Biometric business opportunities spotlighted
By Jim Fisher
FAIRMONT - A trade delegation of 14 representatives from eight high-tech companies around the Capital Beltway got a taste of the biometric-related opportunities available in North Central West Virginia Monday and Tuesday.
After beginning the 2 1/2-day West Virginia Homeland Security Trade Mission in Shephardstown Sunday, the delegation traveled to Summit Point before arriving in Morgantown Monday afternoon. The tour wrapped up Tuesday in Clarksburg and Fairmont.
The overall purpose of the tour was to expose the companies to the business opportunities across the state, according to Mike Kirkpatrick, executive director of the West Virginia Biometrics Initiative.
Kirkpatrick gave a presentation during a luncheon Tuesday sponsored by the High Technology Consortium Foundation and the I-79 Development Council.
"Specifically here, we want to let them know about some of the biometrics initiatives that the I-79 Council sponsors," Kirkpatrick said. "We want to let them know the things that we do here."
Some of the larger companies represented, such as Lockhead Martin and Northrop Grumman, already have somewhat of a presence in North Central West Virginia, Kirkpatrick said, "but they can always have more."
"What we're trying to do is grow biometrics in North Central West Virginia," he said.
Although part of the plan is to entice companies to locate here, another major reason for the tour was to introduce other companies to the caliber of expertise that already exists here, Kirkpatrick said.
"It's extremely important to showcase what we have in West Virginia," said Robert McLaughlin, president of the I-79 Council. "This is one of the sectors we're really trying to develop."
"It's a way to help the economy...and a nice opportunity for us to get out and get involved," he said.
The tour was sponsored by the Discover the REAL West Virginia Foundation, along with U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
Among the local stops were the West Virginia University Research Park site and tours of the facilities at the university, as well as the National Biometric Security Project.
On Tuesday, the delegation visited the Biometric Fusion Center in downtown Clarksburg, Azimuth Inc. in Fairmont and the High Technology Consortium.
"This type of tour really showcased our security capability that the state has, to hopefully build some partnerships, said Sara Dearing, spokeswoman for the foundation. "It's a real opportunity for investment because so many of the firms already work with contractors and subcontractors."
Rockefeller has been instrumental in bringing other trade delegations to the stat for such industries as polymers and wood, but this was the first time such a mission has focused on homeland security and biometrics.
