West Virginia - Wild and Wonderful

About West Virginia

West Virginia is noted for its mountains and diverse topography, its historically significant logging and coal mining industries, and its political and labor history. It is one of the most densely karstic areas in the world, making it a choice area for recreational caving and scientific research.

Business

West Virginia is full of opportunity for any business with a growing economy and a highly dedicated workforce. Whether you are running an existing business or thinking of starting a new business you can find all of the information you need throughout this business section.

Education

West Virginia is fortunate to have a tremendous education system with a high standard of excellence. Please use the information provided here to learn more about the wealth of educational opportunities in our great state.

Employment

West Virginia is home to one of the finest workforces in the country based on our hard work and commitment to quality. Whether you are looking for new job opportunities, enhancing your job skills or researching future employment trends you can find all of the information you need throughout this employment section.

Family

West Virginia offers the perfect balance of a rural and urban setting that suits a variety of lifestyles. This is a state where you can go whitewater rafting in the morning, go to an art exhibit in the afternoon and attend a concert in the evening. Whether you just moved to the Mountain State or your family has been here since it was founded, you are part of our community.

Health

Maintaining proper health is vital to ensuring the highest quality of life possible. West Virginia strives to provide one of the best health care systems in the country that is affordable and available to all residents of the state. This section contains numerous resources to assist you in accessing the health care services provided in the state.

Tourism

Exhilarate in the lasting beauty and natural wonder scattered throughout West Virginia. From unmatched outdoor recreation to world-class resorts, breathtaking scenery and a variety of cultural and historic attractions, West Virginia is an ideal spot to plan your next adventure. Discover for yourself what makes West Virginia wild and wonderful.

 Getting Youth Involved in the Mountain State Through Art 

7/26/2010 

The First Lady of West Virginia, Gayle Manchin, will be announcing the top winners of the Genuine West Virginia Kid’s Art Contest, Cub Reporter Video Contest and Teen Video Contest on August 3, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Walker Theater in The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia. Children from kindergarten to fifth grade were encouraged to join the West Virginia Department of Commerce-sponsored contest this spring to show, through their talents, what they believe makes West Virginia a great place to live. More than 450 children from all over the state entered the Kid’s Art Contest alone to show off their creativity and their love for West Virginia and what the state has to offer.

“We couldn’t think of anything more fun than encouraging the youth to think about this issue and give us designs and art to show us what we might be missing by focusing on what we think is important,” commented Kelley Goes, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

The contest presented a great opportunity for both the contestants and West Virginia as a whole.

The schools of the winners for each contest will receive Flip® Video Recorders and $25 to purchase art supplies for classrooms.

“More than anything, Genuine West Virginia is pride in the Mountain State’s rich history, culture and accomplishments – in being a West Virginian,” said Governor Joe Manchin III. “The creativity displayed throughout the contest exemplifies this pride.”

Watch the Genuine West Virginia website for announcements of the winners at www.genuinewv.com.

About the West Virginia Department of Commerce:

The Department of Commerce promotes and preserves the well-being of the citizens of West Virginia by providing a cooperative interagency system that stimulates diverse economic growth and increased employment opportunities for all West Virginians, encourages the appropriate use of our state’s abundant natural resources, improves the safety and productivity of our work force, and promotes the beauty and desirability of our state as a world-class tourism destination.

Contact Information

Kimberly McHenry  
304-957-9363