Economic Development

West Virginia University researchers will drill three miles into the ground near Morgantown to test the potential of geothermal energy in the region this fall. They may help reduce the university’s carbon footprint and decrease its energy costs, according to Nagasree Garapati, visiting assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering. Garapati and her research team … Read more

Gov. Jim Justice today awarded 19 grants worth $13,734,817 for parks, broadband, demolition, and water-sewer to communities in 14 counties across the state. The Federal Community Development Block Grant funds are a pleasure to provide, said Justice, who was joined for a virtual ceremony by local officials representing many of the communities receiving these grants. … Read more

Adjoining a newly completed expressway, Historic buildings line Main Street in Sophia, West Virginia.[/caption] “Sophia is poised to grow—now more than ever,” says Fanary, a highway project manager who grew up in the town of just more than 1,300 residents. Several factors have set the stage for growth in the town, Fanary says, including the … Read more

West Virginia has made its historic tax rehabilitation credit program permanent, a move real estate developers are hailing for its economic influence in downtowns. Gov. Jim Justice recently signed the bipartisan bill, which provides a 25-percent tax credit for those who rehabilitate historic income-producing properties, according to Danielle Parker, executive director of the Preservation Alliance … Read more

It’s been a long time coming, but there’s good news for fans of the renowned Hill Top House Hotel, the majestic destination in Harpers Ferry that opened its doors in 1888. More than 13 years after the decaying hotel shut down, town officials have signed off on agreements that business owners and others here say … Read more

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice today announced the launch of the state’s premier remote-work program, aimed at recruiting outdoor enthusiast professionals to the Mountain State. Called “Ascend WV,” the program is being supported by West Virginia native and Intuit Chairman Brad D. Smith and his wife, Alys, and will allow adventurers to enjoy world-class recreation, … Read more

The National Coal Heritage Area Authority to support community efforts to interpret, preserve, and promote coal heritage resources is seeking proposals for funding for eligible projects. Projects must be implemented within the National Coal Heritage Area, which includes the counties of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Wyoming, and the … Read more

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice congratulated the service-disabled, veteran-owned company Alpha Technologies for crossing the finish line on a major fiber expansion project in the Kanawha Valley. “I’ve said many times that broadband is monumental to our future in West Virginia,” Justice said Tuesday of the expansion, which was supported by his broadband initiatives. “Projects … Read more

Excitement is building around the new Elk River Trail State Park in central West Virginia, especially downstream along the 30-mile corridor between the park and the state capital at An angler cast into the Elk near Queen Shoals. Photo by Rick Burgess[/caption] Planners for E.L. Robinson Engineering, which was hired to assess the development of … Read more

Officials have confirmed state support for a $25-million streetscaping project in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, and the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the state’s northern panhandle. Governor Jim Justice today joined state officials and Wheeling Mayor Glenn F. Elliott, Jr., in expressing the state’s commitment to the Wheeling Streetscape Project. “This project is going to change … Read more