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Local Challenges,
Unique Opportunities
HANCOCK
BROOKS
OHIO
MARSHALL
MONONGALIA
WETZEL
PLEASANTS
DODDRIDGE
WOOD
HARRISON
PRESTON
BARBOUR
TUCKER
GILMER
CALHOUN
ROANE
JEFFERSON
HARDY
UPSHUR
RANDOLPH
BRAXTON
PUTNAM
HAMPSHIRE
GRANT
LEWIS
JACKSON
PENDLETON
WEBSTER
CLAY
CABELL
BERKELEY
MINERAL
TAYLOR
RITCHIE
WIRT
MASON
MORGAN
MARION
TYLER
KANAWHA
NICHOLAS
WAYNE
POCAHONTAS
LINCOLN
BOONE
FAYETTE
GREENBRIER
LOGAN
RALEIGH
MINGO
WYOMING
SUMMERS
Understanding
Our Regional
Economies
MONROE
JOHN DESKINS
MCDOWELL
MERCER
West Virginia is made up of multiple regions that vary dramat-
ically in terms of economic strengths, weaknesses, challenges
and opportunities. For instance, the changes needed to promote
economic prosperity in the Metro Valley are very different
from those needed in the Southern Coalfields.
Given these individual needs, a one-size-fits-all approach to
economic development in the Mountain State will not work.
Instead, state leadership should embrace regional differences
and push to empower and encourage leaders in each area to
span county lines and work together efficiently to tailor a
set of economic development strategies that fits each region’s
unique needs.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
With this map, the state has been broken down into 10
regions, each defined by its challenges and opportunities. By
pinpointing these strengths and weaknesses, state leadership
can more easily create individualized action plans intended to
solve the problems each area is facing. By strengthening the
regional economies in the state, West Virginia will move closer
to a more prosperous future.
Southern Coalfields
The Southern Coalfields region has experienced a great
depression in terms of employment losses in recent years. Of
all the regions in the state, this one was the most dependent