NRGRDA invites community to PATTERN open house on May 21

PRESS RELEASE

Beckley, W.Va. (May 18, 2026) – The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) invites the community to attend an Open House for the PATTERN Textile Training and Manufacturing Center at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 21, at the United Bank Building, 129 Main Street, Suite 406, Beckley, W.Va. The Beckley Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. for the new textile training and manufacturing facility.

The open house will offer the community an inside look at the new PATTERN: Textile Training and Manufacturing Center. Attendees can learn a new sewing technique in PATTERN’s first drop-in workshop, tour the space, learn more information about PATTERN’s services, and meet the team behind it all. The workshop and tours will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost of the workshop is free, but registrations are requested at:  https://share.hsforms.com/1J_iK3G2yQW6d3xOYT9lAaA2mfg4

PATTERN (Planning and Accelerating Textile Technology and Entrepreneurship Regional Network) is uniquely positioned to drive regional economic development in the New River Gorge region through investment in cut and sew training and product development. Its mission is to build a thriving cut and sew industry in Southern West Virginia by providing businesses and makers with the tools, expertise, and resources they need to create high-quality, sustainable outdoor gear, apparel, and sewn goods — made locally and built to last.

The PATTERN initiative is supported by federal grants led by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito.

For more information, visit nrgrda.org/pattern or contact pattern@nrgrda.org.