Beaver Coal Company

Community

As part of the Raleigh County/Beckley area since 1889, Beaver Coal Company, Limited and its predecessors have been able to serve and benefit the community through a variety of charitable donations, creation of employment opportunities, and contribution to community projects. With approximately 50,000 acres of land in Raleigh County, Beaver Coal has always operated under the philosophy of having on-site management; further extending its belief in contributing to the community is part of good business practice.

Some of our contributions are as follows:

Education

Land has been donated to 27 Raleigh County public schools.
Land has been donated for high school athletic facilities.
Financial contributions have been made for graduation projects.
Beaver employees a minimum of two college students every summer to enhance the development of their business education and provide financial assistance.
Scholarships have been provided to Mountain State University.
Beaver granted land use ability for the nature/forestry learning trail for Beckley Stratton Junior High School.
Thirty-three prime acres of real estate along Interstate 64 where donated by Beaver to Forward Southern West Virginia for a Consolidated Higher Education Center which was used as the primary gateway to access federal funding for the center.

Employment

Approximately 90 businesses are located on Beaver property.
In 1992, a sustained yield timber harvest program was initiated to insure that no more timber is harvested than is grown in any single year, requiring at least 20 full-time employees needed on an annual basis.
Beaver continually works with small business owners and entrepreneurs to create new business and industry for Raleigh County.
Over 200 jobs are the direct result of business and industry operating on property affordably leased from Beaver.

Other Community Projects

Fifty prime acres on Gray Flats were donated to the Raleigh County YMCA by Beaver Coal Company, Limited for the most advanced soccer facility in the eastern part of the U.S. Beaver Coal Company's management actively participated in the fund raising process that eventually resulted in the construction of the $4 million sports complex which has now become a regional venue for such activities as soccer tournaments, concerts, car shows and other assorted events.
During the 1990s, 25 prime acres on Gray Flats were donated to Pinecrest Business and Technology Park for the development of future jobs for Raleigh County citizens. This project was completed by working closely with the Four C Economic Development Authority, the Raleigh County Commission, the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, the Joseph Smith Family and local businessmen. The Pinecrest Business and Technology Park was initially started as a €œPublic/Private Partnership € and Beaver Coal Company and the Joseph Smith Family contributed property to fulfill their role as the private partners in the development.
Beaver Coal Company was one of the founding members of The Jobs Foundation of Beckley. This organization was started in 2001 with the mission of championing the development of high paying jobs in Southern West Virginia and in particular the Beckley Area. Beaver Coal Company has been on the Board of Directors of The Jobs Foundation since its inception and has annually contributed financially to the organization.
The Community of Slab Fork is one of the last remaining intact “coal camps” in West Virginia. The community found itself in danger of losing its water system in 1998. Beaver Coal Company funded the renovation of the water system and helped ensure the viability of the coal camp.
Beaver Coal Company partnered with Raleigh County Public Service Department to help extend public water service from Tams Mountain to the community of Hotchkiss.
Beaver Coal Company provides property to numerous church groups and other civic groups at nominal annual rentals.
Beaver Coal Company has worked closely with CDX, Inc. and EOG Resources to develop horizontal coal bed methane drilling as a commercially viable process for the thin coal seams in Raleigh County. This project removes much of the dangerous and explosive methane gas from coal seams prior to mining and provides numerous high-paying jobs. The natural gas production also results in increased severance tax revenue for Raleigh County and the State of West Virginia.

Support & Involvement

All employees of Beaver Coal Company actively participate in at least one community service organization. Beaver Coal Company employees actively participate in the following organizations: The Beckley/Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce Committees of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Executive Committee, the Membership Committee, the Government Affairs Committee, the Retirement Community Committee, the Beckley Half Marathon Committee, The Jobs Foundation of Beckley, the Piney Creek Watershed Association, and The First Tee Foundation of Beckley.
Beaver makes annual contributions to the United Fund, Salvation Army, The Women's Resource Center, The March of Dimes, The American Cancer Society and many other charitable organizations.
Beaver has provided property for the Women's Club of Beckley, The Women's Resource Center, the YMCA Regional Sports Center, the Warren Thornhill III City Park, and other groups and organizations.
Beaver provided property for the excess material created in the dredging of Soak Creek.
Property was given to the City of Beckley for the construction of New River Drive, to the State of West Virginia to widen the road to Pinecrest Technological Park and numerous other roads in Raleigh County free of charge.
New, attractive and peaceful communities and business locations have been developed on Beaver's property in conjunction with several business and residential developers.

Beaver has always been managed locally and has always been responsive to community needs. Beaver Coal Company will continue working diligently to help make Raleigh County a better place to live and work.