Mar 22, 2018 3 min read

With Washington to the north and Morgantown to the south, Greene County sometimes is left out of some of the bigger economic developments that are starting to reshape our area.

The news that an Applebee’s had pulled plans for its restaurant near the Waynesburg interstate exit was disappointing for many residents who wanted an additional option to dine-in. Sure, it was only a restaurant, but it still mattered to people.

This past week, however, the county and other rural areas in our region got some good news that’s much bigger than casual dining.

WVU Medicine is seeking approval to build a 24,300-square-foot medical clinic adjacent to the Walmart store in Franklin Township. Work is expected to begin in May on the center that will offer primary care services and house clinics in family medicine, diagnostic imaging, cardiovascular care, orthopedics, obstetrics, gynecology and urgent care.

While Washington Hospital System offers similar services in the Waynesburg area, competition and increased options are great for a small community when it comes to medical care.

With more jobs and patients coming to Greene County, the clinic could spur development in an area that has been mostly vacant except for Walmart. It also could help bring development to the airport location across Route 21 that is shovel-ready for new businesses, restaurants and stores.

Hopefully, WVU’s announcement and the impending work will bring the much-needed jobs and businesses to an area that is conveniently located between two other bustling regions.

Of course, even with another medical clinic, Greene County and many other rural areas in the state lag behind badly in high-speed broadband internet service.

State Rep. Pam Snyder, who has been beating the drum about slow and unreliable internet, joined Gov. Tom Wolf in announcing $35 million in state funding to boost service in places like Greene County.

The program is designed to provide private companies with incentives to expand broadband access in underserved areas while also creating a special office to oversee its implementation.

“This is not a partisan issue. This is about meeting people’s needs,” said Snyder, D-Jefferson. “This is so much larger than we realize, to have access to high-speed broadband.”

We couldn’t agree more.

There are still 800,000 Pennsylvanians who lack access to high-speed internet. The internet no longer is a luxury, but in many ways a necessity in life. Think about all of the daily chores or business you conduct using the internet.

We’re nearly one-fifth of the way through the 21st century. It’s time these important services reach even our most rural neighbors.