Progress in
the Eastern
Panhandle
“Don’t look back.”
It is this simple idea that has propelled
West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle
toward success. Rather than focusing
on the jobs of the past, leadership in
this region is focused on diversifying
its economy, embracing change and
promoting its collective strengths.
The Eastern Panhandle is one of the
fastest-growing areas of the state and
as such provides a high return on
investment with its proximity to major
East Coast markets, engaging business
climate and low cost of living. The
area is also rich with opportunity
zones, Hubzones and areas that qualify
for New Market Tax Credits, making
it attractive to developers and
investors. The region’s economic
development groups are working
together to continue strengthening
their individual counties as well as
the region as a whole.
BERKELEY COUNTY
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Berkeley County Development
Authority (BCDA) serves as a county
ambassador, assisting in all areas
of need by providing referrals and
connections to property options,
permits and licensing; workforce
development and customized training
programs; and financing options and
incentives. The county is home to a
variety of major manufacturers and
distribution centers, large government
facilities and small businesses; K-12
and higher education institutions; and
modern infrastructure, making it an
ideal location for investors, job seekers,
entrepreneurs and families.
“Our first area of economic development
focus is Berkeley County, then the
Eastern Panhandle, followed by the
state of West Virginia,” says Sandy
Hamilton, executive director of the
BCDA . “In the Eastern Panhandle, we
recognize that each of our areas is
unique, and we collaborate to take
advantage of those differences and
work closely to retain projects in
our areas. We promote our natural
resources, workforce and diversity,
and our success is measured by job
creation and tax base increase, as
well as current business growth and
expansion.”
EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA
REGIONAL AIRPORT
Strategically located just off I-81
on over 1,000 acres of property,
the Eastern West Virginia Regional
Airport (MRB) provides a level of
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
service often found only at large
commercial airports. Home to more
aircraft than any other airport in
West Virginia and the state’s longest
runway, MRB is poised for growth.
The airport is pursuing a variety
of growth opportunities, including
selling some of its industrial property
and marketing MRB to major air cargo
operators, ground handlers, freight
forwarders and logistics companies.
“We have identified possible
opportunities to develop facilities
for domestic air cargo, small package
sorting, sea container breakdown
and buildup and small package
truck deliveries and transfers,” says
Executive Director Nicolas Diehl.
MRB is also home to the John D.
Rockefeller IV Science & Technology
Center, the only on-airport foreign
trade zone in West Virginia, which
provides a unique opportunity to
grow international import/export
activity in West Virginia’s fastest-
growing market. Other major
corporate investments anywhere
in the Eastern Panhandle can be
attributed in part to the presence
of MRB, including the recruitment
of Procter & Gamble, which uses its
corporate aircraft to visit its Tabler
Station plant.