Graney says over the years he has seen a shift in the narrative toward economic development. He has witnessed entities within the state go from competing, complaining and criticizing to cooperating, collaborating and communicating. This means organizations are starting to work with and support each other for the betterment of the state.
“ West Virginia is small, and we all know each other,” Graney says.“ It makes us very nimble. We can react quickly, and that makes us mighty. We win projects over bigger states because we return phone calls within three minutes, and when somebody needs to get the governor’ s cabinet together, it’ s done.”
Graney mentions the state’ s work with industry leaders like Nucor Steel West Virginia, LG NOVA, Form Energy, CMC Metals, Toyota, Niterra, Procter & Gamble and Clorox, saying these collaborations are the perfect demonstration of the diversity, strength and opportunity for West Virginia.
“ By partnering with local industries and educational institutions, we’ re developing specialized workforce training programs that meet the evolving needs of our economy,” he says.“ These initiatives ensure that our workers are equipped to excel in high-demand fields, driving long-term prosperity and positioning West Virginia as a leader in economic growth.”
Community support is not just beneficial for sustainable economic growth; it is essential. The most impactful developments are those embraced at the local level, where residents, business owners and stakeholders are invested in their success. Graney says no project can succeed without the approval and backing of those it is going to serve.
As each community has its own unique challenges and priorities, every new development must be sure to fit within that framework. Graney emphasizes that understanding this is crucial and what works in one town may not work in another.
“ Economic development is complicated on many different levels,” he says.“ It truly takes local, state and often federal resources to make projects happen, and you need the involvement and the support of the local economic developers and communities to support any activity that might happen there. If it’ s something they don’ t want, it’ s not going to happen.”
The WVDED works to accomplish this by sending business retention and expansion representatives to meet with operators, customers and industrial companies within those communities to assess their needs and how the department may be able to assist them.
Graney says that, at the moment, much of the state’ s current economic development comes from the expansion of existing businesses. He uses Toyota as an example, as the company has been in West Virginia for 25 years and has expanded 12 different times.
“ Each one of those expansions was a competition with another Toyota manufacturing facility,” he says.“ So, we’ ve won 12 projects in the 25 years they’ ve been here because Toyota values the Putnam County workforce greatly.”
There are currently 44 local economic development authorities in West Virginia, some conducting multi-county operations. Examples are the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, which includes Summers, Raleigh, Fayette and Nicholas counties, and the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation, which includes Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties.
Graney notes that the WVDED actively encourages this kind of collaboration, as it often leads to greater funding opportunities and enhanced operational capacity. He also emphasizes that it is important for new businesses or entities moving or expanding to West Virginia to work directly with the local economic development authority in their chosen region.
West Virginia’ s path forward becomes clearer as it continues to build strategic partnerships, strong leadership and a renewed sense of unity. With its breakthroughs in community revitalization, innovation and workforce empowerment, the state is proving that positive, sustainable growth is well within reach.
Economic development in West Virginia is not just a goal but a commitment to its people. Set with a strong foundation, the state continues to progress forward and become an example to others of what can be achieved with hard work, purpose and a clear goal of making your home a better place to live, work and thrive. •
Leadership from the 2024 West Virginia Department of Economic Development stands outside of the State Capitol. Photo by West Virginia Department of Commerce.
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