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.

 Governor Recommends $6 Million In Projects For West Virginias Arc Investment Package 

5/8/2008 

CHARLESTON, W.Va.  "Gov. Joe Manchin today announced additional recommendations of 10 projects totaling more than $5 million in grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Investment Program.
 "These projects represent a comprehensive approach that will address many of our economic and community development needs.   We are pleased to have such a strong commitment from ARC and our local partners to ensure that we continue to grow our economy and provide a brighter future for West Virginia," Governor Manchin said.

The West Virginia Development Office administers the state's ARC program, which is a partnership of federal, state, and local participants providing financial and technical assistance for economic development and infrastructure projects.

Projects recommended for ARC funding include:

AREA DEVELOPMENT

STATEWIDE
           West Virginia Development Office                                                    $350,000
           Consolidated Technical Assistance
The West Virginia Development Office, with ARC funding assistance, will continue the Consolidated Technical Assistance program. The grant allows the West Virginia Development Office to employ staff for the purpose of providing technical assistance to ARC applicants and grantees, monitoring and administering ongoing projects, updating the West Virginia Development Plan, and maintaining a project information system.  

STATEWIDE
           West Virginia Division of Culture and History                                    $200,000
           West Virginia State Museum Education Project
The project will assist with the development of an educational curriculum for the new West Virginia State Museum, and provide computers and lab-related equipment for the museum 's education centers. This project will increase learning opportunities for students statewide, enhance tourism, and improve the quality of life for all of West Virginia 's citizens.  

PLEASANTS COUNTY
           Union Williams Public Service District                                                 $508,875
           Pleasants County Industrial Center Sewer Upgrade
The project will upgrade and expand the wastewater collection system at the Pleasants County Industrial Center, increasing economic opportunity in the region by allowing future growth at the Industrial Center to take place.   The project provides services to four existing businesses at the Center and facilitates the creation of up to 150 new jobs.

STATEWIDE
           Workforce West Virginia                                                                    $250,000
           Competitive Improvement Program
The project will provide training and consultation services to small and medium-sized firms in West Virginia to increase their competitiveness. The project will address a unique need for which no other funding sources are available. The results of these services will be a greater number of companies that are increasing the range of their market and market share, and a commensurate increase in the number of jobs retained or created.  

MULTI-COUNTY
           Advantage Valley                                                                               $100,000
           Entrepreneurial League System ®
The project will provide training through an intensive coaching process for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses beyond the start-up phase.   This project will enhance economic growth and expand job opportunities for business owners and residents in an eight-county region.

MULTI-COUNTY
           Canaan Valley Institute                                                                         $96,811
           Wastewater Solutions for West Virginia's
           Small Communities
The project will provide assistance with the management, planning, and installation of decentralized, on-site wastewater systems in a three county region in southern West Virginia.   This project will serve 20 customers who currently rely upon inadequate treatment systems or discharge directly into local streams.  

DISTRESSED COUNTIES:

McDOWELL COUNTY
           City of Welch                                                                                   $1,200,000
           Welch Sewer Lines Contract 7C
           Woodmont Neighborhood
The project will replace wastewater collection lines that are deteriorating along Virginia Avenue and the Woodmont neighborhood of Welch and bring it into compliance with a consent decree mandating the phased replacement of the city's sewer collection lines.   The project will serve 51 customers.

LINCOLN COUNTY
           Branchland-Midkiff Public Service District                                      $1,500,000
                 Tenmile Waterline Extension Project
The project will extend water service for the Tenmile Creek Road, Upper Tenmile Creek Road, Plumb Branch, and Bearwallow Branch areas of Lincoln County.   Currently, residents in the project area rely upon wells and cisterns that fail or must haul water from an off site source for consumption.   The project will serve 154 customers.

BRAXTON COUNTY
           Braxton County Commission                                                           $1,500,000
           Sugar Creek PSD Phase 1 Waterline Extension
The project will extend water service to residences in the Tague and Wilsie areas of Braxton County.   Currently, the residents in the project area rely upon wells and springs that provide poor quality of water.   The project will benefit 125 customers.

REGIONAL INITIATIVES:

MINERAL COUNTY:
           Mineral County Development Authority                                               $25,000
           Mineral County Broadband Project
The project will create a master plan for the installation and operation of a broadband communication infrastructure for Mineral County.   This plan will address the current and future needs of residents and businesses in the county, increasing economic development and improving the quality of life for the county and region.

Contact Information

Ralph Goolsby 
304-558-2234