County announces June 13 Westinghouse site activation event to promote downtown redevelopment

At the Jan. 29 meeting, an unidentified commissioner announced that the county issued a press release about a Westinghouse site activation event scheduled for June 13.

Officials said the event is intended to signal that the 14-acre downtown-adjacent site is returning to active use. The speaker noted the site once employed about 9,000 people in its heyday and said the county is working with Leadership Unlimited and the Chamber on marketing, sponsorship outreach and programming. The plan may include a band (identified in remarks as Shucking Bubba) and fireworks to close the event.

Board members said a video and a series of activations will recall the site's history and announce redevelopment steps. Separately, the board discussed the Jenkime Arch project: designers are reviewing costs and the board is weighing whether construction can occur before the June event or should be delayed until afterward. Officials said the arch is planned for completion within the year if funds permit.

The transcript provides event intent and promotional partners but does not include a full production budget or finalized construction schedule for the arch; those details will be handled by event organizers and county staff.