PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jefferson County Commission Questions CTUB Decision on $10.5 Million Water & Sewer Funding; Calls for JCDA to Investigate Public-Private Partnership
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Edwina Benites, County Administrator
Phone: 304-728-3284
Email: ebenites@jeffersoncountywv.org
CHARLES TOWN, WV (November 24, 2025) – At its recent meeting, the Jefferson County Commission raised concerns regarding the Charles Town Utility Board’s (CTUB) decision to decline pursuing a $10.5 million economic development grant available through the West Virginia Water Development Authority (WVWDA) for water and sewer infrastructure at the Summit Point Motorsports Park & Training Facility—an operation currently on well and septic and one of the county’s largest employers.
Summit Point Motorsports Park & Training Facility is a critical asset to Jefferson County’s economy, national security presence, and long-term development. The 786-acre, privately owned campus—equipped with a federal Secret Facility Clearance, multiple high-speed racetracks, modern infrastructure, fiber connectivity, on-site EMS/fire services, and unrestricted Class E and Class G airspace—functions as an integrated hub for RDT&E, mission support services, facilities support, hard-skills training, and commercial motorsports. As one of the largest defense-related employers in West Virginia, Summit Point supports agencies and contractors across the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, U.S. Cyber Command, the intelligence community, and others.
The facility continues to expand its footprint, attract national and international visitors, and serve as a major integration hub for industry and government partners. Summit Point must have reliable water and sewer infrastructure, however, to sustain current operations and allow continued economic development. On any given day, up to 1,500 federal contractors and personnel operate on-site. Recent failures of two wells, signs of aquifer stress, and limitations imposed by existing water reclamation systems now constrain the buildable footprint needed to support customer-driven expansion. Without public water and sewer, critical future construction and operational upgrades may be delayed or rendered impossible.
Given Summit Point’s significant economic impact on Jefferson County, commissioners questioned why CTUB would walk away from a grant opportunity of this scale—particularly one intended to strengthen long-term infrastructure capacity for the county and support major economic development activity. The Commission noted that the 2018 purchase agreement transferring millions of dollars’ worth of Jefferson County water and sewer assets to CTUB included assurances that County residents would be well-served under CTUB’s stewardship. Commissioners questioned whether declining to pursue a $10.5 million grant aligns with that fiduciary responsibility.
In an effort to find another solution, the Commission voted to formally request that the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) investigate whether it may be feasible to apply for the grant under a public-private partnership model, ensuring the county does not lose access to the funds and that the project can move forward with broader collaboration.
“Turning down $10.5 million is not good business and is not in the best interest of Jefferson County ratepayers,” said Commission President Pasha Majdi. “The utility board wants to build a pipeline across 9 miles of farmland that would trigger unprecedented housing expansion in our county and worsen our growth challenges. CTUB is not listening to our residents who are sick and tired of out-of-control growth and sky-high water bills.”
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