Infrastructure at a Glance

Change is happening in West Virginia. Small businesses remain the backbone of the state’s economy, and a movement to support and promote the creative class is encouraging new entrepreneurs to take the leap into business ownership. The West Virginia Department of Commerce continues its efforts to recruit new businesses into the state while assisting local manufacturers in marketing their products around the world. These days, West Virginia really is “Open for Business.”

Improving Connectivity in the Mountain State

Broadband access continues to be a challenge in West Virginia due to the state’s low population density, mountainous topography and limited long-haul fiber, or fiber that spans extensive geographical distances. Currently ranked 44th in the nation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in terms of the percentage of population with access to broadband, only 82 percent of West Virginia residents have broadband connectivity.