Wheeling Intelligencer, The Intermountain - We are months away from the next regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, but the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Campaign for Jobs Digest includes some ideas about what lawmakers should prioritize. (Hint: It’s not incredibly archaic socio-cultural agendas.) Read the full article. Economic issues are still a…
Economy
WHIS Radio - I talked with Kelly Allen (Executive Director - West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy) to find out more about the state's fiscal condition and the proposals that might be on the table in this upcoming special legislative session. Listen to the full episode.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting, River Cities Tribune and Register, West Virginia News - West Virginia continues to struggle in key economic areas, according to new data from the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The business group says the years-long trend requires policy solutions. Read the full article. Between 2013 and 2023, West Virginia was one of just…
New York Times - John Chambers grew up in West Virginia and went on to run what was once the world’s most valuable company, the computer networking firm Cisco Systems Inc. Now he is trying to help economically lagging West Virginia by making it a “start-up state” akin to Israel, which has been called the start-up nation.…
Times West Virginian, West Virginia Press, Spirit of Jefferson - West Virginia is the place to do business. That’s the message lawmakers have been keen to spread as the state pursues policies and initiatives designed to encourage businesses to come to the Mountain State. Read the full article. Collectively, the effort is called Choose West…
While, as a state, West Virginia has fully recovered all jobs lost during the pandemic, that job recovery has not been felt evenly across all counties. Recent economic development announcements have been limited to a handful of counties, mostly on the state's border. As of November 2023, 18 counties are still below their pre-pandemic jobs…
Charleston Gazette-Mail, Martinsburg Journal - The only thing West Virginia lawmakers are constitutionally required to do during the Legislature’s regular session is to pass a state budget for the ensuing fiscal year. But responsible stewardship requires looking beyond just the next year to ensure the state is on a sustainable fiscal path, as elected officials…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - West Virginia’s revenue collections for November were $404.8 million, $44 million above estimates, according to a monthly budget report released by Gov. Jim Justice. Fiscal year-to-date collection from July to November stands at $2.2 billion, exceeding estimates by $286.2 million. Read the full article. “Even as inflation continues to throw us a curveball, our…
Connect Bridgeport - Temperatures are dropping as winter is on its way. United Orthopaedic and Spine Center is holding its annual “Coats for Kids” drive to provide children in need with a coat this holiday season. Read the full article. While you are shopping for new coats for your family, think about the children who…
According to newly released U.S. Census Bureau estimates, West Virginia's net migration was positive in 2022. Approximately 43,000 people moved to West Virginia from another state last year, though that's 1,000 fewer than moved to the state in 2021. The number of people who moved away from West Virginia to another state rose from 36,000…