CEO Guide to Site Selection

West Virginia

CLIMBING THE LADDER

The Mountain State continues to climb the ranks in Chief Executive’s Best and Worst States to do Business through talent development and economic diversification. In January 2024, seven companies announced $373 million in investments that will impact more than 1,900 jobs in the state. Pure Watercraft, SMR Technologies, Gestamp, Alcon and Clean Seas announced expansions or new investments. “We’ve got more and more businesses calling over and over wanting to bring opportunities to our state,” said former Gov. Jim Justice in a press release. That same month, LG announced it would bring more than 275 high-skilled jobs and a $700 million investment in the state over the next five years. LG NOVA, which started an accelerator program in the state in 2021, is now planning to establish branch offices near Marshall University and West Virginia University.

“I’ve spent years fighting for the people of West Virginia, standing up to federal overreach, cutting red tape and delivering real results.”
Patrick Morrisey
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

decrease between 2020 and 2023

KEY INCENTIVES

West Virginia Economic Development Authority Direct Loan Program: Offers financial assistance in the form of loans, direct financing and operating leases to industrial development agencies and enterprises.

Special Property Valuation: Reduces property taxes by up to 95% for certain sectors, including chemicals, polymer metals, data centers and aviation.

Manufacturing Investment Credit: Offers a tax credit of up to 60% of the corporate net income tax base on qualified investments in an eligible manufacturing facility.

Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program: Offers up to $2,000 per employee to eligible new and ex- panding companies that create at least 10 net new jobs within a 12-month period

EDCs

West Virginia Economic Development Office

westvirginia.gov

Charleston Area Alliance

charlestonareaalliance.org

Huntington Area Development Council

hadco.org

Morgantown Area Partnership

morgantownpartnership.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The new Equipment Financing Program helps businesses operating in the state gain access to essential tools and machinery with low-interest loans of between $50,000 and $2 million. Borrowers must be established and based in West Virginia and have been in operation for at least one year.

BIG DEALS

  • Seven new and existing companies announced in January 2024 a combined investment of $373 million and 1,900 jobs.
  • Cleveland-Cliffs announced in July 2024 a $150 million investment to reopen an idle manufacturing plant in Weirton. The project will create up to 600 jobs.
  • Babcock & Wilcox announced in September 2024 a $125 million investment and 28 new jobs in Mason County.
  • HandCraft Services announced in September 2024 a $59 million facility and 220 new jobs in Berkeley County.
  • Prime 6 announced in September 2024 a $35 million manufacturing facility and 75 new jobs in Buckhannon.

BIG COMPANIES

  • Amazon
  • American Consoilidated
  • Hino Motors Manufacturing USA
  • Mylan N.V.
  • ResCare
  • Teletech
  • Toyota
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.