By Samantha Cart
Governor Patrick Morrisey awarded $2.1 million in grants to 23 counties for business-ready sites across West Virginia, providing crucial funding to prepare properties for development and position the state for future investment.
Administered by the West Virginia Division of Economic Development, the grants provide $75,000 per project. Early-stage requirements such as environmental assessments and geotechnical studies can often delay large projects when funding is limited. By helping communities complete those steps ahead of time, the program will shorten development timelines and ensure West Virginia is ready when new investment opportunities arise.
For many communities, the funding represents more than just site preparation—it is an investment in the future of West Virginia and its residents.
The Charleston Area Alliance and Chamber of Commerce plans to use its grants to advance development of a historic industrial property in the city’s East End.
“These funds will be strategically invested to make the property more attractive and development-ready for potential tenants looking to locate or expand their businesses in the historic East End district of Charleston,” says Mara Boggs, president and CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance and Chamber of Commerce.
By improving the site’s readiness and marketability, the organization hopes to accelerate private investment while continuing the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.
Boggs says the project will also preserve the legacy of Kanawha Manufacturing, which served the region for more than a century.
“Rather than allowing a historic industrial site to sit idle, we are positioning it for a new chapter of opportunity,” Boggs says. “Through collaboration with local, state
and federal partners, we are working to transform the site into a modern advanced manufacturing center that will attract new investment, support high-quality job creation and strengthen our regional economy.”
Preparing sites in advance is particularly important in West Virginia, Boggs says, where the state’s mountainous geography can limit the number of development-ready properties.
Among the 23 counties that received the grant is Preston County. The Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) received five separate grants totaling $375,000 for sites in Hazelton, Kingwood and Masontown.
According to Robbie Baulor, executive director of PCEDA, the funding will allow the organization to complete the due diligence needed to prepare those sites for development.
“When environment, geotechnical, wetlands, cultural and threatened and endangered species studies are completed in advance, our sites are ready when opportunity knocks,” Baylor says. “Companies considering locating in Preston County want certainty. They want to know if the land is suitable for construction and that there won’t be unexpected environmental or regulatory issues.”
The work will help ensure development happens responsibly while also making the county more competitive when new projects are being considered. For counties like Preston, this means being prepared to compete with developments that are happening out of state, creating a better position to attract investment and create opportunities for West Virginians.
Similar work is underway in Wood and Pleasants counties, where the Wood County Development Authority is using the grant to advance preparation work on several properties in their communities.
“The No.1 barrier to landing prospects in Wood and Pleasants counties and, frankly, all of West Virginia is site readiness,” says Lindsey Piersol, executive director of Wood and Pleasants county development authorities.
The funding will help the organization complete key studies such as environmental reviews, wetlands delineation, utility studies and grading plans.
From Preston County to Kanawha County, the work being done today ensures that West Virginia is ready to compete for tomorrow’s opportunities, strengthening local economies and supporting sustainable growth for years to come.
