LOGAN, W.Va. — The news that Greenbrier Minerals planned to idle all of it’s operations in the Logan County was tough news to hear for those in the community.
Logan County Commission President Billy Jack Dickerson was waiting on his vehicle to be serviced when he got the news and it came without warning.
“It has happened throughout my lifetime more times than I can count. Generally, you know there are some rumblings about the possibility, but this one just blindsided me personally,” said Dickerson.
The impact will be 530 direct mining jobs, but Dickerson notes it doesn’t stop there. There are a large number of indirect jobs supported by the coal industry and those will also take a severe blow when the salaries stop coming into the community.
The company blamed the shutdowns and layoffs on adverse market conditions.
“The coal business is a mega business, but it’s like any other business if you can’t run your business for profit there’s really no other way to keep doing that, ” he said.
The county’s tax base will naturally take a hit. The Logan County economy is so tied to the coal industry there won’t be any part of the county not affected.
“As a lifelong resident of Logan County, we’ve been here before. We are Logan strong and we take care of each other. While we face this downturn in the coal industry together, I will be praying for economic prosperity and God will provide,” said Logan County Commissioner Diana Barnette.