Fuller Ridge also gives the county capacity to provide high pressure water service “almost all the way to Boyd County if we need it,” the mayor said.

Tim Robinson, who recently reopened the city’s historic Garden Theatre, said much of the effort to breathe new life into downtown Louisa is faith based investment.

“A lot of this revitalization is happening because of faith-based renewal,” Robinson said, pointing out a new Christian book store, On Eagle’s Wings, next door to the old theater. The theater, which had to be closed this summer after suffering water damage from an outside source, is being renovated for use as a Christian center with plans for contemporary Christian concerts each Friday evening.

“You could say I am an evangelical entrepreneur,” said Robinson, who also purchased the city’s only radio station, WZAQ 92.3 FM, which will specialize in a contemporary Christian message and music as of Nov. 1.

Robinson said he has strong motivation to help people after struggling with his own difficulties in life.

“My mom passed away when I was in my early 20s and I became an alcoholic,” said Robinson, who serves as Lawrence County’s assistant attorney. “I spent seven years as a functional alcoholic with no fulfillment, no peace and no happiness in my life. In December 2006 I experienced a powerful Christian conversion and my ambitions changed.”

Robinson said he will leave his legal career behind at the end of the month to begin evangelical efforts along with others who share the dream of leading Louisa’s residents and visitors toward a more fulfilling way of life.

“We’re not interested in unity of doctrine, we’re interested in unity of purpose. We want to show people Christ can change lives,” he said.

As a prosecuting attorney, Robinson said he became convinced alcohol is not the greatest threat to the community.

“Our community’s biggest problem is prescription drugs,” he said with absolute conviction. “Prescription drug problems cause the overwhelming majority of our court dockets, broken homes, child abuse, spouse abuse, unemployment issues and people avoiding civic responsibilities.

“When people reconnect with Christ it causes societal transformation,” he said, explaining his belief that a faith-based city can attract economic prosperity. “That’s what changes a community — when people start investing in each other.”

From a business standpoint, Robinson said Louisa is within a 45 minute drive of an estimated half-million people, and downtown Louisa is the only conduit for residents of West Virginia communities along U.S. 52, including Tolsia, Wayne and other places whose residents are now coming to Louisa to shop at Wal-Mart.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.

        

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