News

Investing for the Long Haul

Investing for the Long Haul

Mar. 11, 2024

 

Last week, CMI2 finalized the acquisition of more than 200 acres in the Lizemores, WV, area for the permanent location of our Adaptive Experimentation Facility (AEF). The property, including a former apple orchard and processing plant facility, was purchased from Betty and Frank Murphy, of Clay, WV. 

 

Group photo
CMI2 Vice President Walter Hatfield and AEF Operations Manager Adam Landers stand with Frank and Betty Murphy, who sold CMI2 the 200 acres in Lizemores to be used for the new AEF site location. (Photo: Civil-Military Innovation Institute – Alyssa Gregg)

 

As soon as the deeds were signed and recorded, our team got to work on the building along Route 16, which will be the future home of our AEF Base Camp. 

 

CMI2 will repurpose and refurbish the existing structure, which will eventually house equipment, offices, and vehicles. In the coming weeks, the team will remove interior walls, replace the roof on the main building, and improve the infrastructure of the adjacent car wash. 

 

Collage of images of a building under construction.
The CMI2 team began repurposing and refurbishing tasks on the structures along Route 16, which were included in the new property acquisition. The team will remove interior walls, replace the roof on the main building, and improve the infrastructure of the adjacent car wash. (Photo: Civil-Military Innovation Institute – Alyssa Gregg)

 

The move to the Lizemores location comes as CMI2 confirms our commitment to building a premier training and experimentation destination in Clay County, WV. Interest from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), other Federal agencies, state agencies, and commercial customers has necessitated a move to a site with access to additional lands for experimentation and training and easier access. 

 

The Lizemores location will be developed within the context of the existing natural landscape. We were fortunate to find such an excellent location for our permanent facilities, which we will use for training and experimentation opportunities for our nation’s military and first responders.

 

In conjunction with these repurposing activities in Lizemores, our team will work to decommission the existing temporary location in the Fola-Bickmore area by July 2024.

 

As the investment in Clay County grows, so does the CMI2 commitment to developing the economy throughout the area. From local vendors to staffing, we remain steadfast in our commitment to enable economic development throughout Clay County.

We continue to be grateful for the support and partnerships from the people of Lizemores and throughout Clay County. As our investment in Clay County grows, so does our commitment to developing the economy throughout the area. 

 

Individuals in goggles and masks pose for a photo
CMI2 Site Specialists Landon Williams and Ethan Nottingham pause to take a quick photo break as they work on building clean-up at the new Lizemores location. (Photo: Civil-Military Innovation Institute – Alyssa Gregg)

 

To learn more about CMI2 in Clay County, follow our blog.

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