Economic Development

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Remote workers looking for a new home with equal parts city energy and mountain calm will find it in West Virginia’s capital. Ascend West Virginia—the nation’s leading talent attraction and retention program—announced that Charleston, West Virginia, has officially joined its lineup of communities welcoming newcomers with incentives and opportunities to plant roots … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thirty-three West Virginia companies that export goods and services have been recognized for expanding into new international markets, according to officials at the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Seven of the businesses honored with the “Governor’s Export Award” were first-time recipients of the award, which is presented to companies that made their … Read more

BUFFALO, W.Va. — An array of five giant “solar flowers” is capturing the attention of motorists travelling scenic Charleston Road along the Kanawha River. What are they? The curiosities are not only capturing interest—they might be hallmarks of a new, more environmentally friendly West Virginia. Turning toward the sun like real sunflowers, the SmartFlowers are … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s premier online magazine for travel, history, and outdoor adventure, West Virginia Explorer is celebrating its 25th anniversary by unveiling a series of new logos and a fully redesigned website, including an expanded webzine and comprehensive online travel guide at WVExplorer.com. Founded in 1999, West Virginia Explorer has evolved from a niche … Read more

WHEELING, W.Va. — Hosted by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, the West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference, to be held May 1-3 in Wheeling, will feature tours, speakers, demonstrations, and educational sessions designed to help community leaders, preservation professionals, and owners of historic properties. Danielle Parker, executive director of the organization, said the 2025 event will … Read more

ELKINS, W.Va. — Two “irreplaceable” historic buildings in West Virginia are facing the possibility of demolition, which the state’s preservation board is working to prevent. The towering middle school in Mannington and the courthouse annex in Roane County have been added to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List, a registry maintained by the Preservation Alliance … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced the creation of “Tourism Works,” an online education program designed to enhance hospitality skills and training among the state’s tourism workforce and everyday West Virginians. The announcement was made at the state capitol with the support of more than 200 tourism and hospitality industry professionals to celebrate … Read more

ELKINS, W.Va. — The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is adding the Middleway Historic District in Jefferson County to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List. The measure highlights the risks that could result from the construction and operation of the proposed Mountain Pure water bottling facility by Sidewinder Enterprises. The proposed development by Sidewinder is … Read more

ELKINS, W.Va. — Four theaters in West Virginia have been added to the state’s historic theater trail, established in 2010 to boost cultural and economic growth in Mountain State downtowns and rural areas. The Elk Theater in Sutton, the Granada Theater in Bluefield, the Robinson Grand in Clarksburg, and the eponymous Shepherdstown Opera House were … Read more

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Satellite-based broadband is allowing telecommuters to settle in some of the most remote areas in West Virginia, a development that’s changing the chiefly rural state at the center of the eastern U.S. “What’s happening now in West Virginia is revolutionary—yes, revolutionary,” says David Sibray, the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine and … Read more