WVCBP in the News

September 20, 2013 by Sean O'Leary
Poverty, Stagnant Incomes Still Prevalent in West Virginia, Census Report Shows

Charleston Gazette - More than five years after the start of the great recession, West Virginians' incomes continue to stagnate and poverty is still pervasive, despite soaring corporate profits nationwide and 41 consecutive months of job growth, according to new Census data released Thursday. Read Median household income for West Virginians rose by about $900 to…

Read More
September 18, 2013 by Sean O'Leary
Panel Decries Food Stamp Cuts

Charleston Gazette - One in five West Virginians gets money to buy food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as the Food Stamp program. Read Nearly 40 percent of SNAP beneficiaries are children. Another 27 percent are elderly or disabled adults, while 22 percent are adults living with needy children.

Read More
September 15, 2013 by Ted Boettner
After Coal, W.Va. Push For Natural Gas Trust Fund

ABC News, Associated Press, NPR, Charleston Gazette, Daily Reporter, Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, Louisville Courier-Journal, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Las Vegas Sun - For decades, coal from West Virginia's vast deposits was mined, loaded on rail cars and hauled off without leaving behind a lasting trust fund financed by the state's best-known commodity. Big coal's days are waning,…

Read More
September 6, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Not Your Grandfather’s Economy Anymore

Charleston Daily Mail - NUMEROUS presenters spoke about diversifying West Virginia's economy this week during an economic forum highlighting the future of the Mountain State. Read ? Ted Boettner, director of the Center on Budget & Policy, a sponsor of the forum, said the state needs to diversify to a more sustainable economy, less susceptible…

Read More
September 5, 2013 by Ted Boettner
McDowell Residents Tell Stories of Struggles, Successes

Charleston Gazette - McDowell County residents brought their stories to Charleston Wednesday evening, to highlight one coalfield community's struggles and successes in dealing with economic decline, population loss and a host of other challenges. Read Participants in the interactive documentary "Hollow" appeared to close out a day-long forum aimed at encouraging more discussion and action…

Read More
September 5, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Policy Experts Meet at Economic Conference

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - With coal industry jobs dwindling and many young people leaving the state to find work, speakers at the Bright Economic Future for the Mountain State Conference in Charleston outlined many of the challenges for the state's economy. Despite these obstacles, many entrepreneurs, policy experts, and grassroots organizations who gathered at…

Read More
September 5, 2013 by Ted Boettner
WV Business Leaders: State Should Dream Big, Plan Backward

The State Journal - Thirty years isn't a very long time for a state that just turned 150, but it could be long enough to diversify West Virginia's economy. Read The Union of Concerned Scientists, West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy and the West Virginia Community Development Hub hosted people from the political, environmental,…

Read More
September 5, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Business Leaders: West Virginia Must Embrace Economic Change

Charleston Gazette - Community organizers, business boosters, labor officials and religious leaders joined Wednesday to try to jumpstart what they said are long-overdue discussions -- and actions -- to diversify the economy of West Virginia's coalfields. Read A variety of speakers and audience members from nonprofit organizers, government agencies, academia and the private sector said…

Read More
September 4, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Forum Focuses on Future of West Virginia Economy

Huntington Herald-Dispatch and The Republic - Politicians, policymakers and others will share their visions for West Virginia 30 years from now and discuss the need for economic diversification at a Wednesday forum in Charleston. Read The Union of Concerned Scientists is teaming up with the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy and others to…

Read More
September 4, 2013 by Ted Boettner
“Future Fund” Pushed to Diversify Economy

Charleston Gazette - State Senate President Jeff Kessler on Tuesday kicked off a forum on diversifying West Virginia's economy with a push to create a "future fund" that would set aside tax dollars from the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom for improving education, infrastructure and economic development. Read

Read More