CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a historic $40 million investment to prepare industrial sites across West Virginia, accelerate private-sector investment, and attract good-paying jobs. The largest competitive site development allocation in state history includes $25 million in loans for industrial shell buildings and $15 million in grants for traditional site readiness projects.
“When a company is ready to invest millions of dollars and create hundreds of jobs, we cannot afford to lose that opportunity because we don’t have a site ready,” said Governor Morrisey. “This $40 million investment will help our communities compete for new employers, reduce the time it takes to get projects underway, and build on the nearly $96 billion in announced private-sector investment we’ve already attracted.”
The funding will support two programs designed to accelerate industrial development:
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$25 Million – 2026 Mountain State Ready Shell Building Loan Program: The West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) will provide loans of up to $5 million per project to construct industrial shell buildings ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 square feet. The program offers flexible repayment terms and requires future tenants to pay at least 120 percent of the county median wage, with an expectation of one job per 750 square feet.
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$15 Million – 2026 Mountain State Ready Site Readiness Grant Program: The Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (IJDC) will provide grants for environmental assessments, engineering, grading, utility infrastructure, and other site preparation needed to attract manufacturing, research and development, and distribution operations.
The West Virginia Division of Economic Development within the Department of Commerce will administer both programs. Local economic development authorities, county commissions, and municipal governments are eligible to apply, with projects required to begin within six months of receiving an award. Final awards are subject to approval by the appropriate WVEDA or IJDC board.
“West Virginia is blessed with tremendous natural beauty, but our topography can be a challenge when it comes to economic development. With Governor Morrisey’s announcement today, we can give potential investors a robust catalog of locations here at home that will create more jobs and opportunities for our fellow West Virginians. Combined with our improved regulatory climate and string of recent economic development victories, the timing of this announcement is perfect.”
— Bill Bissett, President, West Virginia Manufacturers Association
“As economic developers across all 55 counties will attest, communities cannot win projects without sites that are ready to go. Governor Morrisey’s announcement empowers local development authorities by providing the capital needed for significant site advancement across the Mountain State.”
— David Lieving, President, Economic Development Council of West Virginia
“In Mingo County, we have demonstrated that post-mine land can be transformed into regional economic drivers when paired with the right resources. Governor Morrisey’s announcement can provide our community with the exact support needed to accelerate efforts to attract more good-paying jobs to Mingo County.”
— Greta Curry, Executive Director, Mingo County Redevelopment Authority
“The Eastern Panhandle is growing, and sustaining that momentum depends on having sites ready for development and the infrastructure to support them. Governor Morrisey’s announcement gives our region the resources to plan for that future thoughtfully and effectively.”
— Rachel Miller, Executive Director, Region 9 Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning & Development Council
“Site selectors consistently tell us that speed-to-market is the deciding factor in location decisions. Having access to shell building loans alongside infrastructure grants gives us the tools needed to close deals. In Wood County, Governor Morrisey’s announcement will allow us to move sites from preliminary plans to turnkey reality, positioning the Mid-Ohio Valley to capture meaningful investments.”
— Lindsey Piersol, Executive Director, Wood County Economic Development Office
“West Virginia’s polymer and chemical corridor has unmatched supply chain connectivity, but we must continually replenish our inventory of industrial-ready land to sustain our momentum. Governor Morrisey’s announcement will bridge the gap between undeveloped parcels and production-ready sites.”
— Keith Burdette, President, Polymer Alliance Zone
“From the Huntington Tri-State area through the Advantage Valley region, our advantage relies on having sites to offer that are ready for business today, not tomorrow. Governor Morrisey’s announcement will help accelerate projects across the region, helping us secure transformational economic development projects.”
— Toney Stroud, President, HADCO and Chairman, Advantage Valley
“Reclaiming and repurposing land for industry is essential to the future of the coalfields. The funding announced today by Governor Morrisey provides local development authorities across Boone, Lincoln, Logan, and Kanawha counties with access to the critical capital required to turn high-potential parcels into thriving economic hubs. This site preparedness will hopefully bring capital diversification which will create a better quality of life for residents in our counties.”
— Zack Maynard, West Virginia State Senator, District 7
Program guidance and application information will be available at https://westvirginia.gov/
