We have some key things that are in our
favor. Contrary to popular opinion, we
have a great workforce. Every year these
great high schools are turning out kids
with a lot of potential that are leaving.
We have to find the sort of activity that is
going to keep them at home. I also think
we have huge opportunities in tourism.
In conjunction with our state parks, it has
great potential for West Virginia.
WVE: Tell us about the state’s shale
gas opportunities and how you
are working with manufacturing
organizations to turn these
resources into new manufacturing
investments and jobs.
WT: The shale gas initiative has the oppor-
tunity to be a total game changer for West
Virginia. I think we can have a whole renais-
sance of that chemical, plastics and carbon
fibers activity. The reason I believe that is,
first and foremost, we have the raw materi-
als. When you look at the Chemical Alliance
Zone and MATRIC—they are populated with
a whole lot of smart people who understand
how to make this a success. The combination
of a steady supply of raw resources—those
raw materials that industry needs—for the
next 50-100 years coupled with the brain
power we have within the Chemical Alliance
Zone and MATRIC is a great combination
that ought to produce great results.
WVE: You’ve identified state
infrastructure, building sites for
companies and workforce training
incentives as top priorities. Tell us
more about your plans in these areas.
WT: In terms of infrastructure, the broad-
band bill was important. The governor’s
highway bill is the key element, and that is
really going to generate economic activity
and provide the kind of highways we need
to get from point A to point B. Workforce
training is an area we need to improve. I
am really excited about working with two
people. Steve Paine, who is an old friend
of mine, has returned as superintendent of
schools, and I am a great believer in Steve
and his abilities. I am also really excited
about Sarah Tucker, who is the chancellor
of the community and technical colleges.
I think she has a lot of potential and a
lot of great ideas. I am in the preliminary
phase of putting together a collaboration
between the three of us to really make our
workforce training top-tier.
WVE: What types of projects are
you currently working on that will
help move West Virginia forward?
WT: Within the department of commerce,
we are working on a significant initiative to
rebrand West Virginia. We need to rebrand it
for a variety of reasons. First of all, we need
to feel good about ourselves, and we need
to project that positive image to everybody
else. We can own our mistakes, but let’s not
let that define who we are. Second, we need
to rebrand who we are because it’s a very
positive message. Tourism is going to be the
immediate beneficiary of that. You’re going
to see within tourism a significant increase
in marketing activities, and it’s going to
be a cohesive message that ultimately will
translate not only into tourism but into
parks and really over into commerce as we
attract businesses. We’re going to come up
with a new image that West Virginia wants
to reflect and is reflective of who we are.
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