Economic Development

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s West Virginia district office is accepting nominations for its 2022 National and West Virginia Small Business Week Awards, including its annual Small Business Person of the Year award. Do you know of a business you’d like to nominate? Visit sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a nomination. … Read more

Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Division of Highways have announced that a project to repair and rehabilitate the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge at Wheeling, West Virginia, has been awarded. Advantage Steel & Construction was awarded a contract for $17,907,147 to make necessary repairs to the historic bridge’s superstructure and substructure, to replace any … Read more

The National Park Service has awarded the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia a $550,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant to help preserve endangered historic buildings in West Virginia. The alliance will add the grant to its existing Saving Historical Places Grant Program, which provides funding to preserve West Virginia’s historical buildings that have fallen into … Read more

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