Economic Development

The West Virginia Tourism Office’s new television commercials took the industry’s top honor at the U.S. Travel Association’s Mercury Awards on Aug. 20, according to Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby. The Tourism Office and its renowned “Almost Heaven, West Virginia” campaign was recognized by the National Council of State Tourism Directors in the category Broadcast Advertising: … Read more

West Virginia’s Birthday social campaign last week reached more than 26 million social media users, thanks to thousands of fans of West Virginia who shared their love of the state. The state is top-of-mind for travelers this summer, thanks to record-breaking participation in the West Virginia Tourism Office’s West Virginia Week Challenge, according to Commissioner … Read more

Rural Sistersville, West Virginia, might seem a curious place for a village of high-style architecture, but then the oil rush that brought prosperity here in the 1890s was nothing less than exceptional. Folks had always assumed black gold bubbled beneath the hills, but it wasn’t until an enterprising farmer learned the trick to drilling there … Read more

Lonely Hero Games, a new board game development company founded by two Beckley natives, has launched its first game, “Bank Heist” on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. Jared Kaplan and Christopher Kincaid grew up in Beckley, where Kaplan still resides, while Kincaid moved to Morgantown. Kaplan says the pair believe that creating and launching their company … Read more

Is your community suffering from the appearance of its old industrial or commercial sites—otherwise known as brownfields? The West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University is seeking communities that would like to apply for up to $5,000 in redevelopment assistance. According to Patrick Kirby, a spokesman for the Foundations for Overcoming Challenges and … Read more

A new national heritage area established in March will attract financing and tourism to eastern West Virginia and western Maryland—a region that encompasses millions of acres of forest and some of the state’s best-known scenic landscapes. The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, which includes 16 counties in West Virginia and two in western Maryland, will … Read more

Many businesses in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties may be eligible for benefits as a result of their locations in federally designated “Historically Underutilized Business Zones” or “HUBZones.” The Robert C. Byrd Institute is joining the U.S. Small Business Administration and Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation March 26 in presenting a free workshop on the matter … Read more

To bolster growth in the emerging craft-beverage economy—including the production of sodas, teas, beers, wines, and spirits—the Robert C. Byrd Institute will sponsor “Craft: A Farm-to-Bottle Summit” April 8 in South Charleston. Participants will explore ways that craft products can engage various interests in agriculture, hospitality and tourism to build markets for this growing business … Read more

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice today unveiled data that shows a 16.1 percent increase in state hotel occupancy. Combined with a robust average room rate, the occupancy increase also produced a 20 percent revenue increase in a year-over-year comparison. Joined by the state’s Tourism Commission and dozens of hospitality-industry representatives, the governor announced that the … Read more

Vacations are nice, and everyone should have one once in a while to rest and recuperate. However, it can get expensive, and it can be easy to spend a lot when you’re out there on the road. The smaller expenses, like eating out, souvenir shopping, and buying beverages such as coffee every day can really … Read more