Delegate Will Morefield said accepting change is the only way of seeing an economic revival in Southwest Virginia.
Morefield, who represents the 43rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates, pointed to Bristol’s Hard Rock Casino as an example of cooperative growth.
“$47.32 million has been paid to 14 localities in Southwest Virginia over the past four fiscal years from revenue generated by the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol,” Morefield said in a statement. “Each of those localities can expect to receive $1.1 million in August.
Morefield explained that each of the 14 localities, including Russell County, receive an equal share and the funds must be used for public education, public safety or transportation.
“This type of revenue share agreement with a casino does not exist anywhere else,” he said.
Recently, the newly established PBS Appalachia station began operating on casino property.
“As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee we established the revenue share agreement and helped PBS Appalachia establish themselves as the country’s first and only all digital station,” Morefield said.
He added, “We are making every effort to do our part considering all of the challenges that are out of our control. It is my hope that we can stop being pessimistic at the local level about growing our region and start working together. We must realize that accepting change is our only hope of building a stronger Southwest Virginia.”
