This infrastructure includes two industrial parks located
along I-79 at the Jane Lew exit, including the Lewis County
Industrial Park, which is nearly at capacity due to large invest-
ments by oil and natural gas companies like Dominion Energy.
This growth is thanks in part to the cooperative work between
the Lewis County Commission and Lewis County Economic
Development Authority. These organizations work together
to plan for future growth while also marketing the county to
potential investors. In 2019, they combined forces to provide
water service to nearly 1,000 homes while also working to
expand broadband coverage.
“With broadband enhancement, Lewis County will be able
to be a major player in both the national and international
business market,” says Whetsell.
Small business growth is also thriving in Lewis County.
“Small business growth has brought new life to our commu-
nities and is the fastest-growing sector of development,” says
Whetsell. “Every day, we work with entrepreneurs to provide
information and assistance for opening their own small business.
The future is very bright for locally owned and operated small
businesses in Lewis County.”
With a strong workforce and a low cost of living that con-
tribute to both business and residential growth, Lewis County
is primed for the future.
“The future for Lewis County is bright, endless and very
optimistic,” says Whetsell. “We have the location and the
workforce, and the creation of new economic development
parks provides the opportunity for businesses to be a part of
our strong growth.”
Randolph County
Rich in culture and history and home to a variety of businesses
and industries, Randolph County offers an affordable and
comfortable lifestyle with the bonus of being surrounded by
millions of acres of the Monongahela National Forest and
having access to rivers and streams and a multitude of other
recreation opportunities.
With a population of approximately 29,000—a 2 percent
increase since 2000 despite an overall decrease statewide—and
a logistical advantage in terms of location and access to workers
and raw materials, Randolph County is poised for business
growth. The completion of Corridor H will directly connect the
county with Interstate 81, offering easy access to the Virginia
Inland Port at Front Royal, VA, and other deep-water ports
along the eastern seaboard, opening it up to international
markets. This will be combined with the existing access the
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad already provides to major
markets throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada.
The Mountain State Forest Festival.
Photo by Robbie Skinner.
The Randolph County Courthouse.
Photo by Robbie Skinner.
The county has already seen an increased demand for office
space and an increase in retail sales. It is home to the Elkins
Rail Yard and Huttonsville Industrial Park, both of which
provide space for new and expanding commercial and retail
development.
Robbie Morris, executive director of the Randolph County
Development Authority (RCDA), is charged with the recruit-
ment, retention and expansion of business in Randolph County
and coordinates efforts with Elkins Main Street, the Elkins-
Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and the Elkins-
Randolph County Tourism CVB.
“We are working to create wealth-building jobs through
a stable and diverse group of businesses that help grow our
economy,” says Morris. “We work with many organizations
to create economic and community development opportunities
for communities within our county and our region.”
According to Morris, Randolph County’s economy has been
growing at a steady pace. With several large investments and
major expansions by key sectors and companies in its economy
such as Davis Medical Center, AHF Products, Big Timber
Brewing and Davis & Elkins College, the county’s diverse
group of industries allows it to weather economic storms better
than others. Along with growth in its top industries—hard-
wood/forest products, tourism, health care, natural resource
extraction and government—Randolph County is also seeing
an increase in small businesses and entrepreneurship.
“We have a growing business climate throughout many parts
of the county, including, but not limited to, Beverly, Mill Creek
and Elkins,” says Morris. “Elkins Main Street, the chamber of
commerce and Beverly OnTrac, among others, are all working
together to create a climate to grow business opportunities.”
According to Taira Landavere, director of marketing for the
Elkins-Randolph County Tourism CVB, it’s been amazing to
watch the growth of Randolph County over the years.
“We have a lot of momentum, and I think this momentum has
a lot to do with economic development taking place around the
county,” she says. “We have major manufacturing companies
expanding, our regional hospital has grown exponentially,
and although Corridor H isn’t complete yet, the parts that are
complete have made our area much more accessible.”
In the future, Morris sees Randolph County securing its
position as a regional economic hub in West Virginia.
“As further construction on Corridor H is completed, activity
throughout this entire region will grow,” he says. “Randolph
County is working to position itself to benefit from that growth.”
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