A REGIONAL FOCUS , A STATEWIDE PARTNER
A REGIONAL FOCUS , A STATEWIDE PARTNER
Significant projects are underway throughout the Northern Panhandle and plans to continue this economic momentum are happening now . These successes are part of a statewide collaboration with numerous partners supporting West Virginia ’ s overall growth and the Regional Economic Development Partnership ( RED ) is proud to be a partner .
RED is located in the Wheeling , WV , metropolitan statistical area ( MSA )— a territory ranked as one of the top 20 small MSAs in terms of business recruitment , business relocation and attraction according to Expansion Management magazine .
Locating in the Northern Panhandle has many advantages :
• Low-cost operations
• Regulatory efficiency
• Infrastructure expediency
• Reduced capital costs
• Reduced labor costs
• Great quality of life
• Lower cost of living
The Northern Panhandle boasts stunning natural beauty , affordable real estate and nationally ranked schools . We have award-winning hospitals , low crime rates , vibrant nightlife and rich cultural districts . With abundant sports and recreational opportunities and proximity to Pittsburgh , PA , and Columbus , Ohio , Wheeling and its surrounding areas are some of the most livable in America .
We have seen expansions and investments from domestic and international companies and look forward to helping more businesses call the Northern Panhandle and West Virginia home .
WesBanco is headquartered in Wheeling , which will continue to be the case for the new combined organization . Throughout its 154-year existence , WesBanco has expanded into Ohio , Pennsylvania , Indiana and Kentucky . The bank also expanded to Maryland , which introduced it to the Washington , D . C ., metro area . In 2023 , WesBanco opened loan production offices in Tennessee and northern Virginia .
“ Through the proposed acquisition , we expect to increase our market share , expand our presence in Indiana and establish our presence in Michigan ,” says Klick .
Jan Pattishall-Krupinski , executive vice president and director of operations , says WesBanco is looking to do its legal close around the turn of the year . Three to six months after that close , the organizations will be integrated .
“ Our philosophy to acquisitions is important to understand ,” says Pattishall-Krupinski . “ We lead with culture . We look for organizations that have a matching culture and fit with WesBanco . Then , we look at complementary products and services as well as geographical footprints . This is a really exciting proposed acquisition .”
Generation West Virginia ( GWV ) understands the importance of retaining young talent in the Mountain State in order to sustain its future workforce . In January , the organization is launching a data analytics program .
“ We have learned that a lot of the companies we work with , including higher education , health care and banks , need more support in data analytics ,” says Alex Weld , executive director of GWV . “ This is a growing field in West Virginia , but training is not readily available . So , we ’ ll be providing a new free training program that will launch soon under our NewForce umbrella , which will be a four-month training starting in January .”
Weld says GWV will be taking applications for its annual fellowship program in December . The GWV Fellowship is a leadership development training program for young professionals , with five sessions throughout the state and four virtual sessions .
“ We work with companies across the state who want to support their young team members with this professional development opportunity ,” Weld says . “ They not only gain confidence in their professional skills , but they also become better equipped to be leaders in their companies and communities .”
GWV has also expanded its job placement support with the addition of the Career Connector , which supports smaller companies that do not have a lot of human resources strength by helping them find high-quality candidates to fill those roles .
Williams Lea , a business process outsourcing facility that provides administrative , creative , financial and accounting support services , will be announcing a significant renovation of its downtown Wheeling office . Jefferson highlights the importance of this development , noting that the company employs 500 people in downtown Wheeling , which is significant for the community and West Virginia as a whole .
These projects are just some of the many ongoing efforts and developments in the Northern Panhandle signifying a new era of growth and vitality . •
( 304 ) 232-7722 | www . redp . org 1100 Main Street , 3rd Floor | Wheeling , WV 26003